Fear of Feel

For me, I watched Efren and Busta when they first came to the Hard TImes in LA and noticed that he started at the base of the CB and moved his cue tip up. or to the side - he had to to get the english he needed to get the great shape that he gets.

I and other sweaters called it swiping at the rock. It is a great way to start at the center of the CB to aim at the OB.

Just me,
Be well.

I don't know if it was this thread earlier, or another thread. But, not too long ago, this same thing was discussed on here. Someone posted a video of Efren supposedly swiping at the cb, and I showed that he really wasn't. Then, someone else added to what I posted to prove that he wasn't.

What he and most likely others, are actually doing is aligning to center cb to get their aim and feel of the shot. Then on their final backstroke, they re-align the cue to where they actually want to hit the cb. Their final stroke is straight down that line. Not swiping, but straight.

Another thing to look at when trying to determine if they are actually swiping at the cb is simply to see where the tip ends up. Is it way off to the side like a swipe would do? Or is it more in line with a regularly applied off-center hit?
 
I believe the "fear" thing has two facets: the first being that some folks just want a very regimented approach to the aiming aspect of the game. The second is just the eternal search for a short cut -- a system that will garner quicker improvement, not unlike all the falderal about tips, LD shafts, and whatnot.

A feel based approach to aiming certainly exists and my guess would be that it is the most common approach among better players. There are just too many variables when it comes to shooting a pool shot for it to be reduced to a readily deployable system: squirt, swerve, speed, throw, all the cut angles, contact points on the CB, and cue elevation to name some.

And while all that is science based, at one point or another you need to let all that go and become an artiste and just feel it.

Lou Figueroa
I think, it's like judging the path of the cueball. There are special cases like a perfect stun shot, where you'll always get a 90° angle. But imagine a shot that is almost straight in, and you intend to play it with natural follow. Every experienced pool player should be able to predict where the cueball is going to hit the rail, as long as they're hitting the ball accurately. There is no system for that. You have to feel it.
 
Maybe we should examine WHY they do it and not" if they have to " or "is it the best way". If you go to pro tournaments a lot of them do it or something similar. How many players do u see lining up with left or right english but apply the opposite english
Why not all three?

pj
chgo
Because two of them are just arguments, the third is what really matters. WHY do they do it?
So you don't believe whether "they have to" or "it's the best way" have anything to do with "why"?

Your eagerness to argue is clouding your judgment.

pj
chgo
 
I think, it's like judging the path of the cueball. There are special cases like a perfect stun shot, where you'll always get a 90° angle. But imagine a shot that is almost straight in, and you intend to play it with natural follow. Every experienced pool player should be able to predict where the cueball is going to hit the rail, as long as they're hitting the ball accurately. There is no system for that. You have to feel it.
Actually, there are systems for that, which can shorten your learning curve for feel. Look around on Dr. Dave's or Bob Jewett's websites.

pj
chgo
 
You made some good points. But, I feel you also fell into the trap of putting people into certain "camps". And, by doing that, you miss out on the greatest benefits.

You obviously feel that certain ones on here, myself included, tend to "nitpick" certain statements. I think you fail to realize that doing something, and telling someone else how to do what you do, are two distinct, separate things. While the person that can do something very well may very well not be able to describe what he does, that does not give one license to state any old crap that he thinks he is doing.

That is because now the person trying to learn what the better one does will be fed inaccurate information, and their game will then suffer because of it. Instead of helping others, then end up hurting others. No matter what their intention was. If one can't accurately tell someone how they do something, they shouldn't be telling them how to do it.

Second, you put people in just one of the two camps, not realizing that those in the first camp are often also in the second camp. Yes, sometimes, I for one, break things down to the details. That does not equate to playing only by the details, but using the details to enhance the "feel" of playing. The more you know how to do, the more you can incorporate that knowledge into the feel of playing and have that knowledge become automatic.

Neil, why are you telling me what I feel and where I've fallen into any sort of trap? I had no intention of dividing folks into distinct camps, I was just slowing two classic approaches to problem solving that seem to be at odds at times.

God bless the reductionists, they certainly have their place in the world, and in science particularly. Without them the holists would be just pissing in the dark. Of course we need fundamental knowledge, but I think in this matter some players lean to the left, some to the right, and some are smack dab in the middle.

This is not unlike political viewpoints. I consider myself to be a centrist, with strong social leanings to the left, and strong economic leanings to the right. This, for me, provides the best vantage point from which to objectively assess the entire political spectrum.

I'm the same way with pool. I do listen, and I do try things that are recommended by better players than me, like you, Pat, Dr. Dave, Bob Jewett, Mike Page, and a list of others too long to mention here. I don't have all the books, and I haven't read the ones I have cover-to-cover, but I try to glean from them that which I feel is most useful to my goals. Remember, my goals may not be your goals.

I also try a lot of things that many experts would scoff at just on principle. Many of these things actually work well for me, even better than the techniques that are considered to be de rigueur by the reigning cognoscenti. To this end I pay very careful attention to what the top players are saying, even if it appears to fly in the face of accepted wisdom. What is the harm in that?

I figure if they say something in a certain way, it must be for a very good reason. Deep down inside I trust there must be some core of truth that is meaningful, even if their understanding of the mechanism behind it may be limited. It's up to me to suss out the truth behind their statements, they are only sharing it how they experience it. I feel the same should be true for others reading these players' opinions. If they can't read on their own without relying on others to shape their convictions, they need to grow up a bit.


