Experiments in looking at the cueball while delivering the stroke.

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?
Click to expand...
A much better way to do that drill if you are working on a center ball hit is to use a stripe as the cue ball and place the stripe so it will roll like a tire if you hit the cue ball in the center. Any wobble shows that you have hit off-center. For those who don't want to get chalk on the object balls, get one of those training cue balls with a stripe around the ball. Or take all the chalk off your tip -- you don't need chalk for this drill.
 
gregcantrall said:
I bought a pair.(one shorter than the other). $12 with shipping. A cheap way to find out if it helps.
My solution is geared towards pool play while theirs is aimed for computer users.
Click to expand...
There's a video on the site that deals with playing pool. Not just for computer use. A friend has this gizmo and swears by it.
 
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?
Click to expand...
The right spin imparted on the cue ball overrides the deflection of the cue ball slightly to the left, so when it rebounds off the cushion, the cue ball will still return to the right of the tip / centerline.

If your claim was true, with extreme right spin, you’d never be able to get the cue ball to rebound off the cushion (left of the center site intended aim point) to the right side pocket.
 
Last edited:
Is it the swing thought or the frame of mind ?
Practice giving the opportunity for experiment.
Trust is required. Trust of Self. The Leap of Faith. My favorite is
 
I have been meaning to point out that the clip Stephen Hendry did regarding the eye pattern, seems to be in response to an interest I had expressed in comments. So ask Stephen would be my advice regarding any questions.🤷
 
ENGLISH! said:
If you will note, Mr. Cantrall was only relaying the results of his recent experiment & he did not say that everyone should immediately drop what they do & adopt looking at the CB while executing the shot.

It has made an improvement for him in his current playing status.

That is not a joke.

Best Wishes to You &
Click to expand...
As a result of this older thread being revisited by Greg on December 16, and my seeing it, I’ve been committing to focusing on the cue ball last throughout the stroke for less than two weeks now, and I’m extremely encouraged by my results. Most of the time I don’t even see the object ball going in the pocket, as I’m still focused on my cue tip / shaft follow through. The more success I am experiencing, there is absolutely no need for me to look.

I am in full agreement that this is not for everyone. I am 66 and I’ve been playing pool for over 50 years and my game had been seriously struggling the last few years. Experimenting with this concept that is completely opposite to how I’ve always done it was certainly worth trying and no risk for me.

I’ve informed very few people around here that this is what I’m doing, as there’s absolutely no question this is not the way virtually everyone has been taught to do it. All I know is it is working for me and I plan to stick with it and see how it goes.

As Greg has stated, it takes a real leap of faith to give this a serious try, not just for some shots, but for all shots. As of right now, due to this change, I’m more excited about my pool game for 2023 than I have been in a long long time.
 
Last edited:
Tennis: eyes on ball then court in forward part of stroke before contact.
Hockey: eyes on puck then net in forward part of slap shot before contact.
Soccer: eyes on ball then goal in forward part of shot before contact.
Golf: eyes on ball then forward just before contact.
Pool: eyes on cueball then object ball in forward part of stroke before contact. Can also be on the backswing, might change depending on the shot.

Anyway absolutely do not just look at the cueball when stroking...if you need to look at the cueball to hit the right spot on the cueball, then work on your fundamentals. Also hitting the right exact spot on the cueball is not as important as every tries to say it is...much more important to see the table, to judge weight for the position you want...to feel the shot. You can't feel the shot staring at the cueball.
 
Last edited:
thenaturalpoolplayer said:
Pool: eyes on cueball then object ball in forward part of stroke before contact. Can also be on the backswing, might change depending on the shot.

Anyway absolutely do not just look at the cueball when stroking...if you need to look at the cueball to hit the right spot on the cueball, then work on your fundamentals. Also hitting the right exact spot on the cueball is not as important as every tries to say it is...much more important to see the table, to judge weight for the position you want...to feel the shot. You can't feel the shot staring at the cueball.
Click to expand...
I’m not staring at the cue ball throughout the entire preshot routine. My alignment / focus on the target line is absolutely locked in by my eyes going back-and-forth a number of times from the object ball contact point to the cue ball.

