I can't hold it in any longer.rukiddingme said:
Hal Houle
- Thread starter eze
- Start date
Maybe I'm wrong, but I've always believed that all aiming systems were developed for the purpose of simplifying the way a person sees how to aim any given shot. And while NO system can change the physics or geometry involved in the game, one system might click with one particular player where another one might not.
Now, the root to the key word here is, simple. But in everything I've read, heard, or studied about Hal Houle's aiming system, the word simple just does not apply.
I've been an instructor for 15 years, and in all of that time my main goal has been to try and make everything just as simple for the student as I possibly can. I feel that my main responsibility as a professional instructor is to get new people interested in the game, and keep them interested in the game, and I can best do that by using communications that are clear and simple to understand.
If Hal's aiming system is so confusing and complicated that it requires lengthy telephone conversations, or personal visits to his house, in order for most people to fully comprehend it, then I don't see where it can be all that valuable.
Roger
Now, the root to the key word here is, simple. But in everything I've read, heard, or studied about Hal Houle's aiming system, the word simple just does not apply.
I've been an instructor for 15 years, and in all of that time my main goal has been to try and make everything just as simple for the student as I possibly can. I feel that my main responsibility as a professional instructor is to get new people interested in the game, and keep them interested in the game, and I can best do that by using communications that are clear and simple to understand.
If Hal's aiming system is so confusing and complicated that it requires lengthy telephone conversations, or personal visits to his house, in order for most people to fully comprehend it, then I don't see where it can be all that valuable.
Roger
Roger Long said:
I think Hal's system is the most simple system out there. Center to edge for every single shot in pool. How can you beat 1 aim for everything re: simplicity?
Now, if someone doesn't get it--- that doesn't mean it's not simple.
Hi Koop,Koop said:
I've no doubt that many of Hal's tips help players add shots to their arsenal of consistent weapons on the table. For that he deserves much kudos.
I'd just like to see systems clearly defined and to be able to recognise their strengths and weaknesses, as I'm sure most of us would.
I have been informed of an adjustment system taught by Hal, which is intended to fill in the gaps between pure 1/2ball and thicker and thinner shots. I will do a graphic on it with some analysis of how it can work and potential problems associated with it as soon as I get some time.
BR,
Colin
Roger Long said:
Actually, if you are present, it would only take about 5 minutes to learn it. Sometimes it is just tougher to teach things over the phone. That being said, many people have learned it over the phone. I am just one of those people who needs to see it in order to grasp it.
SpiderWebComm said:I think Hal's system is the most simple system out there. Center to edge for every single shot in pool. How can you beat 1 aim for everything re: simplicity?
Now, if someone doesn't get it--- that doesn't mean it's not simple.
Well, I'm not the sharpest knife in the drawer, so maybe I'd better go back and study it until I find that simplicity.
SpiderWebComm said:I think Hal's system is the most simple system out there. Center to edge for every single shot in pool. How can you beat 1 aim for everything re: simplicity?
Now, if someone doesn't get it--- that doesn't mean it's not simple.
Hi Dave,
I've seen you mention the 'One Aim' system before. You use this on 7/8th cut shots also? Does it involve an adjustment method?
Colin
Back to the begining.
The thin cut to the right means that you will hit the left edge of the OB? So you place/aim the tip of the cue stick on the right side of the CB? You then aim the center of the CB to that same edge of the OB? You must estimate the distance of the cue tip to the center of the CB running in a line to the left edge of the OB while the cue tip is positioned to the right of the center of the CB? You then pivot the cue using BHE until it (cue tip) is now positioned at the center of the CB? So when you hit the CB it will travel away from the left edge of the OB to the correct location to contact the OB to send it to the right (thin cut) pocket etc.?
Does that work whether the OB is Close 6 inches or 8 feet away?
Seems worth a try - right?
eze said:
The thin cut to the right means that you will hit the left edge of the OB? So you place/aim the tip of the cue stick on the right side of the CB? You then aim the center of the CB to that same edge of the OB? You must estimate the distance of the cue tip to the center of the CB running in a line to the left edge of the OB while the cue tip is positioned to the right of the center of the CB? You then pivot the cue using BHE until it (cue tip) is now positioned at the center of the CB? So when you hit the CB it will travel away from the left edge of the OB to the correct location to contact the OB to send it to the right (thin cut) pocket etc.?
Does that work whether the OB is Close 6 inches or 8 feet away?
Seems worth a try - right?
eze said:
Your sight line must be center to edge first. If you lined up center to edge and shot the cue ball (without offsetting your cue tip & bridge hand and without pivoting) from there with the cue stick in the center of the cue ball you would be shooting a half ball hit.
It sounds like your sight line is not perfectly set at center to edge. Or if you are lined up center to edge, you are not placing your cue stick and bridge hand to the right of the center of the cue ball. You may be just aiming your cue tip at a spot to the right of the cue ball and then pivoting back to center which will get you only back to center to edge which is a half ball hit.
Hope that helps.
JoeyA
Thanks for the reply. In the case of Efren, he's been doing that forever, as far as I know, so it's doubtful that he learned it from Hal. I guess some people may have learned a system from someone who learned it from a guy who learned it [and so on] from Hal so, indirectly, he may owe some credit to Hal, but I'm curious if any top players have ever learned, and currently use, any of Hal's systems where it could be verified that, indeed, the information came from Hal himself.
