Blind cueists -- do they exist? Could they exist?

a little off topic but ...

I don't know about blind pool players but I once heard of a blind pool spectator. I understand he listened to the sound of the cue hitting the cue ball, the cue ball crashing into the object ball and the ball hitting the back of the pocket. From that he could tell how good the player was shooting. When you think about it, if you were just hearing the game being played you could tell the approximate distance between the balls in play and the pocket distance too. I guess you could also pick up on a players' tempo and shooting style.
 
LAlouie said:
Plus your term "cueist" would be a misnomer as that suggests some level of expertise.
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Not to quote the OP at all, but
"In that way, a former player who went blind might be able to enjoy the feel and sounds of pocketing balls."


So, "cueist" would seem to be the original description. Someone who went blind and wanted to keep playing pool. You don't need to be able to see what you're doing to develop a straight and level stroke. The only real issue I could see is the amount of trust you would need to have your "spotter" setting you up for the crazy jacked up shots where you're 1/16" away from miscuing.
 
My friends grandpap is legally blind. He shoots as an APA 4 and (honestly) can compete at a higher level. He cant make out the cue ball if its parked anywhere next to the 9 (unless the '9' is facing straight up). If the ball is more than 2 daimonds away from the cue ball, he is taking a pretty good guess at where it is going. I have watched him string together 2 racks in 8 ball, and he has ran 27 against me in straight pool. With the balls being closer, as long as he can make out the cue ball, he puts together great runs.

The man loves to play. All he talks about is the time he got to shoot against Willie Hoppe in Lancaster 60 years ago and how if he shot Willie now, even though he is dead, he'd still need a spot to beat him.
 
wake up

9BallPaul said:
This topic came up in my poolroom recently. Seems to me that a former player who was familiar with stroking the ball could -- with the help of an "aimer" stationed behind him -- have a reasonable chance of making balls.

In that way, a former player who went blind might be able to enjoy the feel and sounds of pocketing balls. More than a few players think I'm nuts.

Instructors, what do you say?
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Your assessment is correct.
You are nuts. Period.
 
JoeW said:
My wife is legally blind (she has no central vision). If I stand on the opposite side of the table and tell her when the back of the cue is lined up she can make about 30% of the shots over six feet or so. She cannot see the object ball but she can see the cue ball with her very limited peripheral vision.

On closer shots she can get an image of the OB that is less than four feet away if she looks out of the side of her eye. To see what she sees place your doubled fists about three inches in front of both eyes and use only your peripheal vision to see the world. You have to look straight ahead and yet try to see things from the sides of your eyes. With this very limited vision she can pocket some balls and usually makes mistakes with cue stick alignment.

We have played a type of pool where she tries to place the the next object ball in any pocket with the cue stick. She does not have to use the cue ball. She has, at times, run four or five balls in a row. Not bad for a blind lady who has a red tipped cane.

BTW she has a good PSR and gets very happy when she can pocket more than three in a row.
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JoeW-

Thanks for sharing that story. Your wife sounds like a great lady.

Take care-both of you
 
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