I came across this blog entry on the "Sneaky Pete Mafia" website. Darren speaks about practice and preparation. One part that struck me was his feeling about using systems and how they affect your enjoyment of the game, as well as reflecting on the real skill you possess.
https://www.sneakypetemafia.com/practice-and-preparation-darren-appleton-part-1-of-2/
I'd love to add a few useful systems to help me out with the 10% of the shots I really struggle with, but these things are really just useful aiming "tricks". The real aiming for the vast majority of shots is done subconsciously. Any time I'm shooting really well, I'm not thinking about fractions, parallel lines, contact points, overlaps, shadows, balls edges, light reflections, other dimensions, pivots, swerve, throw, deflection, etc. I'm just seeing the angle, getting down on the shot line, staring down the shot, and using my will power and a straight stroke to put the ball in the hole. And I'm enjoying the hell out of it. Above all else, pool should be fun. Obsessing over endless minute details might possibly raise my game by a ball, but it would surely suck the life out of the game for me to the point where I might not want to play anymore.
Fundamentals, fundamentals, and fundamentals. You hardly ever hear a Brit talk about cue sports without them saying it all comes down to fundamentals, and Daz is no exception. I'm tired of reading that certain folks have no right to weigh in on aiming systems until they can actually use them, and yet these same posters will say they only miss when using these systems because of their poor fundamentals (all the while referring others to YT videos of the grand success of the various system originators... who invariably have perfect fundamentals). Maybe these very vocal proponents should first master cueing the ball properly before they expound on the necessity of using an aiming system. Maybe all that really matters is stance and stroke, but they will never know because they simply can't execute properly.
Good article at any rate. Darren writes really well, a lot better than I suspected from reading his FB entries and his occasional AZB post, and the snips of info that he so eloquently expresses should be looked at as nuggets of pure gold.
https://www.sneakypetemafia.com/practice-and-preparation-darren-appleton-part-1-of-2/
I see too many players and amateurs just racking balls, trying to run out, and getting lazy. Thats not going to improve your game. There’s also many players these days buying too much into aiming systems.
Don’t get me wrong, I’ve been sucked in too, and some systems are OK for certain shots (especially if you’re struggling) but 90% should be all feel and muscle memory. If your fundamentals are good you don’t need any aiming system.
With solid fundamentals and a good eye for the ball, the rest will come naturally. Once you’ve played most shots thousands of times, you know where to aim. Aiming systems take the fun and skill out of the game in my opinion. Feel and vision are more important and more fun — all the best players play on feel and vision.
I'd love to add a few useful systems to help me out with the 10% of the shots I really struggle with, but these things are really just useful aiming "tricks". The real aiming for the vast majority of shots is done subconsciously. Any time I'm shooting really well, I'm not thinking about fractions, parallel lines, contact points, overlaps, shadows, balls edges, light reflections, other dimensions, pivots, swerve, throw, deflection, etc. I'm just seeing the angle, getting down on the shot line, staring down the shot, and using my will power and a straight stroke to put the ball in the hole. And I'm enjoying the hell out of it. Above all else, pool should be fun. Obsessing over endless minute details might possibly raise my game by a ball, but it would surely suck the life out of the game for me to the point where I might not want to play anymore.
Fundamentals, fundamentals, and fundamentals. You hardly ever hear a Brit talk about cue sports without them saying it all comes down to fundamentals, and Daz is no exception. I'm tired of reading that certain folks have no right to weigh in on aiming systems until they can actually use them, and yet these same posters will say they only miss when using these systems because of their poor fundamentals (all the while referring others to YT videos of the grand success of the various system originators... who invariably have perfect fundamentals). Maybe these very vocal proponents should first master cueing the ball properly before they expound on the necessity of using an aiming system. Maybe all that really matters is stance and stroke, but they will never know because they simply can't execute properly.
Good article at any rate. Darren writes really well, a lot better than I suspected from reading his FB entries and his occasional AZB post, and the snips of info that he so eloquently expresses should be looked at as nuggets of pure gold.