Aiming techniques

[FLICKit]

Hi Mike, interesting idea. But that would really only be accurate if the OB is straight out from the pocket like it is when it is on the spot. As the OB moves closer to the rail the true center of pocket actually moves.

Set the OB about 4 inches off the rail and then set your cuestick from the actual center of the back of the pocket (where the tape would be) and line it up with the OB. I think you will see that you would not want to aim at the tape from there. If the OB was close to the rail left of the pocket I think you will see that the center of the pocket has moved to the right by a few inches (in reference to the back of the pocket) and by about 1/2 to 3/4 of an inch at the front of the pocket opening.

Hope I have been clear on what I am trying to say

Woody

Yeah... A more accurate aim point would be to put the tape right on the spot right on the center of the mouth of the pocket. In other words, Mike suggested putting the tape on the back side of the pocket, this would be the opposite, so would be on the front side of the pocket. Then no matter what angle you shoot from, it'd be very close to accurate. There would still be a very small adjustment factor, because on the rail shot as has been discussed, you'd actually want to aim more into the opposite rail, at the slant towards the pocket.

So an even more accurate spot for the tape, would be about 1/2 inches out from the pocket on the felt of the table.

Of course, the tape would then be in play and could interfere with the course of the ball during practice, but since your goal is aiming, you'd definitely know if you hit that spot or not.

Marking the spot could be better achieved by using a chalk mark on the felt, as it won't interfere with the course of the ball.

 

[FLICKit]

Unorthodox Aiming Technique

I've seen a guy shoot with a very unorthodoxed style. First of all, his body type is short and stocky - an image of an orc would be similar. Would not normally expect a player of this build to play well, because his own body and muscles would get in the way of his stroke. So, he compensates for this with his unorthodoxed style.

He has no back stroke. I mean none. He puts his stick very near to the contact point on the cue ball, within half and inch. He makes sure his stick is properly aimed and lined up. Then he lunges forward with his body. I mean whole body, even steps forward a bit into the shot. At first thought, you may think there is no way that anyone can shoot like that with any accuracy. But, you'd be surprised, he is quite accurate with this method. He can even control the cue ball quite well with the way he pushes into it. Also, since the tip of his cue stick is so close to the contact point in his pre-stroke, he is virtually assured of making contact right at that spot and thus producing the desired english.

He plays in many tournaments with this style and believe it or not wins or finishes in the money most every time. He isn't a 10 or 9, so I'm not recommending this for everyone. Just relaying a unique style.

 

[vballmike]

Point taken, Woody. As I said, I am definately not a teacher, and have learned several things in the short time I've been visiting this forum.

I guess I should have expounded on the practice part. When I did this, I would set up the shot(s) so the OB would be looking down the mouth, so to speak. And place the cb in different angles. It obviously doesn't hold for every shot, but did help me to see the angle.

The idea about chaulk on the cloth would seem to be a good idea, from most angles.

I guess what I really don't understand is why the kamakazee pilots wore helmets!!

Stumped.

 

[LastTwo]

IMO aiming is really a small part of the game. Perfect execution on a consistent basis is what makes a good player. Someone with perfect alignment and a perfect stroke can learn how to aim in a few hours, theoretically. It would just become trial and error, because that person is able to send the cueball to exactly where he or she is aiming to every time, they can make the minor adjustments needed to pocket a ball that they missed. It's people with bad alignment, bad execution, etc. who have trouble aiming, or can't "see", because they are not in line with the shot, and their cue is going sideways when they execute. It's hard to tell when your down on the shot.

 

[Teacherman]

Quite a difference in aiming a stationery stick as compared to a moving stick.

 

[Williebetmore]

I guess what I really don't understand is why the kamakazee pilots wore helmets!!

Stumped.

VBM,
So that flak and shrapnel had less chance to keep them from completing their mission. I guess there are old kamikaze pilots and bold kamikaze pilots; but no old bold kamikaze pilots.

 

[Teacherman]

VBM,
So that flak and shrapnel had less chance to keep them from completing their mission. I guess there are old kamikaze pilots and bold kamikaze pilots; but no old bold kamikaze pilots.

But several kamikaze pilots are on their 2nd, 3rd, 4th, nth missions. Many of them settled in the pool world.

 

[Rickw]

Now that was good Willie!

VBM,
So that flak and shrapnel had less chance to keep them from completing their mission. I guess there are old kamikaze pilots and bold kamikaze pilots; but no old bold kamikaze pilots.

 

[pete lafond]

But several kamikaze pilots are on their 2nd, 3rd, 4th, nth missions. Many of them settled in the pool world.

But why did kamikaze pilots wear helmets? Doesn't make sense.

