Ways To Keep Your Dominant Eye, Dominant

[The Renfro]

Whats your locale Mike if I may ask?

I still travel around the country for work and you seem to suffer from the same things I do with dominance.....

Chris

 

[AtLarge]

... But to dismiss the role of the dominant eye without evidence, and I'm not sure that you are one of those who do it, is IMO, irresponsible to our sport.

Vision for most of us is stereoscopic. In finding one's vision center, as Dr. Dave calls it -- and using that position for most pool shots -- one uses the vision from both eyes. So why do you say doing that is "to dismiss the role of the dominant eye"? Isn't it accepting the role of both eyes?

 

[JoeyA]

Mike,
How do you know that your non-dominant eye took over the aiming of the shot (besides missing which you alluded to) ?
Thanks,
Joey

 

[Mikjary]

Mike,
How do you know that your non-dominant eye took over the aiming of the shot (besides missing which you alluded to) ?
Thanks,
Joey

I freeze and I look to see if the cue is under my dominant eye. I try to concentrate on every shot to keep my right eye over the cue, but when you're running out you get in a frenzy! You start motoring around the table and think you're lined up right and sh t!

I call it my schizo eye. You never know when it's gonna pop up and ruin my run...next shot, next rack, or next session.

Best,
Mike

 

[The Renfro]

Freeze and look down is a bad plan if you have the issues I suspect.... You need a PSR, check system, that is dynamic and not static...... Cue orientation will vary by distance to the OB........

 

[Mikjary]

Freeze and look down is a bad plan if you have the issues I suspect.... You need a PSR, check system, that is dynamic and not static...... Cue orientation will vary by distance to the OB........

The PSR helps a little. I have to stop halfway through it and double check my head alignment. The shot looks good with either eye. The problem is my body lines up every time for a right eye alignment even though my left will creep into the shot.

Some days it's so out of control, I can look at the shot with my left eye, close my left eye and my brain still tries to put my left eye over the shot when I get down! It's a tenacious PITA!

Another part of the problem may be that I've trained myself to do different things with both sides of my body. I guess my mind may be trying to implement this into my pool game.

Best,
Mike

 

[8onthebreak]

I suffer from this eye thing. I shoot right handed, and am left eye dominant. I suffer because I've always shot guns my entire life thru my RIGHT eye, before I knew I was left eye dominant.

I now try to make sure my left eye is over the cue...and you will find me routinely closing my right eye for a second during a stroke just to verify alignment, if my head is out of position, and my brain is grabbing my right eye...I can tell immediately when I close my right eye...that I'm gonna miss. I simply re-align, using only my D eye, open both eyes, and fire it in.

I've found no real way of avoiding my brain from gravitating to my right eye, I've only found ways to identify and correct quickly before it costs me a match. Some nights I don't have any problems, other nights, I just can't get away from it.

 

[chefjeff]

The PSR helps a little. I have to stop halfway through it and double check my head alignment. The shot looks good with either eye. The problem is my body lines up every time for a right eye alignment even though my left will creep into the shot.

Some days it's so out of control, I can look at the shot with my left eye, close my left eye and my brain still tries to put my left eye over the shot when I get down! It's a tenacious PITA!

Another part of the problem may be that I've trained myself to do different things with both sides of my body. I guess my mind may be trying to implement this into my pool game. View attachment 249354

Best,
Mike

Mike, I think I might help you there, as I've come up with a process to enter my stance that deals with this....

First I sight from above, standing behind the shot and do all that stuff while standing (coming in from the proper side, seeing aiming point, etc.)

Second I place my right heel (I'm right handed), under where the cue butt will be, at the proper angle.

Third I place my left foot into position. (I'm still standing upright and still clearly "seeing" the aiming point on the OB)

Here's the part I've recently changed....Fourth, I then BEND MY KNEES so my body goes straight down. By doing this, I reduce the chances greatly of wobbling and losing the line.

Fifth, I then bend over to put my upper body into position. It will be correct because everything else is correct up until then. There is almost no chance of my moving sideways at this point.

I don't know if that'll work for you, but it might!

Jeff Livingston

 

[Mikjary]

I suffer from this eye thing. I shoot right handed, and am left eye dominant. I suffer because I've always shot guns my entire life thru my RIGHT eye, before I knew I was left eye dominant.

