How do you know you need an Aiming System?

[SpiderWebComm]

What in the hell are you writing about? You got that from my statement how I used to go to the bars looking to make some money in pool games when we didn't have much? Try again and see if you can embellish it even better.

Well, first of all I don't believe one word about your going to either a bar or pool room to hustle/play guys for money when you had none after getting married. You never played enough pool to get good nor did you have the street smarts to set something up.

If she knew the two of you were going to be flat broke she probably wouldn't have married you for starters. Secondly, IF you came home with some money what would her thoughts be about you earning it playing pool? (which you didn't)

Here's the conversation:

HER: "Where have you been all day, my love?

YOU: "I was out trying to earn some money for us, my dearest.

HER: "I didn't know you had a job. Where are you working?

YOU: "Well, aaaaaah, well, I'm not exactly working at a full time job with anyone.

HER: "Did you have success? How much did you earn today"?

YOU: "Yesterday I lost $3 dollars because I played against someone better than I
am but today I won back 75 cents against someone who was worse.

HER: "I don't understand. You played what?

YOU: "I played pool. I'm what's known as a hustler. Well really a Predator hustler
because I've come to learn to only pick on the less skilled than I am.

HER: "Wait a minute, you're telling me that I married who I thought was Prince
Charming and going to have me living in diamonds and luxury for the rest of
my life and you're out all day trying to scrape up a couple of lousy bucks
playing POOL?!

YOU: "I know how to read people and their games. If I see they're better than I am,
I just go to another table."

HER: "We can't even EAT on 75 cents! Plus you lost $3 the day before. I think we
should start looking into an annulment. This isn't going to work or what I
signed up for.

YOU: "OK, I'll go out and look for a REAL job tomorrow. To be honest, I wasn't
worth a damn as a pool player to begin with. I think I'll just go the next 50
years and pick the game up again after I retire from whatever I find for work. What will I be, about 68 or 69?

IS THAT EMBELLISHED GOOD ENOUGH FOR YOU? I KNOW IT'LL GIVE THE GANG HERE SOME BELLY LAUGHS.

 

[Bobkitty]

Watch it.. your gonna get the gang riled up.


BTW I'm curious in how well you play. Post of video of yourself playing some 9ball. Let's see if you need a aiming system. I'm betting you don't. Just like most searcher's in need for a fix. Do you realise how much physics play a role in pool. Can one constantly run out center ball..different speeds.
CJ Wiley has a very interesting method. This might not be your thing but what it represents is what's needed. A starting point... feedback off your shots on why you missed. And just with TOO you will learn the same thing.

Aiming system are not what you should be looking for. If you are using a system and still playing bad it's probably stroke issues or ones lack of knowledge on ball to ball relationship.

I am not personally looking for an aiming system. I just started this thread wondering how others came to the conclusion that they did.... My pool teacher says I am just fine and we have proved it by setting up the shots and making micro adjustments to hit the different segments of the pocket. Still, long cross table back cut shots are hard and I wish they were easier. But, don't we all?

 

[SpiderWebComm]

LMAO! Good luck with that one! I've come to learn he doesn't do videos upon request and either pleads the 5th because what he says or it shows may incriminate him based on all the hooey he wants you to believe.

Hey Anthony, 8Pack, I told you so. He gave you the Ali Shuffle.

 

[SpiderWebComm]

I am not personally looking for an aiming system. I just started this thread wondering how others came to the conclusion that they did.... My pool teacher says I am just fine and we have proved it by setting up the shots and making micro adjustments to hit the different segments of the pocket. Still, long cross table back cut shots are hard and I wish they were easier. But, don't we all?

So what was your motivation to purchase both Poolology and CTE DVD 2?

Kind of a waste of money I would think if you had no intention of using them.

 

[lfigueroa]

Like my gambling golf buddy used to say: " I'll play anybody for any amount (he called money units) if the bet is fair". That was easy because most people have handicaps in golf and his was +4. How do two strangers, to each other, make a "fair and even" bet in pool? Like I've said before; when I used to play pool for money, back when I had none, my talent was instantly recognizing who was better and I moved to another table. I have zero interest in giving a better player my money unless I can justify it as a cheap lesson. I'll play SVB for $20 in races to 9 just for the lessons and getting to watch a master up close.

