My take on aiming systems

[TommyT]

I've attended the Pool School in DFW with Randy Goetlicher, had a private lesson with Scott Lee who taught me the SAM method of aiming and I've been to Stan Shuffett's place for a two day lesson which included his Pro 1 system.

I used SAM for over a year and have been playing with the Pro 1 method for the last 3 months. The bottom line is, you can still miss and miss when it hurts you the most.

I've found that I play my best when I just get down and shoot the shot, the way I have been doing it for 45 years. Sometimes it's easy to get wrapped up in the mechanics of the shot with the aiming systems and forget that position is the other half of the shot. I feel looser and more relaxed when I simply shoot the shot, I still miss sometimes, but at least I've got an excuse.

I play my best by instinct and by letting my mind and body take care of the shot. You have to accept the fact that misses will come and move on from it. I think subconsciously I still may be using the visuals of the systems, but I'm trying to avoid consciously using them. Goodbye aiming sytems and hello winners circle.

TommyT

 

[Scott Lee]

Tom...I think you hit the nail on the head. The best play comes from doing things "subconsciously"! Hope you're doing well, and that the 'resort' business is being good to you! :thumbup:

Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com

I've found that I play my best when I just get down and shoot the shot, the way I have been doing it for 45 years. Sometimes it's easy to get wrapped up in the mechanics of the shot with the aiming systems and forget that position is the other half of the shot. I feel looser and more relaxed when I simply shoot the shot, I still miss sometimes, but at least I've got an excuse.

I play my best by instinct and by letting my mind and body take care of the shot. You have to accept the fact that misses will come and move on from it. I think subconsciencely I still may be using the visuals of the systems, but I'm trying to avoid consciencely using them. Goodbye aiming sytems and hello winners circle.

TommyT

 

[supergreenman]

I feel looser and more relaxed when I simply shoot the shot, I still miss sometimes, but at least I've got an excuse.

TommyT

I'm so happy to see some one use this word with out referring to someone that has lost a game.

This has been a PSA for the AZbilliards spelling police. :thumbup:

 

[Sev]

I have found aiming systems to be a distraction.

Tried a few and found myself completely distracted. Also having a slight case of dyslexia doesn't help either.

I just practice a shot until I am comfortable with it and hope just like muscle memory it sinks in and becomes an unconscious process.

 

[peteypooldude]

I've attended the Pool School in DFW with Randy Goetlicher, had a private lesson with Scott Lee who taught me the SAM method of aiming and I've been to Stan Shuffett's place for a two day lesson which included his Pro 1 system.

I used SAM for over a year and have been playing with the Pro 1 method for the last 3 months. The bottom line is, you can still miss and miss when it hurts you the most.

I've found that I play my best when I just get down and shoot the shot, the way I have been doing it for 45 years. Sometimes it's easy to get wrapped up in the mechanics of the shot with the aiming systems and forget that position is the other half of the shot. I feel looser and more relaxed when I simply shoot the shot, I still miss sometimes, but at least I've got an excuse.

I play my best by instinct and by letting my mind and body take care of the shot. You have to accept the fact that misses will come and move on from it. I think subconsciencely I still may be using the visuals of the systems, but I'm trying to avoid consciencely using them. Goodbye aiming sytems and hello winners circle.

TommyT

So are you saying it was a waste of money,since you have resorted back to YOUR WAY of doing it for the last 45years,if not it sounds like it

 

[TommyT]

So are you saying it was a waste of money,since you have resorted back to YOUR WAY of doing it for the last 45years,if not it sounds like it

It was not a waste of money, on the contrary. In learning each system I discovered a way to see each shot differently, and I believe that by playing by feel, the systems manifest themselves without me having to think about them.

I think everyone can benefit from learning as much about the game as they can. Knowledge is power.

TommyT

 

[Tramp Steamer]

I've attended the Pool School in DFW with Randy Goetlicher, had a private lesson with Scott Lee who taught me the SAM method of aiming and I've been to Stan Shuffett's place for a two day lesson which included his Pro 1 system.
I play my best by instinct and by letting my mind and body take care of the shot. You have to accept the fact that misses will come and move on from it. I think subconsciencely I still may be using the visuals of the systems, but I'm trying to avoid consciencely using them. Goodbye aiming sytems and hello winners circle.

