My aiming system is guessing....who use the Guessing System?

smiling_Hans

Well-known member
When I approach a shot I look where I need to hit the object ball and how the impact affects the cue ball. I bend down look, stroke it a few times and shoot.

No looking at ghost ball or lines or any other principle applied.

I call it the guessing system but what system would this be? I don't use any other principles except to see where I need to hit and hit it.
 
When I approach a shot I look where I need to hit the object ball and how the impact affects the cue ball. I bend down look, stroke it a few times and shoot.

No looking at ghost ball or lines or any other principle applied.

I call it the guessing system but what system would this be? I don't use any other principles except to see where I need to hit and hit it.

That sounds DAM good.
 
I'd call that experiential based aiming. You've logged enough hours to intuitively know where you need to aim to get the object ball to go where you want.

I think this is very closely related to the "ghost ball" method too, which just involves a little more visualization on the part of the shooter.

I think I fall somewhere right in between. I sometimes kinda use ghost ball, but often just use intuition/experience. I'm personally not a fan of aiming systems outside of ghost ball, I've just never seen one that logically made sense to me and anytime I've tried to incorporate one it has not worked out well. The less I focus on a "system" for aiming and go with my instincts, which does involve some use of ghost ball visualization, the better off I seem to be.
 
I do after a while on the table.
At first I use a spot in front of the object ball or a ghost ball for aiming. I pay attention to the rails, short v long, how fast the table is playing. I focus on shot speed and try and get as close to pinpoint position as I can.

Then gradually after a couple of hours I switch to playing as you describe. I pick a line of aim while standing up and decide on a general area I want the cueball for shape. Then I get down and shoot no thinking about aim adjustments for english, no consciously figuring out how hard to hit it. Just guess.


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I'd call that experiential based aiming. You've logged enough hours to intuitively know where you need to aim to get the object ball to go where you want.

I think this is very closely related to the "ghost ball" method too, which just involves a little more visualization on the part of the shooter.

I think I fall somewhere right in between. I sometimes kinda use ghost ball, but often just use intuition/experience. I'm personally not a fan of aiming systems outside of ghost ball, I've just never seen one that logically made sense to me and anytime I've tried to incorporate one it has not worked out well. The less I focus on a "system" for aiming and go with my instincts, which does involve some use of ghost ball visualization, the better off I seem to be.
I asked a buddy of mine and he's a sporty shooter. He doesn't gamble or play in tournaments. He claims it helps with his golf game so he plays for hours before he plays golf the next day.

Anyways, I asked him what system he uses and he says nothing. He guesses.

So all this talk about aiming systems....I would like to say that I also guess on shots.
 
I do after a while on the table.
At first I use a spot in front of the object ball or a ghost ball for aiming. I pay attention to the rails, short v long, how fast the table is playing. I focus on shot speed and try and get as close to pinpoint position as I can.

Then gradually after a couple of hours I switch to playing as you describe. I pick a line of aim while standing up and decide on a general area I want the cueball for shape. Then I get down and shoot no thinking about aim adjustments for english, no consciously figuring out how hard to hit it. Just guess.


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I think everyone guesses.

It feels to much work to apply these "aiming systems" when it is a lot of fun to play the method I play.
 
When I approach a shot I look where I need to hit the object ball and how the impact affects the cue ball. I bend down look, stroke it a few times and shoot.

No looking at ghost ball or lines or any other principle applied.

I call it the guessing system but what system would this be? I don't use any other principles except to see where I need to hit and hit it.
I call bs...

If you look at the object ball and the pocket at any point, then you've instinctively developed a path (line) you want the ob to follow. Just because you haven't envisioned an imaginary red line to the pocket, doesn't mean you haven't developed that line (path) in which you want to the ob to follow.

I also think everyone is kidding themselves if they claim that don't envision a 'ghost ball' contact before pulling the trigger. You may not adhere to the ghost ball methodology, but you still are directing the CB toward the OB. Pretending that you don't imagine how the CB will strike the OB before pulling the trigger is either comical or a glaring error.

I know there are systems out there that do not rely on the above, but that doesn't mean you don't do those things in happenstance.

Flame on
 
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I just "know" where the OB will go to from any given CB/OB overlap, of course this instinct isn't perfect but learning to trust it and go with it develops it to be more accurate over time. It becomes like an ingrained part of your vision, instead of just seeing the CB/OB you see the outcome that would happen if you were to shoot.
 
I call bs...

If you look at the object ball and the pocket at any point, then you've instinctively developed a path (line) you want the ob to follow. Just because you haven't envisioned an imaginary red line to the pocket, doesn't mean you haven't developed that line (path) in which you want to the ob to follow.

I also think everyone is kidding themselves if they claim that don't envision a 'ghost ball' contact before pulling the trigger. You may not adhere to the ghost ball methodology, but you still are directing the CB toward the OB. Pretending that you don't imagine how the CB will strike the OB before pulling the trigger is either comical or a glaring error.

I know there are systems out there that do not rely on the above, but that's doesn't mean you don't do those things in happenstance.

Flame on
No. I just guess and it works.

I just call it the guessing theory or instinctive aim.

I've been using this system since I was 16 and now I'm in my 40's.
 
Just to be safe, I’m leaving this here

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When I approach a shot I look where I need to hit the object ball and how the impact affects the cue ball. I bend down look, stroke it a few times and shoot.

No looking at ghost ball or lines or any other principle applied.

I call it the guessing system but what system would this be? I don't use any other principles except to see where I need to hit and hit it.
Just sounds like Contact Point aiming to me, with some attention to the speed/spin desired for position. Experience is what allows you to adjust the amount of overlap needed--which is modeled by the 'Double-the-Distance' type of aiming, but actively/consciously using DtD is not required.

I (mostly) do this, with occasional employment of other systems as needed.
 
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