diagrams pertaining to pivot-based aiming systems

Colin Colenso said:
Dave,
Are you trying to make Mike Sigel and Efren, from the IPT King of the Hill final look bad? lol

I reckon any top pro would think himself in top shape if he potted like that in his pre-match warm up.

Colin


Thanks, Colin. Looking forward to reviewing the ghost-ballers' videos.
 
Last edited:
Now I get it!

Patrick Johnson said:
Yes, you're wrong - but at least you're beginning to ask the right detailed questions rather than just assuming that because 3D is "different" it makes a real difference here.

If you line up a CB and several OBs so their centers are on a straight line, their right edges (and left edges) also line up on straight lines. In other words, you look along the same line to see the edges of OBs at any distance - no eye movement required.

View attachment 82561

pj
chgo

PJ Thanks for the diagram! Spider thanks for saying that it is perception! I don't claim to be a great player - just someone who works a full time job and wants to play great when I get a chance. At the recomendation of AZ I went to KY in October and learned Pro One from Stan Shuffett. When he showed it to me I didn't understand how it worked I just knew it worked. I also learned that it didn't work all the time for me b/c my stroke was not always straight. I have worked hard on my stroke and am now pocketing more balls than ever. This is not some feel thing - I have only been playing for 2.5 years I still have trouble with speed on shots and have a hard time feeling the SAM aiming method. At this point in my time as a player I may not land exactly where I want, but I have a better chance of making the next ball than I did before. When PJ posted the image in response to Spider saying that your perception of the balls change b/c of distance it finally clicked as to why the system works. When you line up CTE you are making the adjustment that everyone is looking for. The adjustment is the initial line up! If an OB is close to the CB and you line the CB up for a full ball hit on the OB and then look at CTE you are going to be aiming further to the right (on a left cut) than you will if the OB were further down the table. Look at PJ's diagram and think about it. Is this going to make me the next world beater - NO, but now through this discussion I can understand better why it works for ME. I really do appreciate everyones input on this and your initial recommendation. I think everyone is going to be better b/c of this thread - it shows that you trust what works for you and are willing to argue your point to prove it. A little confidence in the fact that your system works for you has never hurt anyone.
 
Colin Colenso said:
Dave,
I'm adding a possible advanatage no.6 which I think may be relevant to this list. See below.

I wanted to make a post listing what I perceive to be the strongest advantages of these systems.

I think these advantages are the main reason players often find great success aiming and shooting this way.

1. Sighting point to point helps one to perceive an exact line and to take in the positions of the two balls relative to this line. In other words, they use a repeatable fixed method to visualize the ball positions.

2. These systems put you either right on line to begin with or in the ball park when used for appropriate shots.

3. In the pivot phase they move from this fixed line to another visual line that they perceive through the center of the CB. This finding of an aim line forces the mind to be decisive and exact. I believe forcing this decisiveness trains the mind not to wander and to make better decisions than just feeling around back and forth hoping to feel a ghost ball or contact point angle.

4. I suspect this one is the most powerful factor in these aiming methods. They force a player to commit to a pot line and then strike the cue dead straight through that line, rather than to swoop sideways on the shot as almost all beginners do. Because they focus hard on their pre-stroke alignment, they trust this line and stroke straight. If they do miss certain shots they will soon compensate with their aim until they learn to see the correct line.

The normal player very often aims thick on their cut angles and swoops a little to make the cuts. When they try to bring speed or english into those shots they meet with many difficulties. So using any system that forces a player to adopt strict and accurate pre-alignment, followed by a straight stroke, should meet with considerable success and consistancy after intensive practice.

5. Because players learn to trust their pre-alignment they begin to be able to relax during the actual stroke. This takes tension out of their arms and body and they can begin to execute with better speed and a more satisfactory feeling during execution. This may explain the feeling that they feel like they just pivot, bang and the ball goes in.

