eye patterns

justadub

justadub

Rattling corners nightly
Silver Member
Eye patterns were mentioned in a different thread recently, and it resonates with something a friend of mine mentioned to me.

He tells me that I'm hitting right-of-center on almost all of my shots lately. I know that I'm not intentionally lining up that way (most of the time) so it seems to me that I must be shifting my cue before impact, as I'm in the process of shooting.

I've started to try and be more concious of this as I address the ball, and I'm also trying to make myself use a closed bridge more frequently, when it makes sense, to try and alleviate any drifting of my stroke that might be occurring as a result.

So I wonder if perhaps I also need to make a more deliberate eye pattern as a part of my pre-shot routine? I've been trying really hard to make myself focus my eyes on the contact point of the object ball. Should I be trying to make a routine of cueball-to-objectball, in some sort of sequence? And could this be related to why I'm hitting right-of-center so frequently (according to my friend)? Perhaps I'm not looking at the contact point on the cueball close enough to the time at which I shoot?

I realize without seeing what I do and how I do it there isn't gonna be a definite answer, I'm just looking for advice on what I might try on my own.
Thanks
 
As Randy often says, Personal Eye Patterns are the second most important workshop in our schools.

It obviously can't be covered completely on an internet forum, but just for the basics of something to work on.

Approaching the shot...allow your eyes to move up and down the line from your cue to the target to make sure you get the cue on the proper line.

Down on the shot...use your eyes to verify that the cue is pointing toward the proper aiming point.

Bring your eyes back to the tip and the cue ball before you start your warm-up strokes. Keep your eyes right there as you are moving the cue. You are only verifying where the tip will hit the cue ball, so that is where your eyes must reamin. If you feel you must look up at your target, stop moving the cue first.

Once you are ready, in your SET position, let your eyes (not your head, your eyes) move up and lock in on your target. Leave them locked in on your target until your stroke is finished.

Note, there are some shots where this doesn't work, like jump shots, and masse' shots, but for your SOP stroke, this is what you are shooting for.

Steve
 
pooltchr said:
Once you are ready, in your SET position, let your eyes (not your head, your eyes) move up and lock in on your target. Leave them locked in on your target until your stroke is finished.
Click to expand...

This makes a huge difference for most players who aren't already practicing this part. You're hands tend to want to go where you're eyes are looking.

Some snooker instructors will teach that you should alternate between looking at the cue ball and the object ball during you're practice strokes. This, I believe, is faulty logic as the eyes need to focus in order to do you any good.

I like the eye pattern Steve sets out.
 
Very cool.

Makes sense, I just haven't really worked it out to the little details.

I shall attempt to get that ingrained in the routine now.

Thanks, as always it's greatly appreciated.
 
I'm not certified but if you're consistently hitting to one side (I'm assuming you're aiming at center ball) then you're not seeing the true center. Do the drill. Hit the center of the short from the spot and back to the cue tip. Do this till you get it. I think your eyes aren't in the right position to see center.

Eye pattern although extremely important will do little IMO to get your eyes positioned to see exact center. Good eye pattern will help you consistently hit where the cue tip is pointing.
 
3kushn said:
I'm not certified but if you're consistently hitting to one side (I'm assuming you're aiming at center ball) then you're not seeing the true center. Do the drill. Hit the center of the short from the spot and back to the cue tip. Do this till you get it. I think your eyes aren't in the right position to see center.

Eye pattern although extremely important will do little IMO to get your eyes positioned to see exact center. Good eye pattern will help you consistently hit where the cue tip is pointing.
Click to expand...

Good posting Mister :-)
 
3kushn said:
I'm not certified but if you're consistently hitting to one side (I'm assuming you're aiming at center ball) then you're not seeing the true center. Do the drill. Hit the center of the short from the spot and back to the cue tip. Do this till you get it. I think your eyes aren't in the right position to see center.

Eye pattern although extremely important will do little IMO to get your eyes positioned to see exact center. Good eye pattern will help you consistently hit where the cue tip is pointing.
Click to expand...

I'm quite certain that this applies to me, as well. What I really need is time to work by myself on some of this stuff. Ah, someday.

Thanks for all the good advice, folks. I will try to put it to good use!
 
If you are always hitting right of center then you are doing really good, because you at least know where center is. Guy's play 20 plus years not knowing center ball.
 
Joe Tucker's Third Eye Trainer is a nice little tool to help you learn exactly where center ball is. It forces you to get the cue on center, which teaches you what center looks like.

Steve
 
justadub said:
That was very cool. The video angles showed the difference very dramatically.

I wonder if I could construct a home-brew version of that...?
Click to expand...

In about 60 seconds. Get a book about 3/4 to 1 inch think, two pieces of paper, a magic marker, and a ruler. Draw a straight line on each piece of paper perpendicular to it. Lay one piece on the book and the other just under the edge of it. Done. :thumbup:
 
3andstop said:
In about 60 seconds. Get a book about 3/4 to 1 inch think, two pieces of paper, a magic marker, and a ruler. Draw a straight line on each piece of paper perpendicular to it. Lay one piece on the book and the other just under the edge of it. Done. :thumbup:
Click to expand...

I shall make the attempt! :p
 
When I had a private lesson with Scott Lee, eye patterns were the most profound part of the lesson for me.

I have been working hard to incorporate my PEP into my SOP, and I believe that that work has helped me achieve another level in my play, and it has given me the ability to evaluate what I did on every shot and learn from it.





pooltchr said:
As Randy often says, Personal Eye Patterns are the second most important workshop in our schools.

It obviously can't be covered completely on an internet forum, but just for the basics of something to work on.

Approaching the shot...allow your eyes to move up and down the line from your cue to the target to make sure you get the cue on the proper line.

Down on the shot...use your eyes to verify that the cue is pointing toward the proper aiming point.

Bring your eyes back to the tip and the cue ball before you start your warm-up strokes. Keep your eyes right there as you are moving the cue. You are only verifying where the tip will hit the cue ball, so that is where your eyes must reamin. If you feel you must look up at your target, stop moving the cue first.

Once you are ready, in your SET position, let your eyes (not your head, your eyes) move up and lock in on your target. Leave them locked in on your target until your stroke is finished.

Note, there are some shots where this doesn't work, like jump shots, and masse' shots, but for your SOP stroke, this is what you are shooting for.

Steve
Click to expand...
 
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