Anybody switch from glasses to contacts for the game?

PocketSpeed11

PocketSpeed11

AzB Long Member
Silver Member
I just wanted to know if there was a discernible improvement in anybody's game when they switched from glasses to contacts.

Personally, I'm tall and not super-flexible so it might affect me more than somebody who can get their chin right down to the cue. I know it is not like I would suddenly jump up a few speeds, but I just find myself arching my neck uncomfortably at times to get a good view of the object ball. I'm finally thinking about getting some contacts.

Additionally, are there/have there been pros other than Sylver Ochoa who were glasses at the table? (and not billiards glasses like Karen Corr wears)
 
My game improved after I switched from glasses to contacts.

However, my glasses were old prescription so that also had an effect.

At first I tried soft contacts but due to my astigmatism and their composition, the rotation of the contacts and the deformation caused from blinking made my vision blurry from time to time, so I switched to rigid gas permeable contacts.

There's still some blurriness caused from the contacts sliding around when I blink and sometimes they feel dry and the break in period for RGPs are a b*^&h (it'll feel like you want to scratch your eyes out), took me about a month to get used to them but the visual acuity and amount of periphery are top notch.

If you don't mind big billiard glasses, they'll probably be better and more comfortable, but I wouldn't go back to glasses for the game :thumbup:
 
The main reason I wear contacts now is to play. If I'm not playing I wear glasses as its better for your eyes. Yes it's much easier for me to play wearing contacts.
 
dizAndyVan said:
My game improved after I switched from glasses to contacts.

However, my glasses were old prescription so that also had an effect.

At first I tried soft contacts but due to my astigmatism and their composition, the rotation of the contacts and the deformation caused from blinking made my vision blurry from time to time, so I switched to rigid gas permeable contacts.

There's still some blurriness caused from the contacts sliding around when I blink and sometimes they feel dry and the break in period for RGPs are a b*^&h (it'll feel like you want to scratch your eyes out), took me about a month to get used to them but the visual acuity and amount of periphery are top notch.

If you don't mind big billiard glasses, they'll probably be better and more comfortable, but I wouldn't go back to glasses for the game :thumbup:
Click to expand...

I have an astigmatism too, but I just can't wear those. It feels like I have something in my eye (well I do, but I can't tell)
 
Wade Crane wore glasses when compeating in his early years, switched to contacts later and played better--was wearing contacts when he ran the session out against Buddy Hall in the finals back in 85.....
 
Glasses to Contacts

I switched from Pool Glasses (heavy coke bottles) to contacts (optimized for 3 to 12 feet) and I'm really glad I did!

For about a month I was seeing everything a half ball to the left, but I see the shots better, get down easier and don't have this weight hanging on my face.

Hope that helps.
 
I have used both and these are my observations. I am currently just over 60 and have worn DeCot glasses to play pool for the last ten years. I decided to try contacts last year and my eye doc gave me a 50/50 chance of pulling it off due to my age. I did get comfortable putting them in and out and after some trial and error got some that were comfortable. My vision was better with them and the overhead lighting was no longer a problem. The peripheral vision way better BTW. After a month or so I began to have comfort problems with them do to protein buildup and it gradually became worse over time. The issue with eye drops and the plethora of solutions became a challenge which I was unable to resolve and get comfortable with. My daughter had similar issues and her eye doc has her using an older non silicone based contact now and she loves them. I may try them next myself but for now I am back to my DeCot glasses. The issues I had may be just my physical makeup as my daughter who is 26 had the same so anyone elses experience may be totally different. Good Luck!
 
Contacts are better for me but much more of a hassle. I have a severe astigmatism so if one rotates just a little I can't see. I find myself re-wetting and fidgeting with them in the middle of matches trying to get it back into focus, and yes they are correct for my eyes.

I also have the big oversize pool glasses. I like them and they work well.

For me if I am playing a long session I stick to my glasses, been wearing my regular non oversize glasses lately. Contacts are slightly better but the hassle of them outweighs the benefit for me.
 
I got an rx for contacts and went through a bunch of trials I think I found ones that I like but I've yet to get the rx filled. And Yes it's much easier to use the contacts than any glasses. Even my large frames get in the way a little.
My doc wrote me up an rx for disposable contacts, he thought it would help since there is so much smoke at the bars typically. He mentioned his parents played pool too so he understood the trouble I was having over my frames. I've been tempted recently to get my rx filled at Sam's club, they have the best prices on my rx.
 
