Best Aiming Reference?

Patrick Johnson

Fargo 1000 on VP4
Silver Member
What's the best aiming reference? Some say it's fractions (like CTE's crazy-complicated version) - maybe center-to-edge itself, since it's so easy to see and align. Some say it's shadows under the balls or light reflections on them.

I say it's the OB contact point - the thing most closely related to any shot, and the actual target you're trying to hit with the CB. But not everybody finds it easy to visualize ("see") the OB contact point.

I've used a laser pointer with students, laying it on the rail and pointing it at the OB to make a bright dot where the contact point is. This seems to be a great help to everybody in figuring out how to aim. If you could have the OB contact point lit up like this for every shot, would it then be your favorite aiming reference - or would you still need something else?

How about the spot on the cloth where the ghost ball would sit?

Any others?

Remember, this is (theoretically) if you could see these points clearly and precisely every time.

pj
chgo
 
What's the best aiming reference? Some say it's fractions (like CTE's crazy-complicated version) - maybe center-to-edge itself, since it's so easy to see and align. Some say it's shadows under the balls or light reflections on them.

I say it's the OB contact point - the thing most closely related to any shot, and the actual target you're trying to hit with the CB. But not everybody finds it easy to visualize ("see") the OB contact point.

I've used a laser pointer with students, laying it on the rail and pointing it at the OB to make a bright dot where the contact point is. This seems to be a great help to everybody in figuring out how to aim. If you could have the OB contact point lit up like this for every shot, would it then be your favorite aiming reference - or would you still need something else?

How about the spot on the cloth where the ghost ball would sit?

Any others?

Remember, this is (theoretically) if you could see these points clearly and precisely every time.

pj
chgo

CTE is NOT a fraction system. CTE is not complicated either! CTE is simple for those that endeavor to learn it.

Stan Shuffett
 
I think the contact point or the center ghost ball location on the cloth lighting up would be great provided one understands that the contact point is not the center cue ball alignment point but instead is the overlap point with the cue ball when seen from the shooter's perspective.

Best Wishes to All.
 
Everyone has their own preference.

My preference is to not think about it.

I just sort of try get both balls and the pocket in my peripheral vision and the correct line of sin jumps out at me. Once I've got the line of aim it either cuts through the object ball in which case I focus on where it cuts through or it goes past the object ball in which case I focus on the underneath of the rail where the line ends.
 
the easiest reference would be the spot where the ghost ball sits
because you could aim center ball/cue stick at that point
the problem with contact point for many people is you dont aim the cue ball at the contact point (except for a traight in shot )
so you have learn how to make cueball contact point hit object ball contact point
jmho
icbw
 
After finding the CP, do you then find the CP on the CB as well and line these two up?

Or, do you just aim at that CP...............if so, theoretically you'd hit the OB fat (undercut).
Isn't the contact point on the ob at the opposite of the contact point on the cue ball ? Assuming they are the same sizes.
If the contact point is 3MM from the right edge of the OB, 3MM from the left edge of the cue ball is what needs to hit it on no-spin shots.
 
The cut

Ive used the contact point and its there in the middle of the cut but the cut alone by itself is very easy to understand. I think the cut amount is far better than hoping you picked out the point right. You see the pocket, know the cut, batta bang batta bing...
 
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What's the best aiming reference?

I say it's the OB contact point - the thing most closely related to any shot, and the actual target you're trying to hit with the CB. But not everybody finds it easy to visualize ("see") the OB contact point.

I've used a laser pointer with students, laying it on the rail and pointing it at the OB to make a bright dot where the contact point is.

pj
chgo

Yo, GENIUS, who were these STUDENTS you speak of? The dimwit college students who never picked up a cue in their life at Northwestern University where you VOLUNTEERED your "expertise"? LMAO!

A laser pointer was worthless except to make an impression on clueless minds about pool to make them "THINK" you were a God about pool just as you try to make members on various forums regarding your (LMAO) "Pool-Knowledge" about everything on pool.

ALL OF US learned how to calculate OB CONTACT POINT by getting in a straight line behind the OB line up to the center of the POCKET and placing the TIP OF THE CUE to that POINT to the POCKET.

Most don't know it has nothing to do with the CENTER OF THE CUEBALL that impacts that spot but THE EQUAL AND OPPOSITE PART OF THE CUEBALL which is where they screw up!

And you keep ERRONEOUSLY stating that CTE is a fractional aiming system which you've done for 17 (soon to be 18 years) because you're a TROLL who HAS TO BE RIGHT!! YOU'RE A LOSER AND YOU LOST!

Please show the FRACTIONAL AIMING SYSTEM ever produced that includes a TIP OFFSET AND A PIVOT!

Fractions are DEFINITIVE on both the CB and OB. OFFSET OF THE CUE TIP AND PIVOT CHANGES THE ENTIRE GAME!! Something you NEVER got from Hal's THREE LINE AIMING SYSTEM because he LEFT IT OUT since HE THOUGHT YOU WERE AN IDIOT and HE WAS CORRECT AS HE TOYED WITH YOU!

LMFAO at "JOHNSON'S LAST STAND"! HAL AND STAN WON!! YOU LOST!! SUCK IT UP AND BE A MAN FOR A CHANGE!!

Nice try to DISCREDIT CTE in your "innocent thread" about "best aiming references".
 
