Keep your eye on the ball... Which one?

[Ralph Kramden]

When taking golf lessons from a pro, he asked me,"What is your target?"
I said it was the center of the green.
"Wrong" he said, "It's the ball; if you don't hit the ball properly, you can't hit the green."
What if we apply that thinking to pool? You should be focusing on the ball... but which one?
I think your focus point could be EITHER on the OB or the CB, depending on the shot at hand.
Hitting the exact spot of the OB to pocket it, with a center ball hit on the CB, may be the only time it is important to be focused on the OB.
Getting perfect shape on the next ball may mean you should focus where the cue tip must contact the CB for that particular shot.
If you are someone who looks at the OB last, do you ever change your focal point to the CB on delicate off center shots for position?

 

[ShootingArts]

been discussed a lot

Generally accepted to look at the object ball last. However it isn't too uncommon for video to show people cutting their eyes back to the cue ball at the last instant. Once I am locked into the shot I often look at neither one when I am shooting well. For some reason a "thousand yard stare" or just looking at a blank patch of green works well. Perhaps it just insures that I don't try to steer or second guess my shot.

Hu

When taking golf lessons from a pro, he asked me,"What is your target?"
I said it was the center of the green.
"Wrong" he said, "It's the ball; if you don't hit the ball properly, you can't hit the green."
What if we apply that thinking to pool? You should be focusing on the ball... but which one?
I think your focus point could be EITHER on the OB or the CB, depending on the shot at hand.
Hitting the exact spot of the OB to pocket it, with a center ball hit on the CB, may be the only time it is important to be focused on the OB.
Getting perfect shape on the next ball may mean you should focus where the cue tip must contact the CB for that particular shot.
If you are someone who looks at the OB last, do you ever change your focal point to the CB on delicate off center shots for position?

 

[Cameron Smith]

I don't think it matters which ball you are looking at as long as you are focused. The reason being that you should not be moving during your final stroke so it doesn't matter what you look at as long as you stroke straight. Looking at the object ball so that you may steer or adjust at the last minute is not a method that can be employed with consistent results. Not good ones anyhow.

I personally look at the object ball to keep myself from jumping up. I also ensure that I am focusing on the ball throughout the entirety of my stroke as I tend to want to stroke towards what I am looking at.

 

[Tennesseejoe]

You need to be able to do both. Some shots such as a masse may require looking at the cueball last. How about jump shots? If you don't look at the cueball last on the break---try it you may be suprised at improved cueball control.

 

[alstl]

When taking golf lessons from a pro, he asked me,"What is your target?"
I said it was the center of the green.
"Wrong" he said, "It's the ball; if you don't hit the ball properly, you can't hit the green."
What if we apply that thinking to pool? You should be focusing on the ball... but which one?
I think your focus point could be EITHER on the OB or the CB, depending on the shot at hand.
Hitting the exact spot of the OB to pocket it, with a center ball hit on the CB, may be the only time it is important to be focused on the OB.
Getting perfect shape on the next ball may mean you should focus where the cue tip must contact the CB for that particular shot.
If you are someone who looks at the OB last, do you ever change your focal point to the CB on delicate off center shots for position?

No.





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[randyg]

Probably for 95% of my shots I focus on my target ball before I start my backstroke. The other 5% is my cueball or a spot on the rail....SPF=randyg

 

[androd]

I don't think it matters which ball you are looking at as long as you are focused. The reason being that you should not be moving during your final stroke so it doesn't matter what you look at as long as you stroke straight. Looking at the object ball so that you may steer or adjust at the last minute is not a method that can be employed with consistent results. Not good ones anyhow.

I personally look at the object ball to keep myself from jumping up. I also ensure that I am focusing on the ball throughout the entirety of my stroke as I tend to want to stroke towards what I am looking at.

Personally you're doing it right, even though you don't think it matters. Keep your mind on the grip, stroke etc. " Keepa you eye on the ball" famous quote from Chico Esquella (Garret Morris) on saturday nite live, "baseball been very very good to me".