Are you saying that your recessive eye can become your dominant eye, or that you can intentionally change your dominant eye?
Dominant Eye before any aiming system
- Thread starter SSP
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I can refocus my attention on the scene from my non-dominant eye - my "natural" dominant eye (left for me) stays the same. I don't do this while playing pool (or any other time), only as momentary experiments. Just thought it might be interesting info on the dominance topic.
P.S. My vision center for pool is between my nose and dominant left eye. I theorize that if I got lower over the stick (I play several inches above it) it would be closer to (maybe even directly under) my left eye.
pj
chgo
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I suspect that for people that are closer to the nose/chin for vision center will have a easier time of switching eye dominance.
I am so far left eye dominant there is no way I am able to force my right eye to be the dominant eye......I can even close my left eye make a circle around the target with my right eye and as soon as I open my left eye.....mass double vision until I move the circle back over to the left eye.
Only way I can make balls is with the cue under my left eye....put it under the chin and I can't even set up with a cue straight on the shot line...
Many people think a dominate eye sees better or faster or whatever, but that's not quite the case.
The dominate eye provides slightly more visual data to the brain, due to more neural connections. So it becomes the leader (for lack of a better term) when it comes to processing what we're seeing. But "more visual data" doesn't necessarily mean better visual data.
Each eye converts light signals into images, then the images are sent to the brain to make sense of it all, to give us a visual perception of what we're seeing. Even though the brain receives image data from each eye, it relies more on the data provided by the leading eye, rather than the non-leading eye. The end result is a visual perception created through preferential processing.
Eye dominance is similar to how the brain tends to favor one hand over the other. At first, as a child, we typically develop a favorite hand to use for doing things, which could be for the simple reason that that's the hand we see our parents or siblings use most often, so we start using one hand more than the other. This allows that hand to create more neural connections with the brain, which leads us to becoming right-handed or left-handed. The brain then prefers that hand because there are more neural connections involved.
The odd thing is, unlike right or left handedness, eye dominance can actually shift from one eye to the other depending on what we're looking at, the varying distances and sizes of objects involved.
Of course, none of this makes a difference when it comes to playing pool. I mean, knowing this stuff doesn't help one bit if a player is struggling with trying to see the shots right. I just think it's interesting.
The dominate eye provides slightly more visual data to the brain, due to more neural connections. So it becomes the leader (for lack of a better term) when it comes to processing what we're seeing. But "more visual data" doesn't necessarily mean better visual data.
Each eye converts light signals into images, then the images are sent to the brain to make sense of it all, to give us a visual perception of what we're seeing. Even though the brain receives image data from each eye, it relies more on the data provided by the leading eye, rather than the non-leading eye. The end result is a visual perception created through preferential processing.
Eye dominance is similar to how the brain tends to favor one hand over the other. At first, as a child, we typically develop a favorite hand to use for doing things, which could be for the simple reason that that's the hand we see our parents or siblings use most often, so we start using one hand more than the other. This allows that hand to create more neural connections with the brain, which leads us to becoming right-handed or left-handed. The brain then prefers that hand because there are more neural connections involved.
The odd thing is, unlike right or left handedness, eye dominance can actually shift from one eye to the other depending on what we're looking at, the varying distances and sizes of objects involved.
Of course, none of this makes a difference when it comes to playing pool. I mean, knowing this stuff doesn't help one bit if a player is struggling with trying to see the shots right. I just think it's interesting.
Physical eye dominance doesn't change. There are other definitions of dominant eye floating around but they have nothing to do with the physical definition.Many people think a dominate eye sees better or faster or whatever, but that's not quite the case.
The dominate eye provides slightly more visual data to the brain, due to more neural connections. So it becomes the leader (for lack of a better term) when it comes to processing what we're seeing. But "more visual data" doesn't necessarily mean better visual data.
Each eye converts light signals into images, then the images are sent to the brain to make sense of it all, to give us a visual perception of what we're seeing. Even though the brain receives image data from each eye, it relies more on the data provided by the leading eye, rather than the non-leading eye. The end result is a visual perception created through preferential processing.
