John Schmidt's and Corey Deuel's comments on aiming systems

[CJ Wiley]

We appreciate your input, you are obviously very knowledgeable and a solid individual

When you have driven the same path a thousand times, just as you have, there is little need for directions. I totally agree...the cue ball is the primary target.

I was referring to the start of every shot.....just because I've done it a thousand times (or many more) doesn't mean I still don't have to do it EVERY TIME.

This also goes for Efren, Earl, Johnny, and all the greatest players......they have to do the same type of preparation for every shot to allow their subconscious to calculate the outcome.....then, they can "get down on the shot as if it's already been performed".

We appreciate your input, you are obviously very knowledgeable and a solid individual.

Respect!

 

[LAMas]

This may be true if you align to the balls consistently. There's an important distinction between "aiming," and "aligning" from the cue ball to the object ball.

To know how to get to any destination you must first know where you're starting from. To get to Kansas City, I can only get directions if someone knows I'm starting in Dallas.

This analogy is about ball pocketing, if you want your destination to be the object ball in the pocket, you must set up (align) the same way every time......to have a consistent referential index to create the angle needed...... it's vital to establish a consistent relationship (visually) between the cue ball and object ball.

Therefore, the cue ball is the primary target....not the object ball, or the pocket.

You need to be aligned in speed pool for there is no time for aiming.

 

[cfrandy]

I was referring to the start of every shot.....just because I've done it a thousand times (or many more) doesn't mean I still don't have to do it EVERY TIME.

This also goes for Efren, Earl, Johnny, and all the greatest players......they have to do the same type of preparation for every shot to allow their subconscious to calculate the outcome.....then, they can "get down on the shot as if it's already been performed".

We appreciate your input, you are obviously very knowledgeable and a solid individual.

Respect!

I appreciate your kind words. The respect is mutual! I have always said of Tiger Woods, he may be the most talented but he will never be the greatest golfer. To be the greatest takes more than talent...it also takes character. YOU have both the talent and the character. I have watched you play enough to know you are the real thing! Just as important you have always been a gentleman, which is not easy to do in these aiming threads. Kudos to you!
BTW, I am NOT afraid to experiment, so I ordered your DVDs this morning. Maybe this old dog could learn a new trick!:thumbup:
Randy Pollak

 

[cfrandy]

Thanks for the the price that you paid, Randy.

Those were bad times.

Best Wishes of Everything Good to You, Sir.
Rick

Thank you Rick!
Randy
(PS: the times have gotten better)

 

[ENGLISH!]

Thank you Rick!
Randy
(PS: the times have gotten better)

Hi Randy,

I'm very glad if they are better for you as they are for me too. I have my first Grandson.:thumbup:

But look at what's going on in the world. It's making me pray more than normal.

All the Best 2 You & Yours & to Everyone Else Too,
Rick

 

[cfrandy]

Hi Randy,

I'm very glad if they are better for you as they are for me too. I have my first Grandson.:thumbup:

But look at what's going on in the world. It's making making me pray more than normal.

All the Best 2 You & Yours & to Everyone Else Too,
Rick

Coincidence? My daughter is here from Chicago and yesterday I babysitter my Grandson so she could have a date night with her hubby.

 

[ENGLISH!]

Coincidence? My daughter is here from Chicago and yesterday I babysitter my Grandson so she could have a date night with her hubby.

Congratulations!

Is he your first Grandchild? Mine is.

This boy, & he is all boy, is changing my life.

I've seen many a baby/child, but I've never seen a more happy child with as much Love in them as this boy.

I thought my own children were of that kind of spirit but this one has certainly improved on it.

Congrats Again & Enjoy Yourself,
Rick

PS I've already bought him a briefcase pool table & a tennis racket. He just turned 16 months old.

 

[CJ Wiley]

Let me know what you think when you have a chance

I appreciate your kind words. The respect is mutual! I have always said of Tiger Woods, he may be the most talented but he will never be the greatest golfer. To be the greatest takes more than talent...it also takes character. YOU have both the talent and the character. I have watched you play enough to know you are the real thing! Just as important you have always been a gentleman, which is not easy to do in these aiming threads. Kudos to you!
BTW, I am NOT afraid to experiment, so I ordered your DVDs this morning. Maybe this old dog could learn a new trick!:thumbup:
Randy Pollak

Did your DVDs arrive yet?

We had a back-order, so there was a slight delay. Let me know what you think when you have a chance to watch them, there's a lot of info, so take your time.

Play Well......CJ

 

[cfrandy]

Did your DVDs arrive yet?

