Sure-Fire Sighting Confirmation Method

[itsnoteasy]

just to note as well as Terry's homemade system (see note 1) a quick Google of "laser training aids" reveals things like ...

laserstroke ... http://www.laserstroke.com/
anglebuddy ... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2KKR8KMyDLo (sound starts working a few seconds into the video)

note 1 ... with deference to the war going on in the cues section at the moment, Terry never said "homemade" and I'm sure if he badges his invention and sells it at a massive markup, he'll do the right thing and mark it as "customised" LOL ...

in reply to the red laser light not showing up well on the camera, I guess it's because most camera sensors aren't very sensitive to red light ... if you watch the anglebuddy promo, you can't see the line from it's laser either (the line on the video is clearly edited in afterwards) ...

I am not happy with that first one, a while back i said i did this with a laser pointer pen taped to my cue and i cued at a vertical line on a piece of paper to see if i cued to one side or the other, should have patented it lol.

[Terry Davidson]

I'm going to see if I can source a similar laser type thingy but with a green laser which should show up better.

This morning I'll see if my video camera has a night vision mode as suggested by laverda above however the problem is the student needs some light in order to sight the shot.

I know different colour lasers exist but perhaps only in labs or something or maybe horribly expensive. This device I have sells for $30 new on Amazon and eBay and there was a used on for $5. Hell, the shipping will cost more than the device.

Terry

[Terry Davidson]

Thanks for the 2 links. The first one seems the best as it's attached to the cue but the cost is (US)$68 and that Angle Buddy looks to be expensive and a bit cumbersome to use as you have to set it up over the pocket all the time.

The one attached to the cue might also be of limited value in general use as it will show where the cue is pointed and on any angled pot over 1/2-ball the laser will be pointing at thin air or at a cushion if the cue isn't too high.

Maybe I should patent my method as it will determine accurate sighting all the time however it will not help a player get the correct potting angle for any pots not straight in. It can be set up to show BOB on any shot but that would also be a bit cumbersome except in a set practice session.

I'm going to continue to do some research on this when I get the time plus I will try this out with some of my students and see what the results are. My suspicion is that in the address position almost every player will be able to sight correctly.

Terry

[itsnoteasy]

That will be very interesting indeed Terry, if its shown everyone(or a very high percentage), can sight correctly naturally. Its a pity you dont get a wide range of ages , it would be nice to see if this ability changes with age.

[Terry Davidson]

This morning I just discovered another application for this thing but I have to turn off the lights and wear the special glasses (polarized sunglasses) to use it. The glasses come with the laser level too.

The device has a screen on it which makes a beautiful cross with a brighter centre dot. From the end of the table to the yellow spot it's just too big (covers the room from wall to wall) so I moved it up to the blue spot and centered it on the cueball. Then I got into the address position and sighted a long blue, had my wife turn off the lights and the vertical red line shows me exactly where my eyes are lined up when I sight. My wife had to tell me though as the camera still won't show the freakin' laser.

It turned out to be about 1/4" towards my left eye from the centre of my nose. Now not to duplicate that other thread and get vmax all owly over this statement but I'm right eye dominant but am obviously sighting with my left eye as I've proven to myself by using the SightRite device.

Christ, if I keep playing with this thing it might turn into a training aid every coach must have.

Terry

[Leapfrog11]

Terry

Fair play to you that is a very interesting idea.
I have a spot laser level similar to yours and I must try it out when I get a chance.

[jimmyc]

Thanks for posting this idea, Terry. I tried it w/ my laser that shoots a vertical line and it looks like I'm lined up almost perfectly. I must have other issues (clumsiness could be one). JC

[Terry Davidson]

jimmyc:

It's my belief most players will find out they are sighting correctly or at the very least able to point the cue accurately at a target which in this case is very similar to BOB.

That will leave 3 possible problem areas. The first is not selecting BOB correctly in the first place and I also believe that every player is able to spot the plant position accurately.

The second is not getting down correctly on the line of aim, usually caused by not dropping the head (I use the nose) down straight from standing behind the shot to assuming the address position.

The third and by far the most common is not delivering the cue straight. For some reason a lot of players on here seem to disbelieve this third cause and think they are delivering the cue consistently straight but that is by far the most difficult thing to do. They then concentrate on aiming and sighting but most likely they are already doing that correctly or nearly so.

I always state '99.9% of pots (barring kicks) are missed because the player did not deliver the cue straight down the selected line of aim'.

Terry

[humperdingle]

Forgive me if this has already been mentioned...

Could a similar laser level be used - suspended from a ceiling, pointing down - to give an instant visualisation of the line of aim? I'm thinking a replication of the Jack Karnhem white electrical tape, but using a laser beam which follows the line from the floor, onto table.

Just a thought.

[Terry Davidson]

humper:

This laser has a lens which will allow an arc of laser instead of the point but you can only get it above the table and not below it and would have to use the tape like Jack.

Terry

[humperdingle]

humper:

This laser has a lens which will allow an arc of laser instead of the point but you can only get it above the table and not below it and would have to use the tape like Jack.

Terry

Really? I'd have thought if it was throwing a straight line from the ceiling (positioned above a cushion so as the table does not get in the way) it should project both onto table and floor.

[Terry Davidson]

humper:

I suppose it might be possible however I draw the line at trying to affix some sort of bracket to the ceiling of my snooker room to firmly hold the laser in a 45* downward angle or perhaps even hanging straight down but the body of the player would still shadow the laser and it would not appear on the floor at the player's feet. You would have to hang it directly over the player I would imagine.

So if you really like this idea then you can drill holes in the ceiling of your snooker room and get a laser and try it out but for me, I'll pass thank you very much

Terry