Sighting The Ball

[Leapfrog11]

Terry
Thanks for that explaination, although I have tried it a couple of times I never took it as gospel as this is what has to be done.
The few times I have tried it felt weird as I felt off balance not looking at the Table as I got down on the shot!
Therefore I went back to looking at the point on the OB, switching my eyes to the Cue Ball as I got down on the shot and then reverting back to the OB.
Hopefully this will improve my game and make my potting a little more consistent.

[snookerloopylewis]

Might have to try this. I've been looking at the cue ball when I get down into my stance, then focusing on the contact point of the object ball, then as I deliver the shot looking back at the striking point of the cue ball.

[j6uk]

It all starts from the feet! I pot the ball with my feet then, as I'm down on balance, on the shot, my eyes flick through from cb to ob, I watch the cue come back straight as an arrow, set eyes back on ob and release the cue, from the elbow.

[kadobau]

tommy:

To get back to your original question rather than all this stuff on geometric contact point.

You should keep your eyes on the object ball all the time when getting down into the address position as otherwise you may lose the line of aim since you are no longer looking at the reference point (the object ball). If you shift your eyes to the cueball before your bridge hand is on the table then you will have to re-acquire the correct line of aim when in the sighting position, however the sighting position does not provide the best perspective of the potting angle which is only provided when you are standing up behind the shot with a binocular view from height. This is also why coaches recommend you drop the head straight down.

Once in the address position you then check the cueball and see if the tip (and 'V' of the bridge) is centered on the cueball or at least at the point you want to hit. Where this becomes a problem though is when there's a chance you might foul another ball with the bridge hand so in that case what I do is check the cueball halfway down into the address position to ensure I'm clear and then switch back to the object ball when I still have a bit of height with the eyes.

For newer players not looking at the cueball as they get down is a source of confusion since they don't understand how they can find the centre of the cueball without looking at it so therefore are certain they will not place the bridge hand correctly behind the cueball. All I can say to this is with experience a player will naturally get to the centre of the cueball as it is in his peripheral vision and it will become automatic.

Terry

OMG ~~~ I was wrong for the past 25 years !!!!

[Sidd]

Spot on DeanH

And keeping your eye on the contact point ensures the cue stays on the line of aim. For those that don't understand this despite it being explained many times on this forum, simply stop your internal dialogue, take it as gospel and watch you game improve as a result.

Vmax is 100 % correct.
Consider me as an example.

I used to do BOB unintentionally 3 years ago. Then I came to this forum learnt about technique and kept going on and developed my technique and during that time I was not doing BOB. I had developed three high breaks WITHOUT any coahcing or advice though my guts and passion only in the past i.e. 54, 56 and 67. This made me believe I am not that bad yeah.

Vmax kept asking me to get back to BOB and think on nothing else (though this concept in its true worth came ot me over time but now that it is there- I enjoy my game and have been playing with much consistency) the thing is that the only way through which you are able to pot with consistency in this game is through the subconscious mind and not consciously amazing but true. BOB is the only way that happens. so learn and experiment with technique in solo for as much as you want until all technique elements become second nature for you but once on match tabel BOB, BOB, BOB and nothing else !!!

You will SEE the difference !

As for your original question. While getting down you have to keep eyes on BOB and forget about CB. it would look odd at first but will become automatic over time. Always get down having eyes on BOB... always have eyes on BOB while striking.

[j6uk]

I'm not with you. Why would looking at the contact point on the ob keep your cue on line? Who said so?

Spot on DeanH

And keeping your eye on the contact point ensures the cue stays on the line of aim. For those that don't understand this despite it being explained many times on this forum, simply stop your internal dialogue, take it as gospel and watch you game improve as a result.

[Terry Davidson]

j6uk:

It's the only thing you can look at. When you have greater than a 1/2-ball pot the cue is actually pointed outside the object ball so you can't always focus on the line of aim of the cue as sometimes it's an air molecule. The other half of the equation is the brain will automatically select the correct off-set between what the eyes are focused on and where the cue should be lined up.

So just 'grip it and rip it'.

Terry

[j6uk]

So when can you and when can't you look at the line of aim?

j6uk:When you have greater than a 1/2-ball pot the cue is actually pointed outside the object ball so you can't always focus on the line of aim of the cue as sometimes it's an air molecule.

Terry

[j6uk]

Sorry Terry but this sounds very confusing

j6uk:

It's the only thing you can look at. When you have greater than a 1/2-ball pot the cue is actually pointed outside the object ball so you can't always focus on the line of aim of the cue as sometimes it's an air molecule. The other half of the equation is the brain will automatically select the correct off-set between what the eyes are focused on and where the cue should be lined up.

So just 'grip it and rip it'.

Terry

[nrage]

Sorry Terry but this sounds very confusing

Where do you look as you cue the ball?

[DeanH]

I'm not with you. Why would looking at the contact point on the ob keep your cue on line? Who said so?

Spot on DeanH

And keeping your eye on the contact point ensures the cue stays on the line of aim. For those that don't understand this despite it being explained many times on this forum, simply stop your internal dialogue, take it as gospel and watch you game improve as a result.

Not that I know the technical/medical terminology but something like eye/hand coordination. My old driving instructor said look where you want to go and your hands will automatically unconsciously do what is necassary to the steering to get to there. Same I believe with the cue being delivered straight if you focus on where you want the cue ball to go.

[Terry Davidson]

j6uk:

Answer to your post #23:

Your eyes and the cue will be looking at the same point ONLY with a dead-in pot. Anything else would have the eyes still looking at BOB but the cue line of aim offset. If you have a very thin cut shot your eyes would look at the edge of the object ball but the cue would be pointed nearly a 1/2 ball width outside the object ball.

Answer to your post #24:

As nrage has asked...'where do you look as you cue?' or in other words where are your eyes looking when you are sighting along the cue? Your eyes should be looking at BOB but your cue's line of aim will be off-set from BOB by anything up to half a ball's width.

You have a fine cut into the top pocket to your left. Your eyes will be looking at the edge of the object ball but your cue will be aimed virtually 1/2 ball width to the outside of the object ball to the right as you are attempting to have the edge of the cueball contact the very edge of the object ball. If you attempted to focus your eyes along the line of aim of the cue you would be looking either at a molecule of air or else a point on the cushion.

Is that a little more clear for you? Perhaps you are the rare type of player who is able to focus on the line of aim of the cue rather than the object ball but I'd be willing to bet that you do the same as the rest of us and focus the eyes on the object ball.

Terry

[vmax4steve]

It all starts from the feet! I pot the ball with my feet

Didn't Daniel Day Lewis play you in a film once ??

[j6uk]

Yes in the movie Jack Karnehm

Didn't Daniel Day Lewis play you in a film once ??

[j6uk]

At what point in the action nurse?

Where do you look as you cue the ball?