John Schmidt's and Corey Deuel's comments on aiming systems

Yep, if the goal is a consistent stance aligned consistently with the shot line, then placing the feet consistently in relation to the shot line is (literally) fundamental. Anything else can only result in stance "adjustments" and inconsistent play.
Agreed. The key is to find the feet positions and pre-shot routine that accurately and consistently positions the vision center over the desired line of aim in the stance.

Regards,
Dave
 
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Some say the feet guide the eyes...

& some say the eyes guide the feet.

If one focuses on setting their feet as a means of setting their eyes then any error in that foot placement can effect the position of the eyes.

If one sets & keeps the eyes on the line & allows the feet to set so as to keep the eyes on the line then both will be correct for the purpose of keeping the eyes on the line.

The choice of how to proceed is up to each individual, as it should be.

For me, if my eyes are on the line, then I can set my cue on the line & that will allow me to set my feet properly that is conducive to & to support the stroke along that line.

Again I would suggest Gene's Perfect Aim DVD to anyone, even if only to make sure that the line is being seen correctly. And make the phone call to Gene even before watching the DVD.

Just some food for thought.

Again the choice of how to proceed is up to each individual, as it should be.

Best 2 All,
Rick

PS In golf, one does not walk up to the ball & set one's feet without looking at the ball & then put the club down. If so, there is huge chance that the stance will be incorrect. Instead, one looks at the ball & places the club head into position & then sets the feet so that the club components remain set for the intended line of the shot.
 
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Some say the feet guide the eyes...

& some say the eyes guide the feet.

If one focuses on setting their feet as a means of setting their eyes then any error in that foot placement can effect the position of the eyes.
Of course it will. That's why one should be careful in foot placement.
If one sets & keeps the eyes on the line & allows the feet to set so as to keep the eyes on the line then both will be correct for the purpose of keeping the eyes on the line.
By your own argument, if ones eyes are not actually on the correct line, then neither will be correct.
The choice of how to proceed is up to each individual, as it should be.
Of course it is. Nobody said otherwise.
For me, if my eyes are on the line, then I can set my cue on the line & that will allow me to set my feet properly that is conducive to & to support the stroke along that line.
Good for you.
Again I would suggest Gene's Perfect Aim DVD to anyone, even if only to make sure that the line is being seen correctly. And make the phone call to Gene even before watching the DVD.

Just some food for thought.

Again the choice of how to proceed is up to each individual, as it should be.

Best 2 All,
Rick

PS In golf, one does not walk up to the ball & set one's feet without looking at the ball & then put the club down. If so, there is huge chance that the stance will be incorrect. Instead, one looks at the ball & places the club head into position & then sets the feet so that the club components remain set for the intended line of the shot.

By your past arguments, why should one need to call Gene before getting the DVD? Is one paying for only part of the information needed?
 
I start my aiming and pre-stroking while standing, making sure my arm, stick and vision are all on the intended line. Then I just slide in as I'm bending over. So by the time I'm touching the table with my bridge hand, every thing is aligned.
To me the feet and bridge are part of my tripod balance.

I never think about my feet alignment but after I watched some videos stressing feet alignment I checked mine after I was already in position and they were right on the mark.
 
the other way around

Agreed. The key is to find the feet positions and pre-shot routine that accurately and consistently positions the vision center over the desired line of aim in the stance.

Regards,
Dave

It's actually the other way around.
 
It's actually the other way around.

Actually, it's not. Most amateurs, and even some pros, favor cutting a ball to one side over the other side. That is simply because their vision center is not centered. They think it is, and they have learned to shoot balls (for example) cutting to the left very well, but when they cut to the right, they have a problem and aren't near as consistent. It looks right to them, but it is not.

If one finds their correct vision center, and then takes note of just where the feet are positioned, they now have a way of making sure that their vision center is centered on each shot. Without using the feet, you are guessing on where your correct vision center actually is located on each shot. And, with a little fatigue or laziness, you will not be centered each and every time.
 
Left eyed and Vision Center

Actually, it's not. Most amateurs, and even some pros, favor cutting a ball to one side over the other side. That is simply because their vision center is not centered. They think it is, and they have learned to shoot balls (for example) cutting to the left very well, but when they cut to the right, they have a problem and aren't near as consistent. It looks right to them, but it is not.

If one finds their correct vision center, and then takes note of just where the feet are positioned, they now have a way of making sure that their vision center is centered on each shot. Without using the feet, you are guessing on where your correct vision center actually is located on each shot. And, with a little fatigue or laziness, you will not be centered each and every time.

Ive had some interesting things to work with being left eye dominant and right handed. For the most part I made the decision to not sweat over it and let my natural ability to adjust work. Thats worked pretty well actually but a few things I have noticed become noticeable on the harder shots...at times.

If I feel my cuts to the right are not on I will shoot spot shots plotted for the half ball hit. If I am not on I will undercut the ones to the right.

What I do to recalibrate is ignore the fact that aiming down the shaft at the edge produces a half ball hit for that shot and I spend some time adjusting the cut. The first ones will I will hit too thick then as I see it they will go in just fine. Once I recalibrate on this shot I am usually fine for right cuts the rest of the day.

