Basic Aiming Methods Illustrated

Patrick Johnson said:

DOUBLE-THE-DISTANCE AIMING (2 of 2)
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pj
chgo

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That's a funny looking ferrule on your cue.

Where can I get a CB with a blue spot like that?

cookie man said:

Where can I get a CB with a blue spot like that?

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Dave:

Just use Kamui chalk, and any cue ball. The more you use the Kamui chalk, the more "pretty blue spots" you can have on your cue ball -- to the point that you'll have a chromatically different version of a measles ball (i.e. blue spots instead of red).


-Sean

I think this may be one of the worst aiming mehtods out there.
Yikes..Sounds and looks easy on paper though.

Hi PJ,

I think you'll like my aiming system if this is how you're aiming now. With my system, I think I could shave off a few years off your learning curve. I'm still working on my video and workbook for this system...hoping it will be ready sometime in the summer.

Regards,
Duc.

If everyone could just see the dead center of the OB, or the contact point , SEE exactly how far apart they are, then precisely double that distance, and hit it,,,,,,,then this is a perfect method. Problem is,,,alot of us can't "precisely" see the center of the OB, or "precisely" see the contact point, therefore whatever amount we are off looking for them is then "doubled the distance" when we miss. I don't believe there is A WAY for everyone to aim precisely,,,,,,but whatever way they find that works I think is great.

Hi PJ,

Even guessing at the contact point and shooting at the object ball is in itself a system/process/method because ultimately you subconscious mind is building references based on your practice. It'll take you brain a little longer to eventually figure out where you should be aiming at the object ball based on your repetitive results and eventually you'll learn how your playing cue re-act when you spin the ball, etc. However, this process can takes years to learn and players that have been playing for 30 years may not still get it. Also, if you're the kind of players that plays on and off, you'll find that if you don't play for a year....you'll have to start all over with the basic especially when you get older. With a system, it like riding a bike, the references are more reliable and easier to bring back...so it will get you back into stroke a lot faster than traditional trail and error methods.

The goal of most aiming systems out there is to address issues identified in the process of aiming and it provide a recommended solution that can help you brain learn at a much faster rate. Eg. Guessing vs a dynamic aiming points vs process to get the exact aiming points. Ultimately, we're trying to find our line of aim first. Once you subconscious trust your line of aim (via system or trial or error) then you will be able to advance to the next level of trusting your stroke.

It's take your brain a lot longer to query the answer when you have to guess at an invisible point of contact or even a contact point on the object ball since there too many variables that it has to compute. The goal here to make the visual more focus and more reliable to the brain so that it will be able to build more reliable references for you thus enabling you to learn faster and at the same time allow you to build a stronger foundation for your fundamentals.

Point is, all these systems works...just a question of how much faster do you want to learn the game or improve?

Anyway, I'm always interested in learning something new so will you be posting all systems mentioned thus far on AZ via your illustration? What did you use to build the illustrations? They look really good.

Regards,
Duc.

Patrick Johnson said:

I don't use any system myself, and I'm not endorsing any system or method here. I'm just showing visually how a couple of the most basic methods work because they get mentioned a lot with only verbal descriptions.

I'm choosing methods first, like Double-the-Distance, that illustrate basic aiming geometry.

I'll post a diagram of parallel aiming next.

pj
chgo

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Parallel lines. I thought parallel lines was something different than what you show. The OB contact point to CB contact point line. There is a line parallel that the cue stick points at and the center of the CB rolls on. Maybe call it the cue stick aim line ? Anyway, I visualize that line and stroke my cue stick down that line.

Patrick Johnson said:

GHOST BALL AIMING:
View attachment 224704

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Ghost ball aiming will oftentimes throw the object ball into the rail. You need to hit the object ball a little bit thinner to compensate for CIT.

Patrick Johnson said:

If you need to hit a little bit thinner, then picture the ghost ball in the little-bit-thinner position.

Ghost Ball = wherever the CB needs to be to make the shot. Duh.

pj
chgo

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Due to CIT your diagram illustrating Ghost Ball aiming is grossly misleading. Duh.

PoolSharkAllen said:

Due to CIT your diagram illustrating Ghost Ball aiming is grossly misleading. Duh.

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DUH, you've got to be kidding. There was no misleading intended. PJ is just trying to help with outdated methods. The world is changing, get with the program.