Aiming methods are bogus!

[Roll-Off]

I constantly see aiming method posts on all forums. What is the big deal about aiming? All you have to do is find the point on the object ball and make the cueball hit that point. All this "ghost ball" garbage is just another marketing ploy made by the crooked scammers that surround this game. Think about it. You come up with some new aiming system, write a book and sell the new "magical" aiming system to bangers. They'll never know they are being robbed. What a joke. It's like selling snake oil. Just make the friggin' ball.

 

[alstl]

Do you think the diamond system for kicks is bogus?

 

[Colin Colenso]

I constantly see aiming method posts on all forums. What is the big deal about aiming? All you have to do is find the point on the object ball and make the cueball hit that point. All this "ghost ball" garbage is just another marketing ploy made by the crooked scammers that surround this game. Think about it. You come up with some new aiming system, write a book and sell the new "magical" aiming system to bangers. They'll never know they are being robbed. What a joke. It's like selling snake oil. Just make the friggin' ball.

If you aim at the contact point you will miss a lot of shots. Maybe the diagram below will help you to see this.

Read the entire article How to Aim!

 

[Jude Rosenstock]

I constantly see aiming method posts on all forums. What is the big deal about aiming? All you have to do is find the point on the object ball and make the cueball hit that point. All this "ghost ball" garbage is just another marketing ploy made by the crooked scammers that surround this game. Think about it. You come up with some new aiming system, write a book and sell the new "magical" aiming system to bangers. They'll never know they are being robbed. What a joke. It's like selling snake oil. Just make the friggin' ball.

Roll-off, I couldn't agree with you more. I think aiming systems confuse beginners and slows down the learning process. The basic concept people must understand is becoming a good pocketer takes time. Your brain needs to learn how to do it. The best way, in my opinion, is to simply go for what you feel looks comfortable and allow yourself to make adjustments subconsciously.

 

[Colin Colenso]

All you have to do is find the point on the object ball and make the cueball hit that point.

I mis-read your statement. I thought you meant to aim at the point. My apologies.

Still, what you propose is a kind of system, just a simple one.

I just line up so that I feel the object ball will travel along a line to the pocket. It is largely intuitive, but it is still a kind of system as DM pointed out.

 

[royuco77]

yeah, i second that. i think that aiming systems are full of BS . i believe that people who constantly relies on aiming systems when they play should bring the following: a scientific calculator, a protractor, t-square, a pen and papers just in case you can't figure out the angle of aim. also, don't forget your pocket protector

 

[SplicedPoints]

Some people need aiming systems and some people don't. Some pros use aiming systems on hard shots and some don't. No aiming system is perfect for everybody.

Aiming systems are a way of visualizing shots, thus making it a bit easier to see the path of the cue ball. When I try to teach a new player how to play pool, they never get the concept of "just aim it at the contact point". First, it's hard for beginners to zone in on the contact point. Second, it is geometrically incorrect to aim directly at the contact point on large angle cut shots. So, I just tell them to use the "ghost ball" or the "rail track" imagination techniques and they usually have a better idea of where to aim at. I personally don't use those techniques (I have my own), but they are good visualization techniques for beginners. I remember reading somewhere that Efren uses a sectional aiming technique for taugh shots. I'm sure it works well for him, as does other pros with their techniques.

 

[rukiddingme]

I constantly see aiming method posts on all forums. What is the big deal about aiming? All you have to do is find the point on the object ball and make the cueball hit that point. All this "ghost ball" garbage is just another marketing ploy made by the crooked scammers that surround this game. Think about it. You come up with some new aiming system, write a book and sell the new "magical" aiming system to bangers. They'll never know they are being robbed. What a joke. It's like selling snake oil. Just make the friggin' ball.

You know you are probably right when you say "what is the big deal about aiming"? I, like you, am so good I don't need to aim...lol
ruk

 

[drivermaker]

yeah, i second that. i think that aiming systems are full of BS . i believe that people who constantly relies on aiming systems when they play should bring the following: a scientific calculator, a protractor, t-square, a pen and papers just in case you can't figure out the angle of aim. also, don't forget your pocket protector

And your post also shows your total stupidity and lack of understanding about aiming. Nothing could be further from the truth about getting bogged down and thinking too much. You actually have the ability to see the shot so fast, set up to it and fire, that you don't need much thought. You play faster and with much greater consistency. Comments like these are typically from a no brain hack that can barely run 1 ball, let alone 3 friggin' balls.
You should have stayed in moron school...but I guess even there everyone gets a passing grade and is promoted.

