Speaking of Aiming - Pat's "System"

[Mikjary]

I checked this today, and on every shot, thick or thin, my stick is centered in my view when I'm looking at it and the OB contact point is centered in my view when I look at it. When I'm looking at either, I'm also aware of the other in my periphery, but I'm not actually looking at it. I don't believe there's any one-eyed viewing going on, at least not in any meaningful sense.

For what that's worth to you...

pj
chgo

P.S. When I say something is "centered in my view", I mean that when I close either eye the thing I'm looking at shifts off-center (farther off-center when I close my non-dominant eye).

Thanx, PJ. I was trying to compare what I was seeing, while trying your method with a stick aiming method I know. The aiming points were almost exactly the same and I wondered if you had the same visuals I did. I guess I should have told you my results, but I was hoping for an unbiased comparison.

Your method does work and I may add it to my arsenal with a little more practice. There are certain shots we all have trouble with and knowing an aiming shortcut for each one may mean you have to use different methods for each problem.

Best,
Mike

 

[cookie man]

Aiming doesn't have to be complicated, especially if you can visualize the object ball contact point and estimate the location of the cue ball contact point. If you can do that then all you have to do is point one at the other.

Accurately visualizing the OBCP and estimating the CBCP takes practice and memorization, and having something to "measure" for each cut angle makes memorizing them much easier. Here's the way I do it:

For each shot I simply notice how far the tip of my cue is pointed away from the OBCP. For thinner cuts this distance is larger (like in the first picture below); for thicker cuts it's smaller (like in the 2nd and 3rd pictures below). I don't do anything special with the information - simply taking notice of how much it is for each shot helps me memorize cuts quickly and repeatably.

View attachment 176662
This isn't a system in the sense that elaborate methods like x-angle systems are, but "systematically" focusing on exactly where my stick is pointed also helps me get aligned consistently with each shot, which I think is very important.

This is similar to ghost ball, since my stick points to the ghost ball center by definition, but I don't visualize a ghost ball. It's also similar to double-the-distance, but I don't try to find the OB center.

I try to visualize the CB contact point aimed at the OB contact point, and so I think of this as contact point-to-contact point aiming. Noting the distance that my stick is aimed from the OBCP is the visible "marker" that helps my mind remember and recall successful "shot pictures".

Of course, aiming adjustments must be made for squirve caused by sidespin. Noticing the adjusted "offset distance" is also helpful for memorizing cuts with sidespin.

pj <- that'll be $40 please
chgo

Your first shot lined up with the inside of your ferrule on the outside edge of OB would produce a thin cut on OB. Your not making that shot without some serious steering of your cue.