Left eye dominant and keep hitting right
- Thread starter 8up
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Did you ever think that there might be a hook in your stroke? I would check this before you make any changes in your stance.
You develop a hook in your stroke when you have a poor alignment. Many times this stems from incorrect head placement and eye dominance issues. It makes sense that as we become fatigued, our physical performanance starts to suffer. Our concentration fades and the non dominant eye may be recruited to do the shot setup.
Since you are doing this subconsciously, the shot looking different may be your only clue to the change. I have found that I must pay close attention to this or my non dominant eye creeps into the picture.
After a long day working in the hot sun yesterday, it was a battle to keep my right eye dominant. I hit balls for an hour before it felt like I was aiming correctly. So, I would agree that fatigue can play a role in poor head alignment.
It's good to hear about other sports and their issues with eye dominance. We, in the pool world, are still stuck in the dark ages when it comes to visual perception. We have hunches how to aim from years of experience and dismiss any new info. If a player hasn't noticed something in their travels, it must not be important. To see how wrong this mentality is, all you have to do is start looking at any other sport. At the higher levels visual training is given to its elite participants. New ideas are constantly put forth and and discussed which add to a greater understanding and proficiency in the activity.
We have yet to achieve this mindset in pool. Traditional methods and, "I don't think so because I...", replace any chance of new info revealing answers to age old questions. When will pool address these issues and stop being stonewalled by the idea of hit a million balls and spend a lifetime doing it? If this was true, why aren't all pros middle aged? They couldn't possibly have hit more balls than some of the players that have been playing for thirty or forty years. True, practice will hone your game like nothing else, but wouldn't it be nice to know how to practice and get there by hitting a hundred thousand balls?
Best,
Mike
Since you are doing this subconsciously, the shot looking different may be your only clue to the change. I have found that I must pay close attention to this or my non dominant eye creeps into the picture.
After a long day working in the hot sun yesterday, it was a battle to keep my right eye dominant. I hit balls for an hour before it felt like I was aiming correctly. So, I would agree that fatigue can play a role in poor head alignment.
It's good to hear about other sports and their issues with eye dominance. We, in the pool world, are still stuck in the dark ages when it comes to visual perception. We have hunches how to aim from years of experience and dismiss any new info. If a player hasn't noticed something in their travels, it must not be important. To see how wrong this mentality is, all you have to do is start looking at any other sport. At the higher levels visual training is given to its elite participants. New ideas are constantly put forth and and discussed which add to a greater understanding and proficiency in the activity.
We have yet to achieve this mindset in pool. Traditional methods and, "I don't think so because I...", replace any chance of new info revealing answers to age old questions. When will pool address these issues and stop being stonewalled by the idea of hit a million balls and spend a lifetime doing it? If this was true, why aren't all pros middle aged? They couldn't possibly have hit more balls than some of the players that have been playing for thirty or forty years. True, practice will hone your game like nothing else, but wouldn't it be nice to know how to practice and get there by hitting a hundred thousand balls?
Best,
Mike
In shotgun sports most will place a piece of scotch tape on their shooting glasses. Example, shooter is right handed but left eye is dominate. The shooter would place a piece of tape over his left lens in the line of sight to keep his dominate eye from taking over. Keep in mind we shoot with both eyes open, and in his pre-shot routine would have his right eye correctly aligned over the barrel. The other options would be to learn to shoot left handed or close his left eye affecting his ability to acquire the target in a timely fashion. What I was referring to in my post was a different situation. Where, in the case of a right handed player, ones right eye may be dominate but the left eye is optically stronger( not the same thing).
in this case- glasses,contacts, etc.
Yes all you need is to work with Joe Tuckers Third Eye or if you see the cueball the way i do then you need his Magic Eye.
When i look at the cueballs center im not looking at the center but the quarters as i see two cueballs sorta joined together. So i actually can use one eye or the other very hard to explain.
When i look at the cueballs center im not looking at the center but the quarters as i see two cueballs sorta joined together. So i actually can use one eye or the other very hard to explain.
So if I have understood it correctly, the shooter makes no attempt to shift his dominant eye / vision center over the barrel (for example by tilting or turning the head). Instead he changes where his effective vision center is. Interesting.
You are too far to the left of the cue ball with your head alignment. IOW, your right eye is over the stick too much. Try moving your head to the right to get a more balanced view with more input from your left eye.
My right eye is dominant, but too much right eye causes my stick to go to the left side of the cue ball. My subconscious mind is compensating for my incorrect alignment even though the shot looks good. Using my right eye alone, without a blended input from my left eye works, but I have more consisitency with a 60/40 relationship.
Best,
Mike
:grin:
I have a pair of dark sunglasses with one lens missing. It reminds my subconscious mind to use the best available visual input, without eliminating feedback from the other eye. I use this at home, only. :grin:
My eyes are equally strong and I have trained both sides of my body to do activities outside of pool. This is probably coming back to bite me in the a$$ with eye dominance issues.
I would like to hear more about keeping your dominant eye, dominant. Approaching the shot is important and I'm sure other players have learned how to manage this with their preshot routine.