This is quite different to the normal play experience where there is a tendency to ride the ball into the hole. This occurs when players don't trust their alignment and tend to swoop a little to ride the cue ball to the correct point. This method of playing tends to make one have to work physically and mentally during the stroke. When pre-aligned well, the stroke is simply a matter of swinging the cue.

6. A system that requires a focus on the positioning of the cue may cause the player to be more highly aware of the line of cue. In standard aiming, some players may glance a little at the tip and CB but be mainly focused at the OB and therefore not getting much visual feedback from their cue, which is a straight line guide waiting to be used. Also, this cue position awareness may lead to a more constant positioning of the eyes over the cue.

The only thing I don't agree with regarding these systems is that the systems find the aim line. I think it is the players that align themselves (via slight intuitive adjustments) to the correct aim line when need be. It will take them a little while to develop this ability for a wide range of shots.

Colin

You seem to have picked out a bunch of advantages of these pivot systems. I wonder why PJ won't try them if they have so many advantages? I guess he already plays like God.
 
ShootingArts said:
if the two views were identical for sighting the ball edges then either the lines would converge in the top view or be parallel from the shooter's perspective

I said "2D and 3D views are identical for sighting ball edges." My drawing shows that to be true.

When you sight from the right edge of the CB to the right edge of an OB you're sighting along one line, not two or three. The right edge of a second OB, farther away than the first one, will be on the same straight sight line, as illustrated in my diagram. That's the relevant line when using CTE - the converging lines through the centers or left edges of the balls are irrelevant.

Your claim that they are identical violates one of the basic laws of geometry that you are so fond of.

No, I'm afraid it doesn't, Hu. Your statement shows that you misunderstood what I said.

I'm sure there is a simple formula for calculating the apparent size reduction of an object at a given distance. If we have a cue ball two feet from our eyes and an object ball eight feet away, what is their apparent difference in scale?

What difference does it make? That's the question. The only specific claim about it has been shown to be wrong by my drawing. What reason do you have that it might make any difference?

We aren't aiming at a ball that we see as equal size to the cue ball except when they are very close together.

So what? You're clutching at straws. That means to me that you're not looking at this objectively; you want a certain outcome. Why?

pj
chgo
 
If an OB is close to the CB and you line the CB up for a full ball hit on the OB and then look at CTE you are going to be aiming further to the right (on a left cut) than you will if the OB were further down the table.

That just means they're two different shots - they still only go to one target each unless you "fudge" the pivot somehow. Fudging works for you and that's great.

pj
chgo
 
Patrick Johnson said:
Do you think those "advantages" are only available in systems?

Do you think systems don't have disadvantages?

pj
chgo

Systems have fewer disadvantages than ghost ball...hence, why I use them.

Looking forward to seeing you upload a video sometime. Stop being a railbird in every discussion and show us how ghost ball works. Upload something.
 
Last edited:
SpiderWebComm said:
Systems have fewer disadvantages than ghost ball...hence, why I use them.

Really? What are some of the disadvantages of ghost ball? And by the way, what is ghost ball by your definition?

Looking forward to seeing you upload a video sometime. Stop being a railbird in every discussion and show us how ghost ball works. Upload something.

Your video was entertaining - you shoot very well. But it didn't teach anybody anything but that. A video of me making the same shots would only show how well I shoot - it wouldn't teach anything about how I do it or whether my method is better or worse than yours.

I don't come here to see people making random shots, but thanks for the diversion. Again, you shoot very well. How's your position play?

pj
chgo
 
SpiderWebComm said:
Systems have fewer disadvantages than ghost ball...hence, why I use them.

Looking forward to seeing you upload a video sometime. Stop being a railbird in every discussion and show us how ghost ball works. Upload something.

Damn fine shooting Dave, regardless if it's the system or you.

I took a lesson with Ron last week and haven't been at the table since. I need to go practice some more as this video has inspired me. Could you tell me which pivot you used for each of your shots?