 

[randyg]

All of us, including the last few posters have an "aiming" system.

A system has a baseline, guideline or reference point in which we start a particular routine.

If there are 52 million pool players in the World, how many "aiming" routines do you think there are?

There are 7 very fine descriptions of what "aiming" systems are. Each of these systems use either sight, visulization, math or feel to help the player start their personal aiming routine. We have to find the right one for us. One doesn't not fit all!

Still one truth remains above all: There is no "aiming system" that will help a poor stroke!!!!!!!....SPF-randyg (BCA Master Instructor)

 

[drivermaker]

Roll-off, I couldn't agree with you more. I think aiming systems confuse beginners and slows down the learning process. The basic concept people must understand is becoming a good pocketer takes time. Your brain needs to learn how to do it. The best way, in my opinion, is to simply go for what you feel looks comfortable and allow yourself to make adjustments subconsciously.

And Jude for as bright as you seem to be at times with well thought out and articulate posts...this borders on moronic. It's a good thing the top teachers don't teach golf this way, which is go for what you feel looks comfortable and allow yourself to make adjustments subconsciously. Did you ever go to a driving range and see all of the "comfortable hacks" whiffing and shanking shots all over hell and trying to incorrectly self-diagnose or have another idiot by their side giving loads of false information? Guess not.....

 

[royuco77]

And your post also shows your total stupidity and lack of understanding about aiming. Nothing could be further from the truth about getting bogged down and thinking too much. You actually have the ability to see the shot so fast, set up to it and fire, that you don't need much thought. You play faster and with much greater consistency. Comments like these are typically from a no brain hack that can barely run 1 ball, let alone 3 friggin' balls.
You should have stayed in moron school...but I guess even there everyone gets a passing grade and is promoted.

oh, and you think you're so smart, eh? i have played and learned from the best here in manila and in chinese-taipei (this includes yang, orcullo, and efren) and everything i knew about pool came from these world-class players. and according to them, the best way to improve to improve pocketing is to continously shoot shots that give you problems. no aiming systems or anything special. you just pick it up by feel.

how long does that take? for me, it took about 10 months before i became a strong shotmaker. and once i learned by feel, the aiming process seems automatic, it becomes second nature. if that advice given to me by the greats is load of crap, then i don't know who to believe anymore.

just remove the broom handle stuck up in your ass and chill, dude! .

p.s you kinda sound like fast larry, DM. i laughed when i read the "3 friggin ball" bit .

 

[drivermaker]

oh, and you think you're so smart, eh? i have played and learned from the best here in manila and in chinese-taipei (this includes yang, orcullo, and efren) and everything i knew about pool came from these world-class players. and according to them, the best way to improve to improve pocketing is to continously shoot shots that give you problems. no aiming systems or anything special. you just pick it up by feel.

how long does that take? for me, it took about 10 months before i became a strong shotmaker. and once i learned by feel, the aiming process seems automatic, it becomes second nature. if that advice given to me by the greats is load of crap, then i don't know who to believe anymore.

just remove the broom handle stuck up in your ass and chill, dude! .

p.s you kinda sound like fast larry, DM. i laughed when i read the "3 friggin ball" bit .

The 3 friggin' ball bit is classic...I love the phrase.

Maybe you should have learned from Efren...he uses an aiming system and has described it...is he wrong and an idiot?

You've been playing for 10 months? Great...another know-it-all newbie wannabe that currently is a name dropping groupie. Do you collect autographs also?

 

[predator]

I think we all use some aiming systems of our own, it's just that some people are able to explain it and present it in great detail, so then they brag about it!!! Seriously, I can't explain exactly how I aim. I just know that I connect dots most of the time except on tough cuts where I sort of judge where the edge of the cueball will hit the object ball. And it works if I'm confident and stroke well. If I miss, I'll blame my stroke usually. Only if I miss by a large amount I'll blame both aim and the stroke. Aim alone I'd blame only on banks and kicks.

 

[royuco77]

The 3 friggin' ball bit is classic...I love the phrase.

Maybe you should have learned from Efren...he uses an aiming system and has described it...is he wrong and an idiot?

