Top Ten Reasons Your Aiming System Sucks, Pool Billiard
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- čas přidán 11. 06. 2024
- It makes me sad when I see pool players stagnating because they are preoccupied with an aiming system. My hope is this video will open some eyes to the difficult and wonderful challenges of playing great pool.
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I once had a boss who was a golf fanatic. He even had a golf scholarship through university. He told me the biggest improvement in his game occurred when a golf pro taught him to address the ball the same way every time. I took this lesson and added it to my pool game. My pool game did improve some. It was when I added it to my drills that my game really improved. You are absolutely right - it is hard work, and as much as I am obsessed with pool I get very bored shooting drills sometimes. Chris Collinsworth on Sunday Night Football said something one Sunday night that really struck a nerve for some reason, “Amateurs practice until they get it right. Professionals practice until they cannot get it wrong.” There is a lot of work between the two. Great video as usual.
If Wayne Gretzky missed a shot that he thought he should have made during a game he would go into his basement that very night and practice the same shot from the same angle and body position until he got it exactly right every time, even if it took him 6 hours of practice on one shot.
Law of diminishing returns helped me understand I'm working on the wrong things. This was a much needed video for me, thank you.
You make an excellent point.
I think a simple aiming system gives a starting point for beginners such as myself. But ultimately there is no substitute for repetitively driving home the library of images required for the brain to draw from. Even more important are drills to start every session to ensure your stroke and accuracy are dialed in. Again as a beginner I am now starting every session with 10 minutes of stroking a cue ball end to end to ensure accurate aim, zero sidespin and consistent shot weight. If the cue ball does not return to the exact same spot, I am not ready to start practicing pocketing balls.
I also think a simple setup to visualize and repeat typical shots until perfectly repeatable is better than learning an aiming system.
I agree with you on this one. It took me years to learn that the hard way. I learned aiming systems are nothing more than a reference point to start with. Just like kicking a ball. The math says hit the rail right here while your instinct says "A little more to the right add quarter tip of english or something." You really got to know your cue and your stroke. Try to maintain a consisted stroke. Play shape where you can use the same stroke as much as possible. Also!! Your cue has a speed limit!! As soon as you are exceeding the limits of your cue you will be finding yourself aiming WAY outside the ball. Stay within the speed limit and you will get better and much more consistent.
I used to play the cello (I am very old now) and my teacher told me, as a small child, 'Play the scales every day, every one of them one after another and eventually, you will play in tune without thinking.' He was right. I got together with several other members in our school orchestra and we would play 'Three blind mice' in every key as fast as possible and it became a fun game and we all ended up playing in tune all the time without thinking. Our orchestra conductor back then was a retired major who conducted the Marine Core Band and he as a stickler about being in tune or else.
Very nice explanation Bob. It reminds of when I asked Jeff Carter how he aims and he said "Angles... I just see it and shoot" essentially what you were saying with sight picture. Practice makes perfect.
A long time ago Barry Bonds was having problems hitting. He asked his father Bobby, who was also a pretty good hitter, about it. Bobby asked Barry if he could see the ball and Barry answered
yes. Bobby said "then hit it".
That's when I shoot my best. Think about how many athletes have to deliver a football, baseball, basketball, hockey puck, or whatever, with nothing to sight by, with no time to examine the shot, and often while moving and/or to a moving target. When I think too much about half ball equals 30 degrees, I miss. Then I'll have a day where the balls seem to jump in the holes.
After shooting hundreds and thousands of shots, your body knows what to do. Its just like walking, you do it and dont think about it. Try speed shooting or time your runout. When you do this, you are letting your body do the work, not your brain. You can still go through the proceedures, but in the end, do what Yoda would do.....be the ball and feel the force.
I use an aiming system that allows meet to hit the pro side of the pocket with a very high percentage. Sure there are shots that I need to change the spot in the pocket that I need to aim to make the target ball but they are few and far between.
1) An aiming system never gives a shooter the precise spot on the cue ball to hit for a stop shot. Aiming systems never even tried to do that. That skill is left up to the shooter.
2) I use Joe Vitello's 90/90 system. I can hit the pro side of the pocket with high accuracy percentages.
3) I learned 5 different aiming systems trying to learn how to pocket balls on Diamond 9fts with pro cut pockets. My 20 years of by eye aiming had me jawing balls so much that I was ready to break my sticks and give up.
4) My aiming system education has elevated my game to the level where I can break and run on a Diamond 9ft often.
5) I agree that most of the aiming process takes place before you get down on a shot. However, I never visualize the target ball going in. I know it's going in so I spend more mental effort on the cue ball path and location after the shot. You are correct about the sight picture needing to be correct. I matrix two aiming systems to achieve this. I see where the ghost ball center point is then I use 90/90 edge to 1 of the 3 aim points to match the ghost ball center point. I stop. Then shoot. Dead in the hole.
6) In my aiming system education over the last 18 months during COVID, nowhere did I encounter an aiming system that said it was a secret of the pros or that a player would never miss again. EVER. They did say that if you have the fundamentals of a good pool stroke, can follow the aiming system instructions, practice to make the aiming process instinctual, that a players make percentage will rise to the level of pros. I agree with that assertion. I proved that assertion to be accurate.
7) Aiming systems are not tricks. They are science based systems. Playing by eye is a non-science based system that is difficult to replicate with any consistency.
This week I tried out the CTE center to edge aiming system and after just ten tries, I began successfully dropping the ball in the pocket. It was interesting to see it happen, the dynamics are peculiar but quite real.
@@emsnewssupkis6453 What is the "CTE center to edge" ?
