Unable to See Center Ball

[Dan White]

I'd have to check next time I practice.

I do know that when I try the drill where you shoot the CB to the short rail to have it come back to you. It always goes to the right.

I want to try it again but while looking at the CB as I get into my stance.

I fixed this same problem with the laser. However, the tip was dead center and looked dead center for follow shots. For draw shots dead center draw looked like the tip was off a little. Tilting my head so that my eyes were on a horizontal plane with the table fixed that issue so that follow and draw are dead center and look like they are as well.

 

[JoeyInCali]

I fixed this same problem with the laser. However, the tip was dead center and looked dead center for follow shots. For draw shots dead center draw looked like the tip was off a little. Tilting my head so that my eyes were on a horizontal plane with the table fixed that issue so that follow and draw are dead center and look like they are as well.

Maybe he needs a disguised pivot to center ? Barabim!!!
Or you can do what the Pinoy pros and Shane do.
Always address the base of the cue ball .

 

[BeiberLvr]

Got some practice in on my lunch break today. Some observations

1. I tried the CB up the table and back drill. First few times by looking at the rail I was shooting towards as I got into my stance. The CB came closer to my tip than it has in the past, but still more to the right side. Then I tried it by looking at the CB while getting down into my stance, and the CB came right back towards my tip.

2. I noticed something while shooting balls and looking at the CB. At times the center of the CB would appear to just be the center, but other times it would be at angle. It's really hard to explain.

3. I also noticed I was standing too far from the CB which caused my bridge length to be very long.

I did shoot some racks of 9 ball while focusing more on the CB, but ran like 5 balls max. However, I think this is more so due to the fact, this is only the 5th time I've played pool in over a year. My arm literally feels like wet spaghetti.

So I'll probably stick to this method for now, and try to work on some stroke drills to get my arm back in shape.

 

[BeiberLvr]

Was reviewing some practice video, and finally found out what I was doing wrong.

When I would step into the shot, my left foot was going towards the shot line. This was causing my cue (and I'm assuming vision center as well) to go across the line. Hence, always putting right spin on the ball, when I'd think I was hitting center.

Solution that seemed to work for about an hour's worth of practice today...

Stand more square to the shot. Back foot at about 45 degrees. Now when I step into the shot, my left foot is going more up and out (to the side). This allows my head to drop straight down.

 

[Low500]

Was reviewing some practice video, and finally found out what I was doing wrong.

When I would step into the shot, my left foot was going towards the shot line. This was causing my cue (and I'm assuming vision center as well) to go across the line. Hence, always putting right spin on the ball, when I'd think I was hitting center.

Solution that seemed to work for about an hour's worth of practice today...

Stand more square to the shot. Back foot at about 45 degrees. Now when I step into the shot, my left foot is going more up and out (to the side). This allows my head to drop straight down.

Good for you.
The pool shooting world needs more guys like you who are willing to exert the effort to rise above circumstances.
I salute your tenacity.

 

[bbb]

You may have to tweak where you place your left foot if you shoot right handed

post #31

 

[JoeyInCali]

Another proof you aim with your body and to your natural stroking line

 

[2andOUT]

I have this same problem, slightly to the left. took a lesson with Charlie Hillbilly Bryant. he has me upon addressing cue ball, match the top radius of my tip with the very top of the cue ball. the 2 radiuses match means i'm at center verticle of cueball. then I just drop down to horizontal height I need.

 

[Low500]

I have this same problem, slightly to the left. took a lesson with Charlie Hillbilly Bryant. he has me upon addressing cue ball, match the top radius of my tip with the very top of the cue ball. the 2 radiuses match means i'm at center verticle of cueball. then I just drop down to horizontal height I need.

Hillbilly gave you good instruction there about getting dead on center cueball.
Dick Lane out in Texas first taught me that little trick a long time ago (he called it getting a pure sighting picture). And so did Stan Shuffett when I was training under him up in Kentucky.
Our game of pool is so doggone delicate. Just the slightest little idea can sometimes work wonders.
Rising above your circumstances is to be admired...way to go!
Regards,
Peter Lowenstein
(Low500)

 

[JoeyInCali]

If you watch the pros, you can tell what almost all of them do to address the cue ball dead center ( axis ).
Parica started it and they thought he looked funny doing it.

