Aiming Without Looking

[Nic Barrow]

A client of mine called me the other day with a revelation on his snooker aiming problem:
'Nic, I am not aiming with my cue anymore - and it's so much easier just looking at the balls instead!'
I had to agree with him that if you wanted to make aiming in snooker difficult, then trying to point the cue in the right direction would make it almost impossible to aim.

Many players who have not reached regular 50 break standard will try to aim by looking at the pocket and the cue.
However, if you limit your eyes to looking back and forth between cue ball and object ball, you cannot fail to see the pocket and the cue in your peripheral vision.
A lot of aiming is done with our peripheral vision.

In fact, one exercise you may wish to do to test and build this skill is as follows:
Approach a short range shot without even looking at the object ball at any time during approach, cueing or delivery of the cue. Just look at the cue ball only at all times.
When you have potted that, gradually increase the distance between the balls.
I would be interested to hear your results!

When you have seen just how much aiming is done with peripheral vision, it is then easier to appreciate that having a consistent eye pattern during the stroke simply adds the finishing touches to your aiming (instead of being the only way you are aiming).
This reduces the stress of aiming at a target you are 'not looking at' (the pocket).
Here is a quick video explaining the two main types of 'Eye-Cue Action':
Click here for the Eye Cue Action video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8A9MVtEAIOQ


There is another free video on this product information page which explains where to look on the object ball:
Click here for the second video: http://www.thesnookergym.com/aiming....g.solution.php

Next week I will be sending you an email on the most important thing you must do AFTER the shot to help your aiming.
Until then, I hope you get a chance to practice 'Peripheral Aiming' and would love to hear your feedback on it.
Simply reply to this post

Sincerely
Nic B

[DG GIBERT]

I seem to do it the other way at times, just focusing on the object ball not looking at the cue ball

[cyberheater]

Thanks Nic.

I got the email.

The video on your website doesn't exist.

Click here for the second video: http://www.thesnookergym.com/aiming....g.solution.php

[CJ Kumz213]

Very interesting aiming technique you gat there Nic, will try it as soon as I have the chance..

[pcb]

what is meant by aiming with your cue , i dont understand / thanks

[potblac]

It doesn't matter were you looking, the important part is to be in line of aim and push the cue straight. If you not in line the rest of it is history. Ronnie looking at the cue ball, Neil Robertson looking at the object ball, Murphy looking at the object ball Williams at the cue ball. I think most of the snooker coaches are useless. Imposing them style and methods of play without testing players ability.
When you talk about aiming the first think should be done is a eye test. Not spec saver test but sight right test proved by the pros with a 100% accurate result. When you can see the shot properly than you can add cue action and hours of practice.

[sprogbasket]

I thought this may have been last year's April 1st post !

I have not checked out the video and I don't think I'll bother ..don't want to mess with my own head and technique.

What is this "Use the Force snook, use the Force" ...I know that I am not a Jedi yet..but I also know it is a snooker cue not a bloody light sabre !

Let's all aim without aiming or looking.

[vmax4steve]

It doesn't matter where you're looking, the important part is to be on the line of aim and push the cue straight. If you not in line the rest of it is history.

You couldn't be more wrong there mate. The hand follows the eye and the cue is held in the hand so where you're looking at the moment of the strike is paramount to where the cue ball will go.
What you're looking at when trying to find the line of aim is as much about your peripheral vision as to where you are actually focussing your eyes on. But on the actual strike the eyes should be on the object ball and no where else.

The line of aim goes through your cue and between the two balls as you are sighting the shot. It doesn't end at the cue ball it ends at the contact point of the object ball so looking at the cue ball at the moment of the strike doesn't ensure the cue will stay on that line as the tip of the cue can still be addressing the centre of the cue ball with the butt of the cue off the line.
To keep the cue on the line of aim the eyes have to be focussed on the end of the line of aim, the object ball, and all the great players do this. It may not look like it sometimes as some switch to the object ball a split second before the strike but as Nick Barrow showed on the first video where he moved his head to show where he was looking, his head was up when striking the cue ball.

[sprogbasket]

I totally agree...but somehow I do feel the Force is very strong with you... now you are a true Jedi !

Well in vmax4steve.


Yours,

snook eyeswater

[jay686]

Nic is definitely onto something there.Quite a few years ago I totally lost my game.And I mean totally! I went from a daily 70+ break player to somebody who can't even clear the colours up.And even now the only way I show a semblance of my old ability is if I cue up and sight to the cueball only.

Sounds weird I know.But it seems my eyes don't seem able to flick back and forth.They get confused and just give me the cueball and object ball in the same picture.Hence my timing has vanished.After that so did my ability.

[pottr]

From my own experience, if you are consciously aware of 'where am I looking?' at the point of striking the white then you are shagged!

Around a year or two ago, this thought popped into my head and it ruined my game. I could not make thirty or forty without an exhausting effort. I remember it took me a solid 3 or 4 hours of continuously doing the lineup on autopilot to get the thought out of my head.

You aim when you stand behind the shot. If you drop in on line and don't move, that's all there is to it. Touch and feel of the ball is what's important... The eyes never deliver the cue, the hand does.

[DG GIBERT]

From my own experience, if you are consciously aware of 'where am I looking?' at the point of striking the white then you are shagged!

Around a year or two ago, this thought popped into my head and it ruined my game. I could not make thirty or forty without an exhausting effort. I remember it took me a solid 3 or 4 hours of continuously doing the lineup on autopilot to get the thought out of my head.

You aim when you stand behind the shot. If you drop in on line and don't move, that's all there is to it. Touch and feel of the ball is what's important... The eyes never deliver the cue, the hand does.

Not clear so what are you looking at when delivering the cue?

[Stupree]

From my own experience, if you are consciously aware of 'where am I looking?' at the point of striking the white then you are shagged!

Around a year or two ago, this thought popped into my head and it ruined my game. I could not make thirty or forty without an exhausting effort. I remember it took me a solid 3 or 4 hours of continuously doing the lineup on autopilot to get the thought out of my head.

You aim when you stand behind the shot. If you drop in on line and don't move, that's all there is to it. Touch and feel of the ball is what's important... The eyes never deliver the cue, the hand does.

Not clear so what are you looking at when delivering the cue?

He is taking in all the same information as anyone else does but is able to process this subconsciously and therefore does not need to consciously focus on a point on a ball.

Have you ever driven a familiar journey where your mind drifts off to other thoughts and then you suddenly become aware that you have completed a large section of your journey without consciously noticing that you have steered, changed gear, and taken exits all avoiding obstacles and dangers. That is what players can acheive after thousands of hours of practice. The mind is fantastic

[sprogbasket]

Stupree,


you are still aiming and still looking ....maybe doing it without too much conscious effort but still bloody aiming and bloody looking .

Or is it like driving a car without steering or changing gear or slowing down or noticing traffic conditions....just not having it.

Transcendental snooker playing. ...NOT.....I do like your Karma though.

[DG GIBERT]

He is taking in all the same information as anyone else does but is able to process this subconsciously and therefore does not need to consciously focus on a point on a ball.

Have you ever driven a familiar journey where your mind drifts off to other thoughts and then you suddenly become aware that you have completed a large section of your journey without consciously noticing that you have steered, changed gear, and taken exits all avoiding obstacles and dangers. That is what players can acheive after thousands of hours of practice. The mind is fantastic

Yes I think its called driving without due care and attention.


But i'm pretty sure I would have been looking out of the wind screen most of the time and not the steering wheel