Illustration of how I aim

AZE

AZE

DeucesCracked Instructor
Silver Member
I play with my cue-stick under my chin in the center of my face, I have been doing this since about the time I started playing pool - because my friend (who happens to be an A player) told me to. I've been playing for 2 years and have ALWAYS been a horrible ball pocketer. Just recently I started 'seeing' the shot, where to hit, I don't know how I came across it, but it just looks so unnatural. In my natural hand-eye mind it looks like I'm shooting the ball right into the rail. But it works, very well.
In the past couple of days - I found out that putting the stick under my right eye (like Earl Strickland) makes the shots look very natural, but now my brain is confused because I've gotten used to shooting the other way.

Here is an illustration of how aiming a ball looks in my head when I shoot with the cue-stick under the center of my face:
ex1sc0.jpg



Here is how it looks when I shoot with the stick far out under my right eye:
ex2bj4.jpg


Those are examples of what it looks like when I'm aiming and I end up making the ball.
I know these are horrible illustrations, but does anybody else here see the ball how I see it in illustration one?..

If there is any advice from any of you good players out there let me know. And hopefully this might help someone else realize why they aren't making balls too.
 
Thanks, but I know which my dominant eye is (right). I've read that article before, it's a good read.
 
I've also used Joe's 3rd eye trainer, and somehow, even when shooting with cue centered under my chin I strike the cue-ball at center naturally..
 
Though this is an individual thing, I don't think you should put your dominant eye directly over the cue. I think the cue's placement should be somewhere between the two eyes. I do believe you should favor the dominant eye, meaning your dominant eye should be closer to over the cue than your sub-dominant eye. Stereoscopic Vision incorporates input from both eyes and unless you only have one eye you should not underplay the importance of the perspective added by the subdominant eye.

As far as aiming goes, unfortunately I can't draw. Imagine a line going thru the center of the ob directly toward your target. Then imagine a line parallel to that going thru the cb. Shoot the cb to the ob so these two lines form one straight line to the target.


\


\​

If you know what I mean...
 
AZE, does the red dot represent where your cue is pointing or where you are focusing on the CB or what?

I mention this because the second red dot you drew looks close to where the cue should be aiming to make the shot.

Colin

ps: A little trig shows that the line of the cue through the center of the CB to the center of the ghost ball will point at a distance 2x from the center of the OB, with x being the distance from the center of the OB to the contact point.
 
lol...

Well, I had a theory of why the shot looks so much more natural when the stick is completely under my right eye... Although I don't look the part much any more I used to be an avid sports-aholic. I played every game and played most good. I shot 3's (basketball) from anywhere. Played QB with good accuracy, I even pitched baseball and in any of these games I had no problems with hitting the spot I was aiming for... I was so frustrated in pool because it's the only aiming that didn't come to me naturally.

I just realized that all those sports I played I was throwing / shooting the ball from the right side of my body!.. foot ball, baseball, even basketball.

I think I might stick with the cue under my center for a while - because I'm pocketing balls pretty good. But I'm also slowly trying to wean off of that and into shooting with the stick under my right eye. I think that will make it easier to make the shots in the long run - less having to find the spot and more just seeing it.
 
It doesn't sound like your cue is following your eye. Stand in front of a large mirror and stare at one eye or the other. Without moving your gaze from your target eye, bring your cue up to your chin to point at it. Close the other eye and check if your cue is exactly in line. Adjust accordingly. Repeat this exercise for the rest of your life.

Everything becomes much easier when you can send the ball exactly where you're looking. Now you don't have to try to hit a point on a ball, or join up dots, or imagine things that aren't there, just so that you can get somewhere close. You just cue down the line that makes the ball go in the pocket, and look along it. See the whole shot. It's what snooker players do. It's incredibly accurate and astonishingly easy when you stop trying to work it out and just let it happen.

Boro Nut
 
AZE said:
lol...

Well, I had a theory of why the shot looks so much more natural when the stick is completely under my right eye... Although I don't look the part much any more I used to be an avid sports-aholic. I played every game and played most good. I shot 3's (basketball) from anywhere. Played QB with good accuracy, I even pitched baseball and in any of these games I had no problems with hitting the spot I was aiming for... I was so frustrated in pool because it's the only aiming that didn't come to me naturally.

