Nice post! Hangers should always be given the proper attention to detail. Off every hanger, you should be striving for exact position play.
As for the forums making things complicated...yes and no. It seems that way at times. But, when describing what is happening, it takes a lot of words usually. Like you stated, the actual time spent thinking at the table is only seconds. How long does it take to look at a shot, see where the stun line goes, and now that you need to go one diamond farther, so you add one tip english? A second or two at most. It not even really so much a truly conscious thought, although one is aware of the thought.
Some on here think that knowing what to do equates to standing forever over a shot going over different options. That is true on the training table, not on the game table. On the game table, things just flow.
Thanks Neil,you share much valued info here, this isn't directed towards you
it's just an add on, I had some time and figured I would bore AZB. I cut is short, I can write for hours, AZB might ban me.
The original post is about the thought process from the moment you get off the chair and approach the table. I study the table from my chair planning my run out if my opponet misses, so I am thinking from the chair, it also helps me to stay focused and my mind doesn’t wander. Yes he may play me safe or leave me tough; I have to deal with it. If it's a player I can't watch play, I don't watch, I watch another table.
Someone posted Hunter Lombardo missing ball in hand,what was he aming at? he was brain dead, no one can teach you to think, and I think he played it wrong, go figure. Once you have the strokes and know how to play it’s the brain. What separates the good from the great, "the brain." On a rare occasion a lesser brain grows a stronger brain for a few days and has a significant win, a championship, not often.
Many players will just be lower tier due to the brain, every major event is filled with them and you see the comments, he did well he placed 5th, 16th, 3rd, 9th. They have the skills but not the brain to maintain. Maybe over time they grow stronger, it's not the aim it's the brain.
My view of AZB is there are beginners, players, intermediates, shortstops, men of genius, professionals, a wide variety of people with a common interest. Some want to argue the best way, others want to share and help others, some are open minded others are not, even I who knows everything learns here.
It doesn’t matter how you aim it matters how you think. There is not a holy grail of aiming systems, if it works for you it's your own personal Holy Grail. It doesn’t matter the aiming system. When brain memory and muscle memory work in conjunction you are on a good track. Table times teaches you your mistakes and adjustments needed.
The though process, the approach, fundamentals, rhythm,position,speed, feeling the weight of the cue, eyes, head, tip accuracy, cue elevation, delivering where you aim etc. There is a lot that goes into one shot, especially on a hanger where many players let up, once again the brain. Separating when you drop down is key. Call it conscious, subconscious, astrophysical, I don't care; you better pay attention to fine detail from beginning to end and process it quickly, compute and shoot.
I think my method of aiming is the best, I know it’s best for me, maybe not for you. I know the other methods of aiming inside out, parallel, fractional, overlap cte, 9090, ghost etc. I have studied them to a fault because of my OCD or I can't sleep. My method is the best for me. What's best for you? Whatever works for you is fine and well in my book. Everybody has one even though they may not know it.
It's great to share and receive knowledge; it's fascinating all the theories, techniques and methods. It's so diverse its mind boggling. If kept simple new players may understand more easily and not become frustrated, experienced players may open up to others theories. Pool is a complicated game as it is, yet so easy to understand,keep it simple in theory and explanation for new comers.
Compare the great to the good. The good possess the same skills as the great, some excel in areas over the greats, they all pocket like monsters, aiming isn't the difference. Look how hard players work on their game, they are always trying to get better from learning a new aiming system,banks,theory, feet,head,eyes, hand position, etc etc etc,anything to get them a title and place them with the Elite.
Most times it does not matter, their skills were already high caliber; they have not won anything substantial, maybe a local tour or similiar. It's not the aim it’s the brain.Its all about the cue ball.
It's not rocket science although I think NASA posts here. Houston we have a problem, we have a 30 degree angle, I am jacked over a ball and have to hit with draw right, I am so confused, but I did read it somewhere on AZB how to do it.
There are books titled Pool for Dummies, Billiards 101, just my luck. Knowledege is power as long as you practice it 8 hours a day. Whatever your aiming system is bring a straight stroke and a brain.
Sincerely:SS
