Tunnel vision v periphery

[Snookclops]

Hi,

Firstly, can I just say that I turned down a black for a pink yesterday in honour of Ronnie - made 19, why make 20? Lol

Peeled another slice of the snooker onion.

Yesterday, I entered a state where I was "aiming when down". Ok, not aiming, let me explain:

I usually look at BOB and get down focussing on a tiny point on OB.

As I feather, I keep focus on BOB and have a couple of v quick glances at CB. Then strike looking at OB.

Ok - yesterday I seemed to find that by NOT focussing on a tiny speck on OB, but by just widening out my focus to include BOB, table and CB and cue, I suddenly saw where my cue was aiming. I saw where the centre of white was! I have been locking on to BOB so much I just guessed where the rest was.

This looser focus showed me where the cue was and my feathers, with this "full picture" actually meant something.

Does anyone have the faintest clue what I mean? I read and watched A LOT of stuff which said to just lock on to BOB, and it's a massive part of accuracy, but have I possibly removed sighting from my game? I was never sure what I was doing with the looks at CB: the eye rhythm seems like focussing on 2 areas.....like looking at a target, then your hand, then target then hand....!! This defocus thing I have got to before and seems like I play better.

I still aim stood up btw I just mean I can actually see the shot and cue direction when down. I now find myself adjusting a fraction when down - not aiming; just adjusting to the line I saw when up.

Anyone know what I mean ? Comments welcome!

[pottr]

Tunnel vision v periphery

Just don't worry about it pal.

Keep still, push the cue through straight...

Who knows, you might even make 21?

[bluenose1940]

Snookclops said "Firstly, can I just say that I turned down a black for a pink yesterday in honour of Ronnie - made 19, why make 20? Lol"

Love it, great comment!!!!!!!!! Got my day started with nice little chuckle.

[Catch 22]

I'm like this too mate .... I can't keep my eyes on bob especially on the black . I don't know why but I just can't keep my eye accurately on it and lose it . I kind of see everything in my peripheral vision instead

When I watch people on youtube playing with a head cam I can see that they are on line and the ball will go in ....no doubt and it looks easy . But when I'm down I don't get that visual reassurance , obviously because I can't see everything in one view like I can on the videos .

This is probably why I'm rubbish

[vmax4steve]

BOB is not a tiny point on the cue ball, it's the overlap of the two balls when they are in contact for the pot, ie: the whole ball for dead straight, 1/2 a ball for a 1/2 ball cut etc.
That's what you look at when aiming, you can slice the object ball up into sections with your eyes and focus on the section the cue ball will overlap on contact, bigger target, easier to focus on, no need to remember angles, just look at the overlap.

[DG GIBERT]

To supplement what Pottr suggested. It's an old check that has been suggested a few times before, get down on the shot so that you are happy
that you are in line, keep still close your eyes then just concentrate on delivering the cue straight. if your alignment is OK you should pot more than you miss.

[Catch 22]

To supplement what Pottr suggested. It's an old check that has been suggested a few times before, get down on the shot so that you are happy
that you are in line, keep still close your eyes then just concentrate on delivering the cue straight. if your alignment is OK you should pot more than you miss.

Yes , did this a few weeks ago ..... Got down , two feathers , front pause , pull cue back , close eyes .....deliver cue .

Potted well . Felt the cue was going through better .

[itsnoteasy]

Close your eyes on the front pause Catch, you will feel if you bring the cue back straight, something which gets overlooked a bit I think.

[Catch 22]

Close your eyes on the front pause Catch, you will feel if you bring the cue back straight, something which gets overlooked a bit I think.

I absolutely don't .....the butt of my cue pulls out away from my body and on delivery it comes back in . Effectively cutting across the ball slightly putting right hand side on .

A couple of things work to fix it , but then create problems elsewhere .

Bringing my arm front of the vertical has helped because the cue only goes off line at the end of the back swing so now the backswing is completed before it has a chance to come off line . I also naturally drop my elbow after strike so I still get a lot of follow through

[itsnoteasy]

Is your grip opening?

[vmax4steve]

I absolutely don't .....the butt of my cue pulls out away from my body and on delivery it comes back in . Effectively cutting across the ball slightly putting right hand side on .

A couple of things work to fix it , but then create problems elsewhere .

Bringing my arm front of the vertical has helped because the cue only goes off line at the end of the back swing so now the backswing is completed before it has a chance to come off line . I also naturally drop my elbow after strike so I still get a lot of follow through

The late Frank Callan was known as a dominant eye theorist, but he also said that the 'backhand is all', and this is what he worked on with Doug Mountjoy, who didn't have a noticeable rear pause. Doug went on to win the UK title after coaching from Frank, bringing a slow backswing and rear pause into his cue action.

If your cue comes off line on the backswing Catch, then it could be a stance issue if your hip is the way, or it could be that you need to do what Mr. Callan advocated.

[Catch 22]

The late Frank Callan was known as a dominant eye theorist, but he also said that the 'backhand is all', and this is what he worked on with Doug Mountjoy, who didn't have a noticeable rear pause. Doug went on to win the UK title after coaching from Frank, bringing a slow backswing and rear pause into his cue action.

If your cue comes off line on the backswing Catch, then it could be a stance issue if your hip is the way, or it could be that you need to do what Mr. Callan advocated.

I had a nice slow back swing and a nice rear pause for ages now . I play good in practice but terrible in matches

I find that with the slow backswing and then a pause tension crept in while under pressure and my cue action crumbled . Recently I've been feathering and my front pause is shorter , my back swing quicker (not fast) and the rear pause isn't as much a pause but a more slow change of direction . Basically if I'm keeping the cue moving I can keep the tension out of the arm .
I may post a video at some point

[vmax4steve]

I had a nice slow back swing and a nice rear pause for ages now . I play good in practice but terrible in matches

I find that with the slow backswing and then a pause tension crept in while under pressure and my cue action crumbled . Recently I've been feathering and my front pause is shorter , my back swing quicker (not fast) and the rear pause isn't as much a pause but a more slow change of direction . Basically if I'm keeping the cue moving I can keep the tension out of the arm .
I may post a video at some point

Video yourself from the rear Catch, then you will be able to see the backswing come off line, and when exactly it happens; and I mean you, it will be up to you to spot it and sort it out, posting a video on the forum is fine, but if you yourself can't spot the faults, then leaving it up to others will only produce a myriad of differing opinions and you will be none the wiser.

[Catch 22]

Video yourself from the rear Catch, then you will be able to see the backswing come off line, and when exactly it happens; and I mean you, it will be up to you to spot it and sort it out, posting a video on the forum is fine, but if you yourself can't spot the faults, then leaving it up to others will only produce a myriad of differing opinions and you will be none the wiser.

It happens near the end of the backswing .....sliding my hand forward of vertical in address position eliminates it totaly . I still get a good follow through though . Maybe not the best solution but a quick fix just now till. Can get looked at properly

[itsnoteasy]

Do you have a very long backswing Catch, sometimes that can be hard to controll especially near the end of it.