drivermaker
Banned
Mungtor said:
Waaaahhh.....Waaaahhhh....Waaaahhhh.....sob, sob, sob...Waaaaahhhhhh
You're right....I made it all up. I don't know anything. I just wanted to include myself in the cool guy crowd.
Geometrically correct aiming systems?
- Thread starter Macint0sh
- Start date
Waaaahhh.....Waaaahhhh....Waaaahhhh.....sob, sob, sob...Waaaaahhhhhh
You're right....I made it all up. I don't know anything. I just wanted to include myself in the cool guy crowd.
Anybody have a written article on the LEGENDARY instructor Hal Mix's tangent line "aiming" system?
It's not a magic potion but it sure made a lot of sense.
It's not a magic potion but it sure made a lot of sense.
Yes.Macint0sh said:
As for the system Hal Mix has in his book, in which the closest point to the pocket of the cue ball is sent towards the spot on the object ball that is the furthest from the pocket, Mr. Mix got that totally, absolutely and pitifully wrong. Anyone who actually does what he recommends will always hit the ball too full.
Bob Jewett said:
I'm not familiar with this Hal Mix book, but if that is what he says, you are correct that his system will not work. It must be a paralleled line as shown in my post #9 on this thread. I don't know if anyone has looked at it. Nobody has said anything. It is definitely a working system.
drivermaker
Banned
Sounds like the solution would be to get TOM Mix's book on aiming and shooting, not Hal. The only Hal is still Houle.........
drivermaker
Banned
jer9ball said:
Well, I haven't hit thousands of balls, I've more than likely hit millions and DO KNOW where to shoot. However, I have to disagree with your statement about systems. WE ALL USE A SYSTEM. All a "system" does is place a name on something based on the perspective that you have in the set up and aiming process. YOU, in fact, ARE USING A SYSTEM. WHAT?? I don't know.
But you're either using your cue shaft, the ferrule, the tip, or something to point at the OB or a spot on the OB. If you don't do that, then you're aligning the CB to the OB visually like an eclipse of the sun and moon to gain a perspective on that particular cut or straight in shot. That's a given and there is no other way around it. A variety of systems just allow you different ways of setting up and "seeing" a shot and how to align it, that's all. When you shoot thousands or millions of balls, you just don't think about it any longer. And when you go into a slump and start shooting shitty, sometimes a different perspective of shooting the shot will allow you to make balls again, that is if you know different ways of setting up to gain that perspective.
To me, it's not so much in the stroke as it is in the eyes. The stroke will take care of itself if you've been playing a long time as long as you're seeing the shot correctly. That's why I think older players just start losing it. They just can't see as well as when they had young eyes.
To expound on this beginner issue a little. I've had friends over to my house that never played pool before. Some of them can look at a shot and tell that if they want the object ball to go to the left, you have to hit it on the right. Others just can't grasp that simple geometric concept. There is no system this person is going to understand. I tell them they might consider horseshoes. I'm actually considering horseshoes, close counts in that game. 
drivermaker
Banned
CaptainJR said:
And I'd like to expound on this because it's NOT just a beginner issue. Aiming and aligning is ongoing and forever with each shot ever taken . The better you can see it and feel it in relationship to your setup will allow for improved play and greater consistency.
If you're playing alot and have years of experience, it's not something to obsess over, but the more you know about seeing or gaining different perspectives on a shot can only add to the arsenal.
The last time I talked to Hal Houle, he said his legs were really bothering him, and he's not a young man; he used to hang out with Ralph Greenleaf! I use his system all the time and I feel it really works, especially when you're a little uncomfortable with a shot. It will help you with your confidence on the shot and like Drivermaker, I've hit millions of balls over the last 40 years!
drivermaker said:
I agree drivermaker. I actually liked your response to jer9ball much better than mine. It was such a nitwit response of his that I didn't really think enough when I responded to him. I think I was thinking back in the thread when we said, once you start using english, the systems don't work. Back then I had left that alone cause I didn't want to argue. It's not that the systems doesn't work when your using english. The system still works, you just have to adjust for the english.
Oh, relax you guys. Some of you get way too defensive.
1. I can see the value of a basic aiming suggestion for beginners. Something like the ghost ball. A beginer's stroke is usually so bad though, they could no more aim for a precise spot then fly to the moon. So, keep it simple.
2. Saying that a stroke takes care of itself, is easily proven wrong. Just take a look at any group of long-time players, and you'll see alot of bad strokes. Many people have limited their ability to improve, because they don't try to work on their stroke.
3. Of course, if you can't see, you can't aim. No arguement there.
Some folks get way too carried away with the science of the game, and they forget that in order to improve you must develop muscle memory and the inate knowledge that only comes from experience. That said, reading about different ideas certainly doesn't hurt. Except for "pleasures of small motions". That one book has the potential to completely rip apart your game...but maybe it also leads to great improvements...
anyway...enjoy the debate and keep the personal crap to a minimum, eh?
1. I can see the value of a basic aiming suggestion for beginners. Something like the ghost ball. A beginer's stroke is usually so bad though, they could no more aim for a precise spot then fly to the moon. So, keep it simple.
2. Saying that a stroke takes care of itself, is easily proven wrong. Just take a look at any group of long-time players, and you'll see alot of bad strokes. Many people have limited their ability to improve, because they don't try to work on their stroke.
3. Of course, if you can't see, you can't aim. No arguement there.
Some folks get way too carried away with the science of the game, and they forget that in order to improve you must develop muscle memory and the inate knowledge that only comes from experience. That said, reading about different ideas certainly doesn't hurt. Except for "pleasures of small motions". That one book has the potential to completely rip apart your game...but maybe it also leads to great improvements...
anyway...enjoy the debate and keep the personal crap to a minimum, eh?
drivermaker
Banned
jer9ball said:
Personally, I'm one of the least scientific guys on here. But YOU are in fact using an aiming system. Why don't you describe your set up, what you see and perceive to make a particular shot in either cue alignment or CB/OB alignment and I'll put a name (aiming system) to it. For you to say you don't use one and go on pure instinct alone is total and pure horseshit.
Drivermaker: I'm curious...what does drivermaker stand for? Just curious.
What system do I use? I look at the balls, and I shoot them. On some days, I have a hard time seeing where to hit the ball. On those days, I lose money. On the days when I don't have to think about where to hit the ball, I make money. Simple. Can you dig it? Perhaps on the losing days, I'd benefit from using a system. No, I doubt it. I think I'd benefit from taking a break from match play, and go practice again.
What system do I use? I look at the balls, and I shoot them. On some days, I have a hard time seeing where to hit the ball. On those days, I lose money. On the days when I don't have to think about where to hit the ball, I make money. Simple. Can you dig it? Perhaps on the losing days, I'd benefit from using a system. No, I doubt it. I think I'd benefit from taking a break from match play, and go practice again.
drivermaker
Banned
jer9ball said:
I thought my name was quite obvious. It's what I've done.
You're not getting it yet...you are using a system. You said, "On some days, I have a hard time seeing where to hit the ball". O.K., how do you determine or sense "where" to hit the ball to begin with? You also said "I look at the balls, and I shoot them". So, if you have a cut shot, does that mean you try to hit the OB dead center or off to the side? If it's off to the side of center, you're using a fractional system of some sort. If you're using your cue to hit it there, or aligning the CB to hit the OB off center, that also is a fractional, equal and opposite, or overlay method. And there are different ways to gain that perspective on days that you can't see where to hit it.