Best,
Mike
I have a pair of dark sunglasses with one lens missing. It reminds my subconscious mind to use the best available visual input, without eliminating feedback from the other eye. I use this at home, only. :grin:
My eyes are equally strong and I have trained both sides of my body to do activities outside of pool. This is probably coming back to bite me in the a$$ with eye dominance issues.
I would like to hear more about keeping your dominant eye, dominant. Approaching the shot is important and I'm sure other players have learned how to manage this with their preshot routine.
Best,
Mike
Geno just spent some time with me on the phone and it has already begun to help my game. Using what he told me on the phone I was able to see shots the way i am supposed to and realize why certian shots look bad to me when i get down on them. Thanks again Genomachino.
I have neck and both shoulder problems so it's hard to get to a comfortable position, especially consistantly. I turned my body the other day after you (Mikjary) said about turning squarer and it help. So I'm looking more down the shot. Then I noticed where I was ending up with the tip just about a tip or so to the left.
And it was so easy to learn...........
It was fun working with you and thanks for the comments.
One by one I'm helping players learn this. It's really hard to grasp this without a little guidance but once a player understands how Perfect Aim works they can take the ball and run with it.
And it sounds like your on your way.
Have fun with your new toy. geno.............
It was fun working with you and thanks for the comments.
One by one I'm helping players learn this. It's really hard to grasp this without a little guidance but once a player understands how Perfect Aim works they can take the ball and run with it.
And it sounds like your on your way.
Have fun with your new toy. geno.............
Gene has good info and I've talked with, had a lesson with and even had him in a calcutta.
From what I picked up about turning my body more square, I'm not putting as much pressure on my neck. Now just figuring out how to move my head more to the right to see the right picture.
From what I picked up about turning my body more square, I'm not putting as much pressure on my neck. Now just figuring out how to move my head more to the right to see the right picture.
I can't take any credit for helping. I actually suggested you turn further to the right to get your dominant left eye more into the shot.:smile: I didn't know about your neck and shoulder problems. I'm glad it helps you though. I would've felt bad if you told me I caused you some discomfort!
By squaring up I think you may still not have your left eye over the shot. When I hit the cue ball on the left side, I move my head (and body if needed) slightly to the right. That brings my left eye more into the shot.
Also notice, I said move my head slightly, not turn my head. These are two different things.
Best,
Mike
PS I just remembered that I used to shoot with a straight front arm. I bend it slightly now to allow myself to have more upper body comfort.
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There are a few things that you can do.............
Hi there again,
I myself have a real bad neck. In 86 I had a lady hit me from the rear going about 65 mph without braking. Just about ripped my head off. Still have trouble today.
I used to be able to make up for it by just looking more out the top of my eyes but the older I get my eyes won't go up there.
I move the cue in to my hip as far as I can. This does 2 things. Just like a fighter with the punch coming more from the center so does the stroke. Especially on the break you have much more power.
Second, when you have it in a far as you can it will always be easy to get it in the same place. If it's out from your body it might be this way or that, changing your everything.
In your preshot make sure your dominant eye is in the correct position. Do this on the straight in shot like we did in the lesson. On the way down keep it in line with the shot by only looking at the object ball. Once you are down there you can look at the cue ball.
this will allow you body to naturally line up and keep you dominant eye in that dominant position. Just the same as when you are straddling the table on a reach shot. Your eye dictates where your body needs to be. And we are all built different. Some tall, some short, some big, some small, some women have their chest in the way and some don't. Or some of us have injuries that cause us limitations but keeping the eye on the ball on the way down will help you get your body to that best position for you.
If you are not in the correct position when you get down there you need to go back to the preshot and start over. Once you are down there it is very hard to correct and still feel comfortable.
Anyway. Good Luck And thanks again. Geno........
Hi there again,
I myself have a real bad neck. In 86 I had a lady hit me from the rear going about 65 mph without braking. Just about ripped my head off. Still have trouble today.
I used to be able to make up for it by just looking more out the top of my eyes but the older I get my eyes won't go up there.
I move the cue in to my hip as far as I can. This does 2 things. Just like a fighter with the punch coming more from the center so does the stroke. Especially on the break you have much more power.
Second, when you have it in a far as you can it will always be easy to get it in the same place. If it's out from your body it might be this way or that, changing your everything.
In your preshot make sure your dominant eye is in the correct position. Do this on the straight in shot like we did in the lesson. On the way down keep it in line with the shot by only looking at the object ball. Once you are down there you can look at the cue ball.
this will allow you body to naturally line up and keep you dominant eye in that dominant position. Just the same as when you are straddling the table on a reach shot. Your eye dictates where your body needs to be. And we are all built different. Some tall, some short, some big, some small, some women have their chest in the way and some don't. Or some of us have injuries that cause us limitations but keeping the eye on the ball on the way down will help you get your body to that best position for you.
If you are not in the correct position when you get down there you need to go back to the preshot and start over. Once you are down there it is very hard to correct and still feel comfortable.
Anyway. Good Luck And thanks again. Geno........