aiming

9ball

9ball

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Just curious, If you came up with an aiming system or technique, That was absolutely great in pocketing balls from all over the table, and was both easy for beginners and advance players to use once they were taught.
Would you devulge it to others? Now I know many of you don`t believe in systems and thats ok! But what if I had a way to seriously help your game, Should I show it to others? Would you show your secret to other players?

Now I know there are many systems out there and lets not get sidetracked into Hal Houles systems .

My question is: If you honestly had a way to make pocketing balls easier and this info would help anyone you showed it to , Would you?

Its been my experience with many players both pro and top level shortstops that whenever it came to asking them about aiming, they seem to always clam up.

When asked how they aim they always seem to say , Well how do you aim? and then they say thats how I do it! (They). So I`m curious are they just protecting their secrets on how they aim?

Which leads to my question what would you do? would you share , give, sell your secrets to aiming? I find that when I`m in the pool hall I see many players miss shots that I would consider routine, And I know that I could help them. But should I? Or do I really want to share my secrets. I know I work hard on my aiming technique and patterns and wonder if it would be right to to just give it away. Anyways I would like to hear your opinions on this.
 
If I had a great aiming system that worked for anybody, and somebody asked me to show them how to aim, I would show them without hesitation. The only people who usually ask me how to make balls are my friends and family. Even if a guy in a pool hall (this has actually happened) came up to me and asked me how to aim, I would show them.

Keep in mind, pool is a hobby of mine and nothing more. I make my living working in finance at a bank. If my livelihood was on the line, I might not be so generous. If I made my living giving lessons and somebody asked me the same question, I would say set up a time for some private lessons, I charge $100/hour.

I enjoy helping people. If I have knowledge to share, the only thing one needs to do to gain that knowledge is ask.

Anyone who makes their living playing pool, teaching pool, or gambling on pool (even if its on the side) might not be so quick to divulge that information.
 
9ball said:
When asked how they aim they always seem to say , Well how do you aim? and then they say thats how I do it! (They). So I`m curious are they just protecting their secrets on how they aim?
Click to expand...

I don't think they are keeping it as a secret. They just don't know what their aimingsystem is. They have shot every possible situation for perhaps thousand or more times. They just see it and know how to shoot.

If someone ask me to teach him an aimingsystem, I wouldn't hestitate, I just teach them. But I don't think there is a good aimingsystem out there. It work or it don't work. I can only teach you something that might work. I've try many, at the first sight, they seems to work, but there are so many factors that will effect the system, like throw, reverse english, etc.

I think, most of the players are using feel to aim. So I've develop an aiming system that uses feel to aim. I've noticed that feel are limited to easy shots. So when there is a hugh angle, something between 45-90 degrees, it will be thougher to aim by feel. When the angle is big, go stand straight to a shot. Your feelings will tell you to hit a full hit ball to make the pot. Take one step to the right or left, and get closer to the CB. Aim again, your feel will tell you how much you need to hit the OB. Continu this, until you stand perfect behind the CB. By aiming step by step, you will get the perfect feel how to aim.

And yes, I'm a really slow player, even without this aiming system. I haven't practice this yet, but it should work. I'm already a slow player. By using this system will make me even slower :D . I just don't care, I play for myself, not for my opponent.
 
Generally, I agree with you but have never liked the word "feel" to describe aiming because there is a suggestion that the shot is not being aimed at all...and of course, it is. The shooter is aiming at SOMETHING...knows exactly what and why.

I perfer the word "experience" over "feel"...not to split hairs...just because I think it is more descriptive.

I don't use a "system" on a great many shots because, through experience, I can just see the angle and know what adjustments to make for all the variables such as squirt, swerve, throw(s) etc.

The ONLY difference between me and a pro (and unfortunately, it's a BIG difference) is that they have a MUCH wider range of shots that they have reduced to "experience."

But I refuse to believe that all pros use all experience and no "technical method" to dial in on a measurable percentage of their shots.

I also agree that a LOT of pros...including some that teach DO NOT get into much detail on how THEY aim but rather, discuss various methods that we all know about and which have been presented on this forum for years.

And they don't get into intimate details...because why should they? I don't think that active baseball pitchers are holding seminars on how THEY throw sliders!

Back in the day, many top pros would not say a WORD to help anyone else...Mosconi swore that Greenleaf never told him BEANS...that he just picked it up by watching.

Hoppe actually put DISINFORMATION in print from what I've been told and have read.

I agree that in spite certain aggressive comments to the contrary, no one aiming system works all the time and that every system will be progressively abandoned by the better players who eventually...through experience...come to SEE a greater and greater percentage of the shots.

