Must your head be perpendicular to the shot line?

SamLambert

SamLambert

Daydreaming about pool
Silver Member
FURTHER CLARIFICATION : I'll change my wording: Must you be looking straight at the shot line to achieve peak performance. I do not care for being comfortable or whatever like that. I am simply looking for the best way to go about this for peak performance.



EDIT : Please refrain from starting a discussion about the words used to ask the question, I think it is now clear what the intended meaning of the question is.



This is something I've been wondering.



When you look at the top pros, their heads all seem to be perpendicular to the shot line. Same for snooker players. Unless I misobserved.



So, must your head be perpendicular to the shot line?



Clarification for what I meant because I used the wrong terms:



12736514_10153438182532358_2080652414_o.jpg
 
Last edited:
SamLambert said:
This is something I've been wondering.

When you look at the top pros, their heads all seem to be perpendicular to the shot line. Same for snooker players. Unless I misobserved.

So, must your head be perpendicular to the shot line?
Click to expand...

Perpendicular, like this?
 

Attachments

  • thecolorofmoney2.jpg
    thecolorofmoney2.jpg
    18.4 KB · Views: 599
Above?

SamLambert said:
This is something I've been wondering.

When you look at the top pros, their heads all seem to be perpendicular to the shot line. Same for snooker players. Unless I misobserved.

So, must your head be perpendicular to the shot line?
Click to expand...

Perpendicular means "at a right angle to".

I think what you want to know is should one's head be directly above the shot line, - which is where it should be with some exceptions (and of course, the slight variation due to dominant eye effect).

Please correct me if I'm not understanding your question.
 
Clarification for what I meant because I used the wrong terms:

12736514_10153438182532358_2080652414_o.jpg


( Please refrain from starting a discussion about the words used to ask the question, I think it is now clear what I meant. )
 
Last edited:
SamLambert said:
This is something I've been wondering.

When you look at the top pros, their heads all seem to be perpendicular to the shot line. Same for snooker players. Unless I misobserved.

So, must your head be perpendicular to the shot line?

Clarification for what I meant because I used the wrong terms:

12736514_10153438182532358_2080652414_o.jpg
Click to expand...

It depends on your definition of must. Some players have their head turned in the direction that there eye is dominant. What matters most is that its comfortable and consistent.
 
SamLambert said:
This is something I've been wondering.

When you look at the top pros, their heads all seem to be perpendicular to the shot line. Same for snooker players. Unless I misobserved.

So, must your head be perpendicular to the shot line?
Click to expand...

I'm not sure what you mean by head being perpendicular to the shot line.

Some people will have
the left eye over top of the cue,
some the right eye over top of the cue,
some the center between the eyes over top of the cue
some some point between the eyes that is closer to one than the other.

Our vision is very complicated. We basically see two versions of the world around us, one from the left eye and one from the right eye, and unless we're drunk, our minds do an amazing job melding those into a single unified view. Our sense of alignment depends on the details of the very individualized process our mind uses to create this view.

You will find pool players and instructors do silly tests about what is your dominant eye, etc. These people are taking something that is very complicated and poorly understood by experts and reducing it to cocktail party tests and explanations.

My recommendation is you pay attention to the shot line before you approach the table and pay attention to it while you're getting down on the shot. Your head position will take care of itself.
 
Drop The Rock said:
It depends on your definition of must. Some players have their head turned in the direction that there eye is dominant. What matters most is that its comfortable and consistent.
Click to expand...


You can be consistent(ly bad) and comfortable with anything. I’m looking for the best way to go about this.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Hi Sam,

We walk around all day, every day with our eyes level. Try tilting your head to the side & keep it there & then go about your normal day.

I've gotten the quickest & most amount of improvement coaching youngsters to hit a baseball or fast pitch softball by simply getting their heads & eyes level.

It's easy when one leans forward & then turns the head to get it on a tilt.

I THINK the answer to your question regarding pool would be related to what proportion of both eyes one is using & hence would be related to the individual.

