Aiming With Squares

Hal's system has been explained and Patrick understands it. He's a smart guy. He gets it. He understands that it's useful. No one is denying that. If it works for people, it works. But it isn't perfect. It isn't automatic as some would suggest. There are plenty of adjustments taking place. But again, it works because it helps you to work better. I think it's great because it organizes your shot inventory by dividing it up at half ball.

Do all aiming threads have to end up being Hal system arguments? It's like a virus that gets spread with the word "aiming."
 
Patrick Johnson said:
Hal probably knew less than the engineers about how he made shots. Being able to make shots with Hal's systems (or any system) doesn't mean you know how you're doing it, as system users demonstrate repeatedly here.

pj
chgo
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ALL "aiming systems" are a joke. whether you give them away, (as Houlie does)
or charge for them. If they worked, everyone would be a champion.
If you don't know where to hit the ball, it ain't going in the hole !
I hate to see novice's and beginner's, subscribe to these b------t, mathematical equations. I would be very surprised if ANY of todays top player's believed in these theories.(unless they were being paid to promote them) All you frustrated mechanical engineer's need to lighten up a little.
Your complicated algebraic solutions, DO NOT WORK in the real world.

Dick
 
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SJDinPHX said:
ALL "aiming systems" are a joke. whether you give them away, (as Houlie does)
or charge for them. If they worked, everyone would be a champion.
If you don't know where to hit the ball, it ain't going in the hole !
I hate to see novice's and beginner's, subscribe to these b------t, mathematical equations. I would be very surprised if ANY of todays top player's believed in these theories.(unless they were being paid to promote them) All you frustrated mechanical engineer's need to lighten up a little.
Your complicated algebraic solutions, DO NOT WORK in the real world.

Dick
Click to expand...

What mathematical equations are you referring to? The numbers I listed are just reference shot angles. Half ball = 30... Quarter ball = 49... etc.
Maybe I'll simplify the template by removing the numbers and just putting in the aiming fractions. But the fractions do work, and they work without much thought. I find visualizing this square very easy for most shots. And dividing the sides of the square by quarters or thirds is easy as well. If the ball lies between two reference points you just aim between two reference aims.

One thing that I'm wondering is why some people are putting limits on their knowledge. I think it's worth asking, "Am I content with how I play or could I be better?" If you're not perfect yet, maybe you have something to learn. Isn't there room for new information? Isn't it possible that you don't know all there is to know? Isn't it even possible that some nobody on a little forum like this might come up with something new that might make your game better?
 
bluepepper said:
Isn't it even possible that some nobody on a little forum like this might come up with something new that might make your game better?
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Certainly. :) Learn stuff here all the time , lot of ways to maintain a tip or shaft , lot of ways to play shape or position , lots of way to practice for the big day.

Problem is . . . only one spot on the ball will knock it in the hole and I already know where that is. ;)










JUst trying to be funny. ;)
 
SJDinPHX said:
ALL "aiming systems" are a joke. whether you give them away, (as Houlie does)
or charge for them. If they worked, everyone would be a champion.
If you don't know where to hit the ball, it ain't going in the hole !
I hate to see novice's and beginner's, subscribe to these b------t, mathematical equations. I would be very surprised if ANY of todays top player's believed in these theories.(unless they were being paid to promote them) All you frustrated mechanical engineer's need to lighten up a little.
Your complicated algebraic solutions, DO NOT WORK in the real world.

Dick
Click to expand...
tap tap tap
If you know how to control whitey, you must know where the ob is going.
 
Adjustment for close balls?

I think when aiming with OB and CB close together, you can get closer to the proper angle by visualizing the square using the top inside area(instead of the center) of the cueball to start the square. It sort of pushes the angle away from the normal position to adjust for the necessary steeper cut needed as balls get closer to one another. Not perfect but the best I can come up with at this point.

Here's a 60 degree cut located by using the top left area of the cueball as the start of the square. The object ball falls on the 60 degree point of the template.

CueTable Help

 
I am in favor of using the ghost ball method to groove your aim, then, forget about it and let your mind-hand-eye computer take over. To your point, I have seen players use the ghost ball inconsistently, sighting the ball several ways before coming up with a visualization of the position of the ball at the moment of contact. I took a lesson from a very good teacher--I'll ask him if I can use his name here before I do--and what he showed me immediately added consistency to my shots. That is this: put your cue tip on the cloth at the point where the center of the ball will be at contact, about 1-1/8" from the edge of the OB--or to define it differently, one ball distance from the point where the OB is resting on the table. Do this consistently, you will make shots. I agree with those above who eschew making difficult visualizations.

But, opinions are like.......
 
Otown said:
I am in favor of using the ghost ball method to groove your aim, then, forget about it and let your mind-hand-eye computer take over. To your point, I have seen players use the ghost ball inconsistently, sighting the ball several ways before coming up with a visualization of the position of the ball at the moment of contact. I took a lesson from a very good teacher--I'll ask him if I can use his name here before I do--and what he showed me immediately added consistency to my shots. That is this: put your cue tip on the cloth at the point where the center of the ball will be at contact, about 1-1/8" from the edge of the OB--or to define it differently, one ball distance from the point where the OB is resting on the table. Do this consistently, you will make shots. I agree with those above who eschew making difficult visualizations.

But, opinions are like.......
Click to expand...

That's something I've tried to do in the past as well, and something I think may be a little easier to visualize. Maybe practicing seeing that 1 1/8 distance is worth working on. But then again, you have to not only visualize the 1 1/8 distance, but in order to adjust it properly for the shot at hand, you have to be able to visually shorten it and lengthen it appropriately by visualizing the line to the pocket. But it still may be worth practicing.
Thanks
 
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