I stopped looking at the pocket today with much success.

[cyberheater]

Normally when I take a shot. I look at the aim point on the object ball or imagine a ghost ball centre if it's a more then a half ball cut and as soon as I've pushed the cue through my eyes tend to drift over to the pocket to see if I've potted the ball.

Today in practise. I deliberately refused to look at the pocket at all during cueing. I only looked at my aim point and kept looking at the aim point after the ball potted (or not).

I potted a lot more balls then I normally do.

The benefit to me is that it my eyes and brain only had one thing to do. Just focus on that one spot and allow my cue arm to do the rest.

Anyone else do this or have tried it in practise?

[Removal man stevie]

Don't think a have but it's sumthing to try . So at what part of this do you lift your head up or move your eyes to find out if the ball potted ?

[cyberheater]

Don't think a have but it's sumthing to try . So at what part of this do you lift your head up or move your eyes to find out if the ball potted ?

After I've heard the ball potted.

The reason why it works for me is that it means my mind is totally focused on driving the cue through straight so the white hits the line of aim point. At the point of cueing. I'm not concerned or even interested if the ball pots. In effect, that is a secondary consequence of achieving the primary goal.

The other benefit is that it really forces me to make sure I've identified the correct line of aim whilst standing as I won't have the benefit of seeing the pocket whilst down on the shot so won't be able to make any micro adjustments which is always a bad thing.

[Byrom]

Well this month my sons birthday - my daughters birthday my tax bill is due the gas the electric the car tax the insurance the mot and so I too stopped looking at the pocket because now - there is nothing in it

[Catch 22]

It's like in Golf , they keep looking down where the ball was after the hit .

[franksandellsnooker]

In my coaching I always use the phrase "play the balls and not the pockets". It works.:snooker: F.

[Terry Davidson]

This method is coached by Steve Davis who says to leave your eyes on where the object ball WAS rather than following it to the pocket or cushion.

Nic Barrow recommends following the object ball with the eyes only and without moving the head at all until the ball has dropped or hit the cushion.

Terry

[GeordieDS]

I have been practising a lot lately and i have been doing this religiously since vmaxsteve mentioned it , I'm scoring a lot more than i used to and my confidence is coming back.

[Terrence]

Well this month my sons birthday - my daughters birthday my tax bill is due the gas the electric the car tax the insurance the mot and so I too stopped looking at the pocket because now - there is nothing in it

I like the strategy of this thread but more so I like the quote above!

[Saint Michael]

In my coaching I always use the phrase "play the balls and not the pockets". It works.:snooker: F.

Totally agree with you. Take your eye off for anything and it'll change the angle

[Removal man stevie]

Some good logic al give it a try on Sunday at the Q club

[cyberheater]

In my coaching I always use the phrase "play the balls and not the pockets". It works.:snooker: F.

This method is coached by Steve Davis who says to leave your eyes on where the object ball WAS rather than following it to the pocket or cushion.

Terry

Played my mate today and I potted a lot more balls. I never missed the black on it's spot. I've never managed that before. This new technique is a keeper for me.

Now I just have to keep practising.

[lesedwards]

This method is coached by Steve Davis who says to leave your eyes on where the object ball WAS rather than following it to the pocket or cushion.

Nic Barrow recommends following the object ball with the eyes only and without moving the head at all until the ball has dropped or hit the cushion.

Terry

I will have to try The Steve Davis theory when I decide I have had enough time off. My confidence level after our last qualifier dropped to nil so I hung up the cue and took a break. I see you have some new headings below your name Terry Congrats. We need to get together for few games before our next qualifier Terry.

[Steve T.]

Quite literally the best move you've ever made! Didn't you're cueing feel freer? Did you recognise a slight release of doubt? There are reasons for that!

[cyberheater]

Quite literally the best move you've ever made! Didn't you're cueing feel freer? Did you recognise a slight release of doubt? There are reasons for that!

Certainly for me it is working wonders.