playing well without aiming systems

[Cuemaster98]

LOL...totally agreed..pool is all about repetition and memory. Good players develop good processes to give them consistency and they have great memory on mistake they made. I think when most Pro miss a crucial shot in a game...they spent countless hour on that shot so that next time a similar situation comes up..they are better prepared.

Duc.

My goal to improve now is table time and improved memory. SO i will research how to improve memory for years to come!!!!

 

[CJ Wiley]

The Cue Ball is the target in pool

The "TOUCH OF INSIDE" (TOI) technique is much more than just "cuing the ball precisely or an "Aiming System" - The Cue Ball is the target in pool, not the object ball, so the object ball just "reflects" how you hit the Cue Ball.

There are a few ways to "aim" or "create angles" in pool. The most common one is to aim a part of the cue ball at a part of the object ball and try to hit it. This is the most common and it works, however you decide to "aim," whether by a system, by feel or by instinct.

The TOI technique I use creates angles a different way. It uses where you cue the Cue Ball relative to a consistent target on the object ball (either the edge or the center).

This means I'm not aiming at a "contact point," instead I'm CREATING the angle by moving the tip to the same side (inside) as I'm cutting the ball. If I"m cutting the ball to the right, I move the cue slightly to the right of center, if I"m cutting the ball to the left I move the tip slightly to the LEFT of center.

If you want to experiment with what I"m saying try this "for the sake of science." Put the Cue Ball on the head spot and the Object Ball on the foot spot. If you hit "center to center," with a center ball hit you will drive the OB straight into the rail and it will come back and hit the cue ball again (if hit perfectly).

Now, go down and aim it center to center again, but this time move the cue slightly to the right (MAKE sure to move the whole cue, don't "pivot" or just turn your tip). Hit the ball like you did {as if} it was straight in and it will cut the ball slightly to the right. Do it again and move the cue {and TIP} further to the right, hit it and you will see that it cuts the Object Ball further to the right (creating more angle).

Now set up a shot that is a slight cut, get down like it was straight in and move the cue slightly in the same direction of the cut and hit it. If you undercut the shot move over more on the cue ball, if you overcut it move over less from center.

This is how you calibrate the TOI and tune it in to start creating angles. My new video goes over this in detail and I explain things about the TOI Technique that I haven't even tried to explain in this Forum. This Technique is brutally effective and when you master it you will become a feared shotmaker. If this sounds "to good to be true," you haven't seen nothing yet. 'The Game is the Teacher' www.cjwiley.com

 

[lfigueroa]

LOL...totally agreed..pool is all about repetition and memory. Good players develop good processes to give them consistency and they have great memory on mistake they made. I think when most Pro miss a crucial shot in a game...they spent countless hour on that shot so that next time a similar situation comes up..they are better prepared.

Duc.



Lou's First Principle of Pool



Playing great pool is the result of reliably reproducing the same mechanical setup every time you approach the table. In turn, the same mechanics will produce the same stroke each time you shoot. You can't learn to play great pool if your mechanics are different each time you setup. It's not a certain grip or head height, it's a process that starts with how you hold your pool cue and ends with your final shooting position. The problem with concentrating on and changing one particular element in the process is that, if you're not paying attention, you can easily alter something else, and change your results. Or, if you're not setting up in a consistent manner, there's no way to directly attribute any improvement to a particular modification, like a higher or lower head position. We've all had those sessions when, for a brief moment in time, we thought to ourselves "I'm ready for the tour." Balls go in from everywhere and we effortlessly move the cue ball around the table with astounding position. It's because, I believe, we all have a great stroke inside us. But, we don't do things the same every day, or even from shot to shot. The Secret, such as it applies to a great stroke, is to find the process that creates those great results and repeat them consistently.



Lou's Second Principle of Pool



Great pool is a result of setting up and executing your stroke with great precision. Perhaps many of you have seen the poster "View of a Cue" which is basically a foot and a half cue ball overlaid with graph lines that breaks the cue ball down into something like a 120 spots. The Secret is not about hitting the cue ball low or high or to the side -- it's about consciously choosing one of those 120 spots and shooting at it with the right speed and elevation to produce exactly the results you want.