I just realized that all those sports I played I was throwing / shooting the ball from the right side of my body!.. foot ball, baseball, even basketball.

I think I might stick with the cue under my center for a while - because I'm pocketing balls pretty good. But I'm also slowly trying to wean off of that and into shooting with the stick under my right eye. I think that will make it easier to make the shots in the long run - less having to find the spot and more just seeing it.
Click to expand...


My opinion is if you set well then your head is aligned correctly and your eyes will be able to be used to your best ability naturally. I say forget about the thinking about putting your head here or cue on the line of this eye etc. Align from up high, set and then let the stroke go.
 
i had similar issues, when i start playin pool i wasn't really bothering with where my eye or cue was..i as just keeping it more or less at the center, and i had natural ability to pocket rather tough shots with a lot of power by just invisioning shot. Though after some time i start thinking about all aiming technics about my shooting and etc..etc.. that's what actually gets u in trouble couse u start thinking if u change right now where ur cue is, u will start shooting better. At the end i can shoot either way and pocket ball no matter really where cue is but then i decided to go back to natural aiming, just like up urself first on the ball then line up with shot while u're getting down and automaticly ur cue should be where it feels natural and comfortable for you...atleast that's how i feel now.
 
AZE said:
lol...

Well, I had a theory of why the shot looks so much more natural when the stick is completely under my right eye... Although I don't look the part much any more I used to be an avid sports-aholic. I played every game and played most good. I shot 3's (basketball) from anywhere. Played QB with good accuracy, I even pitched baseball and in any of these games I had no problems with hitting the spot I was aiming for... I was so frustrated in pool because it's the only aiming that didn't come to me naturally.

I just realized that all those sports I played I was throwing / shooting the ball from the right side of my body!.. foot ball, baseball, even basketball.

I think I might stick with the cue under my center for a while - because I'm pocketing balls pretty good. But I'm also slowly trying to wean off of that and into shooting with the stick under my right eye. I think that will make it easier to make the shots in the long run - less having to find the spot and more just seeing it.
Click to expand...

First off, Dave K, that's brilliant :-)

AZE, perhaps you have tried this:

Pot some straight shots, trying to point your cue through the center of both balls as you plant your bridge. Then stoke center CB. Do you tend to miss to one side or the other quite constantly?

Now try the same shot with your head in different positions. For me, I tend to see the line more clearly when my left eye is over the cue (right handed) and with chin a few inches above the cue.

I believe you can learn to line up from any position, but there tends to be a position that is easier to see. Also, it can take some time to warm up the eyes so that they can get a clearer image of that line.

One thing that is quite universal about fine potters is how smoothly and steadily they place their head over the cue when aligning. Work out the optimum position for your eyes over the cue and then learn to replicate it with high accuracy and repeatability.

Colin
 
I'm not having a problem pocketing balls, that's not why I made this thread. I'm actually pocketing balls pretty good - and getting more consistant the more I just accept that 'this is how I see the ball' - the only times I miss is when I go "hmm.. but it looks a little funny".. if I just go "it looks wrong, but it's right" I pocket the ball.

I made this thread incase there was anyone else who saw the balls the same and could learn from this. Either that they can adjust the cueing to see it more natural, or learn from how I discribe pocketing balls...

I'm just sharing, that's all.

I will give a try to the advice given, however, if it might improve my game, I'll give it a shot :)
 
Colin Colenso said:
First off, Dave K, that's brilliant :-)
Click to expand...

Thanks Colin, and for the nice rep too ... and you'll be pleased to know that my opponents like like the way I aim too :o

Dave
 
A little help! When I practice straight in shots from the right side of the table ( length wise) my stance is more closed than when I shoot straight in shots from the left side of the table as I am right handed. (I stand in the traditional pool stance vs. snooker style.) As a result from the right side I will consistently miss to the left by 4 or 5 inches (if I aim it how I see it) on the other side of the table in a more open position I can aim it straight at the pocket and everything works as it should.
 
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