Yo, GENIUS, who were these STUDENTS you speak of? The dimwit college students who never picked up a cue in their life at Northwestern University where you VOLUNTEERED your "expertise"? LMAO!

A laser pointer was worthless except to make an impression on clueless minds about pool to make them "THINK" you were a God about pool just as you try to make members on various forums regarding your (LMAO) "Pool-Knowledge" about everything on pool.

ALL OF US learned how to calculate OB CONTACT POINT by getting in a straight line behind the OB line up to the center of the POCKET and placing the TIP OF THE CUE to that POINT to the POCKET.

Most don't know it has nothing to do with the CENTER OF THE CUEBALL that impacts that spot but THE EQUAL AND OPPOSITE PART OF THE CUEBALL which is where they screw up!

And you keep ERRONEOUSLY stating that CTE is a fractional aiming system which you've done for 17 (soon to be 18 years) because you're a TROLL who HAS TO BE RIGHT!! YOU'RE A LOSER AND YOU LOST!

Please show the FRACTIONAL AIMING SYSTEM ever produced that includes a TIP OFFSET AND A PIVOT!

Fractions are DEFINITIVE on both the CB and OB. OFFSET OF THE CUE TIP AND PIVOT CHANGES THE ENTIRE GAME!! Something you NEVER got from Hal's THREE LINE AIMING SYSTEM because he LEFT IT OUT since HE THOUGHT YOU WERE AN IDIOT and HE WAS CORRECT AS HE TOYED WITH YOU!

LMFAO at "JOHNSON'S LAST STAND"! HAL AND STAN WON!! YOU LOST!! SUCK IT UP AND BE A MAN FOR A CHANGE!!

Nice try to DISCREDIT CTE in your "innocent thread" about "best aiming references".

Cor!!

Can you do a cartoon of yourself?
 
the easiest reference would be the spot where the ghost ball sits
because you could aim center ball/cue stick at that point
the problem with contact point for many people is you dont aim the cue ball at the contact point (except for a traight in shot )
so you have learn how to make cueball contact point hit object ball contact point
jmho
icbw
I agree with this in theory - maybe I'm just more comfortable with using the contact point. I find it much easier to "see" than the ghost ball base point, but if they were both lit up maybe I'd change my mind.

pj
chgo
 
After finding the CP, do you then find the CP on the CB as well and line these two up?
I line the two up, but not by specifically visualizing where the CB contact point is. I mostly go by how far from the contact point I'm aiming the CB center (and my stick if no side spin).

pj
chgo
 
Yo, GENIUS, who were these STUDENTS you speak of? The dimwit college students who never picked up a cue in their life at Northwestern University where you VOLUNTEERED your "expertise"? LMAO!

A laser pointer was worthless except to make an impression on clueless minds about pool to make them "THINK" you were a God about pool just as you try to make members on various forums regarding your (LMAO) "Pool-Knowledge" about everything on pool.

ALL OF US learned how to calculate OB CONTACT POINT by getting in a straight line behind the OB line up to the center of the POCKET and placing the TIP OF THE CUE to that POINT to the POCKET.

Most don't know it has nothing to do with the CENTER OF THE CUEBALL that impacts that spot but THE EQUAL AND OPPOSITE PART OF THE CUEBALL which is where they screw up!

And you keep ERRONEOUSLY stating that CTE is a fractional aiming system which you've done for 17 (soon to be 18 years) because you're a TROLL who HAS TO BE RIGHT!! YOU'RE A LOSER AND YOU LOST!

Please show the FRACTIONAL AIMING SYSTEM ever produced that includes a TIP OFFSET AND A PIVOT!

Fractions are DEFINITIVE on both the CB and OB. OFFSET OF THE CUE TIP AND PIVOT CHANGES THE ENTIRE GAME!! Something you NEVER got from Hal's THREE LINE AIMING SYSTEM because he LEFT IT OUT since HE THOUGHT YOU WERE AN IDIOT and HE WAS CORRECT AS HE TOYED WITH YOU!

LMFAO at "JOHNSON'S LAST STAND"! HAL AND STAN WON!! YOU LOST!! SUCK IT UP AND BE A MAN FOR A CHANGE!!

Nice try to DISCREDIT CTE in your "innocent thread" about "best aiming references".
Was it something I said?

pj
chgo
 
I agree with this in theory - maybe I'm just more comfortable with using the contact point. I find it much easier to "see" than the ghost ball base point, but if they were both lit up maybe I'd change my mind.

pj
chgo

since you said
How about the spot on the cloth where the ghost ball would sit?
thats why i picked that
my house pro uses this exercise to show new players the difference between aiming and contact point
he places a coin at the edge of the rail just barely overhanging the rail
and places the cue ball at a rather shallow angle to the coin and asks the student to hit the edge of the coin
well you could all predict the novice hits the rail in front of the coin because he aims at the edge of the coin
so what happens
the shooter learns how to make one edge of the cue ball hit another edge of the object ball ( sort of joe tuckers material whether they use his system or just see the respective edges)
or learns to see 1 1/8 inch from the contact point on the object ball (ghost ball center)
and aims there
again
jmho
icbw
 
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i dont want to hijack this thread
so pms ok
how would cte users aim to hit the edge of a coin on the rail since its not
in the perfect positions (ratios ) of the table??
 
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