Why Do I "Aim" More When I'm Struggling?

[BasementDweller]

Just throwing this out there for discussion:

I've been struggling with my game this past summer. I think the main reason I've been struggling so much is because I made a significant change to my stance and it really took a lot longer to fully incorporate this into my game than I thought it would. I guess I'm getting older or something, but I just don't remember it being so difficult to make a change. But anyways...

I'm starting to feel more comfortable at the table again and as my comfort level picks up it seems my need to focus on "aiming" diminishes. Everything is starting to flow again and I just see the shot line and get on with it.

So my question is -- when a player is struggling why do you think aiming becomes more of an issue?

I have my theories but I'm more interested in hearing what others think.

 

[8pack]

The one thing I struggle with when I'm not playing all the time isn't really so much with aiming but rather with dialing in on the shot . I go outside center a lot,getting a feel for the shot again. Its almost like going from a LD shaft to a regular playing one. Unsure of where to aim.

 

[robsnotes4u]

You fell back to Consciously competent from Unconsciously Competent. The Big reason being confident. Set up some shots you don't have to think about, don't aim just go up and hit them. Build your confidence in your stroke, let your unconscious mind do what it knows how to do.

If your conscious mind is trying to do something that your unconscious mind doesn't agree with you will steer your stroke as they are fighting with each other.

Building that confidence will get your Conscious mind to agree with your Subconscious. Now remember that feeling, physically and emotionally. Trigger it and then you can always go back to that feeling, the physiology of when you were in the unconsciously competent.

 

[ronscuba]

I made a slight change to my stance and pre-shot routine and it has helped a lot.

I notice when I am struggling, it's usually because I got sloppy with my routine and alignment which can make my standing visual aim line look different than my shooting position visual aim line

I aim standing at an angle. My hips, shoulder and head are angled like in the shooting position. Once I commit to my aim, I walk forward into position, my stick is on the line and I go down into shooting position. Walking forward with my hips, shoulders and head angled feels a little funny at 1st, but locking my eyes on the aim line (stick line) is a real benefit.

Since my hips, shoulders and head were already angled, the transition from standing to down on the shot is very smooth. To my eyes, the aim line (stick line) never moves or shifts during the transition.

 

[randyg]

Just throwing this out there for discussion:

I've been struggling with my game this past summer. I think the main reason I've been struggling so much is because I made a significant change to my stance and it really took a lot longer to fully incorporate this into my game than I thought it would. I guess I'm getting older or something, but I just don't remember it being so difficult to make a change. But anyways...

I'm starting to feel more comfortable at the table again and as my comfort level picks up it seems my need to focus on "aiming" diminishes. Everything is starting to flow again and I just see the shot line and get on with it.

So my question is -- when a player is struggling why do you think aiming becomes more of an issue?

I have my theories but I'm more interested in hearing what others think.

"How can you think and play at the same time?"
Yogi Berra
randyg

 

[Careyp74]

I think that when you miss a shot, your go to response is to blame your aiming. No matter what the cause, you focus on the aim. When you start getting out of form, and miss, you blame the aim.

 

[LAMas]

why do pro shooters take more time on their shots than bangers? Struggling or not, take more time aiming.

 

[nine_ball6970]

why do pro shooters take more time on their shots than bangers? Struggling or not, take more time aiming.

In my opinion, pros take more time with practice strokes focusing on the precise spot they want to strike the cue ball. I don't think they put as much effort into "aiming" as bangers. There is a study where pros focused on their final target for a longer period of time than amateurs though.

 

[(((Satori)))]

The short answer is because you don't want to miss again.

The long answer is much more complex though and it shows why "aiming more" doesn't always help you reach your goal of not missing again. In fact it can hinder it. Have you ever heard the saying "the harder I try the worse things get?"

 

[BasementDweller]

In my opinion, pros take more time with practice strokes focusing on the precise spot they want to strike the cue ball. I don't think they put as much effort into "aiming" as bangers. There is a study where pros focused on their final target for a longer period of time than amateurs though.

I think this is spot on.

There really aren't that many pros that even take a lot of practice strokes. Or at least what we think of when we hear the term thrown around. I think the majority of pros spend more of their time really measuring the exact spot they are going to hit the cue ball. This are not really practice strokes in the traditional sense.

There are a few that do the whole practice stroke thing and then shoot. That's sort of what Efren does. Maybe even Earl. A lot of the others take a couple of warm up strokes and then it's time for the measuring.

Doing a bit more measuring is what got me out of my last slump.

 

[BasementDweller]

The short answer is because you don't want to miss again.The long answer is much more complex though and it shows why "aiming more" doesn't always help you reach your goal of not missing again. In fact it can hinder it. Have you ever heard the saying "the harder I try the worse things get?"

Is it as simple as that? It may very well be.

I also think it's much easier to see than it is to feel. So when you are missing a lot of balls the first thing that happens is you see that you overcut or undercut it, and that is what you start focusing on. You don't necessarily feel your cue going offline in one form or another, so this issue is not addressed.

 

[(((Satori)))]

Is it as simple as that? It may very well be.

I also think it's much easier to see than it is to feel. So when you are missing a lot of balls the first thing that happens is you see that you overcut or undercut it, and that is what you start focusing on. You don't necessarily feel your cue going offline in one form or another, so this issue is not addressed.

For the most part I think it is that simple.

Missing "A LOT" of balls though might be different. Missing a lot would require some work IN PRACTICE on how you are viewing the shot as well as aligning etc, this stuff should be examined. But I was speaking from more of the mental side of the game and ON COMPETITION days when things seem off. I find the cure in mental strategies in this case and aiming more is not the answer for me, finding my confidence is the answer.

 

[Colonel]

You fell back to Consciously competent from Unconsciously Competent. The Big reason being confident. Set up some shots you don't have to think about, don't aim just go up and hit them. Build your confidence in your stroke, let your unconscious mind do what it knows how to do.

If your conscious mind is trying to do something that your unconscious mind doesn't agree with you will steer your stroke as they are fighting with each other.

Building that confidence will get your Conscious mind to agree with your Subconscious. Now remember that feeling, physically and emotionally. Trigger it and then you can always go back to that feeling, the physiology of when you were in the unconsciously competent.

This covers it nicely. Get your conscious mind out of the way