PocketSpeed11 said:
I just wanted to know if there was a discernible improvement in anybody's game when they switched from glasses to contacts.

Personally, I'm tall and not super-flexible so it might affect me more than somebody who can get their chin right down to the cue. I know it is not like I would suddenly jump up a few speeds, but I just find myself arching my neck uncomfortably at times to get a good view of the object ball. I'm finally thinking about getting some contacts.

Additionally, are there/have there been pros other than Sylver Ochoa who were glasses at the table? (and not billiards glasses like Karen Corr wears)
Click to expand...

I used both, contacts seem to give you same object size, where as glasses reduce actual size of objects, but what improved my game is looking at OB aim through CB and pocket all at once until you see that magical peripheral aim, 1st find it for center of pocket (or for 100% straight shot) then you will be able to see where need to aim and adjust for errors such as throw, EIT, ....etc; sure you will say i do not need all of that, the answer is yes for easy shots, but as angle gets larger and as ob is further from pocket tenth of an inch in aim spot matters. Other fact is knowing where to aim for the different cb conditions.
 
I have thought about contacts for pool playing only, but as bigshooter has mentioned there can be problems. Any suggestions? :smile:
 
Tramp Steamer said:
I have thought about contacts for pool playing only, but as bigshooter has mentioned there can be problems. Any suggestions? :smile:
Click to expand...


Contacts are not good in rooms filled with smoke, may last an hour or so, but then you will have issues..
 
I've been playing in contacts since 1990 so my comparison now is a bit tainted. I almost never wear glasses now and when I do, I have a very difficult time adjusting. The truth is, contacts are simply better for everything. The correction happens right on your eye so objects appear at actual size, not smaller. Depth perception is more accurate. And, the obvious, it doesn't matter how you tilt your head, you're not going to be limited by the size of your frames or the angle of your lenses.

If you choose to play with glasses and you want to play your best, I would strongly recommend sitting down with your optometrist to find out about options. These optometrists are very hip to what the industry offers for athletes and will often have plenty of solutions available to you. With that said, I know a guy in New York City who wears glasses all the time and he's got a high-run near 300 AND they're just normal everyday glasses so that should tell you something.
 
Before I got LASIK I used to wear glasses all day and then change into contacts just to play pool.

It kinda depends on the shape of your frames and your stance. If you have your chin on the cue, you probably look "up" to see the shot, looking just past your eyebrows. This means most glasses wouldn't work; you'd be looking over them rather than through them. A more upright stance might have you looking right through the middle of the lenses.

For me I preferred smaller frames and I play with my chin on the cue, so I kept contacts around pretty much just for playing pool. Now that I'm all lasered up I just shoot. It's nice.

-Andrew
 
Glasses suck, Contacts killed me , especially in smokey environment, I ended with Lasik eye surgery. I cant rave enough about it.
 
Just wear contacts when playing and they are for about 2 to 12 feet. My eyes aren't all that bad, but keeps me from seeing two edges( or fuzzy edges) on the balls. Watching TV is great with them.
 
Contacts

Lasik almost fixed my eye.

I play with my chin right
down on the cue. I use
soft contacts with an
astigmatism in smokey
bars for long periods of
time. I am totally unaware
of the contacts. At sixty
years old my biggest problem
was learning to put them in.
After that I never had
any sort of problem.
Maybe I'm just
lucky!
 
As my first post, I considered starting a similar thread. My forum experience led me to the search function.

My game suffers significantly when I play in my eye glasses. I play at home daily and just can't put runs together when I'm wearing my glasses. I thought it was in my head, but it seems like I may not be the only one.
 
I played in glasses for a few years and had most of my skill improvements during that time. I constantly was pushing them as close to my eyes as possible so my field of view was correct.
After my dog mangled those glasses, I took the plunge and got contacts (I'd wanted to for years) and I was ecstatic with the results. I wear contacts for around 15-16 hours, 7 days a week. I've been in smokey rooms for 36 hours straight, and they get a little dry from the extended wear and smoke, but eye drops help with that. The biggest issue I have is taking them out after the extended time in smoke; when they come out I usually trash them, and my eyes burn and water from the fresh air hitting them.
 
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