You've been playing for 10 months? Great...another know-it-all newbie wannabe that currently is a name dropping groupie. Do you collect autographs also?

ha ha, you really crack me up, DM. i love your style .

i'm not name dropping or anything. i'm just saying that i'm a fan of efren and i have played, learned and exchanged ideas with efren. whether you believe it or not is your call.

yeah, efren uses an aiming technique, but when i was starting, about 2 yrs ago, i asked efren about this aiming system that i read in BD's forums(i was hoping that it was the magic pill to superstardom) and he showed it to me. it was way complicated for me that time because i was just starting out, so he basically told me to just work on shots that i am having difficulty with and shoot those shots until my arm falls off (not literally, of course).

 

[drivermaker]

yeah, efren uses an aiming technique, but when i was starting, about 2 yrs ago, i asked efren about this aiming system that i read in BD's forums(i was hoping that it was the magic pill to superstardom) and he showed it to me. it was way complicated for me that time because i was just starting out, so he basically told me to just work on shots that i am having difficulty with and shoot those shots until my arm falls off (not literally, of course).

Now THIS is a good post! At least you were honest enough to say that Efren DOES use an aiming system and it was in fact complex for you at the time. It verifies what he and others have said...instead of the naysayers typical bullshit of he doesn't use anything but feel.

Maybe one day he can try showing it to you again and you'll be further on down the road to handle it.

 

[ceebee]

I constantly see aiming method posts on all forums. What is the big deal about aiming? All you have to do is find the point on the object ball and make the cueball hit that point. All this "ghost ball" garbage is just another marketing ploy made by the crooked scammers that surround this game. Think about it. You come up with some new aiming system, write a book and sell the new "magical" aiming system to bangers. They'll never know they are being robbed. What a joke. It's like selling snake oil. Just make the friggin' ball.

Everyone uses a system to shoot at a target. The physical movement of lining up for the shot is also called a process or routine. However, no one has a perfect system or they would never miss a shot.

I still believe that incorrectly addressing the shot is the culprit. Any degree of rotation by your torso can possibly affect the line of your stroke.

Your post, that labels inventors & entreprenuers as CROOKED SCAMMERS is overly harsh. Most of these folks are trying to help players learn to play better & enjoy the sport more because they do play better after applying some new knowledge.

 

[Fred Agnir]

yeah, efren uses an aiming technique, but when i was starting, about 2 yrs ago, i asked efren about this aiming system that i read in BD's forums(i was hoping that it was the magic pill to superstardom) and he showed it to me. it was way complicated for me that time because i was just starting out, so he basically told me to just work on shots that i am having difficulty with and shoot those shots until my arm falls off (not literally, of course).

Okay, so this is a good post for those that say negative things about aiming systems or say things about aiming systems "confusing beginners." What about non-beginners wanting to improve their game and rote isn't doing it?

Big newsflash boys and girls: Efren uses an aiming system. And it (by rococo's account) was too complicated for him because he was just starting out. Do you think that maybe after getting a decent stroke (maybe through Pool School) that Efren's aiming system might not be too complicated afterwards? Isn't this where an aiming system might be a good thing to step in?

Fred <~~~ knows this post will go by the wayside, unread

 

[Snapshot9]

Aiming ...

Colin ... Path A is the correct alignment. Where did
you get B, it is aimed into the rail. If you line up right
to begin with, there isn't a problem, IMO.

Nothing beats good ole 'trial and error'.

Now I have question for you. How many times do you
have to pass 'Go' before you realize you are in a Loop?

 

[sjm]

I've always been something of a fencesitter on the subject of aiming systems. I agree with Drivermaker that most of use one evn if we don't realize it.

I think most people like me, who play at a high, but not pro level, think we are very good at aiming --- that our aiming system works. After all, we miss very few shots, though admittedly a few more than the truly incredible two-time World Champion Fong Pang Chao, whom I believe to be the best pocketer since Lassiter.

If I make an honest, objective assessment of why Mr Chao pockets bettter than Mr SJM, I think it's mostly because of a) better eyesight, b) better alignment of the body and the stroke for a chosen point of aim, c) better execution of the stroke, and d) better focus and concentration. I just have a hard time believing that Chao does a signifcantly better job of finding the point of aim than I do, even though, perhaps he does.

Hence, I am probably among the many that thinks they already have an aiming system and that it works, making it hard for me to believe that investing any significant amount of time in studying aiming systems would be time well spent.

Still, I guess I'm interested enough in aiming systems that I read most aiming system threads!