Lou's Third Principle of Pool



Great pool players have great memories. Each and every shot, you've got to guess what's going to happen with the object ball and cue ball. Then, you must pay attention and see if your results matched your hypothesis. And, if they didn't, how they differed. So being a good pool player is a lot like being a good card player. You've got to be paying attention, every time you shoot, both before and after. Did you over cut the ball? Under cut it? Did the cue ball draw more or less than you anticipated? Was the cue ball's angle off the cushion wider or narrower than you predicted. The next time the shot comes up, you recall the previous outcome, adjust accordingly, and observe the results vs your new theory. Then, it just becomes a matter of increased refinement. Doing this in a practice session speeds up the learning cycle because you don't have to wait for any given shot to come up again (after all, some shots may only come up once a session, or even once a week).



The trick is to then remember for the next time



Lou Figueroa

 

[CJ Wiley]

How on earth can anyone play according to these "principles"???



Lou's First Principle of Pool



Playing great pool is the result of reliably reproducing the same mechanical setup every time you approach the table. In turn, the same mechanics will produce the same stroke each time you shoot. You can't learn to play great pool if your mechanics are different each time you setup. It's not a certain grip or head height, it's a process that starts with how you hold your pool cue and ends with your final shooting position. The problem with concentrating on and changing one particular element in the process is that, if you're not paying attention, you can easily alter something else, and change your results. Or, if you're not setting up in a consistent manner, there's no way to directly attribute any improvement to a particular modification, like a higher or lower head position. We've all had those sessions when, for a brief moment in time, we thought to ourselves "I'm ready for the tour." Balls go in from everywhere and we effortlessly move the cue ball around the table with astounding position. It's because, I believe, we all have a great stroke inside us. But, we don't do things the same every day, or even from shot to shot. The Secret, such as it applies to a great stroke, is to find the process that creates those great results and repeat them consistently.



Lou's Second Principle of Pool



Great pool is a result of setting up and executing your stroke with great precision. Perhaps many of you have seen the poster "View of a Cue" which is basically a foot and a half cue ball overlaid with graph lines that breaks the cue ball down into something like a 120 spots. The Secret is not about hitting the cue ball low or high or to the side -- it's about consciously choosing one of those 120 spots and shooting at it with the right speed and elevation to produce exactly the results you want.



Lou's Third Principle of Pool



Great pool players have great memories. Each and every shot, you've got to guess what's going to happen with the object ball and cue ball. Then, you must pay attention and see if your results matched your hypothesis. And, if they didn't, how they differed. So being a good pool player is a lot like being a good card player. You've got to be paying attention, every time you shoot, both before and after. Did you over cut the ball? Under cut it? Did the cue ball draw more or less than you anticipated? Was the cue ball's angle off the cushion wider or narrower than you predicted. The next time the shot comes up, you recall the previous outcome, adjust accordingly, and observe the results vs your new theory. Then, it just becomes a matter of increased refinement. Doing this in a practice session speeds up the learning cycle because you don't have to wait for any given shot to come up again (after all, some shots may only come up once a session, or even once a week).



The trick is to then remember for the next time



Lou Figueroa

This is WAY to complicated. How on earth can anyone play according to these "principles"??? 120 Spots??? You've got to be kidding....please tell us you're not serious!!!

"It's easy to make things complicated {in pool} and difficult to make things easy"

 

[lfigueroa]

This is WAY to complicated. How on earth can anyone play according to these "principles"??? 120 Spots??? You've got to be kidding....please tell us you're not serious!!!

"It's easy to make things complicated {in pool} and difficult to make things easy"

If you think this is complicated you should see some of the other mumbo jumbo out there ;-)

Lou Figueroa

 

[CJ Wiley]

I'll start taking my time to show you some easier methods

If you think this is complicated you should see some of the other mumbo jumbo out there ;-)

Lou Figueroa

We can only imagine what's "out there" I'll start taking my time to show you some easier methods so you can start simplifying and enjoying the Game more than you could ever imagine. :thumbup: We'll show you how to make all your shots "virtually" the same. "There are not hard shots or easy shots, there are only shots"

 

[CJ Wiley]

One thing I might add.....

LOL...totally agreed..pool is all about repetition and memory. Good players develop good processes to give them consistency and they have great memory on mistake they made. I think when most Pro miss a crucial shot in a game...they spent countless hour on that shot so that next time a similar situation comes up..they are better prepared.

Duc.

One thing I might add.......hmmm, I forgot what I was going to say.:wink:

 

[lfigueroa]

We can only imagine what's "out there" I'll start taking my time to show you some easier methods so you can start simplifying and enjoying the Game more than you could ever imagine. :thumbup:

Gee thanks but I'm doing OK (no, really) and for the limited amount of time I have to devote to the game am enjoying it just fine. Thank you though for your interest in national defense.

