Shooting Without “Aiming”

[Brookeland Bill]

Am I the only person that plays pool without aiming. I play instinctively by sizing up the shot and determining how much of the object ball I wan to cover with the cue ball. I’ve been playing for 60 years. I’ve tried all the gimmicks (and I mean ALL of them) and always return to feel and instincts. Does anyone else play by feel or am I an anomaly?

 

[PracticeChampion]

Am I the only person that plays pool without aiming. I play instinctively by sizing up the shot and determining how much of the object ball I wan to cover with the cue ball. I’ve been playing for 60 years. I’ve tried all the gimmicks (and I mean ALL of them) and always return to feel and instincts. Does anyone else play by feel or am I an anomaly?

Probably 90% of my shots are just instinctive. I pick my spot on object ball and go but sometimes I just can't see the angle or don't feel good about it so the other 10% comes in

 

[Greg M]

I'm the same. It's just experience and instinct for me. I get down, approximate a contact point on the object ball, feather a few times and take the shot. I've never used any aiming system before.

I have never seen or heard of anyone use or talk about aiming systems for English pool, respectively. Must be more of an American thing.

 

[The_JV]

I play instinctively by sizing up the shot and determining how much of the object ball I wan to cover with the cue ball.

I pick my spot on object ball and go

I get down, approximate a contact point on the object ball, feather a few times and take the shot.

If you look at the OB and then consider how you are going to hit it to make it go in the general direction you choose, then that's "aiming". Using a system is wildly different

 

[goettlicher]

Am I the only person that plays pool without aiming. I play instinctively by sizing up the shot and determining how much of the object ball I wan to cover with the cue ball. I’ve been playing for 60 years. I’ve tried all the gimmicks (and I mean ALL of them) and always return to feel and instincts. Does anyone else play by feel or am I an anomaly?

That's a great aiming system that you have. Keep up the great ball pocketing.

randyg

 

[BC21]

Am I the only person that plays pool without aiming. I play instinctively by sizing up the shot and determining how much of the object ball I wan to cover with the cue ball. I’ve been playing for 60 years. I’ve tried all the gimmicks (and I mean ALL of them) and always return to feel and instincts. Does anyone else play by feel or am I an anomaly?

You're not alone. I really don't know how I aim for most shots, but since coming up with Poolology I use cb-ob overlap on quite a few shots.

 

[BC21]

If you look at the OB and then consider how you are going to hit it to make it go in the general direction you choose, then that's "aiming". Using a system is wildly different

You have my book, is it really "wildly different"? I mean, it's exactly like Brookeland Bill describes, only the overlap is not based on guesstimation. Do it enough times and the system is no longer needed.

 

[Boxcar]

Throw 'em on the table.

Shoot 'em.

 

[BC21]

Throw 'em on the table.

Shoot 'em.

Yep...that's the traditional way. Shoot em til you get good at it or quit. Lol

 

[Boxcar]

"Tradition!" quoth Tevye.

 

[Patrick Johnson]

Does anyone else play by feel or am I an anomaly?

I think you're the rule. Everybody aims by feel and instinct in the end, where the decision is made - a system just gives a first approximation.

pj
chgo

 

[The_JV]

You have my book, is it really "wildly different"? I mean, it's exactly like Brookeland Bill describes, only the overlap is not based on guesstimation. Do it enough times and the system is no longer needed.

The comparison is using a methodological approach like Poolology (system) vs slapping at balls with no real regard to accuracy, so yes I think the effort is wildy different.

The claim wasn't "I don't use a system when I aim". It was, "I don't aim when I shoot". The former is claimed by the majority of players including myself. The latter is just a naive thought.

 

[Geosnookery]

I rarely consciously aim. I have my weaknesses but excellent at cross table banking shots. I never look at the pocket I’m sinking the ball into except if there is a ball in the way. In contrast, friends have a host of geometric patterns but still don’t have my success rate.

It’s the same when playing catch in baseball or shooting pucks in hockey. We can have our thoughts focused on and talking about some unrelated subject but still hitting our mark fine.

 

[Boxcar]

"How can you hit and think at the same time?" - Yogi Berra

 

[BC21]

"How can you hit and think at the same time?" - Yogi Berra

Wasn't he that big harry dude that always said, "Only YOU can prevent forest fires." ???

 

[Boxcar]

You keep this up and I'm gonna hafta switch your legs...and you're gonna hafta go get the switch!

It's either Harry Dude or hairy dude!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[BC21]

I rarely consciously aim. I have my weaknesses but excellent at cross table banking shots. I never look at the pocket I’m sinking the ball into except if there is a ball in the way. In contrast, friends have a host of geometric patterns but still don’t have my success rate.

It’s the same when playing catch in baseball or shooting pucks in hockey. We can have the thoughts focused on and talking about some unrelated subject but still hitting our mark fine.

And the amazing thing about this is the fact that your conscious mind is juggling several things at once while you talk and toss that ball back and forth. That's why, once you consciously learned and repeated catching and throwing, your conscious mind handed those tasks over to your subconscious in the form of muscle memory and hand-eye coordination.

Now all you have to do consciously is be aware of the ball in order to catch it, and consciously be aware of where you want to throw it. The actual catching and throwing of the ball is performed by the subconscious. This frees up the working area of the brain so that you are able to consciously do other things that don't pertain to the actual muscles and coordination needed to catch and throw the ball. And this is the very reason why our skills and talents (the actual performance of them) eventually gets handed over to the subconscious -- it frees up working memory so our conscious thoughts aren't so bogged down.

 

[Geosnookery]

And the amazing thing about this is the fact that your conscious mind is juggling several things at once while you talk and toss that ball back and forth. That's why, once you consciously learned and repeated catching and throwing, your conscious mind handed those tasks over to your subconscious in the form of muscle memory and hand-eye coordination.

Now all you have to do consciously is be aware of the ball in order to catch it, and consciously be aware of where you want to throw it. The actual catching and throwing of the ball is performed by the subconscious. This frees up the working area of the brain so that you are able to consciously do other things that don't pertain to the actual muscles and coordination needed to catch and throw the ball. And this is the very reason why our skills and talents (the actual performance of them) eventually gets handed over to the subconscious -- it frees up working memory so our conscious thoughts aren't so bogged down.

Your explanation is what happens when learning a musical instrument. At first 99% of brainpower is going into not trying be anxious and where to place the fingers or whatever .... When this onerous task is finally accomplished, you can actually start listening to the music...then you reach a point where you aren’t consciously listening and can then begin improvising.

Somewhere I reached a point where I was improvising on the guitar. Just as at some point I was improvising on shots with the billiard cue. I’m not great at either but after decades I feel like I’m on top of things and in control. 99% of my brain is now focused on the final 5% of the puzzle.

 

[BilliardsAbout]

Am I the only person that plays pool without aiming. I play instinctively by sizing up the shot and determining how much of the object ball I wan to cover with the cue ball. I’ve been playing for 60 years. I’ve tried all the gimmicks (and I mean ALL of them) and always return to feel and instincts. Does anyone else play by feel or am I an anomaly?

Of course you are aiming, instinctively aiming.

Do not "size up the shot" and the balls won't sink as well, yes? Sizing the shot is aiming.

 

[Brookeland Bill]

Of course you are aiming, instinctively aiming.

Do not "size up the shot" and the balls won't sink as well, yes? Sizing the shot is aiming.

I realize what your saying. I’m just not using a formula or the mechanics that are touted in this section of AZB. I do utilize the 1/2 ball hit for spot shots But the half ball hit has been around years before Hal and fractional aiming.