TommyT

Well said, Tommy. Another good reason to stop reading golf magazines. :smile:

 

[peteypooldude]

It was not a waste of money, on the contrary. In learning each system I discovered a way to see each shot differently, and I believe that by playing by feel, the systems manifest themselves without me having to think about them.

I think everyone can benefit from learning as much about the game as they can. Knowledge is power.

TommyT

I agree knowledge is power
Good Luck Tommy T

 

[TommyT]

One more thing. All the systems rely on hitting center ball and I believe the ability to hit it consistently is very powerful. I think that is something I've taken from the systems that has been helpful and a confidence booster.

TommyT

 

[JB Cases]

I once read an intereview with Torbjorn Blohmdahl and this is what he had to say about systems. He said that in the beginning all carom players learn the systems and then after a while they just see the pathes and don't rely on the systems.

Any system is just a set of instruction to get you going the right direction. At the end of the day, just like with a jump cue, you have to pull the trigger, the system nor the jump cue makes the shot for you.

As Arthur C. Clarke put it, "any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic" and I adapt that statement to say "any sufficiently absorbed system is indistinguishable from feel".

 

[manwon]

I once read an intereview with Torbjorn Blohmdahl and this is what he had to say about systems. He said that in the beginning all carom players learn the systems and then after a while they just see the pathes and don't rely on the systems.

Any system is just a set of instruction to get you going the right direction. At the end of the day, just like with a jump cue, you have to pull the trigger, the system nor the jump cue makes the shot for you.

As Arthur C. Clarke put it, "any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic" and I adapt that statement to say "any sufficiently absorbed system is indistinguishable from feel".

John I have personally played pool with Torbjorn and talked about this with him while we were playing. Torbjorn is one of the greatest Natural players in the game of 3-Cushion he has never been a proponent of systems, he method is to paint picture of the shot in his mind and then apply it on the table. He has been prodigy since he started playing the game and he is one unique individual using his method of shooting.

Oh and by the way he is also a Pretty Sporty 9 Ball, 8 Ball, or Straight Pool player along with being one of the top 3-Cushion Players in the World today.

Here are some photo's when we were playing 9 Ball.

 

[dabarbr]

I've attended the Pool School in DFW with Randy Goetlicher, had a private lesson with Scott Lee who taught me the SAM method of aiming and I've been to Stan Shuffett's place for a two day lesson which included his Pro 1 system.

I used SAM for over a year and have been playing with the Pro 1 method for the last 3 months. The bottom line is, you can still miss and miss when it hurts you the most.

I've found that I play my best when I just get down and shoot the shot, the way I have been doing it for 45 years. Sometimes it's easy to get wrapped up in the mechanics of the shot with the aiming systems and forget that position is the other half of the shot. I feel looser and more relaxed when I simply shoot the shot, I still miss sometimes, but at least I've got an excuse.

I play my best by instinct and by letting my mind and body take care of the shot. You have to accept the fact that misses will come and move on from it. I think subconsciously I still may be using the visuals of the systems, but I'm trying to avoid consciously using them. Goodbye aiming sytems and hello winners circle.

TommyT

Finally a thread on aiming systems that I agree with.

If I'm miss a shot for my case hundred I would rather blame myself instead of some aiming system.

 

[JB Cases]

John I have personally played pool with Torbjorn and talked about this with him while we were playing. Torbjorn is one of the greatest Natural players in the game of 3-Cushion he has never been a proponent of systems, he method is to paint picture of the shot in his mind and then apply it on the table. He has been prodigy since he started playing the game and he is one unique individual using his method of shooting.

Oh and by the way he is also a Pretty Sporty 9 Ball, 8 Ball, or Straight Pool player along with being one of the top 3-Cushion Players in the World today.

Here are some photo's when we were playing 9 Ball.

