What is your eye pattern when down on a shot before striking cue ball?

[Shooter1]

OK, you've done your pre-shot routine and are now bridged down on the cue ball to start your warm up strokes. during these strokes of the cue, what is your sequence of eye movement between the CB, OB and pocket?

I personally will usually take 3 to 5 warm up strokes depending on length and difficulty of the shot. On the last stroke before striking the CB, I will pause for a moment with the tip close to the contact point on the CB. Right before I begin the back stroke, I will focus on the OB contact point and then execute the shot. I use the ghost ball aiming method.

My sequence is usually CB, OB, pocket, OB, CB, then OB last. If it is a long shot or thin cut, or generally a more difficult shot, I may go thru this sequence twice.

What is your "eye pattern" sequence? I want to be sure I'm not missing anything.

Thanks

 

[Oikawa]

I'll explain my method as someone who aims with ball overlaps by feel, no systems or contact points just the overlap image feeling correct for a given shot:

While going down on the shot, OB 100%.

Once down, I start with OB/CB back and forth multiple times, when looking at CB I focus on the tip position and distance being correct, when looking at the OB I focus on the ball overlap (aim) looking correct, just verifying it, subconsciously perhaps microadjusting but consciously not changing anything and standing back up if it feels wrong. Especially when looking at CB it's extra important for me to focus on staying very still and relaxed, since you won't necessarily notice if you move a bit, unlike when looking at the OB where it's more clear since the overlap changes.

Once everything looks/feels spot on (usually a few back and forths between CB/OB, depending on how quickly everything feels "good"), I switch to CB and do one last fine tuning to make sure the tip position/distance is perfect, then do a short pause and start pulling the cue back and somewhere during that backwards movement switch my eyes back to the OB, staying there for the rest of the shot, never going back to CB.

 

[garczar]

No offense guys but you're making this WAY too convoluted. Everyone has their own psr right down to this part. i wouldn't concern myself with what anyone else does/says. Do it the way that works for you. Me personally? A few practice strokes while looking back-n-forth from cb to ob a few times(never have counted and don't care to), settle on the ob and send it.

 

[boyersj]

There is an extensive study on this topic, quiet eye study.

Quiet eye duration as an index of cognitive processing

original-ufdc.uflib.ufl.edu

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[garczar]

There is an extensive study on this topic, quiet eye study.

Quiet eye duration as an index of cognitive processing

original-ufdc.uflib.ufl.edu

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Way too extensive is right. No need for all that. There are way simpler quiet eye discussions out there. The idea is to simplify play, this just confuses people.

 

[Oikawa]

No offense guys but you're making this WAY too convoluted. Everyone has their own psr right down to this part. i wouldn't concern myself with what anyone else does/says. Do it the way that works for you. Me personally? A few practice strokes while looking back-n-forth from cb to ob a few times(never have counted and don't care to), settle on the ob and send it.

Way too extensive is right. No need for all that. There are way simpler quiet eye discussions out there. The idea is to simplify play, this just confuses everyone.

It doesn't confuse everyone, even if it confuses you. A large portion of your input into more in-depth threads or posts is the same, claiming that things are being overcomplicated, even if a large amount of people clearly get something out of more in-depth analysis. Maybe not for you, that's fine, but the same reply on a thousand threads is getting a bit repetitive.

 

[bbb]

I'll explain my method as someone who aims with ball overlaps by feel, no systems or contact points just the overlap image feeling correct for a given shot:

While going down on the shot, OB 100%.

Once down, I start with OB/CB back and forth multiple times, when looking at CB I focus on the tip position and distance being correct, when looking at the OB I focus on the ball overlap (aim) looking correct, just verifying it, subconsciously perhaps microadjusting but consciously not changing anything and standing back up if it feels wrong. Especially when looking at CB it's extra important for me to focus on staying very still and relaxed, since you won't necessarily notice if you move a bit, unlike when looking at the OB where it's more clear since the overlap changes.

