The flaw in that logic is that watching the cue tip impact the cueball allows my eyes to stay with the cueball as it travels to the object ball and see exactly how it interacts with the object ball. I even see any rotation imparted to the object ball. A skid is easily detected and a miss of the point of contact aimed for on the object ball is easily observed as well.
It's disingenuous for a person who only has experience with one method to speak with authority regarding the other. It's disappointing when a person with a large megaphone and presumed expertise promotes flawed logic.
The good looks at snooker players eye patterns are available and yet miss interpreted while the words of both Willie Hoppe (Billiards Digest player of the century) and Stephen Hendry (definitely GOAT until Ronnie overtook) are discounted with, "he doesn't know where his eyes are last".
The difference in the results attainable by both methods is slight. Cueball control is the goal of both. It's more readily attained by some one way and others get better results the other. Experiments are a reasonable way to gain knowledge. Try it. You might like it. Nothing ventured nothing gained.
A lot of interesting comments on this subject. Something I had not thought about until recently after seeing Jason's video and a discussion started at my local pool hall.
If anyone has read my intro topic, I've come back to the game after a 25 year break. The one thing I didn't pay much attention to is which ball I looked at last. I did what I've done since I started playing back in my 20's. I look at CBL
It was interesting that some at the pool hall where aghast at the suggestion of CBL but, once more people gave comment it was obvious that many people do actually look at CBL. Of course, OBL people were insisting they were right and vice versa. There is argument for both methods.
My view? I've done what I always did....My 6 month progression has me back to maybe 80% of what I was. I have had to concentrate more on my cue action after the long break and for quite a while simply played Center Ball shots. Sometimes a little 'top' or 'bottom' but avoided trying to use side for quite a while.
I felt (for me) watching my cue strike the CB was important. I could see instantly if my cue action was off, if I was slicing, not following through or stabbing at the ball.
I spent a long while simply hitting the CB up the center line and bringing it back (hopefully) straight to my cue tip. I didn't look at the cushion I was aiming at. My cue stroke should be straight once I line up to hit the ball where I want it to go. Looking at CB showed me instantly if I was 'off'
I don't think there is a right/wrong way. We see top professionals use CBL it is obviously something that works for THEM. It's not going to work for everyone, and I certainly don't think it is a habit you can change....and why would we want to?
One thing I have noticed: When playing short shots perhaps needing a very precise slow speed, I DO tend to look at the OB last. I'm not sure why. I suspect it is to do with my brain needing to visualize the distance better as I am striking the cue ball.
What is probably true is it really shouldn't matter. If we had the perfect stroke and the perfect aiming system in our brain it wouldn't matter which ball we looked at. As someone said, we could close our eyes and pot every ball on the table 100% of the time.
