how to aim when using left or right English...

D

dcb1

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
I'm starting to get pretty good with stop, draw, follow and speed control and want to add some English to my game. I even bought a LD shaft to make it easier for me. My question is...how are you supposed to aim when using English. I'm not asking how to adjust for deflection....just how to visually aim when the cue is parallel to the center point. Is there a trick to it?

Also, for a person new to English...I'm using the parallel method. Should I be using pivot English? Any suggestions to get me on the right path would be appreciated. So far, I'm missing so many shots when I use English it's not worth it unless I can get through this phase and start aiming correctly.

Thanks.
 
dcb1 said:
I'm starting to get pretty good with stop, draw, follow and speed control and want to add some English to my game. I even bought a LD shaft to make it easier for me. My question is...how are you supposed to aim when using English. I'm not asking how to adjust for deflection....just how to visually aim when the cue is parallel to the center point. Is there a trick to it?

Also, for a person new to English...I'm using the parallel method. Should I be using pivot English? Any suggestions to get me on the right path would be appreciated. So far, I'm missing so many shots when I use English it's not worth it unless I can get through this phase and start aiming correctly.

Thanks.
Click to expand...

There are a few things that u need to account for when using spin.
1.speed
2.distance between balls
3.how far out of the center of the cb u strike
4.what type of shaft u use.
5.humidity
6.cloth
7.dirty balls
all the above can have a effect on aiming.
 
dcb1 said:
I'm starting to get pretty good with stop, draw, follow and speed control and want to add some English to my game. I even bought a LD shaft to make it easier for me. My question is...how are you supposed to aim when using English. I'm not asking how to adjust for deflection....just how to visually aim when the cue is parallel to the center point. Is there a trick to it?

Also, for a person new to English...I'm using the parallel method. Should I be using pivot English? Any suggestions to get me on the right path would be appreciated. So far, I'm missing so many shots when I use English it's not worth it unless I can get through this phase and start aiming correctly.

Thanks.
Click to expand...
It helps to know something about what has an effect on the aim including squirt, swerve, elevation (see the list above) so that you have some idea about why you missed. Mostly, however, it's a matter of playing shots. No aiming with side spin system takes all of the important factors into account, so you have to play by feel in the long run.

Pick a single shot that's not too hard. Try it with side spin. Note exactly how you miss. Set up the same shot -- use paper reinforcements to make sure it is the same -- and shoot it again, but if you missed it too full aim thinner and if you missed it too thin aim fuller. When you have that particular shot mastered -- you can put the object ball in the center of the pocket -- make it harder or change the angle or change the speed or change the amount of side spin or draw or follow.

"Backhand english" may help you at the start, but it needs to be adjusted for good accuracy on harder shots or varying conditions.
 
dcb1 said:
I'm starting to get pretty good with stop, draw, follow and speed control and want to add some English to my game. I even bought a LD shaft to make it easier for me. My question is...how are you supposed to aim when using English. I'm not asking how to adjust for deflection....just how to visually aim when the cue is parallel to the center point. Is there a trick to it?

Also, for a person new to English...I'm using the parallel method. Should I be using pivot English? Any suggestions to get me on the right path would be appreciated. So far, I'm missing so many shots when I use English it's not worth it unless I can get through this phase and start aiming correctly.

Thanks.
Click to expand...

Learning to aim with english starts off with some basic shots. There are several very common shots to practice.

As a very beginning with English, my first concern would be to get a feel for learning how to throw balls with spin. If you set up this shot and aim just slightly left of center with left english, keep moving the tip further to the left until you can feel the ball being thrown into the hole. If you reach a full tip left, start moving your point of aim out slightly left. Practice this until you have a great feel for the throw.

Once you have that, move the CB back further and do it some more. Shoot to both pockets, left and right, to train yourself for both sides.

Remember, your stroke speed, your aim, and how far the tip is from center, all interact to throw the OB. What you want to do is develop a control over this throw effect.

