lOOKING AT WHITE OR OBJECT BALL WHEN GETTING DOWN ON LINE OF AIM

[S Davis Fan]

Hi

I have a good stance spot on Alignment of Back arm, but am very inconsistent in my alignment of White to object ball. The text books do say that you should look at the white when getting down onto the shot and then flick your eyes between the object ball and the white. But it becomes very difficult for me to align the white on to the angle with consistency, especially if the balls are far apart. I have found that if I naturally look at the object ball as I get down, and then check the white, I will be more likely to get the alignment and pot.

You coaches out there, should I persevere with the Text book routine, or look at the object ball to get the alignment, it doesn't say much about getting down to the line of aim in the textbooks. I practice cueing up on a black line in front of a mirror, so I can see if the cue is coming through straight, and if it is deviating from the line or not, but I have trouble imagining this line when I'm on the table. I have on occasion been able to line up both balls as I'm getting down if I slowly drop onto my cue why doing my cue ups and am succesfull, but I have trouble replicating this technique with consistency at the moment. If I get down quickly like the pro's do, I will more that likely not be on the right angle.

Advice would be appreciated.

Paul

[stephenm2682]

don't worry too much about textbook stuff, just do what feels natural & practice, practice, practice, soon it will become second nature and you'll get down without thinking too much.

[Looki]

don't worry too much about textbook stuff, just do what feels natural & practice, practice, practice, soon it will become second nature and you'll get down without thinking too much.

Doing things wrong may also become a second nature and it's very hard learn away from it. So in my opinion you should get some coaching maybe, it's hard for oneself to figure out what's going wrong.

I agree that textbook stuff doesn't necessarily help you, a book can't tell you what you do right and what you do wrong. And not all players could be put to that same mould every book offer, so maintaining naturality is also important.

Therefore, I think you should get someone to see what is wrong with your alignment or sighting or whatever the problem is. And then to give you advice how to fix it.

[RocketRoy1983]

Without seeing you play its very hard to see where your going wrong.

[1lawyer]

All my thinking/aiming is done stood up behind the shot. All i try and do when down is time the ball and cue straight. Keep still stay down and keep the cue forward after the shot staying true to the line of aim.

I stand behind the shot and walk into it keeping my eyes fixed on the object ball as i get down, only when my hand is on the table do i flick to the white.

Long shots have a different depth of field/vision for the line of aim which you take into account.
If you are uncertain you are on line then don't take your shot get back up.

I often think the person knows themselves what suits their game everyone is different and if you look you will indeed see that you have answered your own question. You say when you get down slower you play better, so do this. Doing the same things builds up a players game.

[joe.l]

sight picture

when you are getting down to shot , think in terms of the cue ball displacing a porition of the object ball ( like putting one disk on top of another disk ) or covering part of the other disk , this will work up to 1/2 ball shots ( for full contact , 3/4 , 7/8 and 1/2 ball ) when you get past 1/2 ball you should use the arc the the cue ball to aim .........Joe