There is no tout sheet in pool playing for small money -- there are no handicaps.

I've played in rooms all over the country, go in, and am willing to play anyone $20 a game. Sometimes I book a winner, sometimes it's a push, and other times I've been steered to the local hot shot and take a beating. At my home room just a bit back three guys came in, obviously on the road, and one of them asked me to play some $50 1pocket and I obliged. No idea how he played but I suspected he might play pretty sporty. But it was small money so I played heads up. It's what you do now, when I was a teenager learning the game in San Francisco, and when I moved to St. Louis and let everyone in town rob me for two years while I learned to play 1pocket.

Which brings me to this: you even bringing up this handicapping really casts doubt on your back story about playing pool for money back in the day. If you are familiar with pool at all you would know how it's done in the real world.

Lou Figueroa

 

[lfigueroa]

I never once mentioned playing Lou in my posts.

You were very insistent, to the point of repeating: every shot into every pocket has a thick entry, middle and thin entry.

I then invited you to try that if you ever visited St. Louis.

You said were visiting your son in St. Louis in August.

I said I’d be happy to play you some “inexpensive 1pocket.”

You replied: no 1pocket, you only played 9ball and 10ball.

I told you I haven't played much of either of those games in years but we could “knock them around cheap” when you're in STL.

You then sent me a PM providing your phone number and suggesting I provide you mine, which I did. I also said I wasn’t interested in wasting your time or mine.

From the getgo I was clear that I was not interested in playing for fun... nor was I looking to make my next car payment. (I pay cash for my vehicles anyway.)

Lou Figueroa

 

[Renegade_56]

There is no tout sheet in pool playing for small money -- there are no handicaps.

I've played in rooms all over the country and always go in and will play anyone for $20 a game. Sometimes I book a winner, sometimes it's a push, and other times I've been steered to the local hot shot and take a beating. At my home room just a bit back three guys came in, obviously on the road, and one of them asked me to play some $50 1pocket and I obliged. No idea how he played but I suspected he might play pretty sporty. But it was small money so I played heads up. It's what you do now, when I was a teenager learning the game in San Francisco, and when I moved to St. Louis and let everyone in town rob me for two years while I learned to play 1pocket.

Which brings me to this: you even bringing up this handicapping really casts doubt on your back story about playing pool for money back in the day. If you are familiar with pool at all you would know how it's done in the real world.

Lou Figueroa

Every story he tells falls apart eventually. He thought he was gonna impress everyone by claiming to shoot at pocket facings on 1/2 ball hits. Put 5 or 6 diamonds distance between those balls and aim 1/2 ball, anything anywhere in the pocket will be a blessing.He's just learning and making progress maybe but it's obvious he knows little about playing pool. He's still playing for 1 ball while most of us are shooting for 8 and out or trying to shoot thru racks in 14.1. If he thinks playing vertical cue ball and shooting at pocket facings will get him where he wants to be I feel sorry for him.

 

[skip100]

never mind

 

[BC21]

Playing in a couple of bands, I visit quite a few bars. Many places have a pool table or two. In between sets I watch the locals play, most of them not capable of running more than 4 or 5 balls in wide-open rack of 8ball. Often I see these average to below average players tossing a dollar or two on the table. Not exactly betting high...lol. I watch with a feeling of nostalgia that makes me feel 19 or 20 again, back when I'd play in bars for a dollar or for a beer. I'd put a quarter in the table and a couple of hours later have a small buzz and a pocket full of wrinkled bills. I was young and stupid, thought I was either going to be a rock star or a pro pool player. Anyway, I was always proud to leave with an extra 20 or 30 dollars in my pocket. It wasn't much, but it'd buy gasoline and guitar strings, so it was enough.

