Fundamentals - Sighting

naji likes to make statements, followed by absolutely nothing to make it seem like he has some esoteric secret pool knowledge.
 
Proper visual alignment is probably the single most important fundamental of pool!

It is unfortunate, that this fundamental has often been overlooked by players and instructors, but I think this trend is changing.

For those interested in this topic, numerous articles, video demonstrations and recommended drills for finding your personal "vision center" can be found here:

"vision center" resource page

And other information related to "sighting" can be found here:

sighting resource page

Enjoy,
Dave
 
Pidge said:
What you need is a pool table and some tape. Tape that's about half an inch or thinner is perfect. Now, what you need to do is stick the tape on the table bed, about 12 inches away from the rail. Bring the tape back towards the rail keeping it as straight as possible and place it under the rail, then up the cushion and along the rail again keeping it nice and straight. The tape should be staggered due to the height increase onto the rail from the baize. This step is the important part in showing you how you see a straight line as straight, and just as importantly where you are lined up on the cue ball is in fact where you are lined up. So, if it looks like you are hitting centre ball you are in fact lined up to strike centre ball. All you have to rely on then is the rest of your fundamentals. So, this line of tape....you will notice as you move around the table and move the head the line stops looking straight. You need to stand in a way that this line looks dead straight. This is how you will need to stand behind the shot at hand when using what ever aiming method you choose. If you need to line centre to centre for a straight in, you stand as though the line is from centre to centre. Centre to edge...exactly the same. Now, place your cue along this line, or a spar shaft. Make sure its perfectly aligned and do what ever it takes to keep it still. I personally tape an old shaft to the rail when showing people this. Now you need to get down as though you're about to shoot. Does the shaft look straight along the tape with the tip aimed at the end of the tape? If not you need to move your head until it does. When it does, stop, take in the new head over the cue position and this is how your head needs to be over the cue on all shots.
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Pidge,

Good job trying to increase the awareness of this critically-important "fundamental." FYI, I've added a quote of your description above (along with a link to the Steve Davis video) to the vision center resource page.

Regards,
Dave
 
owll said:
naji likes to make statements, followed by absolutely nothing to make it seem like he has some esoteric secret pool knowledge.
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How can you know what he knows? This game can be played in many different ways. Even without what you call "vision center" or "straight stroke". What if I tell you that in my opinion this "straight stroke" thing is the worst advice for my style of play? And that the bicep of your stroking arm should not be used for the pool stroke because the position of the forearm is not helping with the "pulling motion" the bicep is made for? Do you know that the greatest Philippinos never use their bicep for their stroke? Maybe they know something that most instructors don't know.
 
owll said:
naji likes to make statements, followed by absolutely nothing to make it seem like he has some esoteric secret pool knowledge.
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I do have other fundamentals, that does not require the OP's or Dr. Dave's vision center or alignment.I am not going to explain on AZB. Sorry.
 
I "built" a Sight Rite device using a thick book and 2 sheets of paper.

Just draw a straight line (using a ruler if needed) down the horizontal center of both sheets of paper.

Put one sheet on the book, and the other in front of the book so the lines match up. Voila!
 
naji said:
I do have other fundamentals, that does not require the OP's or Dr. Dave's vision center or alignment.I am not going to explain on AZB. Sorry.
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ya I know, you like to make statements saying essentially, ya that stuff is sort of right, but its missing stuff followed by 'oh no sorry, im not going to explain that'

like I mentioned on other post, if you are ever in Jacksonville area, let me know, we can bet something....we'll see how much your secret knowledge is worth.
 
owll said:
ya I know, you like to make statements saying essentially, ya that stuff is sort of right, but its missing stuff followed by 'oh no sorry, im not going to explain that'

like I mentioned on other post, if you are ever in Jacksonville area, let me know, we can bet something....we'll see how much your secret knowledge is worth.
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Thanks owll, like wise if you are in N. Virginia let me know we can shoot few games.

I repeat , all Pidge's posts that i have seen so far about pocketing balls, which is not enough to make you best player! position play is 50% of the equation, maybe more..
 
naji said:
Thanks owll, like wise if you are in N. Virginia let me know we can shoot few games.

I repeat , all Pidge's posts that i have seen so far about pocketing balls, which is not enough to make you best player! position play is 50% of the equation, maybe more..
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I'd like to repeat, this thread is not about pocketing balls. All the posts I make that are for pocketing balls ate made in the aiming section. This post is about sighting, perhaps you overlooked the very first paragraph where I stayed aiming and sighting were totally separate skill sets.

This most was made to help players struggling with seeing straight as straight and centre ball as centre ball. It is for me the mist important aspect of the game to be able to do this properly and something every player should look at once in a while to check they haven't slipped into bad sighting techniques.

