1 Stroke Practice: Aiming While "Up". No grinding!

[JimS]

It seems like the more deliberate I try to be, in my pre-shot process, the worse my shooting gets. But.. when I try to shoot loose, like the one stroke practice, even if I shoot well, I can't imagine that I'd trust that shooting process when in competition.

So... I feel like I can't trust the 1 stroke in competition but I start missing when I slow down and "grind".

What's the answer? ANOTHER MILLION SHOTS! .... is the answer I get. :groucho:

 

[JimS]

Here's another strange thing from inside my head.

When I take my aiming line by finding a target in the pocket and drawing a line back through the ob I find a different (and inaccurate!) aim line than if I find the target and then draw the line from the opposite rail through the ob and to the target point in the pocket. (Aim from the back.)

Said slightly differently; When I draw the shot line from behind the ob to the target I get the right line and when I draw the shot line from the target back throught the ob I get the wrong line.

It's something to do with my individual visual perception and it sure has confused the hell out of me until I finally discovered this particular idiosynchrasy during practice this past month.

My method of aiming had been to find the target within the pocket and draw the line back through the ob and find the ghost ball that way. From the angle behind the cb my perception using this method was off line and inaccurate causing me to miss shots that I was sure I "knew" and it drove me crazy trying to figure out what was wrong.

This one stroke practice has taught me that my perception of the line or angle of the shot, and consequently the position of the ghost ball (gb), has been incorrect and that's been a big part of why my accuracy was so inconsistent. In order to make the shots using the one stroke I had to start walking over behind the ob and drawing a line to the opposite rail... then going back to stand behind the cb and "see" that line and the gthen visualize gb.

Seeing the shot from the opposite rail instead of from the target in the pocket, has greatly improved my accuracy. Now I miss because I tend to hurry or because I'm a clumsy f*&k.

Hope this makes sense. :groucho:

 

[grindz]

"Trust in the force Luke......"

It seems like the more deliberate I try to be, in my pre-shot process, the worse my shooting gets. But.. when I try to shoot loose, like the one stroke practice, even if I shoot well, I can't imagine that I'd trust that shooting process when in competition.

So... I feel like I can't trust the 1 stroke in competition but I start missing when I slow down and "grind".

What's the answer? ANOTHER MILLION SHOTS! .... is the answer I get. :groucho:

...."the force is with you".......:wink:

Actually....your "knowing" brain is the most powerful, best judge, and executioner......it's your "thinking" brain that's the chump (so to speak..not you personally) and has very little to do with your success!!!
When you get to where you actually believe this the monkey will be off your back and a whole new realm of possibility opens. In this realm all you need to do is see the shot in your mind, see the destination, and execute...NO THINKING, no words....just vision and knowledge. JMNSHO :smile:

td

 

[grindz]

Interesting artical in www.valleybilliardsnews.com

Here's another strange thing from inside my head.

When I take my aiming line by finding a target in the pocket and drawing a line back through the ob I find a different (and inaccurate!) aim line than if I find the target and then draw the line from the opposite rail through the ob and to the target point in the pocket. (Aim from the back.)

Said slightly differently; When I draw the shot line from behind the ob to the target I get the right line and when I draw the shot line from the target back throught the ob I get the wrong line.

It's something to do with my individual visual perception and it sure has confused the hell out of me until I finally discovered this particular idiosynchrasy during practice this past month.

My method of aiming had been to find the target within the pocket and draw the line back through the ob and find the ghost ball that way. From the angle behind the cb my perception using this method was off line and inaccurate causing me to miss shots that I was sure I "knew" and it drove me crazy trying to figure out what was wrong.

This one stroke practice has taught me that my perception of the line or angle of the shot, and consequently the position of the ghost ball (gb), has been incorrect and that's been a big part of why my accuracy was so inconsistent. In order to make the shots using the one stroke I had to start walking over behind the ob and drawing a line to the opposite rail... then going back to stand behind the cb and "see" that line and the gthen visualize gb.

Seeing the shot from the opposite rail instead of from the target in the pocket, has greatly improved my accuracy. Now I miss because I tend to hurry or because I'm a clumsy f*&k.