 

[bruin70]

lots o' people have lots o' problems with aiming. i've gone through many systems myself. what happens on a table is that an illusion is created by the layout, and you have to get past that illusion to the pure angle of the shot. some see it some don't. this is why the "hidden pocket" shot is one that many many people have problems with,,,,,,,and they ALWAYS overcut the shot.

i have found that how the rails are positioned in relation to the cb-ob-pocket is the most distracting illusion, and it always serves me best to imagine a realignment of the rails to help me see the shot. in the hidden pocket shot, for instance, i see the shot best if i can "eliminate" the near rail from the shot.

 

[bruin70]

IMO aiming is really a small part of the game. Perfect execution on a consistent basis is what makes a good player. ....

this has been offered up twice, and i have to agree. tadd here at azB, and archer at his website......that most players miss when they don't address the cb properly.

 

[bruin70]

Most people have good enough hand eye coordination to play pool effectively. They just don't know what to do with it.
,,,,,,,,,,,
You who think you are pointing the tip of the cue at the contact point are really doing something else. May look like you're doing it. May think you are doing it. If it works fine. But, technically you are doing something else.
.

how the mind figures it out is interesting, but i think "aiming directly at the contact point" on a LONG SHOT has benefits. for one, it gives you something to aim at. for another,,on distance shots, aim point and contact point begin to merge(like looking down railroad tracks),,,,and when i can't feel a distance shot's angle, aiming at the actual contact does help at times.

teacherman, i like the way you broke down the process. it was a very clean explanation.

however,,,,i don't think i've seen or read ANYONE solve the key problem in this whole aiming thing where that contact point,, or whatever way one visualizes that "spot" on the ob, IS! i swear to you long ago, i did this experiment wherein i imagined where the contact point was on all the ball on the table. i was right 1/3 of them, overcut another 1/3 of them, and imagined an undercut on the remaining 1/3 of them

 

[Teacherman]

... experiment wherein i imagined where the contact point was on all the ball on the table. i was right 1/3 of them, overcut another 1/3 of them, and imagined an undercut on the remaining 1/3 of them

I'm confused. What are you saying?

 

[bruin70]

I'm confused. What are you saying?

from my position behind the cb, i looked at all 15 balls laying on the table and imagined the contact point on them all. i was right on five balls and wrong on the others(five were overcut and five were undercut)

 

[Zims Rack]

I would like to here more on why you think slowing down the stroke is bad.

Thanks.

Woody

You shouldn't be slowing down or speeding up your stroke! You should maintain the same stroke, just increase or decrease the pendulum distance.

Zim

 

[vapoolplayer]

from my position behind the cb, i looked at all 15 balls laying on the table and imagined the contact point on them all. i was right on five balls and wrong on the others(five were overcut and five were undercut)

sounds like you're getting the aiming point and contact point mixed up a little.

VAP

 

[pete lafond]

You shouldn't be slowing down or speeding up your stroke! You should maintain the same stroke, just increase or decrease the pendulum distance.

Zim

Zim. He is referring to Poolshark52's message. Poolshark52 told him what he does to get back into stroke. Poolshark52 is a very strong player. Runs 100's in straight, great 9 ball player. Crane and others said he was the best pattern player they ever saw.

Anyway, just in case you were were not aware of were this came from.

 

[Zims Rack]

Zim. He is referring to Poolshark52's message. Poolshark52 told him what he does to get back into stroke. Poolshark52 is a very strong player. Runs 100's in straight, great 9 ball player. Crane and others said he was the best pattern player they ever saw.

Anyway, just in case you were were not aware of were this came from.

Thanks! I missed that part!
Sorry to add to the confusion!

Zim

 

[zilgin]

This is my first post here and I hope I'm not out of line.
I'm no hot shot shooter, but I've walked around a few tables in my day.

Anyhow, I look at it in reverse. I draw an imaginary line from the desired point of pocket entry, so whatever the angle of the shot I'm still "in the middle".

The farthest point on the OB away from that line is the desired point of impact (POI).

Then, keeping in mind the radius and/or arc of the CB, I then line the cue/and stick to the desired POI.

I do understand this is affected by english, but was just hoping to give some folks another way to look at aiming. In reverse.

Call me nuts, call me elementary.. call me collect.. just kidding.

Hope I don't get slammed

zilgin

 

[chefjeff]

I'm not sure this is in the right thread, but it is something that has helped me.

I "good" player I know (I watched him and Earl heads up a few years ago) told me that when he taught himself to play, he put a thin strip of white tape in the back middle of the pockets. When he practiced, he'd aim not just for the pocket, but the tape. Precision pool.

This seemed to helped "visualize" the angle even better, and thru the shot. On practice shots, I could see the tape in my peripherial vision.

I'm definately not a teacher, but it definately improved my ball pocketing.

Mike

On well-played Valley tables, the back of the pockets develop 4-5 worn vertical lines that can serve the same purpose as your tape. These make for nice, exact object ball targets, vs. just hitting the pocket.

Jeff Livingston