So I'm not recommending this to anyone else per say. I merely want to share an experience that has changed my ball pocketing dramatically and improved my consistency. Now before I get into what is new that I'm doing, here is how I used to aim: Line up, get down connect contact point/line of the shot with cue tip, look at the CB then OB then CB then OB pause and shoot...all the while doing practice strokes.
Now, I have always used a contact point to aim. I don't use a ghost ball center point for reference because overtime I have just trained my eyes, body and cue to line up for the contact point. However, I have had trouble with consistency and losing the contact point on different shots. Some days I would shoot hot, others, not so much.
Recently a friend showed me something new about using the sides and top of the shaft to aim. (This is very similar if not the same way that Shane 'aims')For example, if I cut a ball to the left, I use the left side of the shaft to aim at the contact point on the CB. Cutting the the right you use the right, for outside you do the same and for inside you do the opposite. Hmmm, this intrigued me but what I noticed was this wasn't a way to aim and find my target (contact point) it was just a way to confirm...
I used to play basketball A LOT. It was my addiction before my pool addiction. When I shot I never looked at the ball, my hands, or any reference points. I let my feet (alignment) and eyes do the work and I just shot it in the f**kin basket...
For the last week I have been lining up and getting down on the shot while looking solely at the object ball. I then take a few practice strokes and fire it in without looking at the cue ball at all. I was amazed at how effortless ball pocketing became in minutes. I wasn't putting unwanted english on the cue ball, my stroke felt better than ever (probably because I wasn't thinking about it). Believe me, this is scary at first because its tough to trust your body and mechanics to not throw you off target.
Disclaimer: I can see the cue ball and shaft in my peripheral vision I can tell if I'm off center, which so far I haven't been.
Now getting shape with English. I don't use any type of pivot or compensation for left and right english. I line up knowing where the cue ball is going (most of the time) and shoot, which is much more difficult if you aren't looking at the cue ball. However, despite the challenges I love this. Its like I can see the table for the first time because I'm not distracted and letting my eyes and brain trick me with the cue ball. What it boils down to for me is that I'm letting pool be what it is...a game that requires hand eye coordination. I have good hand eye coordination and need to trust that! Now on some shots, I may consider taking ONE look at the cue ball for confirmation of tip placement but that is going to take experimentation.
Again, this is working for me so far, because I know what I want to do before I get down on the shot. It really feels like I'm the cue ball in a strange way. I'm going to extend this concept into other parts of my game and see if I can develop the trust in my mechanics when it comes to getting shape and kicking. I already bank side rail to side rail by feel and that has improved a little, but end rail to end rail has improved vastly.
The last thing that this has done for me is made me feel loose and comfortable. I have a fair amount of stroke already but this has helped me stay loose and confident which has provided some consistence.
I haven't decided if I should try using the shaft for confirmation on my shots or not (with one look at the cue ball) but I'm just gonna go with the flow for now.
Also this does work (for me) on tight tables. 4" Pockets on table 4 at Big Tyme Billiards in Houston. Its a 9 ft diamond that makes rotation a nightmare and one pocket a lot of fun.
Now, I have always used a contact point to aim. I don't use a ghost ball center point for reference because overtime I have just trained my eyes, body and cue to line up for the contact point. However, I have had trouble with consistency and losing the contact point on different shots. Some days I would shoot hot, others, not so much.
Recently a friend showed me something new about using the sides and top of the shaft to aim. (This is very similar if not the same way that Shane 'aims')For example, if I cut a ball to the left, I use the left side of the shaft to aim at the contact point on the CB. Cutting the the right you use the right, for outside you do the same and for inside you do the opposite. Hmmm, this intrigued me but what I noticed was this wasn't a way to aim and find my target (contact point) it was just a way to confirm...
I used to play basketball A LOT. It was my addiction before my pool addiction. When I shot I never looked at the ball, my hands, or any reference points. I let my feet (alignment) and eyes do the work and I just shot it in the f**kin basket...
For the last week I have been lining up and getting down on the shot while looking solely at the object ball. I then take a few practice strokes and fire it in without looking at the cue ball at all. I was amazed at how effortless ball pocketing became in minutes. I wasn't putting unwanted english on the cue ball, my stroke felt better than ever (probably because I wasn't thinking about it). Believe me, this is scary at first because its tough to trust your body and mechanics to not throw you off target.
Disclaimer: I can see the cue ball and shaft in my peripheral vision I can tell if I'm off center, which so far I haven't been.
Now getting shape with English. I don't use any type of pivot or compensation for left and right english. I line up knowing where the cue ball is going (most of the time) and shoot, which is much more difficult if you aren't looking at the cue ball. However, despite the challenges I love this. Its like I can see the table for the first time because I'm not distracted and letting my eyes and brain trick me with the cue ball. What it boils down to for me is that I'm letting pool be what it is...a game that requires hand eye coordination. I have good hand eye coordination and need to trust that! Now on some shots, I may consider taking ONE look at the cue ball for confirmation of tip placement but that is going to take experimentation.
Again, this is working for me so far, because I know what I want to do before I get down on the shot. It really feels like I'm the cue ball in a strange way. I'm going to extend this concept into other parts of my game and see if I can develop the trust in my mechanics when it comes to getting shape and kicking. I already bank side rail to side rail by feel and that has improved a little, but end rail to end rail has improved vastly.
The last thing that this has done for me is made me feel loose and comfortable. I have a fair amount of stroke already but this has helped me stay loose and confident which has provided some consistence.
I haven't decided if I should try using the shaft for confirmation on my shots or not (with one look at the cue ball) but I'm just gonna go with the flow for now.
Also this does work (for me) on tight tables. 4" Pockets on table 4 at Big Tyme Billiards in Houston. Its a 9 ft diamond that makes rotation a nightmare and one pocket a lot of fun.