Body Position On Aiming

[throtts]

Opinions please guys, or facts is better.

Now the body should be central to the line of the shot, is that literally or should the right straight leg ( for a right hand cueist ) be in line with the shot on the aiming stage or does it just differ from player to player. Scary as it sounds, when I am playing well I seem to not recall my own damn position, sorry....

I think on the drop down to the sighting stage is where players eff up..

[itsnoteasy]

I can only speak for myself(just covering my arse Incase this kicks off lol) I used to put left leg on line (lefty) and kink over to get my head over the line before I dropped down, I did it this way as I had seen Nic Barrow teach this in a video, but Chris showed me to use centre of the body, and nose,to lead in,and his explanation of it being much more accurate made perfect sense as with the kinking over method I could do it to varying degrees and it was a lot harder to keep it stable on the way down .Leading with the nose, also helped me know if I was shifting my weight as I was walking in also making me go off line.
I'm sure Chris or Terry will explain it better.

[Terry Davidson]

Yes, perhaps Chris can explain once he sees this question. Here is my explanation.

When you are standing behind the shot and aiming (you haven't actually placed your foot on the line of aim as yet) try and imagine you have a cue plugged into your belly button and pointed straight at the object ball and on the line of aim. At this time you are deciding on your line of aim (+ height & power) so you should also be placing your nose (actually the head square to the shot) on the line of aim. At this time don't imagine the cue stuck into the belly button any more as your nose is now on the line of aim and as you place your feet the cue in the belly button would go off line.

The cue should be across your upper thighs with your final grip already formed and the grip hand should be very close in relation to the hips to where it will be in the address position, or in other words directly above the straight leg foot (and this is BEFORE you start getting down into the address position).

Now, keeping your nose (or head) on the line of aim place your straight-leg foot on the line of aim directly beneath where the grip hand will be. I see Chris recommends the heel of the foot and I differ with him in that I recommend the arch or laces of this foot. Where the grip hand lines up is purely a matter of personal choice and has to do with comfort more than anything else and how close to the shot the player wants to be. The main point if this foot should be on the line of aim and NOT right or left of it and it should be turned out a bit to relieve joint stress.

Then while still standing up and keeping the nose on BOB twist the hips to the left (for a right-hander) while bending the left leg at the same time. The left foot can be placed wherever (boxer or square stance or a blend of them) it's comfortable and there should be somewhere around one shoulder's width between the heels. REMEMBER, you are still keeping the nose pointed directly at BOB.

Now drop the nose straight down and get into the address position and you should be exactly on your originally chosen line of aim.

Over to you Chris

Terry

[itsnoteasy]

You have to stand with feet together , then the line will run along the foot as you mini step in, it's only the right leg that moves off the centre line. I used to stand with my feet apart and as you said as I moved into the shot my weight shifted and my head went to the right, I think Chris has said this on the a day with Chris Small thread, hope I have explained that right otherwise I haven't learned anything from him lol.

[itsnoteasy]

Yep that's the way I see it.

[Inoffthered]

As per Del Hill's method.. 80% of aiming is taken on approach..

Stand behind the shot. Walk into the shot with your right foot ( if right handed ) on the line of aim. Bring your bridge arm to the white. Do NOT start feathering until you are settled on the shot and your cue is against your chest ( chest to cue ). NEVER bring your cue to your chest ( as this will take your cue offline ). Always chest to cue..

If you have have done as above.. your eyes/brain will already realise you are aiming correctly.. you won't need loads of feathers, just the 2 ( or even just 1 ) will do. It will speed your play up on the shot..

Each to their own, but it worked for me. Good luck

[pcb]

please will you explain where the line of aim is in relation to the shot . i am left handed . where do i put my left foot . please help

[alabadi]

To tell the truth, I don't think of the line of aim ( consciously ) anyway .

All I do is keep my eyes on BOB and they just keep fixed on it and walk in and get down.

I'm sure there has been many posts saying the brain selects the line of aim.
Terry how would u consciously select the line of aim if the cut is 1/4 ball. Because that line is into thin air, how would one line up their nose the this line when there is nothing to look at.

This confuses me no end, I use to get so frustrated, this is why I don't consciously select a line of aim I just look at the arc coverage I would need the cue ball to make with the OB.

[Terry Davidson]

alabadi:

I don't think I have ever said the nose should be lined up on the line of aim of the cue. If I did then I apologize as that's WRONG. The nose should point towards the object ball and more specifically to BOB.

On an angled pot the brain will always automatically determine the correct line of aim of the cue however if you over-think this aspect it can lead to some confusion as has happened to a few players on here who are having a difficult time with aiming and sighting. I do not consciously concentrate on the line of aim of the cue, it just happens for me because I've trained myself through millions of pots.

pcb:

It been said many times on here by myself and all the other coaches. The straight leg foot (in your case your LEFT foot) goes on the line of aim of the cue and I advocate the arch or laces of teh foot whereas other coaches may say the heel or toes. The foot should be pointed out a bit and not along the line of the shot as although that makes a lot of sense it does lead to joint strain in the ankles, knees and hips.

Terry

[throtts]

Just curious,
Do any of you guys after aiming just drop down to sight the shot without a walk in, obviously that depends on ones positioning. Or should there be a walk in for all shots .

Thanks, guys..

[DeanH]

Just curious,
Do any of you guys after aiming just drop down to sight the shot without a walk in, obviously that depends on ones positioning. Or should there be a walk in for all shots .

Thanks, guys..

well, when I started concentrating on my game a few years ago, I did not walk in to the stance - because the snooker room where I used to play did not have enough room for a walk in

Know I am in a different club with plenty of room all round all three tables, and I do now walk into the stance but - to clarify - this step is a half-step for my right foot going into position in line with the aim, and then the left foot going forward and out in front in a longer step.
Yes - I would recommend the "step into the shot" for ALL shots

[humperdingle]

well, when I started concentrating on my game a few years ago, I did not walk in to the stance - because the snooker room where I used to play did not have enough room for a walk in

Know I am in a different club with plenty of room all round all three tables, and I do now walk into the stance but - to clarify - this step is a half-step for my right foot going into position in line with the aim, and then the left foot going forward and out in front in a longer step.
Yes - I would recommend the "step into the shot" for ALL shots

When folk say 'walk-in', how many steps are they talking? I do the same as you describe, a little adjustment step with the right foot, then a step forward with the left.

[alabadi]

When folk say 'walk-in', how many steps are they talking? I do the same as you describe, a little adjustment step with the right foot, then a step forward with the left.

i'm usually standing very close to where my final stance will be , so its about half a step with my lead leg

[Terry Davidson]

Maximum one step with each foot and really just a half a step as you should be no more than 1ft behind where you will end up at address. Any more there's too much moving involved and a chance you will go off the line of aim.

The other thing you should consider is getting the best perspective on the potting angle/line of aim. Standing too far back will not give you that 'overhead' image.

*Or you could do that little 'tap dance' John Higgins does as he approaches the shot*

Terry

[humperdingle]

Maximum one step with each foot and really just a half a step as you should be no more than 1ft behind where you will end up at address. Any more there's too much moving involved and a chance you will go off the line of aim.

The other thing you should consider is getting the best perspective on the potting angle/line of aim. Standing too far back will not give you that 'overhead' image.

*Or you could do that little 'tap dance' John Higgins does as he approaches the shot*

Terry

I had visions of some players taking a 'walk the plank' approach

Watching Shaun Murphy, he positions the right foot and virtually 'falls' forward onto the left to get into position.