Thanks. 95% potting rate is no joke~:thumbup:
 
SpiderWebComm said:
You seem to have picked out a bunch of advantages of these pivot systems. I wonder why PJ won't try them if they have so many advantages? I guess he already plays like God.
You can do many of these things without using CTE or 90/90, but those systems tend to encourage the factors I mentioned.

I use a most of these because I use BHE a lot and hence I try very hard to pre-align accurately and often test myself by not looking at the OB during the stroke. Swoop potting / aiming is like cancer to BHE.

FWIW: I also encourage PJ and others to try out some CTE and 90/90. If they can't follow other directions they could perhaps do it in the way I have suggested.


i.e.

CTE method.

1. Stare down the CTE line with the cue tip to the left.
2. Slide your bridge and tip into postion picturing the line of aim relative to the CTE line.
3. Bring the tip up to center CB on this line of aim. The CTE line is in your peripheral vision.
4. Shoot straight. -use natural follow for consistant CIT. (A soft stun can cause you to miss the shot).

90/90 or Edge to Edge.

1. Lay cue tip on table in line with the edges of the CB and OB. Hold the butt end of the cue with your back hand.
2. Roughly estimate the line of aim you'll need from the standing position.
3. Slide into the bridge position pivoting where it feels right to this line of aim or cue line. This pivot can be in the air and while you're sliding your bridge, so effectively, the pivot doesn't need to be right at the bridge. It is often nearer the center and even back of the cue. You may need to shift the hip or feet slightly to get into position.
4. In the last inch or two moving toward the center CB lock in to the line of aim that feels right. Keep the ETE line in your peripheral vision during these processes.
6. Shoot. (As above)​

I know this is not highly systematic, nor is it how these systems are usually taught, but it is a way that can help people to get a feel of how point to point aiming seems to help a player perceive the line of aim.

I'm interested to know if doing this helps others to perceive the line of aim, compared to using Ghost Ball, Overlap, Fractional Aiming, Contact Point Staring, Double-the-Distance, Clock System, OB to Pocket or any other method of imagery that can be used to perceive the required line of aim. (LOA)

I recommend this because when I just follow the standard advice, I never know where to pivot from, so if I pivot from a set bridge I miss most the shots, just how the geometry suggests.

Colin
 
Last edited:
All I know is that I got verbally beat to hell after I "came out" gushing about Hal's systems on RSB. (I didn't have a clue that there was already so much conflict over them before I met Hal). I had skipped all of the aiming threads belieiving that I didn't need them.

I met Hal at the request of Bob Johnson in Denver. What he showed me clicked and amazed me.

I gushed about it on line and got verbally bashed by Lou Figuera (sp). and Deno Andrews. Then in Chicago at the RSB tournament I beat Deno Andrews in 9 Ball and Lou in One Pocket using Hal's system. Both Deno and Lou are much better players, much more accomplished and yet I was able to win on semi-tough equipment. Granted it was short sets, 7 in 9 Ball and 3 in One Pocket but I did it and I think it was due to the fact that I was pocketing balls better using Hal's systems.

Now, 7 years later we are still arguing about the systems but I think that we are coming much closer than when Lou and Deno bashed me for using "the force".

Although, like San Jose Dick, the math is over my head and the physics lingo wrecks my game because I am thinking about when I play, I KNOW that there is merit to these systems and I will rejoice when the math and science guys figure it out and give people like Hal Houle and Ron V. and others who teach these things their due.
 
Patrick Johnson said:
That just means they're two different shots - they still only go to one target each unless you "fudge" the pivot somehow. Fudging works for you and that's great.

pj
chgo
I agree PJ,
Perspective issues can have effects, such as maybe making us hit thin cuts too thin if we are aiming to a center of a CB ghost we're perceiving as being bigger than it should be.

But these effects are pretty small and our brain tends to work them out. They cannot explain how a CTE pivot can make you cut a ball at 15 and 60 degrees. A long shot can be a thin or thick cut. So can shots where the CB is close to the OB. Perspective wouldn't achive the same result on closer shots if it really was the mechanism.