We had a back-order, so there was a slight delay. Let me know what you think when you have a chance to watch them, there's a lot of info, so take your time.

Play Well......CJ

I expect them to arrive tomorrow! I am very anxious to view them. Yes, I will take my time. I'm sure I will enjoy them. I will give some feedback after I have had the chance to really digest the material. I may be old, but I can still learn!
Thank you so much for all you do!

 

[CJ Wiley]

I'll be glad to answer any questions you might have in the future.

I expect them to arrive tomorrow! I am very anxious to view them. Yes, I will take my time. I'm sure I will enjoy them. I will give some feedback after I have had the chance to really digest the material. I may be old, but I can still learn!
Thank you so much for all you do!

Yes, there's a LOT of info on those videos, "almost" everything I know. LoL

Enjoy my friend, I'll be glad to answer any questions you might have in the future.

 

[CJ Wiley]

You need to be aligned in speed pool for there is no time for aiming.

Yes, speed pool may be my best game....right behind 'Target Pool'

I actually think Target Pool was a really good game, my track record is pretty good, I won both the pro tournaments. Efren and Earl were formidable at the game as well.

 

[CJ Wiley]

First we must ALIGN to the object ball, this is vitally important.

When you have driven the same path a thousand times, just as you have, there is little need for directions. I totally agree...the cue ball is the primary target.

Many players don't "real eyes" that we can create any angle simply by pivoting the tip and using the cue ball as the target. First we must ALIGN to the object ball, this is vitally important.....it's like putting the correct info into a computer program (our inner minds).

 

[cfrandy]

Many players don't "real eyes" that we can create any angle simply by pivoting the tip and using the cue ball as the target. First we must ALIGN to the object ball, this is vitally important.....it's like putting the correct info into a computer program (our inner minds).

I see more people miss shots because they could NOT align themselves properly. Surprisingly, it is often because of their foot placement. Inconsistencies in your stance can cause inconsistencies in your alignment!

 

[dr_dave]

I see more people miss shots because they could NOT align themselves properly.

Agreed. Having one's vision center aligned properly is arguably the most important fundamental of pool.

Regards,
Dave

 

[ENGLISH!]

I see more people miss shots because they could NOT align themselves properly. Surprisingly, it is often because of their foot placement. Inconsistencies in your stance can cause inconsistencies in your alignment!

Agreed. Have one's vision center aligned properly is arguably the most important fundamental of pool.

Regards,
Dave

:thumbup2: :thumbup2: :thumbup2:

Once one is positioned to see the line properly much else can simply fall into line naturally, if allowed to do so.

IMO, Some 'prescriptions' of specifics can actually inhibit one from being in the only place to see the true line. Those 'prescriptions' that do that would be specific to each individual. Sometimes it is because the individual is simply not following the 'prescription' properly & is allowing the focus of trying to follow the 'prescription' to actually inhibit them from seeing the true line.

Everything else MUST be second, third, fourth, etc, to being in position so as to see the true line.

For that reason, I would suggest that anyone serious about their game get Gene Albrecth's Perfect Aim & then make the 'complimentary' phoone call to Gene before even looking at the DVD.

Best 2 You Both & All,
Rick

 

[Patrick Johnson]

Agreed. Have one's vision center aligned properly is arguably the most important fundamental of pool.

Regards,
Dave

Getting it there can be more complicated than you might expect. For instance, it took me a while to realize that my stick wasn't aligning consistently with my line of sight, and another while to figure out what stance changes were needed to fix it, and yet another while to figure out how to get down with that new stance aligned properly. The key for me was seeing my stance as a fixed "platform" for shooting that must be aligned to the shot as a whole, not adjusted to it a piece at a time.

pj
chgo

 

[dr_dave]

Getting it there can be more complicated than you might expect. For instance, it took me a while to realize that my stick wasn't aligning consistently with my line of sight, and another while to figure out what stance changes were needed to fix it, and yet another while to figure out how to get down with that new stance aligned properly. The key for me was seeing my stance as a fixed "platform" for shooting that must be aligned to the shot as a whole, not adjusted to it a piece at a time.

Well stated. I agree. It can take work and lots of practice to develop a pre-shot routine and stance that accurately and consistently position the vision center and cue along the desired line of the shot for a wide range of shots.

When I work with students who have issues with vision center alignment, I like to work backwards with them. I first try to help them find their personal vision center position and head orientation to best visualize proper aim and cue alignment. Then, with the head fixed in this orientation and alignment, with accurate cue placement, I have them fiddle with their head height and feet and body positions to help them identify a good personal stance. Then we work backwards from that stance to help identify a good pre-shot routine in reverse to help achieve that stance, cue alignment, and head placement.