I now try to make sure my left eye is over the cue...and you will find me routinely closing my right eye for a second during a stroke just to verify alignment, if my head is out of position, and my brain is grabbing my right eye...I can tell immediately when I close my right eye...that I'm gonna miss. I simply re-align, using only my D eye, open both eyes, and fire it in.

I've found no real way of avoiding my brain from gravitating to my right eye, I've only found ways to identify and correct quickly before it costs me a match. Some nights I don't have any problems, other nights, I just can't get away from it.

What ways did you find to identify when your right eye is taking over? The only clue I've found that the wrong eye is in the shot is that I see a larger view of the table.

What I mean is that when I'm aiming with my dominant eye, I focus and see mainly the object ball. Kind of like tunnel vision. The view from my non-D eye is blocked out. If it comes into the shot, I see what my D eye is seeing in additon to the non-D eye for a larger blended picture.

It is subtle and hard to notice this when you are concentrating on the shot. I close my left eye occasionally to remind myself not to help with the shot. The blinking is a reminder for me to keep my right eye forward and to not turn my head.

I've also tried an eye patch, sunglasses with one lens out, and shooting left handed. The only other possible thing I could do is shoot with an eye patch for an extended period of time to reinforce my D eye. Yo ho ho!

Best,
Mike

 

[FranCrimi]

Vision for most of us is stereoscopic. In finding one's vision center, as Dr. Dave calls it -- and using that position for most pool shots -- one uses the vision from both eyes. So why do you say doing that is "to dismiss the role of the dominant eye"? Isn't it accepting the role of both eyes?

I never suggested aiming or shooting with one eye closed. That would probably be the only way to avoid stereoscopic viewing. After going through the process of finding your vision center, your cue will ultimately wind up placed under or near your dominant eye, depending on how strong the eye dominance is.

My issue is with those who say it doesn't matter what your dominant eye is as long as you just find your 'vision center.'

If that's true, then there must be some statistics that show players shooting with the cue under their recessive eye. I haven't found any yet. If and when one such player is revealed I would like to interview them regarding their vision and observe them playing.

 

[chefjeff]

I suffer from this eye thing. I shoot right handed, and am left eye dominant. I suffer because I've always shot guns my entire life thru my RIGHT eye, before I knew I was left eye dominant.

I now try to make sure my left eye is over the cue...and you will find me routinely closing my right eye for a second during a stroke just to verify alignment, if my head is out of position, and my brain is grabbing my right eye...I can tell immediately when I close my right eye...that I'm gonna miss. I simply re-align, using only my D eye, open both eyes, and fire it in.

I've found no real way of avoiding my brain from gravitating to my right eye, I've only found ways to identify and correct quickly before it costs me a match. Some nights I don't have any problems, other nights, I just can't get away from it.

Maybe you and Mike and I are going about this dominant eye thing in the wrong way.

Maybe our brains are telling us to stop it and allow it to use both eyes, not a dominant one? Maybe instead of trying to force one eye to dominate, we would be better off forcing---or is "allowing" a better word?--allowing our brains to use both eyes as it wishes.

So, maybe forcing our brains to use both eyes would be a better technique in the long run re consistency?

ENOUGH for me for a while...my mind has to integrate all of this for few days. Time Out for me.

Jeff Livingston

 

[JoeW]

The research cited in post 64 indicates that eye dominance can and does change as one moves into a shot from across the horizontal field. When you move into the shot making position from the left or from the right your eye dominance shifts as you look at the sighting point.

The obvious solution to this shift in dominance is to walk into the shot from behind. While you may be looking at the shot from the side as you walk to it, you probably should not begin to sight the shot until you are in position and take a step back. This will place you on the shot line and will give your eyes and their dominance preferences time to adjust to the visual field directly in front of you. This type of recommendation has been around for a long time and is now reinforced by the research literature.

Whether you choose to place the cue under the dominant eye or allow the brain to compensate for the dominant eye is another choice. The research literature seems to imply that shift in dominance in the lateral and contra lateral field is not an invariant process across people: Some people experience more of a shift than others. If you have noted this shift in dominance and or a change in dominance then it is probably more important for you to step back when on the shot line and look directly in front of you prior to sighting.

BTW I had not seen these research findings until Fran brought up the problem and would suggest that further research on this topic would yield even stronger evidence as we are dealing with a physiological process offset by mental preferences. Pool instructors should seriously review this literature and it probably should be a standard recommendation based on solid research findings. While some people may not have a lateral shift in dominance the recommendation to take a step back allows one to gain a better perspective.