And no aiming system known to man (again in spite of protestations to the contrary) can possibly factor in all the cueing variables...the understanding of which (together with mental toughness, nerve and HEART) truly separates the champions from the wannabees.

Regards,
Jim




WesleyW said:
I don't think they are keeping it as a secret. They just don't know what their aimingsystem is. They have shot every possible situation for perhaps thousand or more times. They just see it and know how to shoot.

If someone ask me to teach him an aimingsystem, I wouldn't hestitate, I just teach them. But I don't think there is a good aimingsystem out there. It work or it don't work. I can only teach you something that might work. I've try many, at the first sight, they seems to work, but there are so many factors that will effect the system, like throw, reverse english, etc.

I think, most of the players are using feel to aim. So I've develop an aiming system that uses feel to aim. I've noticed that feel are limited to easy shots. So when there is a hugh angle, something between 45-90 degrees, it will be thougher to aim by feel. When the angle is big, go stand straight to a shot. Your feelings will tell you to hit a full hit ball to make the pot. Take one step to the right or left, and get closer to the CB. Aim again, your feel will tell you how much you need to hit the OB. Continu this, until you stand perfect behind the CB. By aiming step by step, you will get the perfect feel how to aim.

And yes, I'm a really slow player, even without this aiming system. I haven't practice this yet, but it should work. I'm already a slow player. By using this system will make me even slower :D . I just don't care, I play for myself, not for my opponent.
Click to expand...
 
Almost every game, every time we play here, someone asks a question on how did you make that shot, or how can I learn to make it... We normally will repeat the shot and show the guy or girl how it was done... However, that is without any money on the light...
Lots of people have made money showing people how to play... Just think about Dr. Dave...
If you have a system and it works, market it... As bad as my game is now, I would probably be the first in line...
B:)
 
I tell my "secrets" freely...it's not like their game will jump to a whole new level just like that. If anything making my colleagues stronger players pushes me harder, makes me improve.

I think all really good players rely on muscle memory to aim. What could be better than that? They have practiced for decades and don't need any rational thinking system.
 
Pool

Call Me At 484 623 4144 And I Well Tell You Exactly How An Aiming System Works. Very Simple.
 
kildegirl said:
Call Me At 484 623 4144 And I Well Tell You Exactly How An Aiming System Works. Very Simple.
Click to expand...

Every aiming system works the same. Aim and shoot :D
 
Most players use variations of two basic aiming methods, Rifle Aim (cue under dominant eye) or Center Aim (cue under chin).

The most important thing is to shoot the shots using the same aim/alignment since the brain takes a "picture" of each shot.

In order for the picture to playback correctly, your body needs to be in the same position as the recorded version. Regardless of which aiming method is used, it's important to remain consistent for this reason.
 
9ball said:
Just curious, If you came up with an aiming system or technique, That was absolutely great in pocketing balls from all over the table, and was both easy for beginners and advance players to use once they were taught.
Would you devulge it to others? Now I know many of you don`t believe in systems and thats ok! But what if I had a way to seriously help your game, Should I show it to others? Would you show your secret to other players?

Now I know there are many systems out there and lets not get sidetracked into Hal Houles systems .

My question is: If you honestly had a way to make pocketing balls easier and this info would help anyone you showed it to , Would you?

Its been my experience with many players both pro and top level shortstops that whenever it came to asking them about aiming, they seem to always clam up.

When asked how they aim they always seem to say , Well how do you aim? and then they say thats how I do it! (They). So I`m curious are they just protecting their secrets on how they aim?

Which leads to my question what would you do? would you share , give, sell your secrets to aiming? I find that when I`m in the pool hall I see many players miss shots that I would consider routine, And I know that I could help them. But should I? Or do I really want to share my secrets. I know I work hard on my aiming technique and patterns and wonder if it would be right to to just give it away. Anyways I would like to hear your opinions on this.
Click to expand...

Sure.

But if they can't consistently send the cue ball where they are looking, it doesn't matter any ways.

I find that fixing a players stroke and alignement have a far greater impact on a persons game.

At the end of the day, if you can't make a long straight in shot, Aiming isn't your biggest problem.
 
I don't think aiming can be taught. Oh sure, you can teach the fundamentals, ghost ball and all that. You can have it free at Dr. Daves website and I doubt that you can get anything better no matter what you are willing to pay. Some people are better pool players than others. I'm a c player and I think thats the top of my ability, and since I have been playing, off and on for 67 years now I think I have reason to believe so. I like the game and will continue to play whether or not I improve. But I will still try.

Dave Nelson

At the end of the day, if you can't make a long straight in shot, Aiming isn't your biggest problem.

I agree with the above statement.
 
