Eyes where? And when!?

[Nugget]

Just watching Higgins playing Maguire, and it looks like John is looking at the cue ball until around the point he actually strikes it, then his eyes seem to dart up to the object ball very suddenly. I thought that you should have your eyes focused on the object ball before delivering the cue - I understood that the pause at the end of the backswing was partly to allow your eyes to focus on the object ball at this time. Looking at Higgins, it doesn't look like he could possibly have time to focus on the object ball before striking the white.

I wasn't really aware of how I was doing this until I checked recently, and I alternate between white and object ball initially (as normal) then I have a slight front pause where I'm looking at the white. I then switch my focus to the object ball at the start of my backswing, and continue looking at it through the delivery.

I was just wondering if there were any problems with this approach? Does anyone else do it the same way?

[Giggity1984]

Just watching Higgins playing Maguire, and it looks like John is looking at the cue ball until around the point he actually strikes it, then his eyes seem to dart up to the object ball very suddenly. I thought that you should have your eyes focused on the object ball before delivering the cue - I understood that the pause at the end of the backswing was partly to allow your eyes to focus on the object ball at this time. Looking at Higgins, it doesn't look like he could possibly have time to focus on the object ball before striking the white.

I wasn't really aware of how I was doing this until I checked recently, and I alternate between white and object ball initially (as normal) then I have a slight front pause where I'm looking at the white. I then switch my focus to the object ball at the start of my backswing, and continue looking at it through the delivery.

I was just wondering if there were any problems with this approach? Does anyone else do it the same way?

Like, you, I noticed this, it does seem strange. Your approach is the textbook way of doing it. If your eyes do exactly as you describe, then don't change anything. It's perfect!

I have a problem with staring at the white ball. Hopefully I can shake it soon though!

[Theguywithaplan]

I've developed a very bad habit of just looking at my cue while feathering and neither of the balls. What you do is textbook so I wouldn't change a thing.

[Giggity1984]

I've developed a very bad habit of just looking at my cue while feathering and neither of the balls. What you do is textbook so I wouldn't change a thing.

Steve Davis has some good advice on his blog for people like us.

[Nugget]

Thanks for the quick responses, guys!

I am very glad to discover that at least one element on my action is textbook! I was thinking maybe I was doing something wrong after watching Higgins, who plays a little better than I do.

I'll leave that alone now anyway. Funny that one of the few things I've never consciously considered may also be one of the few things I do right!

[Terry Davidson]

nugget:

To give you the textbook reply.

Each player will develop his own eye rhythm and the advice I teach is that SOMEWHERE in the backswing the eyes should switch to the object ball and remain there. It can be at the start, just before the rear pause, at the rear pause and also just when the cue starts accelerating during the delivery (which is what I believe Higgins does).

As the best technique rests on perfect hand-eye coordination I would think the hands will follow where the eyes are looking at the time of strike.

However, although I haven't really checked it out, I've been told by a very good coach that Peter Ebdon looks at the cueball at time of strike and of course he manages to pot a few balls every now and again. If he stays absolutely still throughout the backswing and delivery then this would work anyway, which it obviously does for him.

Terry

[Nugget]

nugget:

To give you the textbook reply.

Each player will develop his own eye rhythm and the advice I teach is that SOMEWHERE in the backswing the eyes should switch to the object ball and remain there. It can be at the start, just before the rear pause, at the rear pause and also just when the cue starts accelerating during the delivery (which is what I believe Higgins does).

As the best technique rests on perfect hand-eye coordination I would think the hands will follow where the eyes are looking at the time of strike.

However, although I haven't really checked it out, I've been told by a very good coach that Peter Ebdon looks at the cueball at time of strike and of course he manages to pot a few balls every now and again. If he stays absolutely still throughout the backswing and delivery then this would work anyway, which it obviously does for him.

Terry

Thanks, Terry.

I thought I might be switching to the object ball too early after noticing what Higgins does. Going by your guide I am switching at the very early end of it but nothing unusual.

I'll tick that box as acceptable and worry about everything else now.

[The Doctor]

You will find a few players do this eye movement. There is a danger in early head movement doing this and the players who do have done so from day one. I would not recommend someone to start to do this but likewise i coached John and would never have dreamed of changing this.
So i would say if you do this and have no problems then fine but don't try to do this.

[Nugget]

You will find a few players do this eye movement. There is a danger in early head movement doing this and the players who do have done so from day one. I would not recommend someone to start to do this but likewise i coached John and would never have dreamed of changing this.
So i would say if you do this and have no problems then fine but don't try to do this.

Thanks for the input, Doctor! Always very interested to hear your thoughts on technique!

[wayync]

how about focusing your eyes on the cue ball even before the start of the backswing, do any players do this?

[CoachGavin]

yes, I used to do that. However when i introduced a slow backswing and rear pause I found I was looking at the object ball for too long. I do notice in my coaching that players who have no rear pause and a quicker backswing tend to look at the object ball before the backswing.

On another point I watched Hendry in slow motion on Terry Griffiths' new software and Wayne showed me that Hendry looks at the white as he delivers the cue on long pots.

[stephenm2682]

well my game seems to be getting worse by trying to look at the object ball when on backswing and keeping them there till i follow through.

is missing a pot due to not looking at object ball or bad alignment on the shot? i actually missed 2 balls tonight playing in local league, thin cuts and i didn't even hit the ball, i think i'm too conscious now about where i'm looking.

should a player look at the object ball contact point, or point of aim? i used to flick my eyes to object ball, cueball etc, then on backswing on white ball and at last minute on striking the white flick my eyes to the object ball cp, would this be better?

[hotpot]

I think this is something you need to work at as its playing on your mind . You need to find the point where your eyes flick from white to object ball , that you feel comfortable with and works with your cue action .

Myself I only feather twice and switch from white to object ball on the front pause so my eyes are on object ball through backswing and delivery .

[stephenm2682]

are you sure you actually don't check the white ball on delivery though?

[hotpot]

no i dont , my eyes are fixed on the white on first feather right up until the front pause and on the object ball on the backswing and delivery .