Alignment issues

[cueless]

Hi there,

I was hoping someone could help me with a problem I am having with my cue action.

A friend of mine noticed that on a dead straight long range blue that my cue was pointing way off line. With a poor cue action I somehow potted the blue.

I have been working hard lately to learn to aim my cue better but with very little success.

When my cue is aiming correctly it feels like I am aiming anywhere but correctly and I have absolutely no chance of potting the object ball.

I need outside feedback such as a friend or a mirror to tell me if I am aiming correctly as I have absolutely no idea where straight is.

I thought this feeling would pass but no sign so far.

I may be making a school boy error, I am right eye dominant but cue directly under the centre of my chin.

I've tried under my right eye but it felt awful.

Is this something I should try again?

Any help regarding this matter would be great.

One last thing.

Anyone recommend a good coach in the Birmingham area?

[checkSide]

Good luck cueless, we all suffer with these issues.

You just have to keep experimenting and working on your game until you find what works for you.


p.s. CoachGavin on here is from Northampton which isn't too far.

[CoachGavin]

It may be your walk in to the shot is wrong and you are walking in from across the shot. You should stand on the line of aim and walk in from behind the shot. If you dont do this the cue will come across the line and you will have to correct this during your cueing to pot the ball.

You also need to check if the right eye dominant has any effect on where you think the centre of the white is. Try the cue under the cue and then under the right eye and see if they match up. To be honest alignment is a big issue but try videoing yourself walking into the shot or get a friend to watch you and see if you are online as you come in.

[cueless]

Thanks guys

I will have a try over the weekend and let you know how things go.

Can anyone tell me how to delete a post as I accidentally posted twice when trying to add something?

[andy carson]

if you potted it, maybe its your mate who is cross eyed and not you

[Terry Davidson]

It may be you've adjusted your aim or delivery to correct for this alignment and one fault is correcting the other since you did pot the blue.

As Coach Gavin says, it might be the way you approach the shot. Also, I would recommend you stay with centre-chin unless you are completely blind in your left eye.

Assuming you are right-handed you should stand behind the shot about 18in with your nose pointed at the spot on the object ball you want to hit. Keeping your eyes/nose on the object ball and directly on the line of aim (you should be leaning a bit to the right) place your right arch on the line of aim and directly under where your grip hand is going to be when you are in the address position.

Now as you place your left foot in a comfortable position (should be 18in between the centre of the heels and approx level with the right foot) swing your cue over to the line of aim while forming your bridge in mid-air. Swing or twist the right hip out of the way by bending the left leg sufficiently so there is at least 1-2in clearance of the butt of the cue past your right hip on the backswing.

Once your bridge is on the table and the cue is in the address position, start your feathering. Ensure your cue is on the selected line of aim and you are lined up with the exact centre of the cueball.

Loose grip and very slow backswing. No body movement! Rear pause and then deliver the cue and stay down at the end of the shot and observe the object ball path without moving your head, only your eyes.

First of all, to determine if you're hitting the centre of the cueball, do the 'shoot the spots' exercise at medium pace. The cueball should come back and hit your tip if the table is straight.

Then try the long straight blue again and at the end of your delivery see if your tip is lined up with the inside edge of the leather on the top pocket, which should have been your original line of aim.

If none of this works then I recommend you get to a coach who can observe you in action and hopefully direct you in the right direction

Terry
__________________
Originally posted at Http://www.thesnookergym.com/forums

[foolsgold]

place your right arch on the line of aim and directly under where your grip hand is going to be when you are in the address position.

Sorry Terry, what exactly do you mean by 'your right arch'?

Thanks.

[kevy62]

Hi there, Gavin is a pro coach. So listen carefully to his advise, but perhaps I may add somthing that I find helps with this situation/problem.

When you have made sure of your final address of the table IS in line.....& start your feathers/waggles, try to pause or divorce the front swing, from the back swing.

This is done by pausing slightly on the cueball, then drawing the cue backward slightly slower than the forward motion of the cue, before pausing again on the back swing. (that's right, you should pause twice)

Do also remember to open your fingers on the back swing to fully extend the cue, then softly close during forward delivery of the cue to form "your" grip.

I hope this helps , good luck, :snooker: Kevy.

[Marlboro]

When my friends ask me how to improve their potting/cueing, I always say practice the long straight blue. Pot a set (21 balls) or 2 every time you practice. Of course alot of my friends say its boring, but the few that does it they have improved the quickest.

[Terry Davidson]

Foolsgold:

The 'right arch' means the 'arch' of the 'right' foot. (What other arch would you place under your grip hand).

Also, I use the arch of the foot only as an illustration as some players are closer to their right foot toes. However, it's necessary in the address position that the straight right leg is slighty behind the vertical (meaning a line drawn from the arch of the foot and through the middle of the hip would be on a slight angle towards the back of the body, i.e. - the top of the line will be slightly behind the bottom of the line at the arch)

Terry