Aim Visualization Techniques

[dr_dave]

FYI, I just posted a new video that discusses and demonstrates various visualization techniques that can help you improve your aiming skills in pool, allowing you to pocket balls more effectively and more consistently. Check it out:

Contents:
0:00 - Intro
1:06 - Contact Point
2:22 - Ghost Ball
3:58 - Parallel Lines
5:44 - Cue Visualization
7:38 - Double Distance
8:48 - Ball Overlap
11:28 - Ball-Hit Fraction
14:20 - More Info

Supporting Resources:

• aiming resource page: https://drdavepoolinfo.com/faq/aiming/
• aiming tutorial: https://drdavepoolinfo.com/tutorial/how-to-aim/
• DAM resource page: https://drdavepoolinfo.com/faq/aiming/dam/
• template for practicing “ball overlap” aiming: https://drdavepoolinfo.com/resource_files/oldschool_cut-angle_template.pdf
• 30° rule peace sign: https://drdavepoolinfo.com/faq/30-90-rules/peace-sign/
• ball-hit fraction resource page: https://drdavepoolinfo.com/faq/aiming/fractional/
• how to estimate a cut angle: https://drdavepoolinfo.com/faq/cut/estimating-angle/
• throw tutorial: https://drdavepoolinfo.com/tutorial/throw/
• How to Aim Pool Shots (HAPS) instructional video series: https://drdavebilliards.com/videos/aiming/
• practice advice: https://drdavepoolinfo.com/faq/practice/advice/

As always, I look forward to your feedback, comments, questions, complaints, and requests.

Enjoy!

 

[straightline]

Skimming the video now. In the parallel lines section, one added thing I do is extend the contact line through both balls. This yields what I call reciprocal sections and figuratively, the actual "cut".

 

[Icon of Sin]

Dam

 

[Jaden]

Skimming the video now. In the parallel lines section, one added thing I do is extend the contact line through both balls. This yields what I call reciprocal sections and figuratively, the actual "cut".

I used to use a technique I called railroad tracking, where I would visualize three lines going through the ob to the pocket, one through the center of the ball and one on either edge, then three parallel lines through the cueball. Then three lines intersecting the two sets of lines. It's EXTREMELY accurate but also mentally taxing to do for hours at a time.

 

[straightline]

I used to use a technique I called railroad tracking, where I would visualize three lines going through the ob to the pocket, one through the center of the ball and one on either edge, then three parallel lines through the cueball. Then three lines intersecting the two sets of lines. It's EXTREMELY accurate but also mentally taxing to do for hours at a time.

I suppose you could push the envelope on enduring that too. To me one should embrace one's method - as the path, so to speak. Beats all the pressure they want you to crumple under.

Can you diagram that triple cross ROFLMAO method? Anything to look for in the grid?

 

[Jaden]

I suppose you could push the envelope on enduring that too. To me one should embrace one's method - as the path, so to speak. Beats all the pressure they want you to crumple under.

Can you diagram that triple cross ROFLMAO method? Anything to look for in the grid?

sure, attached is a diagram. It's still all based on parallel shift cp to cp alignment. Another method I used, I called the T joining method. Which utilizes the center ball parallel lines with the tangent line attached and you just visualize an intersecting line between the T joints.


The ideal is to do this in practice and get to where you can make every shot when you follow your preshot and aiming methods and once you've made enough balls in enough differing conditions, you can just visualize the entire shot and just know where to aim.

 

[dr_dave]

I used to use a technique I called railroad tracking, where I would visualize three lines going through the ob to the pocket, one through the center of the ball and one on either edge, then three parallel lines through the cueball. Then three lines intersecting the two sets of lines. It's EXTREMELY accurate but also mentally taxing to do for hours at a time.

Sort of like this, from the Contact-Point-to-Contact-Point and Parallel-Lines Aiming Systems resource page:

 

[Patrick Johnson]

Skimming the video now. In the parallel lines section, one added thing I do is extend the contact line through both balls. This yields what I call reciprocal sections and figuratively, the actual "cut".

I'm thinking the "sections" are the overlapped edges, "cut" at the contact point between them?

pj
chgo

 

[straightline]

I'm thinking the "sections" are the overlapped edges, "cut" at the contact point between them?

pj
chgo

Right. This was one of my first attempts at CPG. The way I looked at it (and showed off to friends lol) was bisecting the OB with the pocket line and then paralleling that to the CB. That provided the contact points and shot direction/cut sections. In the shooting position the section line becomes vertical and very "distinctly" partitions the cut section.

 

[straightline]

sure, attached is a diagram. It's still all based on parallel shift cp to cp alignment. Another method I used, I called the T joining method. Which utilizes the center ball parallel lines with the tangent line attached and you just visualize an intersecting line between the T joints.


The ideal is to do this in practice and get to where you can make every shot when you follow your preshot and aiming methods and once you've made enough balls in enough differing conditions, you can just visualize the entire shot and just know where to aim.

The tangent depiction is good for any shot. I set those in my mind with the edge of my hand or just a couple fingers.

The triple lines start generating an interference pattern.