I lost the aim....

Train1077

Train1077

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
I am a bit puzzled about my game... I can't seem to get any better at pocketing the balls. I have been playing with some of the other guys in my club, and they are starting to be better than me. I have been playing for roughly 2 years.

I am having a hard time imagining the ghostball when I aim. I practised long straight balls a lot in the beginning, to get a good stroke, and straight balls are not a problem.

When I stand behind a ball, I can see where the contact point is, I think where the CB should hit, and I go over to the shot, without taking my eyes of the OB, but when I go down to the shot, I can't find the spot where to hit, and if I can see the spot, I can't imagine the ghostball, where to hit..

I think I am getting worse, and I train more than the guys that are getting better than me.

I a really getting frustrated and sad about my game.
 
Once you determine the contact point, you must then find your aiming point. Unless you have a straight in shot, these will be different. Finding the contact point is important only to help you determine your aiming point. Once you know your aiming point, that is the only thing you need to focus on. Forget about the contact point once you know where you need to aim.
Steve
 
This you are mentioning, does this apply to ghostball aim or all the aiming techniques?
 
All aiming systems use the ghostball someway, somewhat. We use a system called S.A.M that identifies the center of the ghostball. Now we have something to aim at.....SPF=randyg
 
CB...Here's one: Set up an easy 1/2 ball cut shot, on the short end of the table. Keep the balls less than 2 feet apart. Let the shooter get down and aim at the what they think is the correct point on the OB, with their stick, through the CB. Then you stand by the OB, and place a "ghost ball" inline with the corner pocket and the line to the CB. The shooter will be able to see if their perception is on or off, and be able to adjust visually and mechanically as needed. When they have finished aiming, and finished their warmups, take the ghost ball away, and they pull back and shoot. They will make most shots this way, and can start concentrating on tip placement and speed, to move the CB around the table. You must have your template working to do this easily.

Here's another way...Have the shooter point their cue at the pocket, through the intended OB. With the cue on the cloth, behind the OB, move the tip back about 1 inch, inline with the pocket. This represents where the CB will sit, at the correct contact to pocket the OB. Leaving the tip on the cloth, walk the shooter's cue around until it is directly over the CB. There is your aim point, through the CB, with the stick, to pocket the shot easily. Line up behind the CB...take your warmups, and fire away. Don't forget your eye patterns!

All of this, of course, is dependent on an accurate and repeatable stroke, and a well-defined process.

Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com


Guy said:
What suggestions do you have for someone who has difficulty visualizing the "ghost ball"?
Click to expand...
 
Guy,

If you have trouble visualizing the Ghost ball, then there are a multitude of aiming systems out there to try. Just do a search on here, and you'll find a half a dozen, I'm sure, that have been talked about over the years. I would suggest some kind of fractional aiming method, like SAM. I use a combination of things that would drive the normal human insane, but I base it all around this. Here is a link to a short paper I wrote years ago and I still teach it. Just give it a read and think about it. http://rlnunley.com/intuitive shot making.doc By the way, this is not a cure all, end all for aiming, but it does help. Some of the terminology might not be correct or acceptable, but I'm a my PhD isn't in language, it's Pool Hall Degenerate, so excuse any miscues on the language or syntax.

Bob
 
Guy said:
What suggestions do you have for someone who has difficulty visualizing the "ghost ball"?
Click to expand...

Guy: That's why S.A.M is around. I have a very tough time seeing a ghost ball also. Now it's a piece of cake.

Pay attention to BOBN, lot's of great advice....SPF=randyg
 
When I stand behind a ball, I can see where the contact point is, I think where the CB should hit, and I go over to the shot, without taking my eyes of the OB, but when I go down to the shot, I can't find the spot where to hit, and if I can see the spot, I can't imagine the ghostball, where to hit..

I think I am getting worse, and I train more than the guys that are getting better than me.

I a really getting frustrated and sad about my game.[/QUOTE]

AHh. Had to read this a couple of times before I understood what your going though.

This requires some imagination.
First, the widest part of a ball is thru the horizontal center. Draw a horizontal thru the center on the OB.
Now, you say you know where the OB contact point is, put a black dot on the horizontal line of the OB. (white dot for the 8 ball)
Now when you get down on the shot you will see a dot on the OB (QB contact point.)
Unless its a must, always keep your cue tip within the mass of the QB (about the size of a quarter)

Try that and see if it helps.:wink:
 
randyg said:
Guy: That's why S.A.M is around. I have a very tough time seeing a ghost ball also. Now it's a piece of cake.

Pay attention to BOBN, lot's of great advice....SPF=randyg
Click to expand...

Randy, Bob and Scott thanks for your input. Hope to get together with Scott when he is in So. Calif at the end of the month. Guys like you make this forum invaluable.
 
Ghost Ball

Tom Rossman tells in this video how his wife does the ghost ball effect by taking the point of contact then backing up 1/2 the distance of the cue ball, which if you have a 2 1/4" cue ball that would be 1 1/8" from the point of contact on the object ball and that is where she shoots at.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v23_RRUVJro

Dave
 
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