Specific sighting question

[Stan1967]

In my teens I lost the sight of my right eye in an accident (back in the 1980s) but having played a fair amount of snooker/pool before that I just carried on playing the same way as I always had. I suppose my brain compensated as best it could and I could play reasonably well and never thought much of it. I don't ever really think about my sight and just get on with things in general.

However, I quite fancy devoting a bit more time to snooker and improving and have recently changed my stance to set up with my left eye over the cue. Results are obviously a bit hit and miss at the moment and I am usually catching the ball way too thick.

Now, before I continue with this and put in the time I was wondering if it's something I really need to do or should I go back to my old way and rely on the brain compensating? I would have thought I need to persevere with it and over time my game should get better but a second and more knowledgable opinion would be appreciated. I appreciate that it may be difficult to appreciate my circumstances if you have two working eyes but feel free to give your thoughts. Cheers.

[cantpotforshíte]

I'd say that if you can't see at all out of your right eye, then you should persevere with the cue directly under your left eye in the new set-up. I believe that Joe Davis was almost completely blind in one eye, and it didn't stop him from becoming the best.
It just takes a little faith in your new stance, but as long as you stick with it and do the same thing every time, it'll come.
good luck.

[Terry Davidson]

Stan:

One suggestion if you find you are really having problems with the altered stance to get the cue under the left eye.

Try keeping your old stance but just turning your head a bit until the cue lines up under the left eye but it's still on the centre of the chin.

As said though, Joe Davis did alter his stance and set-up to get the cue under his left eye and it didn't seem to hurt him at all (except wear out his ties a lot) but turning the head is another way to move the eye over the cue which you may find easier

Terry

[Stan1967]

Thanks both, I'll stick with it as it must be the way to go in the long run and I am ok with dealing with the short term regression that is inevitable while I bed in as it were.

I am enjoying watching some of the Snooker Gym vids and reading the material as well but don't want to to take on too much at once so it will be just a matter of getting into a good pre shot routine, good set up and plenty of practice.

Thanks again for the advice.

[C-J]

don't play with the eyes to much;keep your focus in the distance and the delivery determined.

[snookerdad]

Hi

In February 2009, through my freelance snooker work for the Southern Daily Echo, I met Martin Jackson who had lost one eye.

Below is the story as it was published:

HIS snooker team-mates call him a ‘one-break wonder’ and groan lightheartedly when the story is wheeled out for the umpteenth time.

But there is more to Martin Jackson’s remarkable tale than first meets the eye - so to speak.

In week-three of the 2006/07 season, Northam Social Club B travelled to Bishop’s Waltham Social Club for a Division 3 match.

That night, Jackson’s name was immortalised in the Southampton & District Social Clubs League’s record books.

He chalked up a 110 - the only century ever made outside the Premier in the league’s 60-year history.

That, in itself, was no mean feat.

However, the Daily Echo can today reveal Jackson was blinded in one eye in 2001.

“I just remember it being one of those nights where the cue-action was going and I was seeing a bit better than normal,” recalled Northam’s number one. “I potted the last colour and left myself a longish yellow. I stunned round two cushions to come round for the green and left it a bit short.

“I can remember (the referee) saying ‘98’ and thinking ‘I want this for the century’. I just got down and played it.”

The break ended with an attempted double on the pink.

Northam captain Pete O’Callaghan said: “It was beautiful to watch. He had the white on a piece of string.”

But team-mates insist he hasn’t had a big break since!

Jackson, a former Premier player for Warren Social B, lost the sight in his left eye after a work-related accident.

“I didn’t pick a cue up for 18 months,” said the 45-year-old mechanical engineer.

He was talked out of retirement and joined old school friends Chris Wickens and Paul Jenman at the one-table open-plan club in Northam Road.

Tim Dunkley (World Snooker coach)