You are right, its not all about pocketing skills. Positional play does play a major part in the whole pool equation. But I think you still failed to grasp the intention of this thread. Its nit the first time its happened naji. I doubt it will be the last either, you have a nice day now :-)
 
Pidge said:
I'd like to repeat, this thread is not about pocketing balls. All the posts I make that are for pocketing balls ate made in the aiming section. This post is about sighting, perhaps you overlooked the very first paragraph where I stayed aiming and sighting were totally separate skill sets.

This most was made to help players struggling with seeing straight as straight and centre ball as centre ball. It is for me the mist important aspect of the game to be able to do this properly and something every player should look at once in a while to check they haven't slipped into bad sighting techniques.

You are right, its not all about pocketing skills. Positional play does play a major part in the whole pool equation. But I think you still failed to grasp the intention of this thread. Its nit the first time its happened naji. I doubt it will be the last either, you have a nice day now :-)
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Pidge, You have sighted - Sighting fundamentals, the only reason it is used is to ensure a player aim, sight, properly so he or she drive the cue, Cue ball in turn to the place intended usually to an OB for pocketing, or to a rail for kick, your intention is not position play by any means

I did not say your method is wrong, i said there are other methods i know of, that i do not want to describe on AZB.

Your thread is great and i did not fail to grasp its intention..
 
SakuJack said:
Why post at all, then?
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Man SakuJack, you know how you post something on AZB, and the meat lovers starts chowing you know what as if they never have meat! tough crowed man and i opted to refrain a bit from being chewed, my ass still recovering! :)
 
JoeyA said:
dr_dave said:
Pidge,

Good job trying to increase the awareness of this critically-important "fundamental." FYI, I've added a quote of your description above (along with a link to the Steve Davis video) to the vision center resource page.
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Might that be a Nic Barrow video?
JoeyA
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Joey,

Take another look. I do have Nic's excellent video embedded on my page; but in the quote from Pidge (farther down on the resource page), I also have a link to a Steve Davis instructional video.

Regards,
Dave

PS: I was in New Orleans for a few days visiting family over Christmas. I thought of calling you, but I had too many family responsibilities. I did manange to make it over to Lacy's with my pool-playing nephew Ryan. That place is definitely Diamond heaven. Thanks for the recommendation.
 
Pidge said:
That is spot on. The little staggered board Steve shows is exactly what you are aiming to do with the tape. If anyone has the means to make one of those is will serve you well for years. You can measure out the line perfectly.

With regards to the light spots...thats good if you are on a snooker table with spot lights and the ball is along the centre between short rail to short rail. For example, the white on the blue spot....aim for the centre of the centre pocket through centre cue ball and there will be a light spot directly above centre cue ball. It serves as a good check before a game.
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Pidge,
You got me hook, line & sinker! :D

http://www.sightrightuk.com/

Already got the app, but it looks like the app I downloaded, only works on one side of the pond? Maybe I have to upgrade to the Pro to see how the app actually works.

Regardless, everyone knows that I am a glutton for anything knew in pool. These Riley sighting cues are something new on the market or so it seems and the app, well, I will just have to have someone else tell me if the app is just a text app telling you what the sightright does and that it in itself doesn't do anything. Maybe you have to buy the cue.

Seriously, I believe that technology like this can improve our sport. I don't know about this particular product but look forward to learning more about the app and the Riley SightRight Cue for pool. It looks like the video was just created a month ago.

Anyway, CHEERS & Happy New Year!

JoeyA
 
Mea culpa.

JoeyA

dr_dave said:
Joey,

Take another look. I do have Nic's excellent video embedded on my page; but in the quote from Pidge (farther down on the resource page), I also have a link to a Steve Davis instructional video.

Regards,
Dave

PS: I was in New Orleans for a few days visiting family over Christmas. I thought of calling you, but I had too many family responsibilities. I did manange to make it over to Lacy's with my pool-playing nephew Ryan. That place is definitely Diamond heaven. Thanks for the recommendation.
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Lacy's is top shelf for sure. Going there tonight!
Did you meet the owner?

Be sure and say hello the next time you are in town.

JoeyA

dr_dave said:
Joey,

Take another look. I do have Nic's excellent video embedded on my page; but in the quote from Pidge (farther down on the resource page), I also have a link to a Steve Davis instructional video.

Regards,
Dave

PS: I was in New Orleans for a few days visiting family over Christmas. I thought of calling you, but I had too many family responsibilities. I did manange to make it over to Lacy's with my pool-playing nephew Ryan. That place is definitely Diamond heaven. Thanks for the recommendation.
Click to expand...
 
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