Lou Figueroa

 

[Pidge]

Pidges First Principal of Pool

Don't miss.

Pidges Second Principal of Pool

Buy my new super awesome LD shaft for the bargain price of £50 plus £ £300 P&P. Deflects 0% regardless of where you hit the CB.

Pidges Third Principal of Pool

Recognise that there are thousands of possible shot situations in pool. Buy my new 30 minute DVD that explains each shot in great depth!

 

[lfigueroa]

Pidges First Principal of Pool

Don't miss.

Pidges Second Principal of Pool

Buy my new super awesome LD shaft for the bargain price of £50 plus £ £300 P&P. Deflects 0% regardless of where you hit the CB.

Pidges Third Principal of Pool

Recognise that there are thousands of possible shot situations in pool. Buy my new 30 minute DVD that explains each shot in great depth!

Thousands of possible shot situations?! Holy too complicated impossibility Batman!

Have yours call mine for a good time.

Lou Figueroa
will wait
for the
2nd DVD
(burp)

 

[CJ Wiley]

"The best national defense is a great national offense"

Gee thanks but I'm doing OK (no, really) and for the limited amount of time I have to devote to the game am enjoying it just fine. Thank you though for your interest in national defense.

Lou Figueroa

Anytime Lou...I want to see you run that hundred you've been practicing for.

Remember one thing: "The best national defense is a great national offense"

 

[obclassicut]

Anytime Lou...I want to see you run that hundred you've been practicing for.

Remember one thing: "The best national defense is a great national offense"

when you say "run that 100" do you get to break every time after you run a rack? this seems to easy but using another ball to carom into the rack from the kitchen seems to hard, lol:eek Also, you just call the ball in the pocket right? does it matter how it gets there?

 

[freedog69]

Hello Txstang- If you don't mind me asking what video did you pick up on the diamond system?

Thanks
Chris

I've been playing for over 20 years and never consciously used them (aiming or diamond system) that I'm aware of either.

However, I just picked up a video on the diamond system and have only watch the first 1/4 of it a couple of times and its already helped me out a few times during matches, so I definitely see the benifits to that system.

I dont feel like I need an aiming sytem. I know exactly how to hit the ball to get the result I want, it's just a matter of doing it correctly.

I'm not saying aiming systems aren't good to use or that they can't be a benifit, I'm just saying that I've learned how to aim correctly over the years and personally don't feel the need to learn one.

 

[JB Cases]



Lou's First Principle of Pool



Playing great pool is the result of reliably reproducing the same mechanical setup every time you approach the table. In turn, the same mechanics will produce the same stroke each time you shoot. You can't learn to play great pool if your mechanics are different each time you setup. It's not a certain grip or head height, it's a process that starts with how you hold your pool cue and ends with your final shooting position. The problem with concentrating on and changing one particular element in the process is that, if you're not paying attention, you can easily alter something else, and change your results. Or, if you're not setting up in a consistent manner, there's no way to directly attribute any improvement to a particular modification, like a higher or lower head position. We've all had those sessions when, for a brief moment in time, we thought to ourselves "I'm ready for the tour." Balls go in from everywhere and we effortlessly move the cue ball around the table with astounding position. It's because, I believe, we all have a great stroke inside us. But, we don't do things the same every day, or even from shot to shot. The Secret, such as it applies to a great stroke, is to find the process that creates those great results and repeat them consistently.

So essentially according to you unless you hit some magical combination of mechanical elements you will never be a great player? How to explain all the great players out there with different styles then?



Lou's Second Principle of Pool



Great pool is a result of setting up and executing your stroke with great precision. Perhaps many of you have seen the poster "View of a Cue" which is basically a foot and a half cue ball overlaid with graph lines that breaks the cue ball down into something like a 120 spots. The Secret is not about hitting the cue ball low or high or to the side -- it's about consciously choosing one of those 120 spots and shooting at it with the right speed and elevation to produce exactly the results you want.



Lou's Third Principle of Pool



Huh? If I gave you a magic marker that made a precise .3mm dot which is about the size of the contact patch I bet you couldn't hit those 120 spots with it. That has to be another one of the most ridiculous things I have heard. This who paragraph can be boiled to down to hit the ball the right way and you will be great. Thanks for the advice.