When I was younger, I used a very square stance similar to snooker & my head & eyes where 'perpendicular' to the shot line even though the cue was under my then dominant right eye.

I had a slight accident to my right eye.

I am now left eye dominant... for pool. So... my head & body are now turned more clockwise to facilitate getting my left eye over the cue.

Since our eyes or in sockets & can 'swivel' there is some room for variation.

That said, I would THINK that having the eyes level & facing the shot would be preferable.

But if one is basically using one eye or the other it may not be as important.

Perhaps, Gene will chime in if he has anything from his studies.

Best 2 Ya,
Rick
 
SamLambert said:
You can be consistent(ly bad) and comfortable with anything. I’m looking for the best way to go about this.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Click to expand...

How would you be able to tell if you don't play well in the first place? Head position that is comfortable is a lot more important than you think because it can take a toll on your neck. Therefore if your dominant eye and cue and in sync the rest doesn't matter as much.

Snooker and European pool players have great fundamentals so try and take something from them.
 
Sam, there is no right way. There is only what works for you and what doesn't. If you start in line and stay in line with the body the head will find it's proper place. I think you will find most players, even pros, are not exactly perpendicular. Snooker players may be pretty close because of the typical stance that they use, however I don't believe it's necessary. Consistency will always lead to improvement.
 
erhino41 said:
Sam, there is no right way. There is only what works for you and what doesn't. If you start in line and stay in line with the body the head will find it's proper place. I think you will find most players, even pros, are not exactly perpendicular. Snooker players may be pretty close because of the typical stance that they use, however I don't believe it's necessary. Consistency will always lead to improvement.
Click to expand...

I'm not sure about that. It's not because a top player doesn't do it, that it wouldn't help them if they'd do it!

I see lot of great player stroking far from perfect. I understand what "Perfect" means is debatable, but still, I'm pretty sure most top player could still improve their stroke but doesn't do so because it would require months of adjustment.

When I first change my whole stroke, it took 5 months before I could say it felt confortable! But geez I just don't see how I was able to play back then! :)

I understand everyone is different (shape, eyes, height, etc), but having great fundamental takes work, meaning it may not feel natural at first!

just my 2 cents!
 
SamLambert said:
FURTHER CLARIFICATION : I'll change my wording: Must you be looking straight at the shot line to achieve peak performance. I do not care for being comfortable or whatever like that. I am simply looking for the best way to go about this for peak performance.



EDIT : Please refrain from starting a discussion about the words used to ask the question, I think it is now clear what the intended meaning of the question is.



This is something I've been wondering.



When you look at the top pros, their heads all seem to be perpendicular to the shot line. Same for snooker players. Unless I misobserved.



So, must your head be perpendicular to the shot line?



Clarification for what I meant because I used the wrong terms:



12736514_10153438182532358_2080652414_o.jpg
Click to expand...

Aiming, sighting, visualizing...

Three different things.

The answer to your rephrased question is that most people I am aware of are
"looking at" the target on the OB when they shoot.

So far as i know, the only players who would be sighting on the line of the shot,
would be those who employ the Ghost Ball method.

CTE - God only knows.

Dale
 
Last edited:
SamLambert said:
Exactly what I was looking for. Thanks a lot!
Click to expand...

Sam,

Is that not what Gene sort of went over with you...

where best to place the cue for You, the individual, to best see the straight line.

When I was very young & switching from ghost ball to equal & opposite fractional overlap...

my sight line was on the line that divided the fraction & the cue stick was parallel.

I was NOT looking down the cue stick line.

I still do this for the more thin cuts. It's sort of like looking edge to edge but with a fraction of overlap & the sight line that I am looking down is the dividing line of the fraction & it is parallel to the center line of the cue ball.

Somehow I do not think this is about what you were asking but your statement about diagram 4 being exactly for what you were looking has sort of confused me.

No big deal as long as you have the answer to your question.

Best 2 Ya,
Rick
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top