I guess it could be perceived that I am looking to discredit Hal, but I'm really just trying to satisfy my own curiosity. In fact, if such professionals existed, it would lend a lot of credibility to his systems.
There was an older guy, named Hal, who came to Southern California in the late 80's/early 90's (can't remember exactly which) and was teaching an aiming system to everyone. I have to believe it was Hal Houle since the system sounds the same. I know that several people began using the techniques he was teaching, and many were raving about them. For myself, I tried it for several months and, while I had brief lapses of brilliance in shot-making, I didn't stick with using the system(s) because the results were inconsistent (for me), and I felt that I had lost all sense of instinct where aiming is concerned.
I guess it could be perceived that I am looking to discredit Hal, but I'm really just trying to satisfy my own curiosity. In fact, if such professionals existed, it would lend a lot of credibility to his systems.
There was an older guy, named Hal, who came to Southern California in the late 80's/early 90's (can't remember exactly which) and was teaching an aiming system to everyone. I have to believe it was Hal Houle since the system sounds the same. I know that several people began using the techniques he was teaching, and many were raving about them. For myself, I tried it for several months and, while I had brief lapses of brilliance in shot-making, I didn't stick with using the system(s) because the results were inconsistent (for me), and I felt that I had lost all sense of instinct where aiming is concerned.
Koop said:
Professional Pool Players use Hal's aiming system.
Yes, Jimmy, there are at least a couple of professional players who will admit to learning Hal's aiming system but they don't know it as Hal's Aiming system. They know it by another name and the foundation of the system is the Hal Houle center to edge aiming system. One of them is doing EXCEPTIONALLY WELL on the Pro Tour and the other is already becoming a legend with several National Titles to his credit.
It is also not necessary to manually pivot to be accurate with the aiming system. It is critical for new users to the system to manually pivot at least when learning the system. After you have been using the system for a while, you no longer have to manually pivot but you still wind up in the correct spot. The pivot becomes a natural hand placement. There is a lot more to the aiming system than 5 minutes of teaching.
You won't learn everything that you need to learn in that short of a period of time. There are a few stages that you need to go through before becoming adept with the system and that takes time. Time to learn, time to practice, time to question, time to practice and time to become confident with the system.
JoeyA
Jimmy M. said:
Yes, Jimmy, there are at least a couple of professional players who will admit to learning Hal's aiming system but they don't know it as Hal's Aiming system. They know it by another name and the foundation of the system is the Hal Houle center to edge aiming system. One of them is doing EXCEPTIONALLY WELL on the Pro Tour and the other is already becoming a legend with several National Titles to his credit.
It is also not necessary to manually pivot to be accurate with the aiming system. It is critical for new users to the system to manually pivot at least when learning the system. After you have been using the system for a while, you no longer have to manually pivot but you still wind up in the correct spot. The pivot becomes a natural hand placement. There is a lot more to the aiming system than 5 minutes of teaching.
You won't learn everything that you need to learn in that short of a period of time. There are a few stages that you need to go through before becoming adept with the system and that takes time. Time to learn, time to practice, time to question, time to practice and time to become confident with the system.
JoeyA
JoeyA said:
Do you use it, Joey? Can you describe it for us in any detail?
(Not a trick question; just interested.)
pj
chgo
JoeyA said:
I know I'm a simple-minded person, so why doesn't that sound simple to me?
I think both sides are right. The system works, but not as an aiming system. It simply provides 2 great starting points from which to begin your alignment process, which includes minute adjustments made by feel. You feel the right alignment when you hit it. It's not a system that works under the scutiny of scientific measurement.
The two half ball aims that Hal gives cover all shots, but not the way I, Patrick, Colin or a few others here would expect them to. They are only jumping off points to wake up your senses. Hal may not claim that, but if pressed I could easily prove it. Please don't make me. I'm lazy.
The two half ball aims that Hal gives cover all shots, but not the way I, Patrick, Colin or a few others here would expect them to. They are only jumping off points to wake up your senses. Hal may not claim that, but if pressed I could easily prove it. Please don't make me. I'm lazy.
For what it's worth:
For a long time snooker players have been told to learn the 1/4, 1/2 and 3/4 ball angles. I remember a video of Steve Davis from years ago when he mentioned this.
No doubt the players made adjustments accordingly, by placing their bridge slightly left or right as required, though I've never heard mention of pivoting. The result would be the same, though the thought process is a little different.
It would appear to be a system that puts you in the ball park for most shots, though it requires significant practice to fine tune the intuitive degree of adjustment in bridge placement.
For a long time snooker players have been told to learn the 1/4, 1/2 and 3/4 ball angles. I remember a video of Steve Davis from years ago when he mentioned this.
No doubt the players made adjustments accordingly, by placing their bridge slightly left or right as required, though I've never heard mention of pivoting. The result would be the same, though the thought process is a little different.
It would appear to be a system that puts you in the ball park for most shots, though it requires significant practice to fine tune the intuitive degree of adjustment in bridge placement.