Personally, when I play, my stance seems to vary quite a bit with closeness to the table and the elevation of the shot. Because I am tall, it probably doesn't help that my long legs seem to get in the way at times. However, my focus is always on my vision-center head alignment over the cue. To me, it doesn't seem to matter much where my feet and body are on different shots. I still position and orient my head the same way over the line of the shot. When I starting using a low head position and touching my chin to the cue during my pre-shot routine, I got a lot better at this.

Sorry for the rambling. I think everybody's process for arriving at consistent and accurate vision-center placement can be different. But as long as you get your head in the right place for each shot, what you do with your feet and body isn't really that important, IMO. In other words, I think the focus should be on the head and vision-center position, and not the feet and body positions (which can vary from person to person and from shot to shot). Although, I do value a pre-shot routine and stance (with variations where appropriate) that can help one get their head in the right place consistently for a wide range of shots.

Regards,
Dave

 

[Neil]

Well stated. I agree. It can take work and lots of practice to develop a pre-shot routine and stance that accurately and consistently position the vision center and cue along the desired line of the shot for a wide range of shots.

When I work with students who have issues with vision center alignment, I like to work backwards with them. I first try to help them find their personal vision center position and head orientation to best visualize proper aim and cue alignment. Then, with the head fixed in this orientation and alignment, with accurate cue placement, I have them fiddle with their head height and feet and body positions to help them identify a good personal stance. Then we work backwards from that stance to help identify a good pre-shot routine in reverse to help achieve that stance, cue alignment, and head placement.

Personally, when I play, my stance seems to vary quite a bit with closeness to the table and the elevation of the shot. Because I am tall, it probably doesn't help that my long legs seem to get in the way at times. However, my focus is always on my vision-center head alignment over the cue. To me, it doesn't seem to matter much where my feet and body are on different shots. I still position and orient my head the same way over the line of the shot. When I starting using a low head position and touching my chin to the cue during my pre-shot routine, I got a lot better at this.

Sorry for the rambling. I think everybody's process for arriving at consistent and accurate vision-center placement can be different. But as long as you get your head in the right place for each shot, what you do with your feet and body isn't really that important, IMO. In other words, I think the focus should be on the head and vision-center position, and not the feet and body positions (which can vary from person to person and from shot to shot). Although, I do value a pre-shot routine and stance (with variations where appropriate) that can help one get their head in the right place consistently for a wide range of shots.

Regards,
Dave

Dave, the reason some instructors stress foot placement is so that you do get your head in the right position each time. If you address the ball the same way on all standard shots, your feet should also be in the same position each time. Once you know where that position is, you can easily use your feet to get in the correct position.

I think it is easier to feel that the feet are off place. To me, that is a good key that my head will also be off even though it may "look right" at the time. To me, the feet are just another on the check list to make sure my alignment is correct right from the get go.

On the non-standard shots, where foot placement will be different, I still always stand and get my feet right and then look at the shot. By doing that, I know my vision center is correct. Then, once I am locked in on my correct vision center, I am free to move the rest of my body any way I want to to get down on the shot as long as I stay locked in vision-wise.

 

[Patrick Johnson]

Dave, the reason some instructors stress foot placement is so that you do get your head in the right position each time. If you address the ball the same way on all standard shots, your feet should also be in the same position each time. Once you know where that position is, you can easily use your feet to get in the correct position.

I think it is easier to feel that the feet are off place. To me, that is a good key that my head will also be off even though it may "look right" at the time. To me, the feet are just another on the check list to make sure my alignment is correct right from the get go.

Yep, if the goal is a consistent stance aligned consistently with the shot line, then placing the feet consistently in relation to the shot line is (literally) fundamental. Anything else can only result in stance "adjustments" and inconsistent play.

pj
chgo

 

[dr_dave]

Dave, the reason some instructors stress foot placement is so that you do get your head in the right position each time. If you address the ball the same way on all standard shots, your feet should also be in the same position each time. Once you know where that position is, you can easily use your feet to get in the correct position.

I think it is easier to feel that the feet are off place. To me, that is a good key that my head will also be off even though it may "look right" at the time. To me, the feet are just another on the check list to make sure my alignment is correct right from the get go.

On the non-standard shots, where foot placement will be different, I still always stand and get my feet right and then look at the shot. By doing that, I know my vision center is correct. Then, once I am locked in on my correct vision center, I am free to move the rest of my body any way I want to to get down on the shot as long as I stay locked in vision-wise.

Sounds good to me. I agree that the pre-shot routine is very important In finding the vision center position.
Regards,
Dave