Sighting The Ball

[horriefic]

vmax4steve,

Slightly off topic here - sometimes I can't locate/remember the BOB. On some shots, it's crystal clear where the BOB is eg. blue on spot to middle pocket. But for some balls eg. pink of it's spot to middle pocket from a high cue ball i.e. 1/2-1/4 ball hitting the left side of the pink ball, I tend to 'forget' where the exact point is. Before going down I stand behind the pink ball and can see the exact BOB. Then I walk to the cue ball while still keeping the eye on the BOB. But after I go down, things become slightly fuzzy. I'm not talking about stance being incorrect etc, but strictly that it's possible to 'forget' where the BOB on certain shots. Any solution to this problem? Or it's just about more practice and eventually it'll be natural to always correctly see the BOB? Because if I can see the exact BOB on all my shots, I believe I have a high chance of potting them if the distance is half table or less.

Thanks for your feedback.
Wong

[j6uk]

You are one of the lucky ones who do this naturally and I would suggest that you don't think about it at all otherwise you will balls up your game completely. But take it as gospel that this is what you do and pass it on to others.

Yes I may have good hand eye coordination, combined with untold hrs of thinking studying experimenting and I'll get no applause for this but 1,000's of hours hard work.
And the feet thing:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iP4RvZJMPd8
You know what I do, its in your last post and, yes I will pass it on believe

[j6uk]

No. If a coach gave that to a 20 break maker, they'd likely glaze over and shut down..
Btw looking at your cue come back in a straight line before the eyes switch to the object ball ensures that the cue stays on line. Check it out

I would say it all starts with the eyes and what you're looking at................................................ .................................................. .................................................. .................................................. .................................................. .................................................. .................................................. .................................................. .................................................. .................................................. .................................................. .................................................. .................................................. ...................should be for every shot.

Is this a better, more clear, more concise explanation to a twenty break player looking to improve compared to your quote above ?

[Terry Davidson]

j6uk:

Watching the ferrule come back was the advice Steve Davis gave me so I could develop a natural rear pause. It didn't work too well as it threw my timing out something awful since I've been playing without a rear pause my whole life (when I started playing (1959) we didn't know anything about technique and never heard of the Joe Davis book).

After the Canadian Championships though I might give it another try and see what happens.

Terry

[j6uk]

Yes its nothing knew tel. It sure changed the trajectory of my development.
We're all snook's scratching around looking for little gems to help us play the way we feel we can. Imo this is crucial part before delivering the cue.

If your 2-2 in the semis of the CChamps and your on a straight pink to win the match..You might wanna test it!
When is it and will there be live scoring?

j6uk:

Watching the ferrule come back was the advice Steve Davis gave me so I could develop a natural rear pause. It didn't work too well as it threw my timing out something awful since I've been playing without a rear pause my whole life (when I started playing (1959) we didn't know anything about technique and never heard of the Joe Davis book).

After the Canadian Championships though I might give it another try and see what happens.

Terry

[vmax4steve]

Before going down I stand behind the pink ball and can see the exact BOB. Then I walk to the cue ball while still keeping the eye on the BOB. But after I go down, things become slightly fuzzy. I'm not talking about stance being incorrect etc, but strictly that it's possible to 'forget' where the BOB on certain shots.

Thanks for your feedback.
Wong

When walking back to the cue ball take your eyes off BOB. Focussing too long on a single point will also cause this hazy vision. BOB is in your short term memory so you don't have to keep your eyes on it as you walk back behind the cue ball. Put your trust in your short term memory, it's what it's there for.

I remember reading about Slade drummer Don Powell losing his short term memory after suffering a serious brain injury after a car accident in the mid 70's. His long term memory was intact to a degree, he remembered his family and friends, how to drum, things from his past etc, but his short term memory was shot. He couldn't cross the road because he couldn't remember what he had just seen when he looked right after he looked left and when he then looked left again he couldn't remember what he had seen when looking right.

[vmax4steve]

No. If a coach gave that to a 20 break maker, they'd likely glaze over and shut down..
Btw looking at your cue come back in a straight line before the eyes switch to the object ball ensures that the cue stays on line. Check it out

That's why I usually don't go into such detail, I simply tell people to look at the contact point when lining up the shot and also at the moment of the strike without explaining the mechanics of everything to give them less to think about.
Like Terry, looking at the cue on the final backswing doesn't work for me as I focus on BOB at the front pause. Having a rear pause put into ones cue action when it's not needed can make a player pause too long at the rear of the backswing resulting in a snatchy action.
My action is very like Tony Drago or Willie Thorne, pause for a second or two on the front pause while focussing on BOB and then shoot.

[vmax4steve]

I agree with everything you posted,

In that case I take it all back :wink:

[j6uk]

I like a good bit of what you say in your posts because, you tell it how you see it!
Its good to know where your game is at. I'll consider that on future replies, play well enjoy

That's why I usually don't go into such detail, I simply tell people to look at the contact point when lining up the shot and also at the moment of the strike without explaining the mechanics of everything to give them less to think about.
Like Terry, looking at the cue on the final backswing doesn't work for me as I focus on BOB at the front pause. Having a rear pause put into ones cue action when it's not needed can make a player pause too long at the rear of the backswing resulting in a snatchy action.
My action is very like Tony Drago or Willie Thorne, pause for a second or two on the front pause while focussing on BOB and then shoot.

