Aiming systems are overrated?

[JoeyInCali]

Straight stroke and cueball control are underrated?
I've never seen a player with a smooth straight stroke and very good cueball control miss a lot of balls.

 

[Flex]

Straight stroke and cueball control are underrated?
I've never seen a player with a smooth straight stroke and very good cueball control miss a lot of balls.

I think aiming may well be overrated. However, having systems to help find the aim line for a pure, rolling center ball hit is very important. After that aim line is determined, then all the variables for the shot, for instance speed of cue ball, what kind of spin (if any) that is applied and due allowance made for curve or swerve or squirt can be figured in, throw on the object ball, etc. etc. can be made.

Without an initial aim line, potting balls and getting shape can be much tougher.

Flex

 

[unknownpro]

Yes, unless they are just for using english, which is the only time you leave the center of the ghostball.

 

[Scott Lee]

I find it interesting that none of these 'aiming' threads address the quality of someone's stroke. For the HUGE majority of poolplayers, who seek help with their game, and have perceived aiming problems, they cannot deliver the cue in a straight line, accurately and repeatably. Once they learn how to develop a repeatable stroke, aiming problems go away for most of them.

Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com

 

[JoeyInCali]

I find it interesting that none of these 'aiming' threads address the quality of someone's stroke. For the HUGE majority of poolplayers, who seek help with their game, and have perceived aiming problems, they cannot deliver the cue in a straight line, accurately and repeatably. Once they learn how to develop a repeatable stroke, aiming problems go away for most of them.

Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com

tap tap tap Scott.
As you know I shot crooked until I got a hold of your "salute" stroke.
It just amazes me thread after thread after thread is created and debated here day after day about aiming systems, yet threads about strokes are hardly created.

 

[Koopa]

I think it's a decent tool for teaching someone who's never hit a ball in their life. Anything beyond that and you need to be working towards a consistent stroke.

 

[cleary]

I find it interesting that none of these 'aiming' threads address the quality of someone's stroke. For the HUGE majority of poolplayers, who seek help with their game, and have perceived aiming problems, they cannot deliver the cue in a straight line, accurately and repeatably. Once they learn how to develop a repeatable stroke, aiming problems go away for most of them.

Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com

I 100% agree. Knowing your target and hitting your target are two different things. Some people can hit their target, but it was the wrong target. Others know where they need to hit and miss.

For most shots, to me, its clear as day where I need to aim... therefor, I dont need a system for those shots. But some shots, Im glad I know a system or two.

 

[Colin Colenso]

I find it interesting that none of these 'aiming' threads address the quality of someone's stroke. For the HUGE majority of poolplayers, who seek help with their game, and have perceived aiming problems, they cannot deliver the cue in a straight line, accurately and repeatably. Once they learn how to develop a repeatable stroke, aiming problems go away for most of them.

Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com

Scott,
I believe that the reason many players step up a gear when they focus on their stroke, is the same reason many players improve after some hard work on some aiming systems.

That is, the begin to pay much more attention to pre-alignment, which basically means they position their bridge more carefully and trust the line of the stroke enough to cue through in a straight line.

Their first few attempts may struggle, but with trial and error, trusting their aim, or stroke (depending on which they are learning) the begin to learn to improve pre-alignment.

Most players have poor pre-alignment. Check Ronnie Allen as a perfect example. He swooped like he was aligned to miss by 10 degrees on most shots. Swooping well takes years to develop and most instructors would say this is far from optimal. Concentrating on straight stroking, and concentrating on aiming methods (that require straight stoking) makes players learn to pre-align more accurately.

Colin

 

[CocoboloCowboy]

Straight stroke and cueball control are underrated?
I've never seen a player with a smooth straight stroke and very good cueball control miss a lot of balls.

Problem is most players don't have a straight stroke, and cueball control 100% of the time.

 

[the420trooper]

I've noticed a lot of "rhythm" players (Earl Strickland, Keith McCready) spend more time settling over the ball than practice stroking.

I think they realize that if your stroke is straight, and your alignment is correct, the shot HAS to go. A lot of top pros (it seems) don't even bother aiming, they just point their cue and the ball goes.

 

[Pushout]

I find it interesting that none of these 'aiming' threads address the quality of someone's stroke. For the HUGE majority of poolplayers, who seek help with their game, and have perceived aiming problems, they cannot deliver the cue in a straight line, accurately and repeatably. Once they learn how to develop a repeatable stroke, aiming problems go away for most of them.

Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com

Hence, the comment I made in another thread some time ago, when I started playing, I was told that the stroke and the speed of the stroke were the most important.