There were other players in and around the surrounding towns doing the same thing. They were mostly older guys, and we'd always run into each other in a bar here or there. The only difference between me and them was the fact that their piddly winnings were probably needed in order to eat, and mine were not. So the options were to either partner up and play doubles or step away and let them have the gig. Shortly after those years, when I discovered the greater joy of pool halls versus bar rooms, a few of these players became my friends and I learned a lot from them because they were more seasoned. I was just having fun winning a little extra cash, while they were probably trying to earn extra money to pay bills or support a pregnant wife.

My point is, nobody knows anything about Denwhit, yet many are assuming he's full of it. Not all of us spent our youth gambling $200 sets or $20 a game in a pool hall. Some of us gambled small-scale, $20 to $30 a few nights a week. I have no reason to doubt that Denwhit was a part of that small-scale scene. I remember it well. And I remember when a better player walked in, I was smart enough to either team up or take my measly winnings somewhere else.

Of course, nowadays, I don't play in bars hustling the young bangers for beer money. Kids in bars seem to enjoy watching the balls bounce around the table. They don't like watching somebody run out, and at $1 per game for most bar tables today I don't blame them.

 

[SpiderWebComm]

U

My point is, nobody knows anything about Denwhit, yet many are assuming he's full of it.

Sorry Brian but I hear that crackling sound of your brain shorting out again. None of his stories add up or come together. Yes, he's full of it.

Not all of us spent our youth gambling $200 sets or $20 a game in a pool hall. Some of us gambled small-scale, $20 to $30 a few nights a week.

$20 or $30 dollars a few nights a week wouldn't be something he did. He's a lot older than you with a far different value of the dollar and wages either hourly, weekly, monthly, or annually.

I have no reason to doubt that Denwhit was a part of that small-scale scene. I remember it well.

CRACK, CRACKLE, CRACK, CRACK, CRACKLE!
I have every reason to doubt he was part of any scene because he posted this:

"Played a lot of snooker as a 16-18 year old and that's it."

READ IT AGAIN BRIAN. "PLAYED A LOT OF SNOOKER AS A 16-18 YEAR OLD AND THAT'S IT".

He mentioned NOTHING about playing pool. NOTHING! And at 18, he QUIT! THAT'S IT!


.

He added this: "I've only been back to pool about 2.5 years now after 50 year layoff except for the occasional 8-9 ball games in the military."

A 50 YEAR LAYOFF ADDED TO HIS AGE OF 18 EQUALS AGE 68 WHEN HE STARTED PLAYING AGAIN. He only banged balls around OCCASIONALLY in the military.

Please tell me in your wildest imagination when it happened when there's nothing that he wrote pointing in that direction. It points to HE DIDN'T DO ANYTHING FOR 50 YEARS FROM AGE 18 to AGE 68.

HIS WORDS IN WRITING...NOT MINE.

Then later he claimed to be playing pool for money right after getting married because they were broke and needed money. WHEN AND WHERE? HE QUIT PLAYING AT 18.

WHAT NEWLY WED GOES OUT TO PLAY POOL INSTEAD OF BEING WITH HIS WIFE GURGLING OVER EACH OTHER ABOUT THE PLANS FOR THE FUTURE AND MAKING LOVE?

Do you think there would be one woman on Earth who wouldn't B*TCH to high heavens about him being gone to play pool and not spending time together so freshly into wedded bliss?

Brian, just when I start to think you're making headway you come back with a total collapse.

YOU fill in the blanks with what HE WROTE. When and where could it have happened? With your misspent youth in bars and pool rooms does he even talk like he knows what actually goes on in a gambling spot for pool?

Look how he answered Lou and crawfished.

 

[Bobkitty]

There is no tout sheet in pool playing for small money -- there are no handicaps.

I've played in rooms all over the country, go in, and am willing to play anyone $20 a game. Sometimes I book a winner, sometimes it's a push, and other times I've been steered to the local hot shot and take a beating. At my home room just a bit back three guys came in, obviously on the road, and one of them asked me to play some $50 1pocket and I obliged. No idea how he played but I suspected he might play pretty sporty. But it was small money so I played heads up. It's what you do now, when I was a teenager learning the game in San Francisco, and when I moved to St. Louis and let everyone in town rob me for two years while I learned to play 1pocket.

