Aiming Without Looking

[hotpot]

Every shot is a straight shot the art is picking up the contact point and delivering the cue straight .

[sprogbasket]

Exactly right Hotpot there is an art to becoming "unconsciously competent" at addressing table and adopting correct stance and cue delivery....BUT ...one has to look and one has to aim otherwise nonsenical.


I recently sensed a major disturbance in the force , as if 15 reds , with blacks and all the colours had instantly been silenced and wiped out....then I looked and saw a professional snooker player using his eyes to sight and pot balls.

yours snook eyeswater

Every shot is a straight shot the art is picking up the contact point and delivering the cue straight .

[vmax4steve]

The good and the great players already look at the object ball at the moment of the strike, most of them are unaware of it, like pottr. For them to start to consciously think about doing it will balls up their rhythm and they will find themselves playing the shot when they aren't at that precise moment doing what comes naturally. It's a split second thing for the natural potter that doesn't need thinking about at all.

Pottr says that once the shot is lined up properly then it can be made with the eyes closed, and that is true for then the eyes aren't looking at anything and therefore the hand is not guided by the eyes but simply comes through due to muscle memory.

With the eyes open the hand is guided by the eyes and will go wherever you are looking, it's a natural thing and is the basis of hand and eye co-ordination.
Pottr does it without thinking probably 80% of the time, I on the other hand only do it about 50% of the time, which could be every other shot or every other frame or so, which is what makes me a poor player but one that is able to knock in big break now and again.

When in the process of knocking in that big break in a match, when the thought that I am looking at the object ball enters my head I lose it and I miss.
The reason for this is simply because, just like pottr, the exact moment that I strike the cue ball with my eyes on the object ball is something that only happens to me on a subconscious level and the timing of exactly when that happens is unkown to me. It's a split second moment that cannot be tied down.

For those of you who do not look at the object ball at the moment of the strike at all, then it's something that can be learned by rote and introduced into your cue action. You have to find out just when and for how long you need to focus on the object ball before you strike the cue ball, build up an action that at first seems unnatural and strange but keep at it and make it a habit.

[vmax4steve]

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

What is familiar is the table and where the pockets and spots are situated, just like your familiar road scenario. Your'e subconsciously aware of the road layout and simply see the other cars and pedestrians and know where they are in relation to the familiar road.
Same as a snooker table, the pockets and spots are always in the same place but the balls aren't, especially the reds and the cue ball, colours off their spots even. This is all seen in relation to the familiar table/pocket layout and the balls are simply seen and you know where they are in relation to the familiar table layout.

You therefore don't need to look at the pocket when aiming because you know where it is so your concentration should be on the line of aim between the cue ball and the object ball and you find it how best suits you.

[Byrom]

Me too, up until six months ago I could not have told you in any detail what my eye-cue action was or what I was looking at at the time of cue strike. Ignorance was bliss!

Becoming consciously aware of my eye-cue action has screwed my game up by placing too many conscious thoughts and I have slowed the process right down to deal with them, this only further disrupted my natural rhythm.



I now start every practice session with red spreads approaching each shot as is my embedded sighting/address technique, once settled my eyes shift to the object ball and stay there, I do not feather the cue it only moves when I am ready to fully deliver the cue. One draw back and one forward stroke. I do this until I don't do this....... if that makes sense? At a certain point, after as many shots as it takes to happen, my embedded action and rhythm takes over and I can flow around the table. It is like calibration test for me now where I can iron out any kinks in my approach, grip, and stance without clouding my perception with additional movements and processes.