Chris

CueTable Help

 
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dcb1 said:
I'm starting to get pretty good with stop, draw, follow and speed control and want to add some English to my game. I even bought a LD shaft to make it easier for me. My question is...how are you supposed to aim when using English. I'm not asking how to adjust for deflection....just how to visually aim when the cue is parallel to the center point. Is there a trick to it?

Also, for a person new to English...I'm using the parallel method. Should I be using pivot English? Any suggestions to get me on the right path would be appreciated. So far, I'm missing so many shots when I use English it's not worth it unless I can get through this phase and start aiming correctly.
Click to expand...
Here are some good videos to help get you on the right track:

And for much more information, including many more resources, see:

Good luck,
Dave
 
It's hard to provide a specific aiming point or a set routine since there are so many variables and some of those variables can cancel each other out depending on the circumstances. Shorter distance shots you don't really need to change your aim at all and you'll still make the ball. With an LD shaft, the adjustment is rarely much. Just a matter aiming a little thicker to adjust.

You just need to experiment a little and develop a repetoire of shots that you are comfortable. Eventually it should be, all of them (or at least most).
 
These answers are great. I have another very simple question. Do you aim with the cue in the center of the cue ball...then shift the cue parallel left or right, OR, do you actually aim and adjust your aim while the cue is left or right of center?

Without English, I feel great over the shot and know exactly where I'm aiming. When I use English I can't really tell where I'm aiming. Is it just the mental exercise of...if I'm using one tip of right english, then I need to aim one tip to the right of where I want the center of the cue ball to end up?

If I'm making this too complicated, let me know.
 
It's all about the eyes..........

dcb1 said:
I'm starting to get pretty good with stop, draw, follow and speed control and want to add some English to my game. I even bought a LD shaft to make it easier for me. My question is...how are you supposed to aim when using English. I'm not asking how to adjust for deflection....just how to visually aim when the cue is parallel to the center point. Is there a trick to it?

Also, for a person new to English...I'm using the parallel method. Should I be using pivot English? Any suggestions to get me on the right path would be appreciated. So far, I'm missing so many shots when I use English it's not worth it unless I can get through this phase and start aiming correctly.

Thanks.
Click to expand...

If you don't have the eyes in the most correct position when you shoot a shot straight in, it's impossible to put english on it and be consistent.

And it's almost impossible to consistently line up the eyes correctly when you cut a shot the way of the non dominant eye. So when you use english when you shot this way it's like a guess on top of a guess.

But then again most players don't know that they have more trouble cutting a ball the way of their non dominant eye.

This is what I teach. It's exactly What it's all about. Perfect Aim...........

I teach players how to fix this................

Now that you know how to get those eyes in that correct position you should be able to adjust because you will be getting the right picture to the brain.

Second call is Free also.......
 
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dcb1 said:
These answers are great. I have another very simple question. Do you aim with the cue in the center of the cue ball...then shift the cue parallel left or right, OR, do you actually aim and adjust your aim while the cue is left or right of center?

Without English, I feel great over the shot and know exactly where I'm aiming. When I use English I can't really tell where I'm aiming. Is it just the mental exercise of...if I'm using one tip of right english, then I need to aim one tip to the right of where I want the center of the cue ball to end up?

If I'm making this too complicated, let me know.
Click to expand...

Experienced players can sight English shots the same way you sight a center ball shot. To us it just is another shot we've learned, even though the cue is not on the "correct" line you've become accustomed to using, we see the adjusted line the cue takes on an English shot.

I sight an english shot standing up, then make minor adjustments when I'm down on the shot, once I've determined what kind of stroke I'll need (how much force and cue tip position). What happens is instead of visualizing the cue line, I visualize a smaller angle contact point on the OB, and muster the amount of spin throw I need to put the OB into the hole.

So, in other words, I partially aim with spin throw. It's not just guessing the amount of throw I'll get, it's mustering the amount I need to pocket the ball.

With the shot I diagrammed above, for example, you can miss the corner pocket by many inches on either side using the exact same contact point on the OB - so aim doesn't make as much difference as spin.

