Aiming Without Pockets

I looked at a pocket I missed......never made that mistake again

Pidge said:
Yes, the majority of the time the pocket is within the field of vision but I don't specifically focus on the pocket.

Cut backs into blind pockets are the exception. Even then I don't look at the pocket and these particular shots are my real strength. They're probably up there potting percentage-wise with any pro in the game.

People have a tendency to let the pocket influence their alignment and steer because of this. Try playing a full rack of 9 ball, but when you get down close your eyes and shoot. Lots of people miss because of poor alignment and rely on making fine adjustments when down based on seeing the pocket. My alignment is the strongest part of my fundamentals and doesn't need adjusting much because I pay attention to the balls relationship on the table and not the pocket.
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I agree, the only time I looked at a pocket I missed......never made that mistake again. ;)
 
Where the pocket is at is really only important when you are determining your contact point/target line on the object ball. After you establish that there is absolutely no reason you need the pocket again. Otherwise it can be a distraction.

From past experience I can tell you that when I make the mistake of allowing the pocket to distract me, even if I dont directly look at it, it influences my shot and I typically miss. A long slight cut to a corner is a good example. You are looking at the object ball and see the pocket right there behind it. I had a tendency to get into my shoot and readjust because of that which resulted in a miss an awful lot. Now I "try" to do one of 2 things: I either use CTE and just trust it and shoot or I get my contact point and just concentrate 100% on making my shot line take the cue ball to that point. Of course some old habits are hard to kick.
 
I use my vision different than most cause of racing motorcycles where you have to see everything but not look at one thing. You have to be able to see what is going on around you or you will crash.

Not everyone has the same skills as I do when it comes how to use ones vision.
 
Once again, to each their own.
What an amazing game, so many different approaches to a game with high quality results from them all.

I love this game
 
SmoothStroke said:
Once again, to each their own.
What an amazing game, so many different approaches to a game with high quality results from them all.

I love this game
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So much truth in this statement. I have a wide background of different jobs and life experiences and do draw from it all in my approach to pool.

Land Surveying before GPS

Drafting

Racing

Physics

Engineering

Photography

Martial Arts

Zen

Testing Systems

If you can put the OB and CB where ever you want consistently, that is all that matters in pool.

When someone beats me, I don't go looking for a new anything.....I just practice better.
 
duckie said:
So much truth in this statement. I have a wide background of different jobs and life experiences and do draw from it all in my approach to pool.

Land Surveying before GPS

Drafting

Racing

Physics

Engineering

Photography

Martial Arts

Zen

Testing Systems

If you can put the OB and CB where ever you want consistently, that is all that matters in pool.

When someone beats me, I don't go looking for a new anything.....I just practice better.
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As I must say the same to you, well said
I don't look for anything new, I screw up enough with what little I know, which isn't much.
 
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the contact point/target line on the object ball

Skippy27 said:
Where the pocket is at is really only important when you are determining your contact point/target line on the object ball. After you establish that there is absolutely no reason you need the pocket again. Otherwise it can be a distraction.

From past experience I can tell you that when I make the mistake of allowing the pocket to distract me, even if I dont directly look at it, it influences my shot and I typically miss. A long slight cut to a corner is a good example. You are looking at the object ball and see the pocket right there behind it. I had a tendency to get into my shoot and readjust because of that which resulted in a miss an awful lot. Now I "try" to do one of 2 things: I either use CTE and just trust it and shoot or I get my contact point and just concentrate 100% on making my shot line take the cue ball to that point. Of course some old habits are hard to kick.
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You don't have to determine the contact point/target line on the object ball either.
 
You are going to need to explain this one CJ.

Unless you are just randomly walking up and shooting at balls you need to make some kind of determination where contact on that object ball needs to be made in order to send it in the direction you want.

The only system I know of that does not require that a majority of that time is CTE. But center pocket is not always an option or your aim (caroms, kicks and combos).
 
you will want to start from a consistent relationship between the cue ball and O.B.

Skippy27 said:
You are going to need to explain this one CJ.

Unless you are just randomly walking up and shooting at balls you need to make some kind of determination where contact on that object ball needs to be made in order to send it in the direction you want.

The only system I know of that does not require that a majority of that time is CTE. But center pocket is not always an option or your aim (caroms, kicks and combos).
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I'm creating angles, not hitting one ball into a "contact point" of another ball.