It is only when I start my final backstroke that I focus solely on the cue ball and remain focused on the cue ball until contact, then I’m focusing on the cue tip/ shaft following through the cue ball down the target line.

Like I said, not for everybody but it’s working for me. Perhaps there are others out there, particularly senior players who have lost their confidence in being able to deliver a smooth straight stroke, that may wish to experiment with this.
 
thenaturalpoolplayer said:
Anyway absolutely do not just look at the cueball when stroking...
Click to expand...
Rong. In the ommitted examples you need only fire the ball in a specific direction. Even in tennis and golf, contact is is with a flat surface not the point of a lance. You can look at whatever you need to in any order you see fit. Myself and the OP and other thread participants to this thread merely look at the cue ball as they shoot.
 
ChrisinNC said:
I’m not staring at the cue ball throughout the entire preshot routine. My alignment / focus on the target line is absolutely locked in by my eyes going back-and-forth a number of times from the object ball contact point to the cue ball.

It is only when I start my final backstroke that I focus solely on the cue ball and remain focused on the cue ball until contact, then I’m focusing on the cue tip/ shaft following through the cue ball down the target line.

Like I said, not for everybody but it’s working for me. Perhaps there are others out there, particularly senior players who have lost their confidence in being able to deliver a smooth straight stroke, that may wish to experiment with this.
Click to expand...

I thought that went without saying. I am referring to the actual contact stroke. It won't work. You are basically shooting blind and your shape will be terrible , and you line will be off on your follow through causing misses.

straightline said:
Rong. In the ommitted examples you need only fire the ball in a specific direction. Even in tennis and golf, contact is is with a flat surface not the point of a lance. You can look at whatever you need to in any order you see fit. Myself and the OP and other thread participants to this thread merely look at the cue ball as they shoot.
Click to expand...

When you drive do you stare at the hood of your car? New drivers tend to look very close ahead of them, just like amature pool players will look at the cueball. Eventually as you gain experience you start to look well far ahead of where you are driving. Same goes for pool.

If you are trying to drive in a straight line in a tight laneway with parked cars on either side, looking at the wheel or just ahead of you will make it difficult..you will drift from side to side trying to compensate...if you look way ahead you will naturally drive straight.


Also, you don't have to fixate on the contact point of the cueball...it really doesn't matter that much on most shots anyway. What's most important is you deliver the cuestick level through the shot. You will not be able to do this fixating on the cueball. Your games will diminish to the point you will eventually abandon this sillyness.
 
Last edited:
thenaturalpoolplayer said:
It applys to all those things the same as with pool. Also, you don't have to fixate on the contact point of the cueball...it really doesn't matter that much on most shots anyway. What's most important is you deliver the cuestick level through the shot. You will not be able to do this fixating on the cueball. Your games will diminish to the point you will eventually abandon this sillyness.
Click to expand...
Like I said in those air ball sports you just want the ball going in a certain direction with maybe whatever aerodynamics (spin) you can apply with a flat hit. Pool requires a precision hit in a precise direction to keep shots "in tune" so to speak. Banging at the balls on feel as you do is a waste of time.
 
straightline said:
Like I said in those air ball sports you just want the ball going in a certain direction with maybe whatever aerodynamics (spin) you can apply with a flat hit. Pool requires a precision hit in a precise direction to keep shots "in tune" so to speak. Banging at the balls on feel as you do is a waste of time.
Click to expand...
A shot in pool is no different than say taking a free kick in soccer. You have to take into account the spin, and curve, and pace to get the ball where you want it to go. Same with a pool shot with deflection, swerve and throw. You foot in soccer contacts the ball for the same amount of time as the tip on the cueball does to impart spin.

