Simple aiming system
- Thread starter Mensabum
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I avoid most aiming system threads after reading through a good few years ago and none of them making any sense to me or seeming to be based on actual facts/physics/geometry.
The only two that do are the basic ghost ball visualization or the contact point/parallel line aiming method (which are basically just two ways to do the exact same thing), which are both dead simple and make perfect sense when illustrated with a single simple diagram.
The only two that do are the basic ghost ball visualization or the contact point/parallel line aiming method (which are basically just two ways to do the exact same thing), which are both dead simple and make perfect sense when illustrated with a single simple diagram.
Here's how I got EAO (Jimmy Reid - the O is for opposites) to work.
View attachment 762676
OB on top, CB on bottom.
The blue line is the line of centers. This takes on more significance in other applications but it's here for reference.
The red line is the cue stick. I place the tip on the cloth beneath the contact point and making visual note of the tangent at that point, I pivot over the cue ball to the reciprocal tangent or location. (Notice it bisects the line of centers.) From there I roll or position the stick over center CB and voila, the shot line.
The yellow line is just an extension of the OB line and there to illustrate that the shot intersects the <base of the ghost ball>
The half ballish hit is incidental although it might help Tyler Styer in aiming properly.
Almost forgot. How does a sway bar lock up?
The sway bar had the factory rubber bushings in the mounting points. Bought the car that way and considered the sway bar harmless, a major mistake! I had about two months of racing two nights a week plus often a practice day fighting with the car, it had ran well on asphalt before I bought it and I had just ignored the sway bar as harmless but maybe a small help in getting a little out of the left front tire. More suspension movement on dirt and sometimes that blessed sway bar locked up the right front suspension travel. I was green so kept chasing other things!
Back to pool: My personal aiming system is just to line up the two contact points, the one I can see on the object ball and the one I built up in my mind over months, add any compensations I need for spin or throw, and fire away! One funny thing, I absolutely can't use fractional aiming. Just not the way my mind will see things anymore.
When it comes to aiming my theory long ago became whatever gets somebody through the night!
Hu
That and 24" wheels are the most ridiculous things I have ever seen done to cars. Gotta love watching guys riding in either because they have no suspension movement, the drivers ass is the only "suspension" and he is bobbing up and down withy every little ripple in the road, God forbid should he take a route that takes him over a rough railroad crossing.
Hellaflush: What It Is and Why It Is Hellabroken
A new trend has recently struck the motorhead community and the general public itself. In normal applications, the suspension of a vehicle is designed to provide a smooth and comfortable ride and have the vehicle at a normal height to avoid damage to the chassis or bumpers. Stance nation, most...sjhexpress.com
Bob, do you use a parallel aiming system?
If you mean the system illustrated in Mosconi's, "Winning Pocket Billiards", then no. I mostly use visualization and experience.
That daggone sway bar prevented you from planting the RR on dirt.
I don't use fractional aiming but noticed it seems that there is a wide range of shots that you aim for a 1/2 ball hit, at least when playing center ball.
Most shots fall between the actual fractional alignments, so there's almost always some (conscious or unconscious) adjustment made by the shooter.
pj
chgo
SeniorTom
Well-known member
I would have to believe that that's what professional pool players use, visualizing the shot and letting experience take over. They probably are way past using a ghost ball system or any system that takes too much conscious thinking, which actually robs your subconscious from doing what it's supposed to do. When I play my best there is generally little conscious thinking going on, being successful happens without a whole lot of effort.
All,
Many pros aim by instinct, however their instinct is getting them to stance and aim cuts often more full than beginners and intermediates who overcut simple shots and miss them by two diamonds along the rail.
If you are reading this and overcut often, simply stance, aim and shoot thicker on the ball then you ever have before, shooting softly, gently.
"Soft and thick" can quickly take the average player (bear in mind that the typical AZ'er shoots stronger than average players do) from huge overcuts to making a lot of balls pocket!
Many pros aim by instinct, however their instinct is getting them to stance and aim cuts often more full than beginners and intermediates who overcut simple shots and miss them by two diamonds along the rail.
If you are reading this and overcut often, simply stance, aim and shoot thicker on the ball then you ever have before, shooting softly, gently.
"Soft and thick" can quickly take the average player (bear in mind that the typical AZ'er shoots stronger than average players do) from huge overcuts to making a lot of balls pocket!
