Ralf Souquet & Eye Pattern

D

DrCue'sProtege

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
hello all,
as some might realize i posted the other day that i had emailed Ralf, Allison, and Ewa regarding the age old subject of what to look at last - object ball or cue ball.

again, seems like the majority of pool players look at the object ball last, but there are some that will focus on the cue ball last. seems like most people say neither way is wrong, but yet there might be certain studies that indicate its best to look at the object ball last.

anyway, whichever way you prefer, i did get a response from Ralf Souquet regarding this. Ralf says he looks at the cue ball last, and that he prefers to look at the closest ball last. however, he does realize most look at the object ball last. he also indicated there is no Golden Rule for this.

just thought i would pass this along.

DCP

p.s. before anybody jumps on me, i am still experimenting with looking at the OB last.
 
I am not surprised Ralf would answer your e-mail...he's a class act. I am surprised by his answer!
 
mosconiac said:
I am not surprised Ralf would answer your e-mail...he's a class act. I am surprised by his answer!
Click to expand...

i agree on both counts.

however, i must clarify. Ralf did say he looks at the cue ball last 98% of the time.

DCP
 
Why not just do the Allison pause?
Freeze the tip on the cb, pause for two seconds then pull, hesitate, push.
 
JoeyInCali said:
Why not just do the Allison pause?
Freeze the tip on the cb, pause for two seconds then pull, hesitate, push.
Click to expand...

If I tried that, my timing would be screwed. I think you have to grow up playing like a snooker player although I do use an open bridge most of the time.
 
RunoutalloverU said:
If I tried that, my timing would be screwed. I think you have to grow up playing like a snooker player although I do use an open bridge most of the time.
Click to expand...


Not true. SPF can be very quickly installed into a routine......SPF=randyg
 
randyg said:
Not true. SPF can be very quickly installed into a routine......SPF=randyg
Click to expand...

and its my understanding that the Pause doesnt have to be a long one, like Allison's pause. a quarter of a second is a pause, right?

DCP
 
Tim-n-NM said:
What does SPF stand for?
Click to expand...

Set-Pause-Finish

get Set with the tip at the cue ball, very close, to improve aiming accuracy.

a slight Pause at the end of the backstroke before you change directions.

and Finish the stroke, through the cue ball, with the tip pointed down, and your shooting hand having gone "Home" to around your chest area.

hope i got that right.........?

DCP
 
DrCue'sProtege said:
hello all,
as some might realize i posted the other day that i had emailed Ralf, Allison, and Ewa regarding the age old subject of what to look at last - object ball or cue ball.

again, seems like the majority of pool players look at the object ball last, but there are some that will focus on the cue ball last. seems like most people say neither way is wrong, but yet there might be certain studies that indicate its best to look at the object ball last.

anyway, whichever way you prefer, i did get a response from Ralf Souquet regarding this. Ralf says he looks at the cue ball last, and that he prefers to look at the closest ball last. however, he does realize most look at the object ball last. he also indicated there is no Golden Rule for this.

just thought i would pass this along.

DCP

p.s. before anybody jumps on me, i am still experimenting with looking at the OB last.
Click to expand...
Three things:
1) Can you post Ralph's full reply rather than interpreted paraphrases. I am curious to know his full response. In particular, where he said "98%" of the time I would like to have the context. For example, he might have been alluding to 98% of kicks and jump shots, and not 98% of all shots. Also, can you please PM me his email as I have a few follow up questions.

2) You should not base your style of play on what [Person X] does. Each person is different and you must find what is right for you.

3) I have some Ralph video and am interested to see if he actually practices what you indicate he stated. Some people actually think they are doing one thing, and do something else (especially with regard to eye patterns).

-td
 
td873 said:
Three things:
1) Can you post Ralph's full reply rather than interpreted paraphrases. I am curious to know his full response. In particular, where he said "98%" of the time I would like to have the context. For example, he might have been alluding to 98% of kicks and jump shots, and not 98% of all shots. Also, can you please PM me his email as I have a few follow up questions.

2) You should not base your style of play on what [Person X] does. Each person is different and you must find what is right for you.

3) I have some Ralph video and am interested to see if he actually practices what you indicate he stated. Some people actually think they are doing one thing, and do something else (especially with regard to eye patterns).

-td
Click to expand...

this is directly from his email:

"Anyways, I try to make it short and simple. My last look goes 98% to the cue ball and not the object ball. I know that most players do it the other way but I think it?s easier to focus on the closest ball then the one that is further away. I guess there is no such thing as a golden recipe. Whatever feels more comfortable and brings the best result is the way you should go."

DCP
 
DrCue'sProtege said:
Set-Pause-Finish

get Set with the tip at the cue ball, very close, to improve aiming accuracy.

a slight Pause at the end of the backstroke before you change directions.

and Finish the stroke, through the cue ball, with the tip pointed down, and your shooting hand having gone "Home" to around your chest area.

hope i got that right.........?

DCP
Click to expand...

Thanks DCP
 
I copied this from my post in another thread... I transcribed the following carefully, to get the exact wording, from an interview with Ralf on Accu-Stats after he won, I believe it was the DCC 2004, IIRC.

Mark Wilson: If you were to issue a tip on the break, because we all admire the great break you possess, what would you say would be a good tip, for people wanting to learn?