Like in golf...I remember recently some commentator saying "wow, he looks at the hole when devlivering the putt". I was like what? Why wouldn't he? Are you telling me that most professional golfers look at the golf ball when putting? No, you look at the hole during contact...pool is the same.
 
thenaturalpoolplayer said:
A shot in pool is no different than say taking a free kick in soccer. You have to take into account the spin, and curve, and pace to get the ball where you want it to go. Same with a pool shot with deflection, swerve and throw.
Click to expand...
How big is the goal cage? I would think faking out the goalie is the issue.
 
straightline said:
How big is the goal cage? I would think faking out the goalie is the issue.
Click to expand...
It doesn't matter how big the goal is if your target is the top corner. Anyway look at putting in golf. You move your eyes from the golf ball to the hole during your stroke. It's no different for pool.

Same in baseball...eyes on ball until contact. I could go on and on.
 
ChrisinNC said:
As a result of this older thread being revisited by Greg on December 16, and my seeing it, I’ve been committing to focusing on the cue ball last throughout the stroke for less than two weeks now, and I’m extremely encouraged by my results. Most of the time I don’t even see the object ball going in the pocket, as I’m still focused on my cue tip / shaft follow through. The more success I am experiencing, there is absolutely no need for me to look.

I am in full agreement that this is not for everyone. I am 66 and I’ve been playing pool for over 50 years and my game had been seriously struggling the last few years. Experimenting with this concept that is completely opposite to how I’ve always done it was certainly worth trying and no risk for me.

I’ve informed very few people around here that this is what I’m doing, as there’s absolutely no question this is not the way virtually everyone has been taught to do it. All I know is it is working for me and I plan to stick with it and see how it goes.

As Greg has stated, it takes a real leap of faith to give this a serious try, not just for some shots, but for all shots. As of right now, due to this change, I’m more excited about my pool game for 2023 than I have been in a long long time.
Click to expand...
Pretty much the same for me. Being retired at 69+2 or 2? I have the time to experiment.
Ships Log: 12/30/22
My experiment has moved to the use off binoculars.
My loss of vision has started with the long distance. I was pilot qualified, a long time ago.

The main reason I chose pocket billiards as a sport/hobby, was that I can always learn at the Game. Enjoy the exhilarating feelings. People who need people, wait that's Barbara and the femanin side.
 
gregcantrall said:
I have been meaning to point out that the clip Stephen Hendry did regarding the eye pattern, seems to be in response to an interest I had expressed in comments. So ask Stephen would be my advice regarding any questions.🤷
Click to expand...
He claimed in an interview with someone, or they mentioned that he "oddly" looks at the cueball. But you can see in this video he looks at the object ball, then the cueball, then the object ball at or just after the point of contact...hes actually looking through the cueball here and seeing the black ball periphally. I tried this method and it works ok if you immediately move your eyes at the point of contact or shortly after like Hendry does here...but it is making your eye patterns unnecessarily busy for no real advantage. I'd rather not be moving my eyes during the contact point of the shot..better to just be focussed on the object ball and pocket, and position. Especially if one of the fundamentals some people swear by is keeping your head still...do you really want to be averting your eyes up at the worst possible time and risk head movement?

(Watch it in slowest playback speed)

Another example...do you type looking at the keys???? If you do you are slow and called a hunt and pecker.
 
Last edited:
thenaturalpoolplayer said:
It doesn't matter how big the goal is if your target is the top corner. Anyway look at putting in golf. You move your eyes from the golf ball to the hole during your stroke. It's no different for pool.

Same in baseball...eyes on ball until contact. I could go on and on.
Click to expand...
And in pool you must strike a ball precisely and precisely at another ball. There are good reasons to stay on the cue ball as it is struck.
 
thenaturalpoolplayer said:
It doesn't matter how big the goal is if your target is the top corner. Anyway look at putting in golf. You move your eyes from the golf ball to the hole during your stroke. It's no different for pool.

Same in baseball...eyes on ball until contact. I could go on and on.
Click to expand...
Thank you for the flashback. Caution old fart story: As a cadet at USAFA I participated in intramural Lacrosse. I had never heard the word nor seen it played. I was the top scorer for my team. That was because when I aimed for the top right over the shoulder, I didn't release the ball right.🤷 It would take the short hop at the bottom left. My eyes being focused top right would lead the goal tender to take his guard in that direction.🤷 I got Lucky.🤷
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top