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So if you habitually hit too thin, aim thicker.
I see why you get the big bucks.
pj
chgo
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Do beginners ever tend to undercut simple shots? Or is that just not possible.
I think intermediate players figured stuff like this out back when they were beginners.
If someone reading this undercuts often what should they do? Aim thicker or thinner? After they simply stance. Be nice if you could explain because I'm not familiar with that term.
So, typical AZB players are exempt from the "soft and thick" rule? Only the average player not on AZB needs heed your advice?
I'm just a humble student trying to learn but I'm wondering why your post is different from just saying:
"If you always overcut aim thicker and vice versa." Oh yes, I forgot about simply stance. That's the key factor for improvement. Thank you. Let me know how many big bucks I owe you.
I'll send them right away in a thick or thin package, depending of course on whether I undercut or overcut.
So I guess that comment I hear all the time...."He missed it on the pro side" is a bunch of BS????
IMO....Pros and general players overcut and undercut shots equally......It just depends on the player and day if they are over or under cutting.
The "hope" for any player is to miss consistently to one side or the other....from that you can adjust.....If you randomly overcut and undercut....that is a pretty hard fix and is not yet "aim related".....................................IMO
Of course speed of shot also has an effect on over or under cut....so it may not be aim that needs adjusted
dquarasr
Registered
From participating in and watching many APA league matches, I’d say the overwhelming majority of misses by SL2 and 3 players are too thick, sometimes because of throw, but more often due to alignment. If you are viewing from the shot line you can see most misses are aimed too thick.
I think it’s because lower level and new players tend to look at the OB, not where they need to deliver the CB, and aim/steer the shot more toward the OB, too thick.
Sorry, Matt, I gonna have to disagree with you on this one
Hello All,
"Miss on the pro side" is quite a slight overcut, for example, work one side of the pocket with a game ball so a miss leaves the ball tough. It's called the "pro side' in part because they execute with a pro's precision. Instead, low level players aim for pocket center and overcut an entire diamond or more.
I was not referring to aim as seen from the shot line but how the final stroke is missed. (As an aside, Dr. Dave has an amazing video on how we often see parallax views if we're watching other shooters.)
PJ skipped where I wrote "softer". Amateurs tend to bang the balls once they learn (on a subconscious basis) how hard hits help counter throw.
Why mention stance? Pros often set their hand bridge closer to the line of centers between CB and OB than lower level players. Why? Take for example a near-straight cut. The intermediate thinks "I'll to move to the side of the line-of-centers to bring the cue stick atop the shot line," but the pro thinks "Almost straight, I'll just stance for a dead straight stop shot then make a tiny back hand adjustment to score this shot." From memory, Cornerman described this technique on a recent thread and CJ showed this technique on a recent video. It was on my mind because earlier this month, I was speaking in person with Tom Kennedy about the aim/stance relationship, since we both teach this method.
Why mention AZ players' skills? Because many AZ players are better shooters than average, and also tend to speak as if one size fits all. Here's an example we've all read many times, "I don't need an aim system nor does anyone else, just HAMB." Yet most lock in bad habits with HAMB while skilled AZ'ers get better continually from HAMB! The first step in teaching/coaching skillfully, IMHO, is to be willing to adjust teaching to fit the player's individual needs and wants.
"Miss on the pro side" is quite a slight overcut, for example, work one side of the pocket with a game ball so a miss leaves the ball tough. It's called the "pro side' in part because they execute with a pro's precision. Instead, low level players aim for pocket center and overcut an entire diamond or more.
I was not referring to aim as seen from the shot line but how the final stroke is missed. (As an aside, Dr. Dave has an amazing video on how we often see parallax views if we're watching other shooters.)
PJ skipped where I wrote "softer". Amateurs tend to bang the balls once they learn (on a subconscious basis) how hard hits help counter throw.
Why mention stance? Pros often set their hand bridge closer to the line of centers between CB and OB than lower level players. Why? Take for example a near-straight cut. The intermediate thinks "I'll to move to the side of the line-of-centers to bring the cue stick atop the shot line," but the pro thinks "Almost straight, I'll just stance for a dead straight stop shot then make a tiny back hand adjustment to score this shot." From memory, Cornerman described this technique on a recent thread and CJ showed this technique on a recent video. It was on my mind because earlier this month, I was speaking in person with Tom Kennedy about the aim/stance relationship, since we both teach this method.