Ralf Souquet: Well, I mean, um, that's something I do... I... my last look, when I break, is on the cueball. I know that most other players, their last look goes to the object ball, which is the 1-ball usually. So, my last look always goes to the cueball; not only on the break; on, on most other shots too; and I don't know if, you know, if that's a secret, but I feel a lot more comfortable with that; doing that; because once I have that aiming line... I mean I'm going back and forth from the one ball to the cueball but the last look, once I have that line, I just try to focus on that one spot on the cueball.

Danny D: and you know why you can do that... because your fundamentals are so perfect that, again, once you are lined up, you could probably look the other way, and still make the balls...​

It's still not outside the realm of possibility, as was mentioned, that Ralf is doing something different from what he thinks he is. It might be time for me to watch that match again and study his eyes. Either way, that's what Ralf said, and I'd be surprised if he didn't know what he's doing.

DCP, you may want to pay special attention to Danny Diliberto's comment, though, IMO.
 
Cuebacca said:
DCP, you may want to pay special attention to Danny Diliberto's comment, though, IMO.
Click to expand...

yep, i agree. i think i have repeatedly made the comment that Tom Rossman made to me a few years ago. that being:

"If your aligned properly, your aim is good, and you stroke straight through the line, you can be looking at the blonde in the 4th row and still achieve shot success"

DCP
 
DrCue'sProtege said:
yep, i agree. i think i have repeatedly made the comment that Tom Rossman made to me a few years ago. that being:

"If your aligned properly, your aim is good, and you stroke straight through the line, you can be looking at the blonde in the 4th row and still achieve shot success"

DCP
Click to expand...

Well, it's up to you. My mechanics are nowhere near perfect, so I will wait until my opponent is racking to check out that blonde in the 4th row. :D

Unfortunately, I didn't mention we're playing rack-your-own. :o
 
Very accurate information. The pros I have worked with either had no idea of what kind of eye pattern they used, or it was significantly different from what they believed they did! The P.E.P. process that we teach is VERY different from what MOST players actually do (regardless of ability), and consequently feels quite awkward at first, and has to be "trained" and then practiced correctly, to be able to integrate it into your preshot routine. Training your eyes for a consistent personal eye pattern is perhaps the most important improvement you can do for your game...once an accurate repeatable setup and delivery process has been established.

Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com

td873 said:
2) You should not base your style of play on what [Person X] does. Each person is different and you must find what is right for you.

3) I have some Ralph video and am interested to see if he actually practices what you indicate he stated. Some people actually think they are doing one thing, and do something else (especially with regard to eye patterns).

-td
Click to expand...
 
JoeyInCali said:
Why not just do the Allison pause?
Freeze the tip on the cb, pause for two seconds then pull, hesitate, push.
Click to expand...


Buddy Hall does that 2....I like Buddy he is a nice guy..
 
Cuebacca said:
I copied this from my post in another thread... I transcribed the following carefully, to get the exact wording, from an interview with Ralf on Accu-Stats after he won, I believe it was the DCC 2004, IIRC.

Mark Wilson: If you were to issue a tip on the break, because we all admire the great break you possess, what would you say would be a good tip, for people wanting to learn?

Ralf Souquet: Well, I mean, um, that's something I do... I... my last look, when I break, is on the cueball. I know that most other players, their last look goes to the object ball, which is the 1-ball usually. So, my last look always goes to the cueball; not only on the break; on, on most other shots too; and I don't know if, you know, if that's a secret, but I feel a lot more comfortable with that; doing that; because once I have that aiming line... I mean I'm going back and forth from the one ball to the cueball but the last look, once I have that line, I just try to focus on that one spot on the cueball.
​
Click to expand...


I join most others (I assume) at being very surprised to learn of Souquet's method. Except for the break, I don't recall ever hearing or reading that technique being used by anyone else.

Having said that, I have long felt that striking the CB at an unintended spot is one of the most common reasons for missing shots and/or shape.

Ralf's technique certainly ATTACKS that issue. However, by use of peripheral vision, you can have ALMOST the best of both worlds.

Vision involves 4 components...the center of gaze (where you are actually focusing) and 3 versions of peripheral vision...near field, middle field and wide field (named differently in science).

An interesting aspect of peripheral vision is that while it is always "there" you actually have to CONCENTRATE in order to translate the vision to the conscious mind.

For example, you can read a mile marker sign on the interstate with peripheral vision but you WON'T read them unless you will your mind to do so.

Translating that to a pool shot..you can accomplish a LASER FOCUS on the OB and STILL very readily will your mind to pay attention to the cue tip's path toward the intended spot on the CB without ever interrupting your focus on the OB with your center of gaze component of vision.

Try it. Use an OB as a CG so you can pick a target...or use whatever marking is on your CB (a measle ball would be best) and stroke the cue while NEVER breaking focus on the OB...but "pay attention" via peripheral vision to the path of the tip.

Regards,
Jim​
 
Scott Lee said:
Very accurate information. The pros I have worked with either had no idea of what kind of eye pattern they used, or it was significantly different from what they believed they did! The P.E.P. process that we teach is VERY different from what MOST players actually do (regardless of ability), and consequently feels quite awkward at first, and has to be "trained" and then practiced correctly, to be able to integrate it into your preshot routine. Training your eyes for a consistent personal eye pattern is perhaps the most important improvement you can do for your game...once an accurate repeatable setup and delivery process has been established.

Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com
Click to expand...

I totally agree! Thanks for teaching me that Scott!
(-:
 
where are your eyes?

For myself... I think of it like shooting basketball. When you're getting ready to shoot a shot, do you look at the ball or the basket last? I find I'm much more accurate when focusing my attention on the object ball last. And TRYING to let my stroke happen naturally. My .02 at least.
 
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