[alabadi]

The usual process of finding the correct place for your feet is by focussing on the contact point as you bend down into the stance. This makes you sight the shot naturally using your dominant eye, the feet put you in a place where this focus stays clear all the way down so that when you are down into the stance the focus on the contact point is still clear meaning that your head is in the correct position for your two eyes to work together naturally.

I find that i can focus quite well on the contact point when the balls are no more than 2 feet apart, any more than that and i lose the contact point.

Any deviation of the eyes focus during this process will make you place your feet slightly differently to where they should be and then when looking for the contact point again when down the eyes won't be in tandem with your hand as its on the wrong line of aim and your eyesight will also not be clear and things will look a little hazy when trying to focus.

Subconsciously players will then move their heads to get their focus clear but then because the cue is on the wrong line because the feet have been placed wrongly, playing the shot will bring the cue across the ball and also cause head and body movement.
This is what I was telling Alabadi about, adjusting his stance in order to bring his dominant eye where it should be for every shot.

You are right Vmax this is what is happening to me, when i get down it seems that i'm not on the correct line, i can feel sometimes that i am fishing around for the contact point and sometimes end up guessing it, this is why i see myself cueing across right to left.
i am trying to work on my stance to do this, i tried at the weekend for a few hours but not with much success, everything seemed un natural and i started missing simple shots which aggrevated me and once that happens i can't pot anything so i just ended up bashing balls around to relieve my frustration.

you have given some very good advice here that i think is invaluable, i'll definately be practicing this for the next few weeks until it becomes a natural process.

[Terry Davidson]

alabadi:

I would like to make a recommendation which is slightly different from what vmax has said above. You will get the best view and perspective of the potting angle and object ball contact point when you're standing behind the shot. With that in mind try the following as an exercise:

1. During solo practice set up any shot you like. For students I use first a straight in blue from the baulkline and then a blue off the spot placing the cueball on the yellow spot. Then place your cue tip up against the cueball and grip the cue where you would normally do so in the address position for either of these shots. Next, while still standing up, place your straight leg foot (right foot for right-handers) directly below the grip hand so the grip is centered above the arch of the right foot. (A simple method for this is to place a small piece of paper or a coin directly below the grip hand for reference purposes.)

2. Then place the left foot where you would normally do so but be sure to keep your head on the line of aim of the cue and the eyes on the object ball (you may have to lean a little to the right to keep the head on the line of aim). Now drop down into the address position while still keeping the head on the line of aim and ensure you drop the head down straight with the eyes locked on the object ball.

3. Now do your normal feathering, backswing and delivery ensuring you do not move ANY PART of the upper body (head/shoulders and especially hips) and ensure the eyes are locked on the object ball at the time of strike. If you place the right foot correctly and drop straight down you are guaranteed to be on your chosen line of aim from when you were standing behind the shot.

Terry

[horriefic]

Thanks for the advice vmax. Will try that out, and allow experience and short term memory to allow me to find the BOB better (and pot the ball!)

When walking back to the cue ball take your eyes off BOB. Focussing too long on a single point will also cause this hazy vision. BOB is in your short term memory so you don't have to keep your eyes on it as you walk back behind the cue ball. Put your trust in your short term memory, it's what it's there for.

I remember reading about Slade drummer Don Powell losing his short term memory after suffering a serious brain injury after a car accident in the mid 70's. His long term memory was intact to a degree, he remembered his family and friends, how to drum, things from his past etc, but his short term memory was shot. He couldn't cross the road because he couldn't remember what he had just seen when he looked right after he looked left and when he then looked left again he couldn't remember what he had seen when looking right.

[vmax4steve]

I find that i can focus quite well on the contact point when the balls are no more than 2 feet apart, any more than that and i lose the contact point.

Lose it or can't find it to start with ?

The advice I have given is based on your vision being at least 20/20 and isn't worth a light if you have defective vision and need it to be corrected.
Check this out first and see an optician before making any changes to your stance.

[alabadi]

Lose it or can't find it to start with ?

The advice I have given is based on your vision being at least 20/20 and isn't worth a light if you have defective vision and need it to be corrected.
Check this out first and see an optician before making any changes to your stance.

my vision is better than 20/20 according to my optician. i just find when at distance focusing on a a spot very difficult, so i always revert to arc coverage, maybe this is why its hit and miss at the moment.

[alabadi]

alabadi:

I would like to make a recommendation which is slightly different from what vmax has said above. You will get the best view and perspective of the potting angle and object ball contact point when you're standing behind the shot. With that in mind try the following as an exercise:

1. During solo practice set up any shot you like. For students I use first a straight in blue from the baulkline and then a blue off the spot placing the cueball on the yellow spot. Then place your cue tip up against the cueball and grip the cue where you would normally do so in the address position for either of these shots. Next, while still standing up, place your straight leg foot (right foot for right-handers) directly below the grip hand so the grip is centered above the arch of the right foot. (A simple method for this is to place a small piece of paper or a coin directly below the grip hand for reference purposes.)

2. Then place the left foot where you would normally do so but be sure to keep your head on the line of aim of the cue and the eyes on the object ball (you may have to lean a little to the right to keep the head on the line of aim). Now drop down into the address position while still keeping the head on the line of aim and ensure you drop the head down straight with the eyes locked on the object ball.

3. Now do your normal feathering, backswing and delivery ensuring you do not move ANY PART of the upper body (head/shoulders and especially hips) and ensure the eyes are locked on the object ball at the time of strike. If you place the right foot correctly and drop straight down you are guaranteed to be on your chosen line of aim from when you were standing behind the shot.

Terry

thanks Terry ill give it a go