I thought this thread was going to be a manifesto of a sexual pool deviant... disappointing.
I think I am weird...
- Thread starter tallygreys
- Start date
Whether our subconscious notices and adjust off of the "straight line" or "half ball hit line" or not, unless you are a very new beginner I think it is a horrible idea to try to adjust from either of these lines consciously. Now in the very beginning of learning it probably can't hurt and may help at times, but I won't take long at all before you consciously see only the shot line and you fall on it correctly with your stance pretty much automatically and effortlessly. I think any player except maybe a rank beginner should be making an effort to see the shot line and only the shot line.
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Initial "reference" or "orienting" alignments are used by all kinds of players, even top pros. It can be a straight-on starting alignment as the OP uses, a half ball starting alignment as I suggested, any of the other fractional or "pivot" system beginning alignments, or even an approximate ghost ball alignment, as I do.
"Starting alignments" are easily recognized starting places that provide a consistent beginning orientation to the shot and help keep your "feel" for it precise. It isn't necessary to "adjust" from there to the aim line or even to compare the starting alignment with the aim line - they can be completely separate steps.
pj
chgo
I stayed away from mentioning the fractional and pivot based beginning alignments. Lets just say I don't see the need for them. As far as the ghost ball alignment, that is essentially a shot line alignment, which is proper.
If you are adjusting based off some other "starting alignment" aside from the shot line, I still submit that you are gaining nothing and in fact are likely just muddying the waters for no reason and ending up less effective for it. And if they are separate steps and no comparison is even being made, how could it possibly even be argued that it might serve a purpose in ultimately helping you to more accurately get on the shot line?
Using any other line besides the shot line is about as effective as using the whole table itself as the initial reference point, as in "start off facing the table". Doesn't do a thing to help contribute to getting you on the proper actual shot line. You get on the shot line by trying to get on the shot line.
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So...when line up for a shot, I like to get first aim dead on straight on to the OB. Dead on straight. Then, I "rotate" my cue and body to the correct shooting angle. When I watch anyone else play, they just line up and aim with the correct shooting angle. But I line up/aim dead on straight on first. I fell like it gives me a reference point from which I then rotate into the correct angle.
Does anyone else do this? Conversely, why doesn't everyone do this!Again, to me, if I don't do this, I feel like I have no reference and feel sorta like I am shooting blind.
Curious for your thoughts.
Mike
With more experience, you should know where to set up for the shot you are shooting.
What you are doing now is setting up for a straight on shot, then adjusting for the shot
you are actually going to shoot. Highly counterproductive - IMHO.
Dale
"I'd wager that almost everybody uses a "starting reference" like you do - they just aren't aware of it like you are"
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Wrong again.
IMHO - most advanced players know exactly where to hit the OB, and where to stand
for that exact shot, before they get into their stance at the table?
The fact that they have no need to think about how they accomplish proper stance
and alignment does not imply they do not understand fully just exactly what they are doing.
Dale
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So...when line up for a shot, I like to get first aim dead on straight on to the OB. Dead on straight. Then, I "rotate" my cue and body to the correct shooting angle. When I watch anyone else play, they just line up and aim with the correct shooting angle. But I line up/aim dead on straight on first. I fell like it gives me a reference point from which I then rotate into the correct angle.
Does anyone else do this? Conversely, why doesn't everyone do this!
Curious for your thoughts.
Mike
Hey Mike, are the balls going in? That's your answer
Many players do this, but frankly, I don't see people doing this at any accomplished level.So...when line up for a shot, I like to get first aim dead on straight on to the OB. Dead on straight. Then, I "rotate" my cue and body to the correct shooting angle. When I watch anyone else play, they just line up and aim with the correct shooting angle. But I line up/aim dead on straight on first. I fell like it gives me a reference point from which I then rotate into the correct angle.
Does anyone else do this? Conversely, why doesn't everyone do this!
Curious for your thoughts.
Mike
And your tendency to do this is not mutually exclusive to your weirdness.