Ralf Soquet looks at cue ball last!

[Joseph Cues]

When he actually shoots!

I have a pic of RS. Cover of BD mag. He's looking at the ob but we don't know if he on the final stroke or not.
Well, snooker players do this I believe.
When the cue is going forward, they look at the cb.
On the backstroke, they look at the ob.
Then they stop b4 the final stroke for at least two seconds. Look at the cb, then move to the ob, freeze, then shoot.
I have a video of Efren. He barely looks at the cb and all of his attention was on the ob.

 

[yobagua]

Joe,My So Cal brother. I dont know how to explain it better. He says the LAST thing he looks at is the Cue Ball!!!!!! He does not look at the OB when he fires but the Cueball. Why do I feel like Juston?????

I have a pic of RS. Cover of BD mag. He's looking at the ob but we don't know if he on the final stroke or not.
Well, snooker players do this I believe.
When the cue is going forward, they look at the cb.
On the backstroke, they look at the ob.
Then they stop b4 the final stroke for at least two seconds. Look at the cb, then move to the ob, freeze, then shoot.
I have a video of Efren. He barely looks at the cb and all of his attention was on the ob.

 

[Rickw]

Joe,My So Cal brother. I dont know how to explain it better. He says the LAST thing he looks at is the Cue Ball!!!!!! He does not look at the OB when he fires but the Cueball. Why do I feel like Juston?????

So Yobagua, what you're saying is, when Ralf's cue stick hits the cb, he's looking at the cb, right? LMAO!!!! I LOVE THIS BOARD!!!

 

[Matt_24]

Jimmy Reid taught me to look at the cueball last on the 9 ball break shot. Focusing on the cueball helps with your cue speed because it's a closer target. Works for me at least.

I look at the cueball last on jump shots, and on shots covering a lot of green. I also look at the cue ball last on off angle (more complicated) straight pool break shots.

On all other shots I focus on the object ball last.

You really just have to find what works for you.

regards,
Matt

 

[longhair]

jump shots

I look at the cueball last on jump shots...
regards,
Matt

I did this for a long time. Then I tried looking at the object ball last when I was pretty sure of getting over the obstruction. My chances of pocketing a ball on a jump shot went way up.

 

[Matt_24]

I make sure that I'm completely focused on where I need to hit the object ball before I even set up for the jump shot.

I just stare it down and focus.

I will then look at the obstruction to assess where I need to address the cue ball.

I will then address the cue ball, and look at where I need to hit it with the tip. I might transition my eyes from the cue ball to the point of contact on the object ball three more times to ensure I am inline (I totally block out the obstruction and forget it is there), and then I will intensely focus on the cue ball and execute. Works pretty well for me.

I also jump with my shooting cue on 90% of my jump shots. Some guy the other day offered to let me use his jump cue, and I politely turned down his offer and perfectly executed with my shooting cue. His jaw dropped. It wasn't a hard jump shot at all (the particular one I executed), and I told him he should learn to jump with his shooting cue FIRST, and then he'll only need his jump cue in REALLY tough spots.

 

[longhair]

I make sure that I'm completely focused on where I need to hit the object ball before I even set up for the jump shot.

I just stare it down and focus.

I will then look at the obstruction to assess where I need to address the cue ball.

I will then address the cue ball, and look at where I need to hit it with the tip. I might transition my eyes from the cue ball to the point of contact on the object ball three more times to ensure I am inline (I totally block out the obstruction and forget it is there), and then I will intensely focus on the cue ball and execute. Works pretty well for me.

I also jump with my shooting cue on 90% of my jump shots. Some guy the other day offered to let me use his jump cue, and I politely turned down his offer and perfectly executed with my shooting cue. His jaw dropped. It wasn't a hard jump shot at all (the particular one I executed), and I told him he should learn to jump with his shooting cue FIRST, and then he'll only need his jump cue in REALLY tough spots.

When I play I try to look last at the thing that I most want to do a certain thing. On most shots this is, of course, the object ball. When I am worried about getting over a ball,drawing twelve feet, or sticking the cueball on the break, I look at the cueball last. Just me, of course. If my stroke was as good as Ralf's I wouldn't worry about it at all.

 

[9balldiva]

You are right Yo. I watched the Miz fire 5 spot shots in a row in on a 5X10 in Baton Rouge Looking at the crowd when he pulled the trigger. Perfect stroke, no movement LtoR. Miz isn't the only one who could do it either. Perfect stroke, where do you find one? And how much do they cost? Any used ones out there? How bout E-bay?

Perfect stroke for sale here!! I'm not trying to brag AT ALL, but many good players, and upcoming players have mentioned my naturally perfect stroke. I think a stroke is a gift, but over time it is learned. You think about it and make yourself do it a certain way EVERY time, eventually it will be natural to you. I don't make every shot by any means. I played with Buddy Hall not to long ago, Stoney Stone, Fujiwara, and a few others...they all have told me this. My boyfriend is a helluva shot on the table but admits my stroke is better. It's great to hear that though, makes you feal awesome when gooooood players tell you stuff like that!!!

 

[MFB]

You guys are missing a key point. Maybe the question or answer was misunderstood, or maybe, just maybe he doesn't know.

Now, I don't know Ralf, or have ever had the pleasure of hearing talking to him or hearing him speak, but there are plenty of players out there that cannot break down there own mechanics. They just know what feels right and works for them.

I think when professionals get to that level, they are mostly on cruise control. Professional golfers have swing coaches, and so do baseball players.