To do this you will want to start from a consistent relationship between the cue ball and object ball.

I use either the center of the cue ball to the center of the object ball or the center of the cue ball to the edge of the object ball.
 
Tomatoes Tamatoes.

Through hundreds of thousands, if not millions of times, you have addressed the cue ball you have familiarized yourself to accomplish this with very little thought of anything else. I slowly have noticed this as well in my own game for shots.

Though I can say I use your "creating angles" method, I do know that to confirm my angle I am taking note that the cue ball will be contacting the object ball within the acceptable contact point that will make it travel where I want. Or in difficult shots I am finding that spot and then addressing the cue ball to give me the angle to strike it.

The same can be said with CTE. As I use that more, I begin to see more of the lines and shots before actually getting into position to even start the process of using that method. I personally would say it is because of the above and I am seeing the angles right off much quicker then before.
 
If you see me doing this IMMEDIATELY bet against me

Skippy27 said:
Tomatoes Tamatoes.

Through hundreds of thousands, if not millions of times, you have addressed the cue ball you have familiarized yourself to accomplish this with very little thought of anything else. I slowly have noticed this as well in my own game for shots.

Though I can say I use your "creating angles" method, I do know that to confirm my angle I am taking note that the cue ball will be contacting the object ball within the acceptable contact point that will make it travel where I want. Or in difficult shots I am finding that spot and then addressing the cue ball to give me the angle to strike it.

The same can be said with CTE. As I use that more, I begin to see more of the lines and shots before actually getting into position to even start the process of using that method. I personally would say it is because of the above and I am seeing the angles right off much quicker then before.
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.

You are doing fine with that technique, personally I couldn't play my top game being that "conscious".

My point is I look at the balls as if they're two dimensional (flat) "the only time I look at a contact point is when I'm trying to miss"

If you see me doing this IMMEDIATELY bet against me, my mind is somewhere else. ;)
 
CJ Wiley said:
.

You are doing fine with that technique, personally I couldn't play my top game being that "conscious".

My point is I look at the balls as if they're two dimensional (flat) "the only time I look at a contact point is when I'm trying to miss"

If you see me doing this IMMEDIATELY bet against me, my mind is somewhere else. ;)
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Haha,,,,That is hysterical
 
CJ Wiley said:
.

You are doing fine with that technique, personally I couldn't play my top game being that "conscious".

My point is I look at the balls as if they're two dimensional (flat) "the only time I look at a contact point is when I'm trying to miss"

If you see me doing this IMMEDIATELY bet against me, my mind is somewhere else. ;)
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Is there some technique for doing that (emphasis mine)? Other than hypnosis, I'd rally have to think about that! But, since I'm a pool player, thinking is not one of my strong suits. Any help? :grin:

Deep down, you must be a fractional aiming guy or some type of double the distance/parallel offset aimer. Your inner pool brain must see that relationship in 2D and, like gun turret, move you into position as you get down. Thinking about the aim line is def your downfall.

Best,
Mike
 
Which makes sense, you are much more experienced then I thus you have a much better "mind's eye" to just see the angles.
 
Imagination is like a muscle that can be strengthened through exercise.

Mikjary said:
Is there some technique for doing that (emphasis mine)? Other than hypnosis, I'd rally have to think about that! But, since I'm a pool player, thinking is not one of my strong suits. Any help? :grin:

Deep down, you must be a fractional aiming guy or some type of double the distance/parallel offset aimer. Your inner pool brain must see that relationship in 2D and, like gun turret, move you into position as you get down. Thinking about the aim line is def your downfall.

Best,
Mike
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The best way to start is to imagine that the cue ball is much larger than the other balls on the table. Imagination is like a muscle that can be strengthened through exercise and repetition.

I was told many years ago that the human perception of a pool shot is a constructed illusion, it's up to us to make this illusion match our inner map......so that it seems correct. This is why each individual sees pool differently........they literally see pool differently.

I have trained myself to see the shots as
 
Mikjary said:
As what? :) You musta got a call.

Best,
Mike
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That's funny, looks like I got side-tracked. ;)

I have trained myself to see the shots as straight in first, then I allow the "creative side" of my mind create the angle. I'm a firm believer that we need to "feel" the angle with our eyes.....this may sound far out to some, if so, just put it on a shelf it will make sense some other time. :)

Thanks, Mike
 
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