Hope this makes sense. :groucho:

that came to mind when I read your post. It was a couple of months ago and I'm not sure if they archive past articals. In it Mike O. talks about the 3 aim lines for each shot. One for each side of the OB and one for the center of it. When "aiming" without looking at the 'back view' (from behind the OB going into the pocket) the mind can get a little lazy and forget to allow for the diameter of the ball and just aim the center of OB into the pocket.

Personally.....(and I'm NOT a pro), I like the walk behind the OB and view it into the pocket because it gives my mind a clear picture of what I want to do......if I get out of the way, IT just does it. Don't know if that makes sense or not....but it works (except for my bad eyes and shakes :smile.

td

 

[whitewolf]

Best thing I"ve learned yet in 9 years of "grinding".

QUOTE]

I have tried the no-stroke method with great success. But, this is just another form of "grinding".

You must be aware however of the DOWNSIDE, which IMHO is: you will loose rhythm which is necessary to roll the cueball to exact locations you get with feel. You NEED TO GET LOOSE on the shot, and this no-stroke method DOES NOT help you do this. Trust me.

 

[JimS]

that came to mind when I read your post. It was a couple of months ago and I'm not sure if they archive past articals. In it Mike O. talks about the 3 aim lines for each shot. One for each side of the OB and one for the center of it. When "aiming" without looking at the 'back view' (from behind the OB going into the pocket) the mind can get a little lazy and forget to allow for the diameter of the ball and just aim the center of OB into the pocket.

Personally.....(and I'm NOT a pro), I like the walk behind the OB and view it into the pocket because it gives my mind a clear picture of what I want to do......if I get out of the way, IT just does it. Don't know if that makes sense or not....but it works (except for my bad eyes and shakes :smile.

td

When I get lazy, start non-chalantin, I forget to pick a precise spot within the pocket and just sort of aim at the pocket in general. When I do that I generally miss.

I read somewhere that one BIG difference between most of us and the pros is that they take no shot for granted. That's why I like the Mark Wilson quote in my signature. NO non-chalantin.... complete every stroke of the cue to perfection.

For me this means taking time to walk behind the ob and get the line. Then go back and go through the preshot routine to find that same line from behind the cb. The strange part of all this is that there is a part of me that strongly resists taking the time to walk around and look at the shot. "He" thinks that he knows this shot and can shoot it in his sleep and doesn't need to go throught that rookie stuff of walking around a looking at the shot. "He", by gawd, knows what he's by gawd doin and doesn't need that crap.

Then when we miss I'm giving myself hell for once again listening to the guy within me with the big head... the ego that can't be taught.

It's become a contest to see who's in charge and who will be shooting the shot. Will it be Mr. Anal who grinds it out? Or Mr. BigShot who doesn't need anything and knows bygawd what he's doing? Or will it be The Student ... the one who takes the time to do it the way he knows he's supposed to but which don't look cool?

I'm learning how to give control to The Student. Most of that has to do with breathing.

 

[grindz]

Lol.................

....................................................."He" thinks that he knows this shot and can shoot it in his sleep and doesn't need to go throught that rookie stuff of walking around a looking at the shot. "He", by gawd, knows what he's by gawd doin and doesn't need that crap.

Then when we miss I'm giving myself hell for once again listening to the guy within me with the big head... the ego that can't be taught.

It's become a contest to see who's in charge and who will be shooting the shot. Will it be Mr. Anal who grinds it out? Or Mr. BigShot who doesn't need anything and knows bygawd what he's doing? Or will it be The Student ... the one who takes the time to do it the way he knows he's supposed to but which don't look cool?

I'm learning how to give control to The Student. Most of that has to do with breathing.

The "student" looks REALLY cool when he runs out!!!

td

 

[mooseman]

Well after reading this post I adopted the one stroke philosophy while warming up approximately 3 weeks ago. Yes I've missed shots but I was amazed at how many shots with position I made. I think the key is making the decision and just doing it. This seems to remove self doubt as well. For me it seems to be working and as a result my confidence has seemed to improve as well.

In fact during 8-ball bar box league this week I made a decision and played the whole match one stroking except for maybe 3 shots. These shots I had maybe a half pocket to shot at. 5 wins with 4 runouts.

Now will I continue to do this. I doubt it but if the opportunity presents I'm not going to dismiss this.