Experiments in looking at the cueball while delivering the stroke.

My earliest success was just... well? Being able to fight. The Samurai story about the farmer that backed down the Samurai with his resolve. His willingness to...Die like a man....Was too powerful.🤷
The big I comes first. A gym from a Player. Imagine the shot. Imagine the Out. Make the plan. Watching the chalk as a marker. Ronnie has seen so many maps. He admits to robotics and the power there of.
 
gregcantrall said:
My earliest success was just... well? Being able to fight. The Samurai story about the farmer that backed down the Samurai with his resolve. His willingness to...Die like a man....Was too powerful.🤷
The big I comes first. A gym from a Player. Imagine the shot. Imagine the Out. Make the plan. Watching the chalk as a marker. Ronnie has seen so many maps. He admits to robotics and the power there of.
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Forgot to mention that the Samurai used 'farmer last aiming' just as he cut the sodbuster in half with his razor-sharp katana. ;)
 
Did you hear about the change magnetic field? It must be what is fouling the mourning experiment. Something has changed. Couldn't be Me! Right????
 
gregcantrall said:
My latest experiment has potential have hope. Getting the better long range look after I get down. Of course locking in the long range while setting the platform is big.View attachment 676173
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Second generation below. Working like a kick stand.
My Daughter gave me a Video of The Jerk and said, "Dad this is you." .... I hope this goes better than the Opti-Grab.🤷😉🤪
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gregcantrall said:
I first get my down range target. The point the object ball needs to be struck by the cue ball. While standing the aim is contact point to contact point for me. My training (practice) has me standing at address at a measured location in relation to the cue ball. Once I establish the line, I set the shooting platform with my focus on the object ball. As the bridge is set I check the cue ball. Survey the strike point on the cue ball and the path I expect it will take. Once set the feather stroke needs to be straight and on the line of aim. The analysis needs to confirm all's well. Once confirmed the mechanics will take care of the down range as long as I execute the strike to precision.
Center ball provides the simplest calculation. Any time side is involved the speed and spin factor adds degrees of difficulty. Either way once the calculations are done, the mechanics need to be consistent.
Whether it's a simple problem or algebra hard, I get the most correct solutions watching the cue ball as I strike it. My focus stays with the cue ball on it's journey.
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I'm pretty much the same.
Standing, I sight the contact point on the OB. My only slight difference is I allow my mind's eye to set me over the shotline (without conscious input) and trust it to determine the corresponding contact point on the CB to strike the already identified point on the OB. This process also includes speed, spin and desired CB position. My eyes never leave the OB contact point until I am fully down and lined up. For me, this method removes any futher conscious imput during the aiming process.
IOW, my conscious job is to determine the OB strike point and ultimately deliver a straight and proper stroke along the aim line established by my mind's eye.
 
More Gold from Stephen. My observations make me think Judd's eyes are ahead of the contact (object ball last).
 
gregcantrall said:
I am seeing eye patterns in the strongest players that would fit what I get from Stephen. Yes even Ronnie! BUTt! I would not hazard to speak as to what he does. However I have heard of him working with Academy. Watching the young and upcoming players is education.
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I’m still working on getting my eye pattern routine down for this cue ball last experiment. I’m finding my eyes going back and forth a few two times from OB to CB during my pre-shot strokes. I’ll move my last focus from the OB back to the CB just before starting my final backstroke and then I remain on the cue ball to the completion of my follow through.

A big key which I’m still trying to get down is the necessary pause at the back of the backstroke, which I believe you emphasized. I’m very encouraged by my early results, but I will need numerous practice sessions until I can really trust this will help me, as it’s completely different than looking at the OB last which I’ve done for over 50 years.
 
ChrisinNC said:
I’m still working on getting my eye pattern routine down for this cue ball last experiment. I’m finding my eyes going back and forth a few two times from OB to CB during my pre-shot strokes. I’ll move my last focus from the OB back to the CB just before starting my final backstroke and then I remain on the cue ball to the completion of my follow through.

A big key which I’m still trying to get down is the necessary pause at the back of the backstroke, which I believe you emphasized. I’m very encouraged by my early results, but I will need numerous practice sessions until I can really trust this will help me, as it’s completely different than looking at the OB last which I’ve done for over 50 years.
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The pause for me is to give the control to the ring finger. The index finger being trigger finger for most of my carpentry guns use, makes it a huge habit. Not to mention the arthritis.😉 The pause involved my trust in the weaker finger. It just magic works, kind of like my faith leap from object ball to cue ball.🤷
Sometimes I literally surprised myself with the shape I was getting.
The dance I employ is individual. And evolving! The addition of the kick stand for the glasses bringing a whole nother step. Index finger to bridge of nose.
Just make sure I have returned the chalk first.😉 Old Blue Nose ain't a name I want.
 