Which brings me to this: you even bringing up this handicapping really casts doubt on your back story about playing pool for money back in the day. If you are familiar with pool at all you would know how it's done in the real world.

Lou Figueroa

Back in my 20's in ABQ, NM, we did not play races to 5,7 or 9 at the local bars. We played winner stays on the table and loser goes to the back of the line or to another table.

 

[lfigueroa]

Back in my 20's in ABQ, NM, we did not play races to 5,7 or 9 at the local bars. We played winner stays on the table and loser goes to the back of the line or to another table.

If we play, which frankly I doubted from the first, it'll be in a pool hall, not a bar.

And I have spent my share of time playing in bars, and leagues, and tournaments, and whatnot. Pool rooms are different and you should know that.

Lou Figueroa

 

[BC21]

He added this: "I've only been back to pool about 2.5 years now after 50 year layoff except for the occasional 8-9 ball games in the military."

A 50 YEAR LAYOFF ADDED TO HIS AGE OF 18 EQUALS AGE 68 WHEN HE STARTED PLAYING AGAIN. He only banged balls around OCCASIONALLY in the military.

Please tell me in your wildest imagination when it happened when there's nothing that he wrote pointing in that direction. It points to HE DIDN'T DO ANYTHING FOR 50 YEARS FROM AGE 18 to AGE 68.

HIS WORDS IN WRITING...NOT MINE.

Then later he claimed to be playing pool for money right after getting married because they were broke and needed money. WHEN AND WHERE? HE QUIT PLAYING AT 18.

WHAT NEWLY WED GOES OUT TO PLAY POOL INSTEAD OF BEING WITH HIS WIFE GURGLING OVER EACH OTHER ABOUT THE PLANS FOR THE FUTURE AND MAKING LOVE?

Do you think there would be one woman on Earth who wouldn't B*TCH to high heavens about him being gone to play pool and not spending time together so freshly into wedded bliss?

Brian, just when I start to think you're making headway you come back with a total collapse.

YOU fill in the blanks with what HE WROTE. When and where could it have happened? With your misspent youth in bars and pool rooms does he even talk like he knows what actually goes on in a gambling spot for pool?

Look how he answered Lou and crawfished.

I really enjoy your responses. I laugh out loud when I read them! CRACKLE CRACK CRACK CRACKLE! lol

When I said I have no reason to doubt him, it's because it doesn't concern me. It's none of my business if he wants to meet up with Lou for some friendly races. That's between Dennis and Lou, not Dennis and Lou and Dave and Brian and whoever else....

No one, other than Dennis and Lou, has any reason to probe into anything​ here, other than for the sheer malicious intent of it. That's not how I roll. I have NO REASON to question what anyone says unless it somehow affects me or pertains to me.

I don't know how many times I've heard the classic tale, "I used to play all the time, even paid my way through college back in the day". Knowing it's more than likely a lie, or a grand elaboration of a tiny sliver of truth, doesn't send me into a pompous tirade to discredit the person. I simply nod my head and move on. No REASON to call bullshit, especially if the guy is actually telling the truth, regardless of how unbelievable it may seem.

 

[Bobkitty]

If we play, which frankly I doubted from the first, it'll be in a pool hall, not a bar.

And I have spent my share of time playing in bars, and leagues, and tournaments, and whatnot. Pool rooms are different and you should know that.

Lou Figueroa

WTF kind of question? Yeah, at age 71 I don't know the difference. Reconsidering; It would not be fun for me or you. I don't play 14:1 or 1 pocket, and you don't play 9 or 10 ball. I don't need big $$ bets to have fun playing pool, sounds like you do, etc. etc. Called off.

 

[BC21]

Why I decided I needed an aiming system:
After a lifetime of "estimating" shot angles using the outdated fraction aiming ideas from the little red Willie Mosconi book of the fifties, I came to the conclusion that there just had to be a better way out there somewhere.

