Even that varies! Sometimes if you look at the hole you can get better speed control on your putt if you are having an off day. :smile:
Do you look at the cue ball or object ball when shooting?
- Thread starter Magyar19
- Start date
Even that varies! Sometimes if you look at the hole you can get better speed control on your putt if you are having an off day. :smile:
If by "target" you mean the cup or a spot on the green, that's not true. The vast majority of golfers are looking at the golf ball when they hit it, not at the target for the golf ball.
For like a month I tried looking at the CB during shots, specifically long straight ins. I started making them seemingly like magic. Then it kind of tapered off and now I'm wondering if I wasn't just shocked to make a ball I wasn't looking at. It must have seemed like I was hitting shots 100% because I expected to miss badly and occasionally didn't.
I still try it but I'm not sure if my make percentage is truly better that way.
One situation where it is definitely 100% better is when jacked over a ball. You know those situations, the ugly shots where your cut would be easy except you're balanced on one foot, halfway across the table, making a tent out of your fingers and even shaking a little. I set my aim, start intently at the center of the top of the CB, and make 100% sure to strike it with no sidespin or steerage. I seldom miss these now.
I still try it but I'm not sure if my make percentage is truly better that way.
One situation where it is definitely 100% better is when jacked over a ball. You know those situations, the ugly shots where your cut would be easy except you're balanced on one foot, halfway across the table, making a tent out of your fingers and even shaking a little. I set my aim, start intently at the center of the top of the CB, and make 100% sure to strike it with no sidespin or steerage. I seldom miss these now.
You are right of course, I can't imagine why I wrote that. Most golfers look at the ball when putting, most pool players look at the OB.
The two follow-on bits are OK, though:
It is very important in both putting and in pool to hit the golf/cue ball with accuracy and precision with the putter/cue - contact within 1/16" or better for many shots.
The Golf Digest survey did show that people in general did better looking at a target rather than the ball. So maybe pool players, in the majority, have it right.
I also would add that I think it is usually easier to hit the CB with the needed precision, one exception being the break shot.
Me too. OB last works for me on a straight shot. On a cut shot, OB last makes me hit thick. For cut shots, focusing on the shot line works best for me.
xNineBallx
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If your friend said you should look at the cue ball, don't have him teach you. You DO look at the cueball, during the practice strokes, not when you shoot.
edit.. OK what's with digging up 2 year old threads that I post in thinking they are new?? Cut it out!
There you have it, Efren and Shane both said OB.
Old thread or not it's interesting.
Funny, I just started playing again.... And I suck.
At the end of the night I threw out the window everything I was doing (lots of focus/etc), of which I was definitely looking at the CB last.
When I didn't care I was actually looking at the OB last, and my improvement was astronomical.
Maybe it was because I went in to "I don't give a shit anymore" mode... But after reading this thread maybe not.
Before now I never even thought about it.
Funny, I just started playing again.... And I suck.
At the end of the night I threw out the window everything I was doing (lots of focus/etc), of which I was definitely looking at the CB last.
When I didn't care I was actually looking at the OB last, and my improvement was astronomical.
Maybe it was because I went in to "I don't give a shit anymore" mode... But after reading this thread maybe not.
Before now I never even thought about it.
Because there is no room to think about bs like this while your playing. All you can think about it making the ball and where you want the q ball to go. When I throw the balls out on the table at the beginning of the night I check key parts in my fundamentals that I know I struggle with and when I know there right that's it....I don't think about it again. So to me it's no surprise when you sad F IT and just started playing pool that you started playing better.
Diffidently look at OB last is the best approach; but timing on when to switch eyes to OB is extremely critical. Beginners will have a problem with it, just like driving a car for 1st time, or hitting a nail with a hammer (where to look)
Looking at CB last is ok, if your stance and going down is 100% accurate, because you will not be able to steer the CB to the aim should your stance is a bit off.
I realized as I played this evening that I don't stay focused on either, and that's a fundamental problem I need to work out.
As I take my practice strokes, I'm on the CB, but it's only has I'm stroking forward for the shot that I transition to the OB. I tend to look up or lift up a bit on some shots as a result.
Got me curious as to when to transition.
As I take my practice strokes, I'm on the CB, but it's only has I'm stroking forward for the shot that I transition to the OB. I tend to look up or lift up a bit on some shots as a result.
Got me curious as to when to transition.
After your practice strokes, your tip should be near the cb, and when you pull back for the "shot", that is a very good time to start looking at the ob.
Some folks wait until they bring the cue tip all the way back to their bridge hand, as it gives them a chance to "pause" a little, and then look at ob and fire away.
Either works just fine, need to practice both to see what you like best.
Thank you! I'll set up some drills tonight to consciously try to make the transition a little earlier, and work on making that more natural. It's like various parts of a golf swing. If you're conscious of the movements during the stroke, you have work to do. LOL
long straight shots helps if i look at the object ball last i make them more often
evrything else, cue ball last
evrything else, cue ball last