Eye dominance is similar to how the brain tends to favor one hand over the other. At first, as a child, we typically develop a favorite hand to use for doing things, which could be for the simple reason that that's the hand we see our parents or siblings use most often, so we start using one hand more than the other. This allows that hand to create more neural connections with the brain, which leads us to becoming right-handed or left-handed. The brain then prefers that hand because there are more neural connections involved.
The odd thing is, unlike right or left handedness, eye dominance can actually shift from one eye to the other depending on what we're looking at, the varying distances and sizes of objects involved.
Of course, none of this makes a difference when it comes to playing pool. I mean, knowing this stuff doesn't help one bit if a player is struggling with trying to see the shots right. I just think it's interesting.
boogieman
It don't mean a thing if it ain't got that ping.
The more you use something the more neural connections are formed. This is why I like controlling which eye takes dominance/control on the shot. It starts out kind of odd but you quickly learn it and don't even have to think about it. It's really simple, a cut with the OB going to the left, let your right eye take control (ie move your head/rotate to the left slightly, probably 1/4" or less). A cut to the right, let your left eye take control (left eye closer to the shot line).Many people think a dominate eye sees better or faster or whatever, but that's not quite the case.
The dominate eye provides slightly more visual data to the brain, due to more neural connections. So it becomes the leader (for lack of a better term) when it comes to processing what we're seeing. But "more visual data" doesn't necessarily mean better visual data.
Each eye converts light signals into images, then the images are sent to the brain to make sense of it all, to give us a visual perception of what we're seeing. Even though the brain receives image data from each eye, it relies more on the data provided by the leading eye, rather than the non-leading eye. The end result is a visual perception created through preferential processing.
Eye dominance is similar to how the brain tends to favor one hand over the other. At first, as a child, we typically develop a favorite hand to use for doing things, which could be for the simple reason that that's the hand we see our parents or siblings use most often, so we start using one hand more than the other. This allows that hand to create more neural connections with the brain, which leads us to becoming right-handed or left-handed. The brain then prefers that hand because there are more neural connections involved.
The odd thing is, unlike right or left handedness, eye dominance can actually shift from one eye to the other depending on what we're looking at, the varying distances and sizes of objects involved.
Of course, none of this makes a difference when it comes to playing pool. I mean, knowing this stuff doesn't help one bit if a player is struggling with trying to see the shots right. I just think it's interesting.
Of all the things I've worked on in pool this has been the most helpful for pocketing percentages. You can also use it to align to how a ball throws when using spin, but that's once you are proficient at regular shots with it.
Basically once you use this to rote level of proficiency you don't think about it and you get into the shot properly without adjustments. If you feather the cue a bit and it's straight, it's straight and the shot goes in. It should be obvious that your fundamentals must be good but that's really with anything pool related.
I'm just describing what a dominant eye is, as far as what is known scientifically and medically about how our vision works.
It's not my opinion. Research has shown that the brain will occasionally switch its preference from the normally dominant eye to the non-dominate eye, depending on what we're looking at or where our focus lands. It's been a while since I studied this stuff, but I could probably find the research/references.
Exactly. And sometimes the mind will do this automatically on its own, without us having any conscious awareness that it's happening.
Do you know any pro players who play that way?
boogieman
It don't mean a thing if it ain't got that ping.
I don't know any pro players that I could ask and it's not uncommon for them to never address how they aim. Should it matter?
I had a friend who was in a car wreck and suffered a broken arm in several places. He had a cast on his right arm for a few months and couldn't stroke the cue, so he started playing left-handed. He is now an ambidextrous player, plays equally well right or left handed.
He never struggled with his "vision center" during all of this. As he was developing more neural connections for his left arm to be the stroke arm, his brain was automatically adjusting its vision preferences (determining which eye should be the leader/preferred in order to get the most accurate perception from his new shooting perspective.
I've never bought into the whole "vision center"/"dominate eye" concerns for pool players. In my opinion, the brain automatically takes care of this, due to its plasticity. It just requires table time to develop the visual skills needed.
I think it matters.
boogieman
It don't mean a thing if it ain't got that ping.
Care to elaborate? I respect your opinion and know that you are well versed in instruction and all aspects of the game.