Mosconi's book did not contain fractional aiming. He specifically says to aim for the point where the line from the pocket comes through the back of the object ball. In other words, contact point on the OB. The fractions he shows in the book are to demonstrate the basic hits that occur on certain shots. No fractional aim points given or suggested.

....mathematic guesses not worth a hill of beans. (I don't think Mosconi even did it himself)....

Of course Mosconi didn't do any math. Lol. His book contained ZERO mathematics and ZERO fractional aiming. I have the book. Not sure where your info comes from, but it's far off from the truth, other than traditional fractional aiming involving guesswork. Nowadays a little book called Poolology takes the guessing out.

 

[Bobkitty]

Every story he tells falls apart eventually. He thought he was gonna impress everyone by claiming to shoot at pocket facings on 1/2 ball hits. Put 5 or 6 diamonds distance between those balls and aim 1/2 ball, anything anywhere in the pocket will be a blessing.He's just learning and making progress maybe but it's obvious he knows little about playing pool. He's still playing for 1 ball while most of us are shooting for 8 and out or trying to shoot thru racks in 14.1. If he thinks playing vertical cue ball and shooting at pocket facings will get him where he wants to be I feel sorry for him.

I tried to explain in this "why did you think you need an aiming system" thread, that if you can make the minute adjustments, in your aiming system that you presently use, to take a decent cut angle and make the OB hit different segments of the pocket, YOUR AIMING SYSTEM IS OKAY. Never said that is the way to play. Never said that is required to play good. Never said that is the way I pocket every ball. Please read my posts and try to comprehend the meaning before you throw untrue words back at me.

 

[lfigueroa]

WTF kind of question? Yeah, at age 71 I don't know the difference. Reconsidering; It would not be fun for me or you. I don't play 14:1 or 1 pocket, and you don't play 9 or 10 ball. I don't need big $$ bets to have fun playing pool, sounds like you do, etc. etc. Called off.

lol. What a surprise.

"Big $$?!" I used words like "cheap" and "inexpensive" and was willing to play your game, be it 9ball or 10ball.

So, it's called off... I and everyone else here knew it was never "on" in the first place. I don't often say this but in your case I'll make an exception: your credibility here is shot.

Lou Figueroa

 

[Bobkitty]

lol. What a surprise.

"Big $$?!" I used words like "cheap" and "inexpensive" and was willing to play your game, be it 9ball or 10ball.

So, it's called off... I and everyone else here knew it was never "on" in the first place. I don't often say this but in your case I'll make an exception: your credibility here is shot.

Lou Figueroa

It was coming down as some kind of contest. I'm guessing 1/2 of the pool players on here are better than me. I've never said I'm a good pool player. Just fair but trying to get better.

 

[lfigueroa]

It was coming down as some kind of contest. I'm guessing 1/2 of the pool players on here are better than me. I've never said I'm a good pool player. Just fair but trying to get better.

Pool is *all* about competition, mano a mano -- endlessly hitting them in practice has nothing to do with real pool. Frankly, I would guess everyone here is better than you. Given your tales of supporting yourself playing pool and then asking about handicapping for small money against unknown players... if nothing else just about everyone here has got to be considered more honest.

Lou Figueroa

 

[Bobkitty]

Pool is *all* about competition, mano a mano -- endlessly hitting them in practice has nothing to do with real pool. Frankly, I would guess everyone here is better than you. Given your tales of supporting yourself playing pool and then asking about handicapping for small money against unknown players... if nothing else just about everyone here has got to be considered more honest.

Lou Figueroa

You made my point again. I never said l "supported myself" by playing pool. When we needed money, I knew I could go down and win $20-30 playing pool at the bar where there were multiple pool tables at maybe $2-3 @ game in a 4-5 hour session. Twisting my words like that make it sound like I'm a lot better than I am and THAT has been the problem with some on here. Twist, distort, fabricate and trying to make me eat words I did not write.