What Aiming System do you start with when trying to teach a BEGINNER.

[CocoboloCowboy]

I ask this question as once in a while i try and help some one. I always start off with Ghost Ball, as it is easy to explain. Than I try and till about Condition that must be factored in because of Cloth, dirty, and or Clan Ball and Last THROW.

I find most people who want help, refuse to practice, and become disillusion with slow progress. But every now and than there is a GEM who honestly want to learn, and is will to devot hours in to practice.

 

[pooltchr]

I spend a few minutes with several different aiming systems...ghost ball, contact to contact, fractional aiming, etc. Usually, the student will very quickly accept one method as the one they can most easily understand.

Ghost ball is going to be difficult for someone with weak visualization skills. Left brain types usually gravitate toward the more absolute type of systems. Right brain types pick up on Ghost ball very easily.

Go with their individual strengths.

Steve

 

[CocoboloCowboy]

I spend a few minutes with several different aiming systems...ghost ball, contact to contact, fractional aiming, etc. Usually, the student will very quickly accept one method as the one they can most easily understand.

Ghost ball is going to be difficult for someone with weak visualization skills. Left brain types usually gravitate toward the more absolute type of systems. Right brain types pick up on Ghost ball very easily.

Go with their individual strengths.

Steve

Thank you for your reply!

 

[SpiderWebComm]

Center-center w/ a 1-tip pivot is the easiest way to teach a beginner to aim (if the beginner wants to make a ball). Beginners never see the ghost ball correctly (which is why they're a beginner). Once they start making thicker cuts at-will, you can move on to other stuff (how to make thinner cuts).

Explaining ghost balls, 1 1/8" radii, 2 1/4" diameters, etc, loses most true beginners right out of the gate. People can actually see the center of each ball by the base, which gives something concrete and finite to aim at.

 

[CocoboloCowboy]

Center-center w/ a 1-tip pivot is the easiest way to teach a beginner to aim (if the beginner wants to make a ball). Beginners never see the ghost ball correctly (which is why they're a beginner). Once they start making thicker cuts at-will, you can move on to other stuff (how to make thinner cuts).

Think the one thing I show them that maybe help understand how small and area you are Aiming for is holding two Ball Up to the light with EDGES Touching. That they see the Touch area is about the size of a THIN Pencil Lead!

Explaining ghost balls, 1 1/8" radii, 2 1/4" diameters, etc, loses most true beginners right out of the gate. People can actually see the center of each ball by the base, which gives something concrete and finite to aim at.

AMEN!:grin:

 

[randyg]

Think the one thing I show them that maybe help understand how small and area you are Aiming for is holding two Ball Up to the light with EDGES Touching. That they see the Touch area is about the size of a THIN Pencil Lead!



AMEN!:grin:

Contact point is about 2-3mm.

I use S.A.M witch in part is the Ghost Ball....SPF=randyg

 

[Cameron Smith]

Contact point is about 2-3mm.

What I was thinking as well. You actually have a fairly large margin for error, even in snooker.

 

[Mark Avlon]

Explaining ghost balls, 1 1/8" radii, 2 1/4" diameters, etc, loses most true beginners right out of the gate. People can actually see the center of each ball by the base, which gives something concrete and finite to aim.

Most seem to grasp Ghost Ball but some have difficulty visualizing it.

I've sometimes used the simple ghost ball template below. It allows them to see where the base and circumference of the ghost ball is, and be able to shoot the shot.

Frequently, beginners think their problem is their aim, but it's their stroke. I cover mechanics before aiming so that they are working on one issue at a time.

 

[cfrandy]

I found the best way to teach how spheres collide and the concept of using a ghost ball is by simply placing a quarter on the edge of a rail south of the tail string and have them knock it off the rail with the cueball in the center of the table north of the head string. Most beginners cannot hit the quarter...until YOU tell them how to do it and why!

 

[Cameron Smith]

I find most people who want help, refuse to practice, and become disillusion with slow progress. But every now and than there is a GEM who honestly want to learn, and is will to devot hours in to practice.

That's a lot of people in just about any past time. Most give up if they aren't great in a weekend.

Others are embarrassed to practice by themselves.

I don't think it's neccessary to tell them to adjust their aim to compensate for dirty and old balls. It's not like there is any kind formula for which to gauge the relative dirtiness of the balls so as to appropriately adjust your alignement. Unless of course you were referring to kicks.