Great pool players have great memories. Each and every shot, you've got to guess what's going to happen with the object ball and cue ball. Then, you must pay attention and see if your results matched your hypothesis. And, if they didn't, how they differed. So being a good pool player is a lot like being a good card player. You've got to be paying attention, every time you shoot, both before and after. Did you over cut the ball? Under cut it? Did the cue ball draw more or less than you anticipated? Was the cue ball's angle off the cushion wider or narrower than you predicted. The next time the shot comes up, you recall the previous outcome, adjust accordingly, and observe the results vs your new theory. Then, it just becomes a matter of increased refinement. Doing this in a practice session speeds up the learning cycle because you don't have to wait for any given shot to come up again (after all, some shots may only come up once a session, or even once a week).



The trick is to then remember for the next time



Lou Figueroa

Um, no, because there is little thing called physics coupled with another little thing called geometry that tells you exactly what will happen when you hit the ball. No guessing needed. Couple that with something called practice and you have all you need to predict with great accuracy where the cueball will go even for shots that you have not come up against before.

It's not all about muscle memory and conscious memory if you follow some certain principles.

For example Dr. Dave has a great way to measure bringing the cue ball through the center of the table. Learn this and you don't need to practice going to the center of the table from every possible angle because someone figured a rule that works every time.

Of course if you don't know the rule then maybe you have to kind of guess at what will be needed to get the cue ball to the center of the table. Or play every possible shot thousands of times. Pool hall owners love the hit-a-million-balls guys because they are destined to spend much more time figuring things out.

Here is Dr. Dave's video on the subject. Thank him for shortening your learning curve.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9OD5TsWrByI

 

[ENGLISH!]

When someone finally understands how the mind coordinates with the game of pool it will seem like every shot is staight in. That's how the Champion players can go for hours without missing a shot. Every shot has a common theme, and if you don't see the straight in portion relative to the pocket you'll never achieve this level (never say never )

The human mind is incredible at the subconscious level and judging angles is relatively simple. We make it difficult when we try to see hundreds, or even thousands of different shots. It's like complex music, it sounds complicated, however, when you break it down to a "formula" there's a consistent theme a just a few variations.

Pool is the same way, once you understand the "theme" is the straight in position of the balls and the different angles are merely "variations," you are on your way to playing at a level you never thought (consciously) possible.

Hi CJ,

Very glad that you're back.

I agree. Subconscious. One has to get there with a workable foundation. If you're consciously thinking about different things, you're working (or practicing) & not playing. The subconscious mind can be a teacher too.

Best Regards to You &

 

[cardiac kid]

One of my good friends once asked me how I aim. He is a very technical guy and tries to use one of of the million or so aiming methods. Changing frequently I might add. My answer was simply "played pool for over fifty years, just know where to aim and how to hit the cue ball". His reply was "no wonder you don't know how to play :speechless: :scratchhead: !" Always got a kick out that answer. Not a world beater by any means but I play OK. See my signature!

Lyn

 

[Chopdoc]

Isn't there an aiming system forum now?







.

 

[Luther Blissett]

Isn't there an aiming system forum now?

With so many aiming systems, I thought it was high time someone systematized a method for choosing the right one. Look out for my new DVD...

From the cover: "Don't leave your choice of aiming system to chance. Now you can choose the right aiming system every time with the LB aiming system selection system. Systematically choose the system that's right for YOU, using my system!"

(I expect others will jump on the bandwagon with this though, so in anticipation, coming next month: "The LB aiming system selection system choosing system. Choose the right selection system choosing system to choose your aiming system ...systematically!")

 

[(((Satori)))]

With so many aiming systems, I thought it was high time someone systematized a method for choosing the right one. Look out for my new DVD...

From the cover: "Don't leave your choice of aiming system to chance. Now you can choose the right aiming system every time with the LB aiming system selection system. Systematically choose the system that's right for YOU, using my system!"

(I expect others will jump on the bandwagon with this though, so in anticipation, coming next month: "The LB aiming system selection system choosing system. Choose the right selection system choosing system to choose your aiming system ...systematically!")

I find it best to chose based on feel.

 

[BilliardsAbout]

Lot of good ideas on this thread--y'all should come on down to the aiming forum, please.

CJ is correct, everything done systematically requires a system. If you aim via instinct, then miss a shot than reset it and try to undercut the shot more the second time because you overcut the pocket--you are being systematic.

Even all the pros were taught some aim system way back when, even if it was ghost ball. After those first 10,000 shots or so you see the angles. That's the goal.