 

[Jaden]

I always tend to put a little right spin on the ball when it looks like I am lining up to the center of the CB.

I've tried standing more square to the shot, more side on, putting the cue under each eye (I am left-eye dominant), as well as in between each eye.

Nothing seems to help.

One thing I hadn't considered trying was compensating and aiming slightly to the left anytime I want to play center ball, but wasn't sure if that's a good idea.

Thoughts? Experiences if you have similar issue?

I personally line up on top of the ball to make sure I'm lined up with center. A lot of the top players like to line up with their tip at the bottom of the ball. It's funny every time I play Scott frost he says the same thing when I line up on top of the ball, "I know what you're doing there."

He means he knows I'm ensuring that I'm lined up on center ball.

Jaden

P.s. the other thing lining up with your tip directly over center ball does is make sure you bridge the same distance from the ball each time

 

[Brookeland Bill]

I always tend to put a little right spin on the ball when it looks like I am lining up to the center of the CB.

I've tried standing more square to the shot, more side on, putting the cue under each eye (I am left-eye dominant), as well as in between each eye.

Nothing seems to help.

One thing I hadn't considered trying was compensating and aiming slightly to the left anytime I want to play center ball, but wasn't sure if that's a good idea.

Thoughts? Experiences if you have similar issue?

Years ago in a far off land inaccessible except by yak I was told to stop looking for the center of the ball grasshopper and just use slight left or right of shot you think is center ball and adjust because only a Tibetan monk can find “center ball”.

 

[Patrick Johnson]

Years ago in a far off land inaccessible except by yak I was told to stop looking for the center of the ball grasshopper and just use slight left or right of shot you think is center ball and adjust because only a Tibetan monk can find “center ball”.

First aim slight left, then slight right, then in between.

pj
chgo

 

[boogieman]

First aim slight left, then slight right, then in between.

pj
chgo

Congrats, you just achieved enlightenment. Most people need at least 3 or 4 doses or a decade of meditation to achieve this.

 

[Patrick Johnson]

Most people need at least 3 or 4 doses or a decade of meditation to achieve this.

I've had several decades of medication.

pj
chgo

 

[Bob Jewett]

First aim slight left, then slight right, then in between. ....

That was Lassiter's system on shots he wasn't sure of. The Goldilocks system.

 

[Patrick Johnson]

First aim slight left, then slight right, then in between.

That was Lassiter's system on shots he wasn't sure of. The Goldilocks system.

I posted an aiming concept like that some years ago... called it "Aiming By Halves". It's essentially a binary search algorithm.

The “ADCs” of Aiming By Halves:
1. Aim CB center at center of Aim Range (start = CB center at OB edge)
2. Decide whether the actual shot is thicker or thinner
3. Cut the Aim Range in half, leaving only the chosen (thicker or thinner) half

Repeat ADC until:
- you’re sure of the aim, or
- you can’t decide whether the shot is thicker or thinner

Then shoot.

Makes sense, but way too much work (at least for me) to use on every shot.

pj
chgo

 

[Low500]

I posted an aiming concept like that some years ago... called it "Aiming By Halves". It's essentially a binary search algorithm.


Makes sense, but way too much work (at least for me) to use on every shot.

pj
chgo

Well, good pool shooting is for sure a thinking man's game...
Lazy thinkers don't get very far.

 

[Patrick Johnson]

...way too much work (at least for me) to use on every shot.

Funny thing is, I suspect "bracketing" like this on a subconscious level is a common part of aiming, maybe even universal.

pj
chgo

 

[Dan White]

Funny thing is, I suspect "bracketing" like this on a subconscious level is a common part of aiming, maybe even universal.

pj
chgo

I agree. I don't usually get down on a shot directly. I see the straight on line and as I get down I move into position from that straight in beginning point. By the time I am set the shot looks right. I guess some hucksters would call that aiming from an offset or some BS.