There is no value in carrying unnecessary baggage in to practice drills or match play

Well the results are in - my head is up my arse and I personally wish I had never ever read the threads about sighting this and that and tinkered or deconstructed this at all - I agree with J6uk, gurnsey gooner, itssoeasy and everyone else who has ever over thought the game -

I tried freeing my mind from this stuff on the table gave it 8 hours but found it really hard to do actually and my rhythm seems shot to pieces - snooker was hard and not enjoyable yesterday. I am now conscious of my sighting methods so I am thinking about where I am looking what part of the ball is hitting what is the angle right and seem to have started aiming when down in the shot position too - my game has slowed right down my timing has left the building like Elvis and I wish I had never looked into this part of my game as there was nothing much wrong with it before - I just got behind the line imagined the shot got down stayed still and played the shot.

I am no pro but a steady club player who hits regular fifties and the odd ton. For the first time for a long time snooker feels hard work and mentally tiring.

Help - will beer work? Going to get drunk and play next time - like forgetting a bad woman you wish you had never been introduced to in the first place.

[alabadi]

maybe it's our fault ,maybe when we go we don't want to hear we are not doing the basic basics right, we have been playing for years and are no further forward than someone who has just picked up a cue, .

This is how i feel, all the coaching the hours of solo practice and yet i can get beat by players who have never practiced a day in their life and only play once a week. its so frustrating and this causes doubt that what i am doing is actually worth it.

don't get me wrong i have improved in all areas but still don't see the benefits in games i play. i think changing one thing effects another, once we feel that that change is working we then we move on to the next and it becomes a cycle go from one technique to the other and each time we change one the next is effected. its like there is no end. i keep feeling surely its all going to fall into place soon, but it never does.

i wish sometimes i could go back to the beginning and start over again, shame the head is just full of so much info now its hard to switch it of....anyone got a memory eraser..could do with one..lol

[alabadi]

Well the results are in - my head is up my arse and I personally wish I had never ever read the threads about sighting this and that and tinkered or deconstructed this at all - I agree with J6uk, gurnsey gooner, itssoeasy and everyone else who has ever over thought the game -

I tried freeing my mind from this stuff on the table gave it 8 hours but found it really hard to do actually and my rhythm seems shot to pieces - snooker was hard and not enjoyable yesterday. I am now conscious of my sighting methods so I am thinking about where I am looking what part of the ball is hitting what is the angle right and seem to have started aiming when down in the shot position too - my game has slowed right down my timing has left the building like Elvis and I wish I had never looked into this part of my game as there was nothing much wrong with it before - I just got behind the line imagined the shot got down stayed still and played the shot.

I am no pro but a steady club player who hits regular fifties and the odd ton. For the first time for a long time snooker feels hard work and mentally tiring.

Help - will beer work? Going to get drunk and play next time - like forgetting a bad woman you wish you had never been introduced to in the first place.

brilliant....lol

this game can send anyone potty

[pottr]

I tried freeing my mind from this stuff on the table gave it 8 hours but found it really hard to do actually and my rhythm seems shot to pieces - snooker was hard and not enjoyable yesterday. I am now conscious of my sighting methods so I am thinking about where I am looking what part of the ball is hitting what is the angle right and seem to have started aiming when down in the shot position too

That's where I was at when I first started trying to play with the sighting witchcraft. You hace ti just pot ball after ball like Tony Drago and you will rid yourself of it... You won't play well while you are in Drago mode, but you will get yourself out of the thought process.

I promise.

[sprogbasket]

Feel the force snook, feel the force.

yours snook eyeswater.

That's where I was at when I first started trying to play with the sighting witchcraft. You hace ti just pot ball after ball like Tony Drago and you will rid yourself of it... You won't play well while you are in Drago mode, but you will get yourself out of the thought process.

I promise.

[guernseygooner]

Well the results are in - my head is up my arse and I personally wish I had never ever read the threads about sighting this and that and tinkered or deconstructed this at all - I agree with J6uk, gurnsey gooner, itssoeasy and everyone else who has ever over thought the game -

I tried freeing my mind from this stuff on the table gave it 8 hours but found it really hard to do actually and my rhythm seems shot to pieces - snooker was hard and not enjoyable yesterday. I am now conscious of my sighting methods so I am thinking about where I am looking what part of the ball is hitting what is the angle right and seem to have started aiming when down in the shot position too - my game has slowed right down my timing has left the building like Elvis and I wish I had never looked into this part of my game as there was nothing much wrong with it before - I just got behind the line imagined the shot got down stayed still and played the shot.

