Yes... but that only done initially and then the focus isn't on the OB anymore but rather the aim line. You don't try to put the CB at the ghots ball location. You determine an aim line with the ghost ball, then only attempt to get the CB to follow that line.
Bearing in mind that snooker is generally more of a stun game or straight draw/follow, and doesn't use an abundance of siding. Not saying you can't, but it's not the norm for the vast majority of shots.
I feel like a weirdo for how I aim but I feel like we are doing something similar. A ghost ball is imaginary (I get the concept, but nothing is there at the table, it's still knowing the size of the spheres). I don't want to see fractions or divisions on the balls. I can, but it's too much to piss with. My head doesn't work in fractions, imaginary aim points and such. What I can see is the line from the back of the ball to the pocket (or carom, target, etc.) and make the CB strike the OB in a way that makes the ball go exactly down that path to the part of the pocket I imagined the aim line. My CB is real, and a ghostball is similar, but it negates things like CIT, the effects of english and such. Ghost ball still requires feel. I don't want to imagine a ghostball because it doesn't have the "feel" that my CB does. I can't have a ghostball become an extension of my body like my stick and CB becomes because it's only a concept with no physical existence. I AIM, but the feel is where it's at for me. Personally (and it might be because I'm a weirdo lol) I want the feel with no distractions. I aim with a single point on the back of the OB (that is imaginary
) and let the feel of the CB/Stroke do the rest. Sometimes I'm aiming down the aim line, sometimes a point, depends on what feel it needs? I let the stick do the work and listen for the sweet sound of a well stroked ball. It has to be about feel/sound for me or I can't properly focus. Living in the moment and letting all the math stay in the textbook. It's still very important to observe what happens on the shot because without this visual part, you don't learn. I know it sounds dumb, but when I shoot, the OB also becomes an extension of my body/senses. I really get into feeling what the CB does after impact. If feels like I'm willing it (not forcing it) to go. It's almost a visualization technique, but in the time you take practice strokes/waggle. I aim standing up and fall into stance. I visualize and "get the feel" on the practice strokes. I also learned better at hands on projects in school and science.
I'm not knocking how anyone aims, we all are different creatures with different things that make us tick. It's just so hard to discuss aiming, but as far as holding visual focus, it's definitely needed no matter what system we use to pocket balls. If you don't have to maintain much visual focus, you've probably just developed your stroke and spatial awareness to the point you don't have to as much. But switching equipment, you'll have to get back into the groove of aiming.
I guess the aim line you take from the ghost ball is most likely the same one I take from the back of the ball, your aim line most likely intersects the back of the ball in the same place I imagine. I mean, there's roughly only one way for the balls to collide to get the same target. Personally, I'm wired in a way that imagining extra stuff just messes me up, so I try to eliminate anything extra.
When things are working at their best, I think my elbow hinge and cue line are synced, with my bridge acting to both hold the cue and allow the one piece moving cue/arm action, to be meshed to the aim line.
Language fails to describe because it is linear and sequential by nature.
Finding the aim line is part of the process and held in mind somehow, while the rest of the alignment takes place.
The transitions involve bring information and resources together in a timed fashion.
Each important in their moment but needing to give way to what comes next.
Yes! When you aim properly and "fall" into your stance naturally, it's all golden. You have a stroke, you have good mechanics, good stance and the whole ball of wax. I don't fully understand the term "rhythm" but I think it's likely a synonym if you minimize the timing aspect.
Mind posting the Cole's Notes version...? As soon as people start speaking about spirituality in pool I glaze over and swear I have mini strokes, because I'll have gaps in my memory. May just be my mind protecting itself from the trauma.
Sure. It's not really anything woo woo.
@CJ Wiley called it self hypnosis. I've heard it described as a way to ground yourself if you have anxiety/adhd/some forms of autism while looking for ADD fighting tips. First you SEE three things in the room. (Color of opponent's shirt, The cloth on the table, an LED display across the room). You HEAR three things in the room (clack of the balls, a snare drum in the song on the jukebox, some lady laughing like a hen). You FEEL three things (your butt on the chair, the cold air currents on your skin, the wood on the shaft). Next do this process with two things, then follow it by one thing.
I don't think that I would call it hypnosis, but what you've done is become more in tune with the room and you can ignore everything but pool and what you need to do on the table. You're grounded and it's like tunnel vision you get in dead stroke. It's pretty damn amazing, might not work for everyone, but it put me in the ZONE. No distractions and I could properly set my intent. I won two games in a row against much stronger players and it looked like I was toying with both of them. I even gave one guy BIH purposely because I knew he was scared to break out one of the two clusters and would shoot his blocker "duck" out of my way. There was no way to win unless one of us made a mistake. The thing he didn't account for was that my "mistake" was an inescapable trap. He knew his duck had to be made, but I got a read on him, he would refuse to do so and shot himself into worse trouble. I wasn't feeling particularly mean or anything, but I made sure to roll his duck into the pocket as I was getting pinpoint shape on the 8. There's no way I have the focus to do this normally and would usually have sold out through impatience.
IDK, it's a pretty easy thing to try and I enjoyed the results.