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aiming system sharing

9ball said:
My question is: If you honestly had a way to make pocketing balls easier and this info would help anyone you showed it to , Would you?
Click to expand...
I think this question is too hypothetical, because it implies there could be a magical silver bullet "system" that can make pocketing balls easier for all. This is a nice dream, but not a practical reality, IMHO.

Many people have shared aiming systems, but none of them will magically make pocketing balls easier. A good summary of many aiming systems that have been shared can be found here:


Regards,
Dave (still in search for the "Holy Grail" aiming "system")
 
Thanks for all the replys . It`s interesting to know how others feel about this subject. Please keep them coming.

As Dr. dave suggest there is no magic bullet, and I think you better have a halfway decent stroke, But I never worry about skid, squirt, ect and if you put your mind to it and pratice a bit each day you can learn to pocket balls as well as anyone in my opinion.

I`ve been asked by several pros themselves , as to How I pocket balls , especially ones considered to be long hard angle shots. Seems they at least were interested in learning something new!

Now honestly, I am by no means a pro player as it take alot more than ball pocketing ability to acheive that,, But I am working on it!:D
 
Roadkill said:
Most players use variations of two basic aiming methods, Rifle Aim (cue under dominant eye) or Center Aim (cue under chin).

The most important thing is to shoot the shots using the same aim/alignment since the brain takes a "picture" of each shot.

In order for the picture to playback correctly, your body needs to be in the same position as the recorded version. Regardless of which aiming method is used, it's important to remain consistent for this reason.
Click to expand...

All correct, but the issue is to aim WHERE? Lot's of variables including squirt, swerve, CIT, SIT and even bouncing.

In shooting, we basically worry about wind, distance and target speed/direction...if any.

Fortunately, in shooting, there is no CIT...only CIH...Collision Induced Hole.

(-:

Jim
 
Cameron Smith said:
Sure.

But if they can't consistently send the cue ball where they are looking, it doesn't matter any ways.

I find that fixing a players stroke and alignement have a far greater impact on a persons game.

At the end of the day, if you can't make a long straight in shot, Aiming isn't your biggest problem.
Click to expand...

Right!


Jim
 
Dave Nelson said:
I don't think aiming can be taught. Oh sure, you can teach the fundamentals, ghost ball and all that. You can have it free at Dr. Daves website and I doubt that you can get anything better no matter what you are willing to pay. Some people are better pool players than others. I'm a c player and I think thats the top of my ability, and since I have been playing, off and on for 67 years now I think I have reason to believe so. I like the game and will continue to play whether or not I improve. But I will still try.

Dave Nelson

At the end of the day, if you can't make a long straight in shot, Aiming isn't your biggest problem.

I agree with the above statement.
Click to expand...

Respectfully, yes aiming CAN be taught and again with respect, had someone taught you or had you been able to teach yourself, you would not have spent so many years as a C player.

Some systems break down under certain circumstance but that doesn't matter if you know what those circumstances are and have other aiming methods.

The Ghost Ball method, is of course, infallible....IF...you know where the GB should be for every combination of speed, cut angle and cueing technique...AND...once having found that position, you can KEEP it positioned in your mind's eye as you proceed to take your eyes on and off the OB repeatedly before shooting.

That's a very slippery slope.

But as I have said many times, for every minute practicing aiming difficult shots, 10-20 minutes should be spent honing position skills so that you don't have as many tough ones in the first place.

Show me a player who makes FEWER tough shots than his/her opponents and I'll show you the Champion of the World.

Regards,
Jim
 
av84fun said:
Generally, I agree with you but have never liked the word "feel" to describe aiming because there is a suggestion that the shot is not being aimed at all...and of course, it is. The shooter is aiming at SOMETHING...knows exactly what and why.

I perfer the word "experience" over "feel"...not to split hairs...just because I think it is more descriptive.

Regards,
Jim
Click to expand...

Well put! I've never agreed with the word "feel" myself in regard to aiming. It makes you think you should be able to make the shot with your eyes closed. Of course, maybe you could, lined up properly, executing everything the same way, every time, but I doubt it;) The eyes need to look at something or it's not aiming, I'd say.
 
Pushout said:
Well put! I've never agreed with the word "feel" myself in regard to aiming. It makes you think you should be able to make the shot with your eyes closed. Of course, maybe you could, lined up properly, executing everything the same way, every time, but I doubt it;) The eyes need to look at something or it's not aiming, I'd say.
Click to expand...

You really need to watch Eddie Taylor, he would line up 8 banks into the side pocket, move the cue to a new position take two practice strokes, look away from the ball and then sink them... Wish I had half his talent...
 
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