Aiming Without Looking

[pottr]

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?

When I was about 20, I flirted with this method. Getting down solid, lining up and then just focussing on the white, trying to keep still. It can help you pot... but only in the short term. I remember making a 138 clearance on Mick Price's table (tight) and thinking I had found that 'Eureka' moment.

It is a very exhausting mental effort to keep vigilant aiming this way and I wouldn't recommend it to anyone.

If you are going to worry about where you're looking, it has to be the object ball. Not necessarily the specific point of contact because you will know that anyway. If you can't spot that, you're playing the wrong game in the first place.

You can aim like that... But I wouldn't.

Also, you can't pot long balls like that for sure.

It's called having one swing thought

I just worry about where I want the cueball... It's the only thing I'm thinking of on most shots.

[alabadi]

I just worry about where I want the cueball... It's the only thing I'm thinking of on most shots.

Interesting idea , I have heard this before. Never tried it but might be worth a look at. I have tried everything else. What's to lose .

[pottr]

You already know how to pot balls Yusef. I remember watching your video you posted.

What else is there to worry about other than getting position?

Let your technique just simply 'be your technique'... practice takes care of the rest.

[sprogbasket]

This is a very clever ploy...how to drum up interest in your coaching vids by posting an obtuse and contentious thread.

[pottr]

This is a very clever ploy...how to drum up interest in your coaching vids by posting an obtuse and contentious thread.

Nick loves his snooker. He's given more back to the game than most... But yes, he does drum up some interest in the snooker gym via this forum...

I'm just jealous I didn't think of it first

I've got a whole series of web videos on how you need to drop your ears and wiggle your pinky toe right at the point of contacting the white... Guaranteed improvement! Only £199.99 per download

pm me

[cyberheater]

Nick loves his snooker. He's given more back to the game than most... But yes, he does drum up some interest in the snooker gym via this forum...

I'm just jealous I didn't think of it first

I've got a whole series of web videos on how you need to drop your ears and wiggle your pinky toe right at the point of contacting the white... Guaranteed improvement! Only £199.99 per download

pm me

I see recently that Joe Perry has starting to perfect your patented eyebrow raising exercises whilst seated to maintain focus and stretch the ocular cavity to aid peripheral vision.
It's working out for him. £199.99 seems like a bargain.

[pottr]

Well there you are, only gone and got myself a poster child for my new series...

He'll bring in some female fans too from all his hard work with Aerosmith.

[alabadi]

You already know how to pot balls Yusef. I remember watching your video you posted.

What else is there to worry about other than getting position?

Let your technique just simply 'be your technique'... practice takes care of the rest.

It too inconsistent at the moment , I need to put it all together, that's the hard part.

[lesedwards]

It too inconsistent at the moment , I need to put it all together, that's the hard part.

We are really walking down the same path. I went to a friends this afternoon and got beat 7 games to 1. I look like had never played before mean while I was there last week and won 4 to 2. How can someone that spends 2 hours every night be so inconsistent? The best shots I made was when I focused at my front pause on the CB and kept my eyes there and never looked up until the cue ball stopped. I know this is completely against what every book, video and coach says so what do I do? My high break is 43 but that was 6 months ago since then I am good for usually 8 if I am lucky.

[itsnoteasy]

Can I ask Les when you practice , what do you practice?.

[lesedwards]

Can I ask Les when you practice , what do you practice?.

Sure, I have been practicing a T Routine that Cliff gave me to do. Two reds both sides of the pink and four reds between the pink n black with all colours on their spots. My high so far is 51. Also playing blacks off the spot and playing the cue ball where it lies. My best so far is 18 and then the pink off its spot playing cue ball where it lies. My best is 23. I Also spend a couple hours a week just running blacks from different angles. My worst shot on the table. My table has very tight pockets which make it real tough to run blacks. I have not gone back to the line up in a while but someday I will try it again.

[alabadi]

Sure, I have been practicing a T Routine that Cliff gave me to do. Two reds both sides of the pink and four reds between the pink n black with all colours on their spots. My high so far is 51. Also playing blacks off the spot and playing the cue ball where it lies. My best so far is 18 and then the pink off its spot playing cue ball where it lies. My best is 23. I Also spend a couple hours a week just running blacks from different angles. My worst shot on the table. My table has very tight pockets which make it real tough to run blacks. I have not gone back to the line up in a while but someday I will try it again.

i think you have some good routines there, some of them i do too, however i believe that the T line up is difficult especially for someone who can only make the odd 20 break now and then.

i think the regular line up is a better exercise, less frustrating. difficult routines only create anxiety and frustration when we can't master them. so better start with the easy ones and when you are regularly clearing them, increase the difficulty of the routine gradually.

we take on too many shots that we haven't mastered yet or have a low percentage of making, so we get frustrated when it doesn't come off. we are trying to run before we can walk. i have come to realise that the only way to improve is practicing hours and hours, i know we think that 2 hours a day 5 days a week should be good enough, but the routines have to be for a specific goal, not making high breaks but to achieve a certain technique, from cueball control, tactics to position.

i am getting back to cueball control at the moment, i have been too many times half an inch away from making a big break and its always my position that has let me down,so frustrating.

[lesedwards]

I think a lot of my game comes down to lack of concentration. Try to make shots when I should be playing safe and then playing safe but not looking for the best location to play safe to. I just cannot put all these thoughts into a game. Finish each match with a head ache and think it is time to hang up the cue but then I am right back at it the next night. Just a very frustrating game. We have our regular qualifiers every month which are best of 7 after 7 qualifiers I am 0 in 7 with 4 games won out of a possible 28. Yes I am a bugger for punishment.

[Sidd]

I have always done that. Without knowing but this is how I have always done it.

Behind the shot and imagine the thin line ... then Terry helped me understand how to drop dead on it... So now I simply see the correct spot on BOB and try to drop dead on it ... the cue comes to the line automatically for me.

I find it easier and better and it makes me have better control... however dropping on that line straight is the art in this whole affair.

[alabadi]

I think a lot of my game comes down to lack of concentration. Try to make shots when I should be playing safe and then playing safe but not looking for the best location to play safe to. I just cannot put all these thoughts into a game. Finish each match with a head ache and think it is time to hang up the cue but then I am right back at it the next night. Just a very frustrating game. We have our regular qualifiers every month which are best of 7 after 7 qualifiers I am 0 in 7 with 4 games won out of a possible 28. Yes I am a bugger for punishment.

This is very true, I think its discipline that I need. when I am solo practicing I always look at the angle think of where I want the white to go and determine the shot I should play, however in games I seem to have less discipline I just look at the shot and get down and play it, which too often I end up either missing the shot or potting and be in no mans land.

I keep thinking that with all the solo practice I do it will automatically manifest itself subconsciously so I don't have to think about it too much in games. but it seems at the moment its not there yet.

then as you say getting frustrated and taking on shots that I shouldn't just because I don't want to leave the table.

to be fair I don't get enough practice with other players one to one. in our club there are too many players and we have to play doubles, which I hate, its ruining my game I'm sure of that