Eye dominance, changing my mind.

CaptainJR

CaptainJR

Shiver me timbers.
Silver Member
Below is a quote from another thread about left handed player. I'd like this thread to be more strictly about eye dominance. I think I'm changing my mind about this. I was talking to a young man at this past weekends tournament about this thread. Sorry (bad memory) can't remember name. Anyway, while we were talking it came to me. I've always said that I write and eat right handed and play all sports left handed. Also I've known about the opposite handed as eyed thing in 'hitting a ball' sports like baseball and golf, etc. Why I didn't think of this before I don't know, but it came to me that there is one other thing that I do right handed and that is shoot a rifle. Then I had to pose the question to myself. Is playing pool more like hitting a ball (baseball) or more like shooting (a rifle)? I'm leaning toward thinking it is more like shooting a rifle and that being same handed as eyed in pool is not a disadvantage at all and may even be an advantage.


CaptainJR said:
It has been said on here before, but I'll repeat. The only thing scientific that I know of is the eye dominance thing. Something like 70 percent of people are right eye dominant. In most (ball) sports where you throw, hit, swing, etc....etc., being opposite handed as eyed, it puts the players dominant eye closer to the target. This doesn't mean they are going to be the best, but it does give them a small advantage in perception of the action.
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CaptainJR said:
Below is a quote from another thread about left handed player. I'd like this thread to be more strictly about eye dominance. I think I'm changing my mind about this. I was talking to a young man at this past weekends tournament about this thread. Sorry (bad memory) can't remember name. Anyway, while we were talking it came to me. I've always said that I write and eat right handed and play all sports left handed. Also I've known about the opposite handed as eyed thing in 'hitting a ball' sports like baseball and golf, etc. Why I didn't think of this before I don't know, but it came to me that there is one other thing that I do right handed and that is shoot a rifle. Then I had to pose the question to myself. Is playing pool more like hitting a ball (baseball) or more like shooting (a rifle)? I'm leaning toward thinking it is more like shooting a rifle and that being same handed as eyed in pool is not a disadvantage at all and may even be an advantage.
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I would agree with you that playing is more like shooting a rifle. Siting or seeing your next shot is much like target practice. Perhaps the only thing in pool like baseball is breaking, all the machoism trying to crack 'em good is quite like hitting a home run?!? You still play pool left handed though? Interesting.

Amanda :p
 
SonjaBlue03 said:
Perhaps the only thing in pool like baseball is breaking,
Amanda :p
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Aaaahhhh...I guess as a cute, demure, refined young lady you've never had the privilege of getting into a bar fight and hitting a homer against the side of someone's skull....huh? ;) :D
 
SonjaBlue03 said:
You still play pool left handed though? Interesting.

Amanda
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This thinking in no way has tempted me to try to switch to right handed at this stage of my life. :rolleyes:
 
CaptainJR said:
Below is a quote from another thread about left handed player. I'd like this thread to be more strictly about eye dominance. I think I'm changing my mind about this. I was talking to a young man at this past weekends tournament about this thread. Sorry (bad memory) can't remember name. Anyway, while we were talking it came to me. I've always said that I write and eat right handed and play all sports left handed. Also I've known about the opposite handed as eyed thing in 'hitting a ball' sports like baseball and golf, etc. Why I didn't think of this before I don't know, but it came to me that there is one other thing that I do right handed and that is shoot a rifle. Then I had to pose the question to myself. Is playing pool more like hitting a ball (baseball) or more like shooting (a rifle)? I'm leaning toward thinking it is more like shooting a rifle and that being same handed as eyed in pool is not a disadvantage at all and may even be an advantage.
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Captain, you're absolutely right about shooting a gun. Same-eye dominance is a definate advantage. So much so, that conquering it is a hot topic on most rifle forums (I actually did some research on the subject). However, that doesn't easily transfer over to pool the same way since nothing inhibits the poolplayer from simply moving his head slightly more. The rifle shooter has the barrel of the gun blocking him. He simply has little choice but to shoot with his recessive eye or his opposite hand.

However, my research went beyond this. In fact, I went on to find out that all people will switch dominance according to where they're looking. Only when they're looking forward does a preferred eye appear. Look left and your left eye will take-over. Look right and your right-eye will do the same. This may seem trivial but it actually shows something rather important. For the rifle shooter, it suggests that someone can easily switch eye-dominance. For the pool-player, it shows that it is absolutely imperative to make sure you are standing directly behind the shot to insure that you are using your dominant eye to view the shot. If a left-eye dominant player approaches a shot, looking at the angle with his recessive-eye, he may be tricked into thinking he knows the correct angle.

I cannot say that a particular eye-dominance shows to be more advantageous. There are plenty of excellent left-handed players who are definately right-eye dominant (Rodney Morris). Also, there are a strong number of players that show no eye-dominance (Karen Corr) who are superb players. From what I found, it's important to approach to what appears to you as centered without making any adjustments whatsoever, at least, when it applies to pool.
 
CaptainJR said:
hitting a ball (baseball) or more like shooting (a rifle)? I'm leaning toward thinking it is more like shooting a rifle and that being same handed as eyed in pool is not a disadvantage at all and may even be an advantage.
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fwiw, I'd always heard that it's more like shooting a rifle...and that having the same dominant eye/hand is better. I don't have a strong dominant eye...and I switch between having the cue under my chin or under my right eye depending on the shot...probably a really bad habit

peace
 
CaptainJR said:
Then I had to pose the question to myself. Is playing pool more like hitting a ball (baseball) or more like shooting (a rifle)? I'm leaning toward thinking it is more like shooting a rifle and that being same handed as eyed in pool is not a disadvantage at all and may even be an advantage.
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I agree that it is more like rife shooting. I'm not following why you might think that being the same eye dominance would be a disadvantage at all. Try putting a patch over your dominant eye and then shoot some pool to see what happens.

