I'm a relatively newer player and I've never really had a solid system for cut angles. I've been bouncing back and forth between a loose version of Hal Houle's system (before I knew that it was called that) and the ghost ball. Maybe I'm repeating something some else has already been doing, and I'd like any opinions on this newer method that has helped me tremendously. I'll call it the football method. Maybe someone else has called it that or something else already.
Let's suppose it's a hard right cut, maybe 50 degrees or so. It seems relatively easy, (for me anyway) especially before getting into shooting position, to determine the contact point of the object ball. When I transition down into my stance to make the shot, (Just above table view) I look at the distance between the contact point and, in this case, the left edge of the object ball. This is half the football. I then picture an imaginary spot of where I think the other half of the football should be. The imaginary right edge of the "football" is in reality, the right edge of the ghost ball. Basically, overlap two circles and you get a football with the contact point precisely in the center of the football. When I hit the shot, when practical, I make sure to maintain eye contact with the object ball until I hear the contact to see if I actually made the football the right size.
If your concerned about throw or cueball size, you can adjust you aim before you determine the contact point slightly if you wish. Other than that, it seems suspiciously simple.
If this is a common thing to do then I'm sorry to take up space here. I'm a newer player and new to the forum and I was just curious. I recently discovered that I have a stigmatism in my right eye that messes up my depth perception so it sort of forces me to come up with something other than feel. I also like it because it works no matter how close or far away the object ball is.
I'd enjoy any and all comments both positive and negative.
Da Poet
Let's suppose it's a hard right cut, maybe 50 degrees or so. It seems relatively easy, (for me anyway) especially before getting into shooting position, to determine the contact point of the object ball. When I transition down into my stance to make the shot, (Just above table view) I look at the distance between the contact point and, in this case, the left edge of the object ball. This is half the football. I then picture an imaginary spot of where I think the other half of the football should be. The imaginary right edge of the "football" is in reality, the right edge of the ghost ball. Basically, overlap two circles and you get a football with the contact point precisely in the center of the football. When I hit the shot, when practical, I make sure to maintain eye contact with the object ball until I hear the contact to see if I actually made the football the right size.
If your concerned about throw or cueball size, you can adjust you aim before you determine the contact point slightly if you wish. Other than that, it seems suspiciously simple.
If this is a common thing to do then I'm sorry to take up space here. I'm a newer player and new to the forum and I was just curious. I recently discovered that I have a stigmatism in my right eye that messes up my depth perception so it sort of forces me to come up with something other than feel. I also like it because it works no matter how close or far away the object ball is.
I'd enjoy any and all comments both positive and negative.
Da Poet