View attachment 140441

Lucky you. I never took any pictures of me and him while we were playing in the same leagues and tournaments in Germany.

In fact I barely talked to him as I was in such awe of him back then.

What you say concurs with the interview I read. He didn't dismiss systems he just said that all beginning billiard players learn them and then move on to feel.

 

[Rich93]

John I have personally played pool with Torbjorn and talked about this with him while we were playing. Torbjorn is one of the greatest Natural players in the game of 3-Cushion he has never been a proponent of systems, he method is to paint picture of the shot in his mind and then apply it on the table. He has been prodigy since he started playing the game and he is one unique individual using his method of shooting.

Oh and by the way he is also a Pretty Sporty 9 Ball, 8 Ball, or Straight Pool player along with being one of the top 3-Cushion Players in the World today.

Here are some photo's when we were playing 9 Ball.

View attachment 140441

Playing pool with Blomdahl, how neat is that!

He painted the picture in his mind pretty well on this shot:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4dg7_erDujo

 

[3andstop]

One more thing. All the systems rely on hitting center ball and I believe the ability to hit it consistently is very powerful. I think that is something I've taken from the systems that has been helpful and a confidence booster.

TommyT

Not all the systems rely on center ball. The alignment system I've been mentioning is IMHO the ONLY one that doesn't require guessing, aiming at imaginary balls, trying to figure out percentages of CB to hit, twisting your stick, or any other elaborate nonsense.

You find the spot on the OB that is opposite the part of the pocket you want to hit and you shoot the CB into that spot using your cue stick to make a straight line to the spot. Apply your english when you aim, not after, and shoot.

No matter what english you use, you determine the line from CB to contact point of OB with english applied.

The key is to allow for the curvature of the balls by using side of the stick as your straight edge, not the sticks center line.

For cutting left, use the left side of the shaft, and the right side for cutting right rather than the center of the stick. Its dead accurate. The only variable is how much focus you allow to seeing this line and how good your delivery is.

It's simple, its precise, it takes away the imaginary junk and it works.

edit... BTW, for anyone who likes to saw wood when they practice stroke, stop doing that. Pause at the cue ball, see the line, take your back stroke, pause slightly, and deliver your forward stroke covering that line with your cue shaft, and follow through if you want this to work. Again cutting left the left edge of the shaft covers the line, cutting right the right edge covers the line. No guess work.

 

[manwon]

Playing pool with Blomdahl, how neat is that!

He painted the picture in his mind pretty well on this shot:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4dg7_erDujo

Yes it was pretty cool, and that was one hell of shot, however, either way you make that shot with a system or by painting a picture in your mind and during competition not during an exhibition says a deal about the players confidence in their ability.

All I can say is Wow, that was a beautiful shot!! I also have to say that it kinda surprised me that he shot that shot with so many options that were open at the table, but after that who can tell him he was wrong!!!!!!!:thumbup:

Thanks for sharing Rich:smile:

 

[Skeezicks]

BTW, for anyone who likes to saw wood when they practice stroke, stop doing that. Pause at the cue ball, see the line, take your back stroke, pause slightly, and deliver your forward stroke covering that line with your cue shaft, and follow through if you want this to work.

Me like.

Again cutting left the left edge of the shaft covers the line, cutting right the right edge covers the line. No guess work.

Clear as mud.

 

[Ratta]

yay!

It was not a waste of money, on the contrary. In learning each system I discovered a way to see each shot differently, and I believe that by playing by feel, the systems manifest themselves without me having to think about them.

I think everyone can benefit from learning as much about the game as they can. Knowledge is power.

TommyT

You nailed it- knowledge is real power )

 

[3andstop]

Clear as mud.

If you couldn't understand that, don't worry, there's always bowling.

 

[Scott Lee]

Solid advice! We teach our students to FINISH your stroke (you get followthrough as a result of finishing your stroke).:thumbup:

Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com

edit... BTW, for anyone who likes to saw wood when they practice stroke, stop doing that. Pause at the cue ball, see the line, take your back stroke, pause slightly, and deliver your forward stroke covering that line with your cue shaft, and follow through if you want this to work.