I'm never going pro. This has improved my aim to the point that it has my (much better than me) friends scratching their head at some of the stuff I can make. It also improves my shape, not just low percentage tough shots. I don't see it as a bad habit, it's just how I look at the balls. I'm seeing shots and making them where before I wasn't. It might just be a step in my game that may be refined or changed as needed.
Funny thing is.....vison center is the easy part...(at least for me).........The hard part is blurred, doubled and/or distorted edges.
Docs say my corneas are at least 20/20......my problem is the vertical astigmatism in one "lens" and the diagonal astigmatism in the other......So in other words....I have 20/20 vision of the blurr......
Docs say my corneas are at least 20/20......my problem is the vertical astigmatism in one "lens" and the diagonal astigmatism in the other......So in other words....I have 20/20 vision of the blurr......
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That is a great question actually.
Growing up my Dad was an Optician...so I had access to Optometrists, Ophthalmologists, and specialists.....
I got glasses and contacts when I was younger...It was only a temporary fix....the lenses in my eyes would move and I would end up with mass headaches and then blurred vision again.....I ended up just not wearing anything......later I went to a doctor (to get updated contacts) and asked about lens replacement.....The problem is I have 20/40 vision on an eye chart...I have 20/20 corneas and can clearly see through the blur to fake my way through an eye chart........I have been this way all my life so I have learned deal with it and see through it.....(hardest part is at night or lights...halos/fog and many light spears from every street light, stop light, etc.)
The doctors would not do a lens replacement (at the time) because (as the Dr. put it) people that get lens replacements are hoping to get vision as good as what I have......That......and I was always taught growing up...Don't be sad/angry/jealous for what you don't have...be happy and thankful for what you do have.....So I always just dealt with it....
That all being said....I am older now and Presbyopia has set in........Technology has much improved I am sure....I am a fixed far sighted in one eye and near sighted in the other....so one eye does the reading from a distance and the other up close.....
Perhaps modern day technology can give me more than a temporary fix.....Something I will be looking into.
Maybe it's just something that's causing you to pay attention more to what you're seeing where you weren't paying attention as well before.Care to elaborate? I respect your opinion and know that you are well versed in instruction and all aspects of the game.
I'm never going pro. This has improved my aim to the point that it has my (much better than me) friends scratching their head at some of the stuff I can make. It also improves my shape, not just low percentage tough shots. I don't see it as a bad habit, it's just how I look at the balls. I'm seeing shots and making them where before I wasn't. It might just be a step in my game that may be refined or changed as needed.
As for the pros: there are a lot of them around the world, and it's pretty easy to study them, thanks to recorded matches. It's not a bad idea to study what makes them successful. There are quite a variety of styles to choose from that any player can relate to. The idea of turning your head based on the angle of every shot just doesn't make sense. 90% Of your alignment work should have been done while you're standing over the shot before taking your first step into the shot. I may be exaggerating slightly about the 90% but my point is that your work should be nearly done before stepping into your stance.
Yes, you still have to see things when you're down in your stance, but, that's where trusting what you saw when you were standing up comes into play.
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boogieman
It don't mean a thing if it ain't got that ping.
It could very well be. Focus is my biggest struggle. I'm accounting for the head/eye position while standing up and don't typically adjust while down. It might even be a psr trigger to get down into position correctly.
I also really struggle with getting into a good stance. I understand it and could do it great at one time. Unfortunately my body is to the point I've had to adapt my stance. The adaptations change depending on the state I'm in. I'm not making excuses, I know excuses are a dead end in this game, I'm just working with the cards dealt to my hand.
It's hard to describe but with the back issues it's hard to have good body awareness since I'm basically tuning out various pains and working around them. I'm not ready to deal with surgery yet so it is what it is at this point.The silly part is that as long as I approach the shot with care, and breath out I can get down into the most comfortable and stable of stances. It's probably the only time I feel comfortable.
I do notice after watching the pros I feel my game improves, monkey see monkey do I guess. I try to emulate the smoothness and speed they play with.
Thanks for the insights Fran, I really appreciate it.
Two and then some--meaning one from total glaucoma, one from an eyeball lost in a work accident, and others with partial, not total, loss in an eye--in all cases their VC was still working for them afterward.
Stop lying! It's what I'm asking of you, actually.