Visualization

TATE said:
Here's how I do it myself, it comes in several parts and it all takes place in a couple of seconds. The perspective is always as the shooter.

Once I know how I want to shoot the shot, while standing, I take a moment and stand behind the shot to visualize the line the cue ball is going to travel, and "see" the angle. Then I set up to that shot line.

Then when I'm down, I aim at the OB with whatever tip position I'm going to use, and visualize the path the OB is going to take and adjust my aim to make that happen. It's like an action/reaction thing. For example, if I move the aimpoint a little left, I "see" the OB taking a different path to the right. It's as if the CB and OB are connected like tinker toys.

That's pretty fine tuned, but not done. The last thing I do is the most important. I mentally connect the OB to the very center of the pocket and summon the stroke needed to get it on that exact line. I usually pause my stroke doing this in anticipation of summoning the correct stroke to pocket the ball and get shape.

That last mental connection to the pocket is the most important because it tells your body what else it needs to do besides aim. Just because your tip is in a certain position doesn't mean your cue is going to go there. You have to tell yourself to stroke it right through here --------> and your trained body will do it.

Once you get your routine down, whatever you do, don't doubt yourself. That throws it all off. Of all the things in pool, that last forward stroke is basically all that counts. so make it a good, positive one.

Chris
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Excellent! Very clealy stated - this is how I do it as well. Visualization skills can be developed and require practice. Being able to "play away from the table" using the power of imagination actually helps to build muscle memory.
 
While one can take the position of the fly on the ceiling to see the shot, it is probably better to see the shot from the player’s perspective. This helps the brain find the line down which the cue ball should roll. There are enough brain calculations from this perspective. Using the fly on the ceiling only adds complications that have to be converted.

There is another idea that you may also find useful. It seems that some (most?) brains can make better estimates if movement is involved. I suspect that you bring more brain power to bear when you visualize movement and this can (should?) help with accuracy and consistency.

Visualize the line the OB will roll down and then see that ball rolling down that line and you may have a better sight picture.

Another trick is to visualize the two balls as the contact each other. See the CB roll towards and contact the OB. See the balls collide, the OB move down its line and see the CB’s take off angle. It takes longer to say it than it does to do it!

If you do a comparison over several shots and a few days I think that you will find that seeing the balls move will improve your pool playing.

Visualization is a skill and can be improved by attempting to see a candle flame while you are lying in bed. At first you can only see it (about four feet in front of you) for a split second. Later, with practice, you can hold the image for longer and longer periods of time.

Probably only need about five minutes of practice a night until you can hold that image for about one second (that is a long time).
 
I do my visualization while I am standing, so that is the perspective I see it from.

Very interesting thread, and perhaps one of the most overlooked aspects of shooting.

I do a little drill with my students in pool school, where I ask them to visualize the shot. When they tell me they have done it, I hold a piece of paper between the cue ball and the object ball and ask them to shoot. The vast majority will miss. Then I tell them to visualize EVERYTHING about the shot...where their bridge hand will be, where the cue will be on line with the shot, the reletive position of the cue ball and object ball, and everything else about the shot. When I block their vision the second time, there is a remarkable improvement in the success of the second shot.

You have to train yourself to really visualize every shot. It's amazing how your brain can take the images you put in place, and transform them into action that mirrors the image.

Steve
 
I was trying to expalin this very question to a friend of mine (who does not shoot pool) a couple of weeks ago, but is otherwise very visual.

What blurted out of my mouth was something like :: "Do you remember the dancing elephants scene in Fantasia?" We both laughed...

And instantly it was perfectly clear what you need to visualize about the shot..
 
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