I am no pro but a steady club player who hits regular fifties and the odd ton. For the first time for a long time snooker feels hard work and mentally tiring.

Help - will beer work? Going to get drunk and play next time - like forgetting a bad woman you wish you had never been introduced to in the first place.

You can make tons Byrom so you know exactly where to hit the OB without even thinking about.

Stand behind the shot and just drop the head down with purpose and confidence and play - you will soon find your rhythm

[lesedwards]

This is how i feel, all the coaching the hours of solo practice and yet i can get beat by players who have never practiced a day in their life and only play once a week. its so frustrating and this causes doubt that what i am doing is actually worth it.

don't get me wrong i have improved in all areas but still don't see the benefits in games i play. i think changing one thing effects another, once we feel that that change is working we then we move on to the next and it becomes a cycle go from one technique to the other and each time we change one the next is effected. its like there is no end. i keep feeling surely its all going to fall into place soon, but it never does.

i wish sometimes i could go back to the beginning and start over again, shame the head is just full of so much info now its hard to switch it of....anyone got a memory eraser..could do with one..lol

If I did not know any better I would think I wrote the above quote. A year and half ago I put my own table in my basement and started at my Snooker Game after not playing for 30 years. I have spent hour after hour dollar after dollar and I feel just like you. Started with Nic Barrow and the Snooker GYM then private coaching lessons with Terry Davidson then with Cliff Thorburn. Cliff is in touch with me by either phone or text almost daily. He has taken a real interest in making me a great player but as of now I am still really struggling. One thing kicks in and another one disappears. I made a post on here a couple days ago saying I have started to look at back of CB on strike. The only reason I tried this was to take all the thoughts of everything away. After being a professional Golfer this game is frustrating me to no end but will not give up like you I feel that one of these days it is all going to come together like Majic. Yea right.

[cyberheater]

I tried something today. Normally when I get down, I look at the white to determine if I'm hitting the cue ball in the right area and then after that my eyes are completely fixed on the object ball.

Today I did this. I fixed my line of aim. Got down on the shot. Checked that my cue was pointing on the line of aim and then only concentrated on the white and the only time my eyes looked at the object ball was around halfway into my final swing. I potted a lot more balls today. Is this a bad road to travel down or does this make sense to anyone?

[vmax4steve]

Today I did this. I fixed my line of aim. Got down on the shot. Checked that my cue was pointing on the line of aim and then only concentrated on the white and the only time my eyes looked at the object ball was around halfway into my final swing. I potted a lot more balls today. Is this a bad road to travel down or does this make sense to anyone?

Eyes on the object ball at the moment of the strike is the only way however you do it.
Sounds like you have found something encouraging to persevere with.

[alabadi]

i think that a lot of players on here make little changes and get immediate effect only to find a few days later its not working and then can't figure out what is that they are doing that is so different, and try tirelessly to get that feeling back and things go from bad to worse.

it happens to me as well, its a weird thing and i'm not sure of the answer, what i would say the more you try (being conscious of what you are trying to do) the worse it gets.

it needs to be natural, easier said than done

[vmax4steve]

I made a post on here a couple days ago saying I have started to look at back of CB on strike. The only reason I tried this was to take all the thoughts of everything away. After being a professional Golfer this game is frustrating me to no end but will not give up like you I feel that one of these days it is all going to come together like Majic. Yea right.

It's called having one swing thought and something that Terry advocates to keep all other thoughts out of your head. It works but change it to looking at the object ball at the moment of the strike. Introduce a rhythm in your action that makes it so when the cue ball is struck. Don't let anxiety make you strike sooner or later then when you are actually looking at the object ball.