Use the Arrows on the cue to aim

[GeorgeNg]

Anyone know how to make use of the arrows on a cue to aim and what exactly can these arrows help?

If reply, please try NOT to bring in the concept of "GHOST BALL" techique because it has already discussed in other threads. Thx.

[DandyA]

Anyone know how to make use of the arrows on a cue to aim and what exactly can these arrows help?

If reply, please try NOT to bring in the concept of "GHOST BALL" techique because it has already discussed in other threads. Thx.

not quite sure but I guess you could use them to help make sure you're pointing your bat down the correct line of aim if you wanted to? only applies to peeps with ash bats - maple bats don't have them I believe ...

and there's no need to use them even with an ash bat unless you want to ... I've heard the arrows are normally aligned on the top of the bat simply because the other side is smoother and so slides over your bridge hand better ...

sorry I can't help more but I'm currently in a brass bedstead being chased down the M1 by a big orange ball ... but it's not a ghost ball, it's definitely real!

PS ... please excuse my strange sense of humour - I've had a very small glass of Harvey's finest if you hadn't already guessed ...

[khizzy]

its not mandatory that you use the arrows to ain some players even use the straight grains to aim

[KeithinFrance]

Personally, I wouldn't use the arrows nor the grain to aim, as this can sometimes cause an optical illusion that can distract you. I'd take my point of aim while standing, get down, try and put the tip where it needs to be for the spin required, look at the white, the object ball, the pocket, the white and last of all the object ball. Then fire! The cue is there to push the white on its intended path, not to aim with. IMO.

[soldja_boi]

to be honest mate, i have always used the arrows on mine, it dont make no difference really but nowadays it doesn't feel right if the arrows are not pointing in the direction that i am aiming

[Watford]

Grain is the work of the Devil it can be off putting if not right. Maple everytime!

[noel]

1lawyer... very well explained!

I can only add to

staying down and keeping the cue forward untill the ball has gone in or missed (on occasion)

stay down till you, seeing the result, have a second to grimace in horror or grin like a Cheshire cat.


=o)

Noel

[GeorgeNg]

Thanks for the replies.

Basically, I used the "Ghost Ball" and compliment with the "Factional Ball" system to determine the line of aim. However, I am interested in the "Arrow" techique because from time to time, peoples (mates and cue vendors) around you will mentioned it but never explained. I've tried to find it out (books, forum, etc.) but it was never deeply discussed. So, I am interested in whether this is a myth or not (because I am totally not convinced that arrows would help). If not, what it is and how it'd help? For example, Is it used to determined the contact point, line of aim or just to let you know you are cueing straightly.....etc. Anyone can help?

[eaoin11]

I think the 'arrow technique' is useful for vendors trying to sell cues

When you get down to the line of the shot the whole cue should go down on that line from your cueing hand to the bridge.

When you are down on the shot your focus should shift between the cue ball and the object ball, not on the cue.

When you hit the cue ball your focus should be on the object ball only.

No need to look at the grains in any of the above IMO.

[KeithinFrance]

I think the 'arrow technique' is useful for vendors trying to sell cues
When you get down to the line of the shot the whole cue should go down on that line from your cueing hand to the bridge.

When you are down on the shot your focus should shift between the cue ball and the object ball, not on the cue.

When you hit the cue ball your focus should be on the object ball only.

No need to look at the grains in any of the above IMO.

Couldn't agree more! :snooker:

[RGCirencester]

Is anyone able to use the arrows on the shaft to aim? I mean when playing the shot you should be looking at the object ball, and from my personal experience even if the object ball is fairly close, the cue; being right under your chin, will be out of focus and perhaps even out of your effective field of view. I find following the line of the shaft with my eyes can help me to sight the ball but i don't find the arrows much use. I personally like them purely for aesthetic reasons.

[GeorgeNg]

George the factional ball combined with the ghost ball??

You mean you use the 90 degree 30 degree rule thing (Dr Dave)and the ghost ball system or a variation?

You give yourself a lot to think about and I'm not knocking it, whatever works for you. and I am interested to learn more about your system so please explain.

I wonder if the 12 year old kid I saw recently knocking in a 140 plus breaks knew any of that collision theory?
He knew all the shots and had good technique so how does he do it? (apart from being coached by Chris Henry).
He practices, has his own table and can naturally memorise and identify half ball quarter ball three quarter ball shots etc. He can time the ball ok and send the cue thro straight.

Looking at the arrows on a cue in my opinion cannot possibly help, but I may be wrong, maybe it can help a player focus on the line of the shot better. I had a cue with evenly spaced darts that ran down it very simular to the one Ronnie gave away when he won the Masters, like looking down a tigers back, I did not really notice this when I was cueing though.

Stephen Henrdy uses a maple cue maybe thats why he has only won the world title 7 times.

I share 1lawyer view's that professional snooker players find out the aiming line just naturally, they've got the "feel" when they lie down on the table. I have that kind of "feel" too but what if the feeling is not strong that night or is missing out totally, how should one proceeds on a game? In this regards, I would like to find out how to aim systematically or in other words how to know you are aiming at the correct spot when you are on the table so that you know when things go wrong, it would not be your aiming but your cueing (most of the time).

I used to use only the ghost ball system + feel as the aiming method. I do most of the aiming (including finding out the spot to hit) when I was standing up. The problem here with me is that I cannot continuously focused on the spot to hit when I am lying down on the table (when my viewing height change from 5 feet something to 3 feet or from 3D to 2D). The spot to hit becomes unclear and blurred when I was on the table and at this time I need to use the "feel" to compensate which is not a confident and systematic way.

Recently, I start to introduce the factional ball system into my aiming. When I am standing up, based on an estimated angle of impact, I know what faction of the ball I should hit, for example, a 3/4 ball. Then I do the same thing as above. For this time, when I lie down on the table, if the spot to hit is far away from the output of factional ball system say 3/4 ball. Then I'll stand up again and do the alignment once again. I introduce the factional ball system not for helping the aiming but for checking the correctness of the aiming. I am practicsing this method, anyone can help me to improve my aiming more systematically ..

My real problem is that I am not a genius. I need to practice for improvements

[trevs1]

Interesting question.......My thoughts are this....

The arrow, or chevron marking which is often seen running down the front side of an ash cue shaft means NOTHING AT ALL.

It seems it has become increasingly 'fashionable' for people to ask for cues with this grain pattern, but, in reality, it offers a player absolutely nothing whatsoever in playing terms. The whole concept of using these markings to 'sight' when cueing is total nonsense, because as has been stated here already, the eyes should be on the balls and not on the cue shaft.

As for the point of it being a "good technique for vendors to sell cues".....well,
I'd love it if people weren't so hung up about how many arrows run up the front side of the shaft, and how many growth ring lines there are per inch thickness of timber, or, that there must not be any reverse facing arrows on the opposite side of the shaft (yes, the one they aren't even looking at) etc etc, it would make my life, and no doubt the lives of other makers, far more simple.

So, is it a good thing for us who make and sell cues???

No, it's a complete headache trying to source and grade timber to display these kind of pointless markings which people appear to be obsessed with.

[RGCirencester]

I personally don't care at all trev, and if you'd like to make me a free cue i will allow you to pick the best timber you can find, regardless of looks!

[noel]

I think perhaps you should charge over £800 quid for your cues by the way, seeing as everyone thinks they are the best Trevor, then maybe you would not have to make as many.

As a Future Customer Trying to Save Up for a Trevor White Cue
I Want to Thank You from the Bottom of my... Bottom.

... you are a lawyer aren't you!


=o\

Noel