 

[oceanweb]

It's great to hear that though, makes you feal awesome when gooooood players tell you stuff like that!!!

Have you ever considered they may just be flirting?

 

[yobagua]

Believe me when I say Soquet can break down his mechanics. If there is any one that can he can!

You guys are missing a key point. Maybe the question or answer was misunderstood, or maybe, just maybe he doesn't know.

Now, I don't know Ralf, or have ever had the pleasure of hearing talking to him or hearing him speak, but there are plenty of players out there that cannot break down there own mechanics. They just know what feels right and works for them.

I think when professionals get to that level, they are mostly on cruise control. Professional golfers have swing coaches, and so do baseball players.

 

[hemicudas]

Believe me when I say Soquet can break down his mechanics. If there is any one that can he can!

Yo, Buddy, sounds more like his mechanics ARA broke down. Just kidding Yo. He is a hell of a player. Just think he is pulling someone's leg about this, lol. All we have to do is get Accustats to tape his eyes at contact. HEEEE, might even be surprised. If he were to match up with me they would have to tape his eyes, CLOSED.

 

[bethesilentone]

I agree. I am very close to run-out player. Each shot requires a fresh approach, a whole different hit than ever before. Looking at the cue ball last makes some sense because you are actually striking this object first. I persponaly look at all three things when hitting the cball.So of couse the cball is in the forground object ball and pocket in background. I also can see the lines as well as all 3 targets. However,I do notice on some long shots, it is better to look at the area i am striking on the object ball when i hit the cue ball.it seems to direct the physics, also dropping the elbow and staying down on the shot assists the long shots somehow.

 

[frankncali]

I had a few top players tell me that there are about 5 or so shots that
it is best to look at the cue ball last.

I know on long jacked up shots I like to look at the cue ball last after
making double sure that I am lined up straight with where I would
like to be.

I played with a low rated girl player in league the other night and had
her practice a lot of shots looking at the OB last so she could see that she
was not hitting it where she thought. It was like a light came on and
she automatically backed up all the way to her stance and alignment.

 

[9balldiva]

Have you ever considered they may just be flirting?

Certain people I have never taken it seriously from, but when my boyfriend tells me I believe it. When Buddy Hall tells me, I believe it. When I took some lessons/pointers from Fujiwara and Stoney and they said it I believed it. It boils down to a case by case basis. Usually if I am seriously involved in learning something from a player who is taking it just as seriously as I am, I will believe it.

I'm not sure what your purpose in that comment was, but can it be so hard to believe that a girl may actually have a naturally almost flawless stroke. Why must you TRY to shoot the confidence level down!!!

 

[catscradle]

I agree with the people saying it doesn't really matter what you look at. Reading this thread prompted me to go in my pool room and run through my practice routine, once how I normally do it and once setting up the shot with my entire pre shot routine and looking away from the shot just before firing, the balls still dropped. I think setting everything up before the shot, alignment/aim, bridge, stroke, etc etc is what's going to determine if you make the shot, not what ball you are looking at when you fire.

I agree with you IF you have setup correctly and IF you have a straight stroke. Unfortunately that is always the case and I think most of us mere mortals have to make last micro second adjustments subconciously. The variations in those last microsecond adjustments account for most of our misses.
So how does one develop the proper techique? Just taking shots results in reinforcing the bad behaviour of micro adjustments. Practice for hours with closed eyes? Stroketrainer?

 

[yobagua]

I think we should cut 9ball diva some slack here. Lets give her the benefit of the doubt and yes maybe she does have a flawless stroke. The least she seems young and enthusiastic. And that is good. She'll find out soon if she does have a good stroke or not.

But I think the post about "flirting" tells more about the poster than the Diva. I mean if Buddy Hall or Steve Mizerak told you you had a good stroke. Would you question if they or you were "gay"? Plaudits to a person of female gender does not mean it has to always be sexual.

On the other hand Diva if you bring your "boyfriend" into the equation then you open yourself to doubts about objectivity.

Certain people I have never taken it seriously from, but when my boyfriend tells me I believe it. When Buddy Hall tells me, I believe it. When I took some lessons/pointers from Fujiwara and Stoney and they said it I believed it. It boils down to a case by case basis. Usually if I am seriously involved in learning something from a player who is taking it just as seriously as I am, I will believe it.

I'm not sure what your purpose in that comment was, but can it be so hard to believe that a girl may actually have a naturally almost flawless stroke. Why must you TRY to shoot the confidence level down!!!

 

[9balldiva]

I think we should cut 9ball diva some slack here. Lets give her the benefit of the doubt and yes maybe she does have a flawless stroke. The least she seems young and enthusiastic. And that is good. She'll find out soon if she does have a good stroke or not.

But I think the post about "flirting" tells more about the poster than the Diva. I mean if Buddy Hall or Steve Mizerak told you you had a good stroke. Would you question if they or you were "gay"? Plaudits to a person of female gender does not mean it has to always be sexual.

On the other hand Diva if you bring your "boyfriend" into the equation then you open yourself to doubts about objectivity.

First, I don't know if it's completely flawless, but my point was that many of these good players have commented on how natural my stroke comes to me. They tell me I have potential to be the next Jeanette Lee or Allison Fisher....with years of practice, of course!!!

Thank you for sticking up for me. You raised the exact point I was trying to. Why would you doubt me if I sa my boyfriend is in that. We've been together too long for him to have to tell me things he doesn't mean. He is a serious pool player, and I trust it is in honesty when he says things like that. He's not the type to just make up something like that.