Why mention AZ players' skills? Because many AZ players are better shooters than average, and also tend to speak as if one size fits all. Here's an example we've all read many times, "I don't need an aim system nor does anyone else, just HAMB." Yet most lock in bad habits with HAMB while skilled AZ'ers get better continually from HAMB! The first step in teaching/coaching skillfully, IMHO, is to be willing to adjust teaching to fit the player's individual needs and wants.
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I have to give you credit for one thing. Once you make a nonsensical post and are questioned on it, you're tenacious in replying, denying and re-explaining therefore digging yourself an even bigger hole. I highlighted the most blatant parts so you can do more explaining.
Everyone at AZB knows you like to argue with me, so much so that I'm tempted to post "I tell all my students to strike the cue ball wth the cue stick's tip," just so you reply, "No! Hit it with the bumper!"
snookered_again
Well-known member
if you are shooting across a large table and trying to barely nick the edge, it is preferable to at least hit the ball , so that "calculating" may explain why balls are often cut too "thick", The other option is a miss.. too thick is that save side, too thin is getting dangerous in terms of a possible miss. the "safe side" if you end up is a wee bit off is too thick. otherwise it's a fault in most games.
if none of us over cut or undercut balls we'd be like the "Happy Gilmore" of pool and paid very well ;-) good luck with all that nonsense ;-)
the beginner or intermediate or however "this class " is rated, needs to understand the dynamics , spin induced throw, cut induced throw, aiming methodology, the mechanics of pool. that's why the ghost ball is mentioned. If you want to visualize a ball there, and it helps all the power to you. I look at the contact spot but also consider spin , throw all the other considerations speed, top bottom etc.
if your mind is clogged with excess theory yes it will affect you.. Ive been trying to get lower down on my shots and it helps with aim, but I am sort of relearning my stroke from a lower stance. rubbing my chin doesn't feel like the best ergonomic position.. Things like that might be a temporary setback and may also lead to improvements. It indeed may benefit me if I'm able to get more accustomed to a lower stance. at first it is messing with my body mechanics somehwt and Ill make less for the first while, sure and this is what I expected.
i dont think it maters too much what you choose to change, just the act of changing something has a learning curve that follows so it may give you a poor return on your "investment"initially, before what you learned sets in or takes effect and if it was a positive adjustment in your routine. you may then later see a payoff of making more balls. I made a few where my hand hit my body during my stroke or even or even got my hand caught on the rail .. mistakes to learn by, - I try to shrug it off and continue, think why did that happen, how do I fix it and learn from it.. then move forward.
if none of us over cut or undercut balls we'd be like the "Happy Gilmore" of pool and paid very well ;-) good luck with all that nonsense ;-)
the beginner or intermediate or however "this class " is rated, needs to understand the dynamics , spin induced throw, cut induced throw, aiming methodology, the mechanics of pool. that's why the ghost ball is mentioned. If you want to visualize a ball there, and it helps all the power to you. I look at the contact spot but also consider spin , throw all the other considerations speed, top bottom etc.
if your mind is clogged with excess theory yes it will affect you.. Ive been trying to get lower down on my shots and it helps with aim, but I am sort of relearning my stroke from a lower stance. rubbing my chin doesn't feel like the best ergonomic position.. Things like that might be a temporary setback and may also lead to improvements. It indeed may benefit me if I'm able to get more accustomed to a lower stance. at first it is messing with my body mechanics somehwt and Ill make less for the first while, sure and this is what I expected.
i dont think it maters too much what you choose to change, just the act of changing something has a learning curve that follows so it may give you a poor return on your "investment"initially, before what you learned sets in or takes effect and if it was a positive adjustment in your routine. you may then later see a payoff of making more balls. I made a few where my hand hit my body during my stroke or even or even got my hand caught on the rail .. mistakes to learn by, - I try to shrug it off and continue, think why did that happen, how do I fix it and learn from it.. then move forward.
Actually, I have no interest in arguing with you. I haven't been paying much attention to you at all lately. Too busy writing up my book review.
I see. You don't want to argue with me, where I can respond. You want to obsessively read one of my pool books and argue with my words, so I can't respond.
Got it.