This all reminds me of a little encounter from several years ago. I was visiting a small music shop I used to do repair work for before I decided to return to school and get a degree. They had replaced me with some young whippersnapper, so full of himself that I wanted to puke, but I showed him respect anyway, and merely mentioned that I used to be in the trade as well. He tightened up his ponytail, adjusted his beret, and proceeded to ignore me while he attempted to rout out a saddle slot in a very expensive Martin guitar.

Well, his poor little Dremel tool was bouncing and jerking all over the place, tearing splinters out of what looked to be a fine looking ebony bridge. He kept reducing the speed of the tool until it was at the lowest setting, and his problems just kept getting worse. While he was pondering his plight, I casually mentioned that he might try turning up the speed instead of going the other way. Well, he shot me the most arrogant look and said something like, "I wouldn't dream of doing that. This is a rare Martin guitar and I need to go as slowly and as carefully as I can."

So, I wished him well in his new job, walked out the front door and never came back. I never for one minute felt any compulsion to "save" this individual from his faulty reasoning. Someone told me he went on to be a pretty good repairman, and moved to Nashville or some music center and is well regarded there. I guess somewhere along the way he figured it out all by himself... just like I had to. I offer help and advice freely, whenever I can, but some people would prefer to struggle along on their own. So I let them.
 
Actually, there are systems for that, which can shorten your learning curve for feel. Look around on Dr. Dave's or Bob Jewett's websites.

pj
chgo

If you are referring to the 30° rule, that's also just a rough approximantion and is only accurate in one special case. I remember using it as a beginner.
 
If you are referring to the 30° rule, that's also just a rough approximantion and is only accurate in one special case. I remember using it as a beginner.
That's one, but pretty limited - however, it can help shorten the learning curve for CB angles off near-half-ball shots.

Another one is the rough estimation that the CB's rolling path will be something like 1/4 of the angle from the tangent line to the CB's straight path (as if the OB wasn't there).

There is no perfect system (is there for anything?), but as I said, they can be useful for learning.

pj
chgo
 
Exactly

That's one, but pretty limited - however, it can help shorten the learning curve for CB angles off near-half-ball shots.

Another one is the rough estimation that the CB's rolling path will be something like 1/4 of the angle from the tangent line to the CB's straight path (as if the OB wasn't there).

There is no perfect system (is there for anything?), but as I said, they can be useful for learning.

pj
chgo

Exactly,
To profess complete perfection should be an alarm.
 
Exactly,
To profess complete perfection should be an alarm.

Sound the alarm if you wish, but the real CTE visuals of 15 and 30 connect perfectly to the right angles of a 2x1 table. Of course, if one does not know REAL CTE.....then they do not know what they don't know.

Stan Shuffett
 
So you don't believe whether "they have to" or "it's the best way" have anything to do with "why"?

Your eagerness to argue is clouding your judgment.

pj
chgo

Really, I thought I was being nice. It's you trying to shove your opinion around.

P.S. for the players doing it it should be obvious they have to and more obvious it's the best way for them, but WHY do they do it that way. Is there an advantage to it.
 
I think, it's like judging the path of the cueball. There are special cases like a perfect stun shot, where you'll always get a 90° angle. But imagine a shot that is almost straight in, and you intend to play it with natural follow. Every experienced pool player should be able to predict where the cueball is going to hit the rail, as long as they're hitting the ball accurately. There is no system for that. You have to feel it.

Actually, there is a system for that, and it works quite well. It's called the 30 degree rule.
 
I agree

Sound the alarm if you wish, but the real CTE visuals of 15 and 30 connect perfectly to the right angles of a 2x1 table. Of course, if one does not know REAL CTE.....then they do not know what they don't know.

Stan Shuffett

I agree.

If you don't know what you don't know, then you just don't know,

and that goes both ways. I think its wonderful that your system connects to those angles for you. I for one didn't mention CTE at all or infer that you said anything. I said that to profess perfection was cause to alarm.
 
I agree.

If you don't know what you don't know, then you just don't know,

and that goes both ways. I think its wonderful that your system connects to those angles for you. I for one didn't mention CTE at all or infer that you said anything. I said that to profess perfection was cause to alarm.

It is not that they connect for just for me but the REAL CTE visuals can perfectly connect for anyone that is willing to engage seriously into a perceptual study.

I am glad we agree!

Stan Shuffett
 
Isn't this great!

It is not that they connect for just for me but the REAL CTE visuals can perfectly connect for anyone that is willing to engage seriously into a perceptual study.

I am glad we agree!

Stan Shuffett

We do! Warm Fuzzies all around! Isn't it just wonderful? No more discontent. Free at last!, Free at last!
 
Sound the alarm if you wish, but the real CTE visuals of 15 and 30 connect perfectly to the right angles of a 2x1 table. Of course, if one does not know REAL CTE.....then they do not know what they don't know.

Stan Shuffett

They were speaking about the CB's path off the OB, not aiming. If there is a perfect system for determining that I'm all ears.
 
The Word "System"

Actually, there is a system for that, and it works quite well. It's called the 30 degree rule.

It would seem that the minute the word, "System" comes up that some people shut down as if it has to be something complicated, none conducive to playing great pool or something bad. The 30 degree rule is awesome for weaving between balls and you can learn feel around it by using Top and Bottom English to bend the path of the cue ball enough to miss balls which is clearly the use of "Feel." A great very simple system.
 
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