Rick
 
hustlefinger said:
I agree that it is more like rife shooting. I'm not following why you might think that being the same eye dominance would be a disadvantage at all. Try putting a patch over your dominant eye and then shoot some pool to see what happens.

Rick
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I guess I misunderstood, you're a righty playing lefty with a righty eye. I understand now, sorry.

I had to turn my decoder glasses upsidedown.

Rick
 
i think your body will just tell you what to do after a while. just get down, good stance, and see what naturally happens. more than likely your head will be in the right spot.

VAP
 
drivermaker said:
Aaaahhhh...I guess as a cute, demure, refined young lady you've never had the privilege of getting into a bar fight and hitting a homer against the side of someone's skull....huh? ;) :D
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Says who???

Amanda :p
 
drivermaker said:
CASTING CALL for the next "Charlie's Angels"....Amanda, paging Amanda....please report to the audition room. (Hot....tough...and dangerous)
YIKES!!!!
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LOL. . Just don't make me stand next to Cameron Diaz! I'd look like a midget.

:p
 
You're not alone, I play left handed and am right eye dominant. I'd have to agree that it's like shooting a rifle, thus opposite eye dominance is a disadvantage. I've lined up on many a shot, that looks right, but as the ball rolls on its path is clearly off to one particular side on a consistent basis.

A same side dominant player has the ability to use a straight stance where the body is in essence perpendicular to the stick, and the dominant eye can look right down the line of the stick.

An opposite side dominant player would usually have to use the angled stance, where the body is about 30-45 degrees to the stick. There are many different positions and angles that one could put their head (even at the exact same height). One slight twist of the head, can significantly increase error in aiming.

I have spent some effort in training to fine tune my eye to line up the shot, which produced immediate positive results. But, there is still more to go before it'll be complete.
 
FLICKit said:
You're not alone, I play left handed and am right eye dominant. I'd have to agree that it's like shooting a rifle, thus opposite eye dominance is a disadvantage. I've lined up on many a shot, that looks right, but as the ball rolls on its path is clearly off to one particular side on a consistent basis.

A same side dominant player has the ability to use a straight stance where the body is in essence perpendicular to the stick, and the dominant eye can look right down the line of the stick.

An opposite side dominant player would usually have to use the angled stance, where the body is about 30-45 degrees to the stick. There are many different positions and angles that one could put their head (even at the exact same height). One slight twist of the head, can significantly increase error in aiming.

I have spent some effort in training to fine tune my eye to line up the shot, which produced immediate positive results. But, there is still more to go before it'll be complete.
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I think this issue is the problem on that occasional shot I miss by inches not just miss a little bit and afterward cannot figure out what went wrong because it looked so right. Not sure yet but I'm going to be making some changes of some kind to make sure that I always use my dominent eye.
 
CaptainJR said:
I think this issue is the problem on that occasional shot I miss by inches not just miss a little bit and afterward cannot figure out what went wrong because it looked so right. Not sure yet but I'm going to be making some changes of some kind to make sure that I always use my dominent eye.
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One simple thing to do is to close your other eye for a few seconds while aiming. Feel free to open it before shooting. You can also focus on that line right down the stick that leads to the object ball.


Slight aside: Bustamante was asked why is the tip of your stick so low, during your practice strokes.

Bustamante replied so that it doesn't get in the way while aiming.
 
CaptainJR said:
I think this issue is the problem on that occasional shot I miss by inches not just miss a little bit and afterward cannot figure out what went wrong because it looked so right. Not sure yet but I'm going to be making some changes of some kind to make sure that I always use my dominent eye.
Click to expand...


Have you guys even bothered to look at the picture for today's article about Rodney Morris? I mean, the guy is right-eye dominant and left-handed and he shoots pretty darn straight. He simply positions his head over the cue differently, that's all. It's not like a rifle because you don't need to press your chin up against your cue.
 
Jude Rosenstock said:
Have you guys even bothered to look at the picture for today's article about Rodney Morris? I mean, the guy is right-eye dominant and left-handed and he shoots pretty darn straight. He simply positions his head over the cue differently, that's all. It's not like a rifle because you don't need to press your chin up against your cue.
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Thanks Jude, I've got the answer now. I'm going to fix me up with some kind of roller that I can strap to my chin then I can put the stick up to my chin and pretend I'm shooting. I'll kick some butt then. Watch our the powder burns. :D
 
I am left handed player and left eye dominance. And i notice my head alignment has to be to the right of the cue like i am aiming a rifle. While aiming i use my dominant eye more then the other, by which i slightly close my right eye not all the way, just so that i use my left eye more, and this helps me aim at the objectball better, Cole 'TheConArtist'
 
glad you brought this one up

I was told to hold my thumb up and out to cover a small object at a distance away. Next, close one eye and then reopen and close the other. Check which open eye has the greatests distance, thumb from object, and that is the less dominate eye. If anyone knows the answer to this; I can not cover the object because I see two thumbs, one on both sides of the object when both eyes are open. And they are both equal distance. My question, Am I doing this wrong?

Thanks
 
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