The standard or uh basic discovery today is: My Lefty favors a slight more closed stance. Damn!! Took me a long time to notice that.
I would establish the routine with just one ball and the ball to rail and return to tip demonstration by Stephen was so perfect that it hit the tip, then returned to it again. Dead center.
The simple task is very good for building the funda mental s. Pit the left against right from day one. Sharpening the banter as well.
The same address and transition to stance is critical. Auto pilot stuff.😉 I can't count my auto pilot missed balls.🤷
Then add a ball🤷 Heck I am a level 3 now I can play 3 ball.🤪 Snatch the pebble.
 
ChrisinNC said:
I’ll move my last focus from the OB back to the CB just before starting my final backstroke and then I remain on the cue ball to the completion of my follow through.
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My feather strokes require looking at the cue ball all of forward(will never bump another cue ball). At stop I follow the line my cue has shown and estimate if it takes contact to contact over. Two feathers is the rhythm I seek. Or would that be my Rank?😉
My goal is to send the cue ball on the line I have imagined. Straight lines are easiest but I can throw a curve ball.😉 Paying attention to the precise strike of tip to ball and journey to the resting point. "He command his cue ball." Is a complimentary conversation I overheard between the Ugandan guards. The front gate team on FOB Calsoo.
 
gregcantrall said:
The pause for me is to give the control to the ring finger. The index finger being trigger finger for most of my carpentry guns use, makes it a huge habit. Not to mention the arthritis.😉 The pause involved my trust in the weaker finger. It just magic works, kind of like my faith leap from object ball to cue ball.🤷
Sometimes I literally surprised myself with the shape I was getting.
The dance I employ is individual. And evolving! The addition of the kick stand for the glasses bringing a whole nother step. Index finger to bridge of nose.
Just make sure I have returned the chalk first.😉 Old Blue Nose ain't a name I want.
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I’m convinced most of my misses are due to not contacting the cue ball in the center or wherever I intend to contact it. Focusing my eyes on the CB last should obviously help me with that.
 
ChrisinNC said:
I’m convinced most of my misses are due to not contacting the cue ball in the center or wherever I intend to contact it. Focusing my eyes on the CB last should obviously help me with that.
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I try to imagine then ensure the path of the tip from contact through the ball. So as Mark Wilson, I try to measure the tip contact point in microns. The cue ball to far rail and back to the tip will tell on the slightest off center strike.
 
Experiment with Kick Stand progressing.Like going from open sights to a 2&1/2 power scope. My method of looking over the glasses when all the way down on the shot, while adequate, not optimal. I see the object ball point of contact more clearly when down using the Cricket.
R&D is employing a skilled operator to perfect the little guy.
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gregcantrall said:
The cue ball to far rail and back to the tip will tell on the slightest off center strike.
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Suppose I hit to the right of center. The cue ball deflects to the left and hits to the left of my aim point on the rail, but the reverse spin off the rail makes it come back to my tip...confirming that I've hit the CB perfectly on center. Why isn't that a faulty test?
 
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7stud said:
Suppose I hit to the right of center. The cue ball deflects to the left and hits to the left of my aim point on the rail, but the reverse spin off the rail makes it come back to my tip...confirming that I've hit the CB perfectly on center. Why isn't that a faulty test?
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If you do that you will immediately see the oblique.
 
7stud said:
Suppose I hit to the right of center. The cue ball deflects to the left and hits to the left of my aim point on the rail, but the reverse spin off the rail makes it come back to my tip...confirming that I've hit the CB perfectly on center. Why isn't that a faulty test?
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At 5:40 Stephen address unwanted side and demonstration. His precision is, uh well "Quite Impressive", to use his own words.
 
7stud said:
Suppose I hit to the right of center. The cue ball deflects to the left and hits to the left of my aim point on the rail, but the reverse spin off the rail makes it come back to my tip...confirming that I've hit the CB perfectly on center. Why isn't that a faulty test?
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Just grab a couple object balls and put a gate up just off of the far rail. Otherwise, yes a lot of people that use the old kick it off the far rail practice drill do learn to cheat their bad contact point or stroke so the ball comes back to the tip perfectly.

If you are a glutton for punishment I guess you could do the drill I saw video of Joe Tucker doing. Put the cue ball on the head spot, put a ball on the foot spot. Fire a stop shot hitting the ball on the foot spot into the rail and have it come back and hit the cue ball. Have the cue ball come back to your tip. For those not into suffering at that level, you are still shooting very straight if you cross over a dollar bill at the center of the head rail. High rollers can put a hunny down. Of course this is an excellent prop bet so lay down what you would like to bet trading shots can be a good idea.

Speaking of Dollar Bill, just saw some old posts of his. RIP my friend!

Hu
 
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