Once everything looks/feels spot on (usually a few back and forths between CB/OB, depending on how quickly everything feels "good"), I switch to CB and do one last fine tuning to make sure the tip position/distance is perfect, then do a short pause and start pulling the cue back and somewhere during that backwards movement switch my eyes back to the OB, staying there for the rest of the shot, never going back to CB.

i am not an instructor
but the time to shift focus from cue ball to object ball is at "set"
with the cue stick still
or at "pause" with the cue stick still
not while moving the cue stick
i have no scientific proof but thats how it was explained to me and it seems logical
to get your "quiet eyes" when there is no movement
jmho

 

[GoldCrown]

I use 2 warm up strokes ..cue ball cue ball object ball. As per Scott Lee's (RIP) SPF my PEP (personal eye pattern) is cue ball cue ball object ball.


The uTube demo uses 3 warm up strokes. Eyes on object ball on final stroke.

 

[garczar]

It doesn't confuse everyone, even if it confuses you. A large portion of your input into more in-depth threads or posts is the same, claiming that things are being overcomplicated, even if a large amount of people clearly get something out of more in-depth analysis. Maybe not for you, that's fine, but the same reply on a thousand threads is getting a bit repetitive.

Been around good-to-world class players for over 40yrs. Have NEVER heard one of them talk about their 'eye movement patterns'. Not ONE. This is just more minutia that only forum trollers like yourself have ANY interest in. Anyone that can play AT ALL already has decent 'emp's' without even thinking about it. It comes naturally, well at least for some i guess. BTW, what i was referring to as 'confusing' was that study linked to in post #4. You try reading any of it? Also, PLEASE feel free to put me on Ignore if my responses to your drivel seem too 'repetitive'.

 

[GoldCrown]

Been around good-to-world class players for over 40yrs. Have NEVER heard one of them talk about their 'eye movement patterns'. Not ONE. This is just more minutia that only forum trollers like yourself have ANY interest in. Anyone that can play AT ALL already has decent 'emp's' without even thinking about it. It comes naturally, well at least for some i guess. BTW, what i was referring to as 'confusing' was that study linked to in post #4. You try reading any of it? Also, PLEASE feel free to put me on Ignore if my responses to your drivel seem too 'repetitive'.

Pros are solid. I think the OP is asking us amateurs and bangers what we do. I needed someone to teach me a system. Scott Lee’s SPF included patterns. The student was asked what they looked at. As for putting you on ignore I’ll gladly do it but nothing is free. Send me a certified check or money order for $25 and you got it.

 

[Shooter1]

Been around good-to-world class players for over 40yrs. Have NEVER heard one of them talk about their 'eye movement patterns'. Not ONE. This is just more minutia that only forum trollers like yourself have ANY interest in. Anyone that can play AT ALL already has decent 'emp's' without even thinking about it. It comes naturally, well at least for some i guess. BTW, what i was referring to as 'confusing' was that study linked to in post #4. You try reading any of it? Also, PLEASE feel free to put me on Ignore if my responses to your drivel seem too 'repetitive'.

I suspect if you've never heard a pro player talk about eye patterns it's because they've never been asked unless their giving a lesson. How many times have you talked about EP's on league night with your teammates? Probably not often if ever.
I became a student of the game in 1974. Back then, there was very little instructional material in terms of how to improve your game, you just learned/improved by playing, (and probably losing a fair amount). You just played the game and mechanics came naturally, some good, some not so good.
With all the good instructional materials available, (like this forum), it makes sense to take advantage of them to improve your game or at least re-evaluate your progress & mechanics.

My eye pattern sequence is CB, OB, pocket, OB, CB. If it's a longer shot I may do this twice, if it's an easier shot, I'll do it once and it works good for me. I don't believe anyone mentioned the pocket as part of their eye pattern, just the CB and OB. I find this interesting as the pocket in relation to the OB location determines the contact point on the OB.

Thanks for the replies gents!

 

[Patrick Johnson]

I don't believe anyone mentioned the pocket as part of their eye pattern, just the CB and OB. I find this interesting as the pocket in relation to the OB location determines the contact point on the OB.

Maybe it's assumed that you determine the contact point before getting down.

pj
chgo