Discussion: Focusing on the cue ball compared to other sports

[Bob Jewett]

For most shots, there is no problem seeing both contacts -- cue stick to cue ball and cue ball to object ball.

[Just don't jump up from the former to see the latter.]

Does this mean to switch eyes from the cue ball to the object ball and refocus while the cue ball is on its way?

 

[straightline]

How do test the physics of a shot without actually moving a ball?

The dynamics have been learned and all you actually know is the feel of the stick in action anyway. Like I previously mentioned, learn pool first. This would include testing a table.

 

[gregcantrall]

Table tennis seems to be missing from the "other sports" comparisons.
I have documented my transition from object ball last to cueball at contact in this thread.

Thread 'Experiments in looking at the cueball while delivering the stroke.'

Jan 21, 2013

In the thread Shot / stroke problem a poster put forth the proposition that looking at the cueball while delivering the stroke was "fundamentally wrong". I had already provided evidence that Willie Hoppe considered looking at the cueball while delivering the stroke as fundamentally basic. I had read Willie Hoppies book Billiards As It Should Be Played well over 20 years ago. At the time I was content with my aiming process and just chalked up the cue ball last as a 3 cushion thing. Kind of the way I considered his more upright stance an "Old...

• gregcantrall
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I have found success using both object ball and cueball as my final focus.
When object ball last shot making was my strength. When cueball last my position play is better. Precision strike to whitey leads to Precision cueball resting point at the completion of the shot. My shot making has not diminished either. Well my shot making was on the decline when I made the choice to try cueball last. Perhaps age related eyesight changes is a factor in the results I experience.

 

[gregcantrall]

Does this mean to switch eyes from the cue ball to the object ball and refocus while the cue ball is on its way?

My eyes follow the cueball as it leaves the tip of the cue. There's no switch. I imagine (the big eye) the shot. Then I imagine a pea sized core in the middle of the cueball. My cue tip passing through that core of the cueball is critical for my method. Cueball last is ineffective if I only focus on the impact. My focus is on the cue tip passing through the cueball. As the ball leaves the tip I can see if I have applied any specific rotation to whitey. That is generally when I know if I have hit it good. "How Ya hittin' 'em?" Is a common greating between pool playing friends.