Sight 5 - Make balls better

elvicash

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Here is an addition any player can make to their shooting process. I think it would add to fractional, ghost ball, CTE or the Filipino bottom system. This can really help a new player who is just learning to pocket balls and is very easy to add to your process.


The basic of the system is to actually choose and number/name a distinct entry location for the ball as goes into the pocket. If you look from the object ball as it enters the pocket the left most location of the pocket this is #1. The middle of the pocket opening is #3. The right most portion of the pocket is #5. The width of this opening changes as the pocket is viewed from various places on the table. Any odd number would be fine to use to name the pocket but five is easy and not to large if you can see more distinctions use a larger number. Great players do not need to do this they actually see the opening and visualize the ball entering the pocket but naming the sight location will definitely help many players.

The act of numbering the ball location in the pocket helps the player to see where that location is in the pocket thus improving the visualization process. Mentally breaking the pocket into 5 distinct portions ultimately helps with the sighting process. Our mind is used to using numbers to designate sizes and locations and this simple process is so simple. The idea of using numbers to help quantify pool has been taught by others, I just thought we could use it for pocketing balls.

By having a better aiming location in the pocket the shooter can close the improvement after the shot You can only gauge your results against a target if you have an idea of the target prior to execution.

To use the process stand behind the object ball looking at the pocket
Notice the actual pocket opening and the object balls location
Have an idea of the planned shot
Select the optimal pocket location for the planned shot
Left most is a 1, right most if 5 break the opening down into equal increments.
frequently you will select the middle of the opening which is a 3.
Name the location (Actually do this step, this is the magic)
Continue the shooting process
After the shot note where the object ball enters the pocket (or misses) use this knowledge/feedback for future improvement
 
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Here is an addition any player can make to their shooting process. I think it would add to fractional, ghost ball, CTE or the Filipino bottom system

what is the bottom system? tks
 
I do NOT know anything about the Filipino bottom system.

There seems to be alot of interest in such a system by my receiving multiple PM's and no posts in this thread.

So once again I do not know anything about a Filipino bottom system,

I said I would never tell and that is all you need to know ;):wink::)
 
Is it the one where you put the ball in the bottom of the hole? I think this aiming method is encoded somewhere in the Filipino dna strand.
 
Pilipino bottom system

I have never heard it called this - but the name fits.

When stroking the ball, aim in the absolute center and quite low.
You will see a reflection and it will immediately show if you are addressing/cueing the ball incorrectly (not in the center).

The final stroke is not necessarily in the warmup position - so this will not work for many players.

Hope I explained this so it can be followed - it is not a very common system in US.

Mark griffin
 
I have never heard it called this - but the name fits.

When stroking the ball, aim in the absolute center and quite low.
You will see a reflection and it will immediately show if you are addressing/cueing the ball incorrectly (not in the center).

The final stroke is not necessarily in the warmup position - so this will not work for many players.

Hope I explained this so it can be followed - it is not a very common system in US.

Mark griffin

Thanks Mark I can that as the basis of a simple system to find the center of the cue ball. Great Post - Thanks
 
To use this system, it helps to know where the center of the pocket is. That varies a little with speed, but a good approximation is where the rail grooves meet for the corner pocket. That's explained here: http://www.sfbilliards.com/articles/1997-04.pdf as well as how to find the center of the side pockets.

If you're going to practice the system, I think it helps to mark the exact spot mentioned in the article. In fact I think it helps to mark the center of the pocket (in practice) any time you are having trouble pocketing balls.
 
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