recoveryjones said:
There's an A+(some think he's a pro) Philipino player in my pool hall who uses an aiming system.He told me that ALL SHOTS are either 1/4 ball, 1/2 or 3/4 ball with the exception of real fine cuts. He said that as soon as he sees the sharpness of the angle he automatically knows whether it is 1/4, 1/2 or 3/4 hit.This only applys to center ball hits mid, high and low.Sidings of course changes things.
To prove a point he had me cover up the pocket with my arms and body, so he couldn't see the pocket. He then shot....I lifted my body....and voila!!! the ball went in every single time.He told me not to tell anyone else in the pool hall his secret and that he told me only because he sees me practising so much.
I could be wrong, however, I think his methods are somewhat related to Hal Houle's teachings.
There's 90 different angles to each of the corner pockets. I use the long rails to represent zero degrees and the end rails to represent 90 degrees. I use numbered contact points 0-9 on both the OB and CB that match or coincide with 10 degree aiming lines out of each pocket. Where the object ball lies on the table tells you what number contact points to match up.
Example 1. Any ball laying along the long rail ( frozen or close to)will have a contact point of zero because I want it to travel down the zero degree line and no matter where the cue ball is or what angle you have, you must strike the object balls contact point of zero with the matching zero of the cue ball (the point on the cue ball that is pointing directly to the end rail of the intended pocket, zero degrees)
Example 2. Any ball laying along the end rail has a contact point of 9 because you want it to travel along the 90 degree line. Once again whether you're straight in, have a 20,30 or 80 degree angle. The part of the cue ball that must be aimed at the object balls contact point is the part of the cue ball that is currently pointing to the long rail of the intended pocket. Thats aiming 9-9.
Example 3. A spot shot with the cue ball laying anywhere (within reason, makeable) This position on the table represents a 45 degree angle out of the pocket, so both contact points on my numbered balls would be 4.5 to 4.5.
This is the best I can explain it in words. But if you want to see it just cut out some 2 1/4 inch paper discs and number them like this across the front half of each 9876543210123456789 then lay them on the table so the two 9's point out to the two side rails and the the zero of each ball points to opposite end rails
What it does is narrow the game down to 10 major shots or contact points that come up over and over. The aiming lines are just used to identify the number of the shot which will help you identify the part of your cue ball that you'll be aiming at the object balls contact point. After a little training of learning the aiming lines (with the help of pocket cheat sheets) you'll be able to call out the number of the shot, say 6 and then be able to vividly pick out your cue balls contact point of 6 and send it at the matching 6 on the object ball.
The product is endorsed by Mike Massey, it comes with two Aiming balls, 2 cardboard flat discs (like the paper ones I discribed) credit card size cheat sheets that teach you the aiming lines and a 60 page instructional booklet. It's called Aiming by the Numbers and the only place I know of on the web to order it is at Muellers website. If any of you do end up getting it, do me one favor and read the instructions completely, especially the golden rule chapter and learn the system slowly, one shot at a time. It's gonna be different for you experienced players but will save you beginners years of frustration.
Using this repetitive method will drastically improve your perception of these very small contact points and of the curves of both balls.
Anyways to comment on the 1/4, 1/2 and 3/4 shots. Many players say things like this and then back it up by firing them in. It's what I call a reference system. This shot is a 1/2 ball hit, then their subconscious takes over and adjust a little fuller or a little thinner. These systems can work and the more the player believes it does, the better it works. But simple math tells us if there are 90 different angles, there must be 90 different aim or contact points.