It's good to use a process of elimination to explain the whys and hows, but the 2D v 3D perspective issue is just a red herring. It's clutching at straws.

Colin ~ In the mood for cliche's
 
JB Cases said:
Now, 7 years later we are still arguing about the systems but I think that we are coming much closer than when Lou and Deno bashed me for using "the force".

Although, like San Jose Dick, the math is over my head and the physics lingo wrecks my game because I am thinking about when I play, I KNOW that there is merit to these systems and I will rejoice when the math and science guys figure it out and give people like Hal Houle and Ron V. and others who teach these things their due.
At least we seem to be past the 'there's 6 pockets so only 6 lines' type of analysis.

I doubt there can ever be a solution that doesn't involve intuitive adjustment as a significant component. But if these methods tend to turn out better potters then people will soon enough flock to learning and teaching these methods, especially if a few of sharp shooting high level pros start trumpeting these methods.

Colin
 
Patrick Johnson said:
Really? What are some of the disadvantages of ghost ball? And by the way, what is ghost ball by your definition?

pj
chgo


Major Disadvantage:

1) Very hard to see since it's a frickin' make-believe ball
2) Not as repeatable in setup or preshot routine, accurately
3) Extremely tough to figure back-cuts

What is ghost ball? Stop asking retarded questions.

Anyways, I'm looking forward to seeing you post a video so we can see how PJ pockets balls. I question if you're qualified to even determine pros/cons of either if you can't even play.
 
DR. D. you make a good point in saying you have to make adjustments for a wide range of shots. The 90-90 pivot that Ron is teaching works ONLY for half ball aim up to but not including straight in shots. If the shot is straight in or you are aiming more than half ball then there are different initial aiming points. I hope what I said is clear and helpful.
I, also, would like to see this stay on topic and civil. You do a great service to the billiards community with your articles.
 
JB Cases said:
All I know is that I got verbally beat to hell after I "came out" gushing about Hal's systems on RSB. (I didn't have a clue that there was already so much conflict over them before I met Hal). I had skipped all of the aiming threads belieiving that I didn't need them.

I met Hal at the request of Bob Johnson in Denver. What he showed me clicked and amazed me.
Ah, I remember. You were John Collins back then...

http://groups.google.com/group/rec....hal+group:rec.sport.billiard#f86054802071cf0a
I gushed about it on line and got verbally bashed by Lou Figuera (sp). and Deno Andrews. Then in Chicago at the RSB tournament I beat Deno Andrews in 9 Ball and Lou in One Pocket using Hal's system. Both Deno and Lou are much better players, much more accomplished and yet I was able to win on semi-tough equipment.

You always have been a better player than Deno on a game with pockets.

The cash in my pocket says you still get 9-7 from Lou.
 
Patrick Johnson said:
I said "2D and 3D views are identical for sighting ball edges." My drawing shows that to be true.

When you sight from the right edge of the CB to the right edge of an OB you're sighting along one line, not two or three. The right edge of a second OB, farther away than the first one, will be on the same straight sight line, as illustrated in my diagram. That's the relevant line when using CTE - the converging lines through the centers or left edges of the balls are irrelevant.



No, I'm afraid it doesn't, Hu. Your statement shows that you misunderstood what I said.


What difference does it make? That's the question. The only specific claim about it has been shown to be wrong by my drawing. What reason do you have that it might make any difference?



So what? You're clutching at straws. That means to me that you're not looking at this objectively; you want a certain outcome. Why?

pj
chgo
BORING!!!!!!!
 
Patrick Johnson said:
That just means they're two different shots - they still only go to one target each unless you "fudge" the pivot somehow. Fudging works for you and that's great.

pj
chgo
Qualifications PJ what are yours. you've stated you won't even try systems!!!
 
AS with any lesson you've been told how to do it, you've been shown how to do it, how about doing it on video and maybe we can help you learn what you might be doing wrong!!!
 
Back
Top