Aiming with English is more about throwing the OB onto the correct line than it is about sighting the cue.

Chris
 
dcb1 said:
These answers are great. I have another very simple question. Do you aim with the cue in the center of the cue ball...then shift the cue parallel left or right, OR, do you actually aim and adjust your aim while the cue is left or right of center?

Without English, I feel great over the shot and know exactly where I'm aiming. When I use English I can't really tell where I'm aiming. Is it just the mental exercise of...if I'm using one tip of right english, then I need to aim one tip to the right of where I want the center of the cue ball to end up?

If I'm making this too complicated, let me know.
Click to expand...
Unfortunately, you're not making it quite complicated enough. You can't just shift your stick parallel to the side to apply sidespin; you also have to angle it slightly away (as if you're trying to shoot a little wide of the mark) to compensate for "squirt" (also called "deflection"). That's why "parallel english" is a misleading name for it.

There's no formula or system for aiming sidespin shots - you just have to practice them. (Some will say the "backhand" method of applying sidespin is a good system, but it takes lots of practice and "feel" too, and won't work very well with your low-squirt shaft anyway. I think a low-squirt shaft and practice is better in the long run.)

I highly recommend Dr. Dave's website, which has all the basic information about this stuff and is absolutely accurate and reliable.

pj
chgo
 
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Just teaching for Free.........

Mitchxout said:
Is it possible to give the guy advice without trying to sell him something?
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Hi there Mitch,

We had worked together from an offer I made on another thread on here. It's free and no charge. In 2 weeks I have given over 80 free phone lessons with Perfect Aim.

Basically I was just telling him that if he would call i would share some more knowledge for free.

I'm having alot of fun teaching. And the players that have called have learned some valuable info.

sorry you misunderstood what I was doing there.

have a great day geno.............

How about them Packers.................
 
dcb1 said:
I'm starting to get pretty good with stop, draw, follow and speed control and want to add some English to my game. I even bought a LD shaft to make it easier for me. My question is...how are you supposed to aim when using English. I'm not asking how to adjust for deflection....just how to visually aim when the cue is parallel to the center point. Is there a trick to it?

Also, for a person new to English...I'm using the parallel method. Should I be using pivot English? Any suggestions to get me on the right path would be appreciated. So far, I'm missing so many shots when I use English it's not worth it unless I can get through this phase and start aiming correctly.

Thanks.
Click to expand...

Believe me it's all about FEELING , with small amout of english in short distance you can use some "methodes" , but when it comes to a long distance or some shots with decent amount of english applied , you need to PRACTICE with YOUR CUE and then get the FEEL and TRUST YOUR FEELING :thumbup:.
 
Based on the nature of your question, it is clear you are not an advanced player. Others have said there is no rote formula to adjust aim for the use of english and they are correct.

The way to become a champion is to shoot a million shots and to REMEMBER when/why you got it right/wrong.

However, I would suggest that you slow WAY down on messing with english. Top players can beat you flat while using nothing but center ball. They can do that by leaving SHAPE that provides a NATURAL path for the cue ball so that english isn't required.

I would strongly recommend that if you MUST incorporate english into your game now, use only ONE HALF TIP MAXIMUM and don't deviate from that rule until you are running at least 6-8 balls routinely in 9 ball and 10-12 in straight pool.
 
HelloBaby- said:
Believe me it's all about FEELING , with small amout of english in short distance you can use some "methodes" , but when it comes to a long distance or some shots with decent amount of english applied , you need to PRACTICE with YOUR CUE and then get the FEEL and TRUST YOUR FEELING :thumbup:.
Click to expand...

Here is a good starting point to get the FEELING mentioned in the reply from HelloBaby.
When using a "level cue" change the object ball contact point in the same direction as you are applying english.
If you're using 1/2 tip right english, aim 1/2 tip further right.
Move your aim point in the same direction and distance as the english you are applying to the cueball.
This isn't going to work on every shot, but will give you a good start to find the FEELING when using english.
 
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