I like having my right eye over the cue stick center to the center of the cue ball, especially if I am using FHE or BHE type of adjustments and definitely will Parallel applied English.

Even though being left eye dominant having the cue under the right eye aligns many things and makes things very consistent. I still see where the balls collide and that is what I am mostly looking for.
 
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Agreed. The key is to find the feet positions and pre-shot routine that accurately and consistently positions the vision center over the desired line of aim in the stance.
It's actually the other way around.
Actually, it's not. ...

If one finds their correct vision center, and then takes note of just where the feet are positioned, they now have a way of making sure that their vision center is centered on each shot. ...
Agreed.

The Vision Center is the Teacher.

You need to place your back foot and form your stance so your personal vision center ends up above the desired line of the shot. And for a center-ball hit, the cue should also be along this line.

Now, once one knows what foot position and stance results in the most consistent and accurate vision center and cue alignments, then the foot placement becomes the key.

Regards,
Dave
 
Agreed.

The Vision Center is the Teacher.

You need to place your back foot and form your stance so your personal vision center ends up above the desired line of the shot. And for a center-ball hit, the cue should also be along this line.

Now, once one knows what foot position and stance results in the most consistent and accurate vision center and cue alignments, then the foot placement becomes the key.

Regards,
Dave
And if its not a center ball hit than what do you recommend to do. Where should the cue be?
 
A video of Thorsten Hohmann and Mike Massey on lining up... www.youtube.com/watch?v=BPn3Wzp4NT8
If a player follows the advice in that video but doesn't have their personal vision center over the line of the shot when they are down in the stance, they will not be very accurate or consistent.

Having said that, the video still has some good basic advice concerning parts a solid pre-shot routine, but I think some important elements are missing. For more info, see pre-shot-routine, stroke best practices, and the fundamentals check-list document.

Regards,
Dave
 
The Vision Center is the Teacher.

You need to place your back foot and form your stance so your personal vision center ends up above the desired line of the shot. And for a center-ball hit, the cue should also be along this line.

Now, once one knows what foot position and stance results in the most consistent and accurate vision center and cue alignments, then the foot placement becomes the key.
And if its not a center ball hit than what do you recommend to do. Where should the cue be?
... wherever it needs to be to compensate for squirt, swerve, and throw for that particular shot.

Regards,
Dave
 
A video of Thorsten Hohmann and Mike Massey on lining up... www.youtube.com/watch?v=BPn3Wzp4NT8

.

Thanks RK.
Folks would do well to approach the shot line in this manner.

But

This opens up a whole new topic. Are your eyes seeing what you think they are seeing from a standing position. The eyes lead and the body follows.

Here is an interesting experiment you may want to try.

On your table, snap a chalk line, diagonally, from the center of one corner pocket to the center of the other end corner pocket. That line is straight, no arguments there.

Place an OB on the line a diamond or two away from one corner pocket, now place the QB three diamonds away from the OB.

From the standing position do your normal body line up on the shot line as you see it.

Assuming your right eye is the strongest in this example, after you have lined your body up with the shot line, close your left eye, is the shot appear to you to be straight in? If your right eye is the strongest.....it will appear to be straight in.
Still, from the standing position, close your right eye, does the shot still look straight in, I'll venture to say that it doesn't , in fact it probably looks like the QB may miss the OB to the right.

Because our eyes are separated approx. 2 1/4" pupil to pupil we have a built in parallax error when objects are close to us. This error does not exist at a distance of approx. 30'.

If your strongest eye is your right eye you would do well to line up your body based on what your left eye is saying is straight in.

When this is done properly it will make no difference which eye you open or close the shot line will look straight in from the standing position. The parallax error, has for the most part, been corrected. And now, you can put your body on the proper shot line.

There is more to this and it has to do with when you bend over into the shooting position.

Have fun.

John
 
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Actually, it's not. Most amateurs, and even some pros, favor cutting a ball to one side over the other side. That is simply because their vision center is not centered. They think it is, and they have learned to shoot balls (for example) cutting to the left very well, but when they cut to the right, they have a problem and aren't near as consistent. It looks right to them, but it is not.

If one finds their correct vision center, and then takes note of just where the feet are positioned, they now have a way of making sure that their vision center is centered on each shot. Without using the feet, you are guessing on where your correct vision center actually is located on each shot. And, with a little fatigue or laziness, you will not be centered each and every time.

You should certainly know........
 
How do you compensate, at the cue ball, object ball, or pocket?

... wherever it needs to be to compensate for squirt, swerve, and throw for that particular shot.

Regards,
Dave

Why would you compensate for these things? This presents some serious problems and turns the contest into a "guessing game".

How do you compensate, at the cue ball, object ball, or in relationship to the pocket?
 
Dave:
...compensate for squirt, swerve, and throw
CJ:
Why would you compensate for these things?
Because they exist and everybody accounts for them one way or another, even you. You'll describe it differently to sell your products, but it will amount to the same thing, just less informative.

pj
chgo
 
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Why would you compensate for these things? This presents some serious problems and turns the contest into a "guessing game".

How do you compensate, at the cue ball, object ball, or in relationship to the pocket?

In case you haven't figured it out yet, your whole TOI thing is based on it. ;)
 
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