Practice Aiming on Your Computer

Patrick Johnson

Patrick Johnson

Fish of the Day
Silver Member
We all need to practice our aiming as much as possible - that's how we get good at it. But how to do that when we're at home or work doing less important things? Just fire up Virtual Pool 3 on your desktop, aim any shot, then turn the "tracking" feature on to see how well you did. Adjust, rinse and repeat as needed (probably forever).

VP3's 3D graphics are so good that you can see realistic CB/OB alignments as they actually appear when you're down on your shot. You can even adjust the view to match your actual head position (higher/lower, forward/back).

Some screenshots to illustrate:

AIM1.jpg
AIM2.jpg

I don't know how accurately VP3 models spin effects or banks, so I can't vouch for practicing aiming with those things. But I know from experience that if a no-spin, non-bank shot looks good to me on VP3 it usually goes as it would in reality.

No more excuses for not practicing!

pj
chgo
 
Patrick Johnson said:
We all need to practice our aiming as much as possible - that's how we get good at it. But how to do that when we're at home or work doing less important things? Just fire up Virtual Pool 3 on your desktop, aim any shot, then turn the "tracking" feature on to see how well you did. Adjust, rinse and repeat as needed (probably forever)....
chgo
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Is it possible to adjust the viewpoint? That is, could the user pan sideways to center the cue in the screen?
 
and you have to do this without CTE turned on as well !!!


All kidding asside, VP3DL is Awesome, i have run 150 & Out on it a few times. deffinatly keeps your mind active on the game when you cant get to the table.

-Steve
 
At Amazon.com there are multiple versions of VP-3. Interplay, Global Star. What is the difference?
 
Hal's Quarters Method works for me in Virtual Pool. I did this years ago to see if Hal's aiming system would work in Virtual Pool and they do.

I do agree that Virtual Pool is an excellent training aid. Another thing that can be done in the paid version of VP if I remember right is that you can go to trick shot mode or practice mode and set up shots that you save and then play over and over again with different speed/spin combinations to see what will happen.
 
marek said:
I have it from very good source that Celeris is working on VP4.. :)
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VP4 is a huge project, and it's getting closer. The author is a close friend of mine and an excellent pool player.

The mobile version of VP has been selling very well.

Chris
 
Rethunk said:
Is it possible to adjust the viewpoint? That is, could the user pan sideways to center the cue in the screen?
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The cue is normally centered, but you can move it to any place on the screen (while still looking straight down the cue). These shots were actually centered on my screen, but I cropped them to reduce their size for posting on AzB.

pj
chgo
 
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JB Cases said:
Hal's Quarters Method works for me in Virtual Pool.
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I think VP is probably a good tool to show that Hal's quarters method is like all his other methods - it doesn't work for very many shots without "user adjustments". Maybe I'll try to take the time to show what I mean.

I do agree that Virtual Pool is an excellent training aid.
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I think it is for simple things like practicing no-spin aiming alignments and natural roll position play, but I wouldn't trust it for anything more complicated.

Another thing that can be done in the paid version of VP if I remember right is that you can go to trick shot mode or practice mode and set up shots that you save and then play over and over again with different speed/spin combinations to see what will happen.
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Yep. You can create and record your own and there's a library of recorded trick shots included. There are also many collections to be found online and there was even a trick shot contest at one time, which attracted quite a turnout and proved that you can do many things on VP3 that are impossible in reality (like crazy table-length masse shots).

pj
chgo
 
Patrick Johnson said:
I think VP is probably a good tool to show that Hal's quarters method is like all his other methods - it doesn't work for very many shots without "user adjustments". Maybe I'll try to take the time to show what I mean.

pj
chgo
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I am not sure how you could show this on VP. Since VP's tracking lines only use GB. All we could have is your word that you were doing x to aim, and then like you always say, if I say I also do x and I make the ball where you don't then one of us is wrong in our approach.

Maybe what could be cool is a sort of aiming challenge where VP is played in a community environment where shots are set up and the contestants aim without the tracking lines turned on and then when they say that they are set the tracking lines are turned on - as you suggested above.

Theoretically and given that "air pivots" exist in CTE it should be possible to use CTE in VP. Since VP is in 3d it seems as if it might be a fair test.

Anyway, like I said, I found that Hal's system works in VP and for me personally that was just one more thing that cemented my support for Hal and his systems.
 
I play virtual pool on my iPad against real people all the time. It's great for practicing patterns and seeing the "right side of the ball" in nine ball.
 
John:
VP's tracking lines only use GB
Click to expand...
??

VP does have a neat ghost ball feature: if you turn it on it will show a ghost ball in position, touching the OB, which will move around the object ball as you adjust your aim. If you also turn on "tracking" you can see that the line from the CB goes right to the ghost ball's center. But you can create any CB/OB alignment you like using any aiming method you like (like you said you did using the quarters method) and VP will accurately show you where the OB goes. It's not limited in any way by its ghost ball feature.

pj
chgo
 
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I'll read or try but here's what I really think-

anyone who has talked with Hal Houle you can practice aiming in your mind-VS a computer, I'd just rather take it to the table and make time- to play , practice or gamble. Your missing out on all the railbirds ,hustlers, girls- all the different stops. Who needs to buy cues anymore. But I do do stroke exercisesaway from the table. I think Hunting ,fishing, golfing ,football and baseball, basketball all help with (aiming ) eye coordination. With anything you must be hands on to get better or just stay the same. sounds interesting because it is about Pool. There's always reading too. mark
 
There hasn't been a decent new pool/snooker videogame for at least 5 years

No game has taken advantage of the next gen console capabilities and modern PCs
 
Patrick Johnson said:
??

VP does have a neat ghost ball feature: if you turn it on it will show a ghost ball in position, touching the OB, which will move around the object ball as you adjust your aim. If you also turn on "tracking" you can see that the line from the CB goes right to the ghost ball's center. But you can create any CB/OB alignment you like using any aiming method you like (like you said you did using the quarters method) and VP will accurately show you where the OB goes. It's not limited in any way by its ghost ball feature.

pj
chgo
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I meant that the tracking lines can't be used to aim in any way but with Ghost Ball.

I do like your idea of aiming without lines and then toggling the tracking. (not available in the demo version I have) I think that this is a great way to train your perception.

I need to reinstall the full version.
 
I have VP for my iphone, play it daily on my train rides to work or doing my business in the bathroom :)

I believe its different for iphone than on a PC. I'm an Apple guy, so I'm not able to play it on my computer.

I know it sounds nuts, but since I'm not able to play much pool (work and family) I think VP on my phone helps keep my pool mind running and helps aim.
 
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