I will start a new thread to highlight these findings.

 

[Ratta]

I wonder if any American pool players have ever used this "device"/template?

Hi Joey,
hope you re doin good pal

To be honest- if someone is teaching, instructing etc. and this on a *bit* higher level, then he should always try to earn as much knowledge as possible. I learnt this method about 20 years ago from a professional snooker player in London. As soon as i saw this, i knew immediatley what a great thing this is.

To work on this *thing* with a knowledged guy is also very helpful. If you then discover an issue with your alignment, the brutal work begins

have a smooth stroke,
Ingo

 

[One Pocket John]

The research cited in post 64 indicates that eye dominance can and does change as one moves into a shot from across the horizontal field. When you move into the shot making position from the left or from the right your eye dominance shifts as you look at the sighting point.

The obvious solution to this shift in dominance is to walk into the shot from behind. While you may be looking at the shot from the side as you walk to it, you probably should not begin to sight the shot until you are in position and take a step back. This will place you on the shot line and will give your eyes and their dominance preferences time to adjust to the visual field directly in front of you. This type of recommendation has been around for a long time and is now reinforced by the research literature.

Whether you choose to place the cue under the dominant eye or allow the brain to compensate for the dominant eye is another choice. The research literature seems to imply that shift in dominance in the lateral and contra lateral field is not an invariant process across people: Some people experience more of a shift than others. If you have noted this shift in dominance and or a change in dominance then it is probably more important for you to step back when on the shot line and look directly in front of you prior to sighting.

BTW I had not seen these research findings until Fran brought up the problem and would suggest that further research on this topic would yield even stronger evidence as we are dealing with a physiological process offset by mental preferences. Pool instructors should seriously review this literature and it probably should be a standard recommendation based on solid research findings. While some people may not have a lateral shift in dominance the recommendation to take a step back allows one to gain a better perspective.

I will start a new thread to highlight these findings.

Looking forward to the new thread.

Thanks

John

 

[Mikjary]

Standing behind the shot and letting my brain choose the dominant eye is the problem. I shoot using both eyes, but my body aligns for right eye dominance.

Best,
Mike

 

[Mikjary]

I find that if I place my dominant eye forward of my other eye, it maintains dominance. If I stand square behind the shot, either eye may start to aim the shot. I turn my head almost as if I'm looking over my shoulder behind me to get my correct eye to see the shot. Any other suggestions to keep my D eye dominant?

I would be willing to bet there are many other players with this problem that don't know they have it. They play very inconsistently and miss easy shots for no apparent reason. They blame their stroke, their stance, or their grip, when all along it's their eyes.

Best,
Mike

 

[Pay Up Sucker]

Play every shot as an Independent/individual shot and try not to get into a rhythm going from shot to shot and letting your subconscious take over? lol

 

[ENGLISH!]

I would be willing to bet there are many other players with this problem that don't know they have it. They play very inconsistently and miss easy shots for no apparent reason. They blame their stroke, their stance, their grip, when all along it's their eyes.

Best,
Mike

Hi Mike,

I never blame a mis on anything other than my bad eye. Why would eye?:wink:

In all seriousness, You may have enlightened me. In thinking back, I think that a prominent amount of my misses may have been on shots where I really have to reach with my bridge hand & may actually be bringing my left non-dominant eye closer & my right dominant eye farther back. I'll have to pay atttention to that.

Thanks & Best Regards,

 

[ENGLISH!]

Mike,

I posted too quickly. I just did the dominant eye test & turned my head for both far & near objects & my dominant eye is what keeps the target in the circle.

However, if you simply turn your head the object leaves the circle. But... I can turn my head & keep the target in the circle by my head sliding. This is done by turning my head, to the right, while sliding it to the left, my non-dominant eye side. However, if I turn my head far enough with my dominant eye closed then the target comes into the circle, seeing it with my non-dominant left eye.

Makes sense, at least to me.

Regards,

 

[AtLarge]

... However, if I turn my head far enough with my dominant eye closed then the target comes into the circle, seeing it with my non-dominant left eye. ...

If you turn your head far enough, regardless of whether the dominant eye is open or closed, you will see what you describe -- because your nose is blocking the dominant eye's vision!