@@peterpuleo2904 Look up Stan Shuffett
My golf swing grew exponentially when I employed the "don't think, just be consistent each time and swing as smoothly and as consistently as feels good to you" almost in the same practice session I was hitting the ball like a 15 handicap to nearly scratch. Same happened in snooker/pool. Went from barely making 3 balls in a row to consistently making 15-20 balls before a miss. I believe I've made upwards of 30 shots on the trot and can consistently makes breaks of over 50.
Thank you very much. I have personally struggled having too many advanced players showing me their different aiming systems, so if it seems to work the first time, i’ve noticed that i tend to abandon the natural progression i have made over the years. My game gets worse after trying to adopt these aiming systems. Currently i’m trying to find a balance between my natural progression and the new instructions that i find helpful
I needed to see this video! Lately, I have been bogged down on aiming and aiming systems. Thanks for the reminder that it's so much more than that.
This guy’s great! A different video of his helped me figure out all the cut angles and where to aim on the object ball. Good scale diagrams too.
Agreed. Aiming systems are tools to improve your automatic aiming. Practice and consistency are the key factors.
This is excellent content. Thanks Bob
I’m a pretty strong amateur (6/7 eight ball APA with 65% career win rate). Just recently started playing league again after a 14 yr hiatus. I played countless hrs of pool as an adolescent and then hit the pool halls as soon as I turned 18. No one ever showed me an aiming system and this video reaffirmed why I don’t need one. I’ve seen all the shots and hit them with every combination of speed and spin to instinctively know where to aim. I have noticed that my pocketing isn’t as good as it was years ago, but I think it’s just a lack of recent experience. Thanks for the video.
I agree 100%.A lot of these guys making these videos on aiming systems are doing nothing but looking for CZcams views so they can make a few dollars and they purposely make them complicated so the viewers keep coming back to watch them. Most of these creators never beat anyone.
The same can be said about deflection videos and banking systems.
John I have whipped a few butts AND had my Butt whipped by a few.
My Father was the first to whip my Butt but he used a belt not a Cue Stick. He refused to show me anything. He said you will go to a Bar and get yourself Killed. I have 2 Uncles who were great players. They said my Father was one of the best they ever saw.
One was Tall and Thin, the other was Short and Fat.
Me I am Medium and Muscular. I am pretty Good, no I am Damn Good. I have now watched many videos on Pool as I am Retired and do not get out much. Much of what I have seen I agree with. There is a couple of Young CZcamsrs that are pretty good but have no clue how to teach. I do both very well ~ Play & Teach. If I had a table I would do videos, but I have no Room as I have my Youngest Daughter, her Daughter & Husband and My 3 fantastic Great Grandchildren living with me. My Ex-Wife lives with our Son no one else can stand to be around her.
I love her but can not trust her.
Life Sucks (sometimes) then you Die. All in all my life has been Good.
I have been kicking around (literally) for more than SEVEN Decades. I am a Retired LEO, Firearms & Karate Instructor and Locksmith. I have made a few bucks playing Pool and I Love the game. At One Time I had a crew of Ladies working the Tables for Me. They were pretty good, I made them better. They got 30 to 40 percent of winnings. I paid for Everything out of my share. They usually made around $100.00 a night. I never worked more than 2 per night. The 3rd was hanging on me watching and giving me info on what was happening on the Tables as well as myself watching. The wife was not too happy with that but the Extra cash she loved spending.
I Taught 2 of her sisters how to play but not her. She always thought I was lying to her even though her sisters told her "You didn't do it the way he said too" .. .
But I am going back to watching now, I prattle on way too much.
I’ve been through several of these iterations as a beginner that’s only been playing for 3 years. So far the only Comment I have with in the video is the that people like Bustamante move the stick around on his final stroke and many of the players use backhand English while stroking.
I really enjoyed this one ! Thanks 😊
I love this!!!! New player here. Everything you say is totally spot in. Thanks for sharing.
Great video and excellent points. Time to hit the table.
very good explaining video it is all about correct practice and matches are a test for yourself how your progress is doing
This is a great session and I can't already see the difference in my game! Thanks
that absolutely true as i have been playing snooker for pass 25 years and my aiming still sucks till now.
Great video.
Trying to explain to someone how to aim will complicate how to pocket a shot.
There’s so much more to it than just showing someone where the cue ball is supposed to contact the object ball.
Thanks for putting in the time to articulate this deep subject. 👍🏻
You should see me doing cartwheels just cause of the 1st point you made within the first 2 :30, loved it.
Another great video - thanks!!!
I have always used the aiming trick of placing my tip upto the object ball in line with the pocket im going to and visualizing a dot there on the object ball to aim at hitting mainly on bigger or longer cut shots since I started playing the game 20 years ago
CTE has left the chat LOL. i like this video. I have tried it all over the years LOL
Most amateur players have a bad stroke and they don't know it so they look for other things to help them with their game. Then they start spinning balls in not knowing they're deflecting the cue-ball to compensate for a bad stroke.
If you want to improve your pool game you HAVE TO improve your stroke (from start to finish) because everything else you work on is utterly useless without this basic fundamental.
Seeing the line of aim as you're standing up behind the ball is crucial, but getting down on the ball and stroking through that line is a totally different animal and it's impossible to do with a flawed stroke.
Once your stroke is perfect... you then have to make it a muscle memory. I'm going to tell you right now - it's not natural, it will not feel natural and you have to turn it into a repeatable habit.
Think of it as robotic.
I totally agree; I always wondered why I am missing so many easy shots and after consulting friends, instructors and videos of myself I realized that my stroke was a joke; dropping elbow unnecessarily, elbow moving sideways, jumping after shot, shooting hard as if I am breaking, etc...At my advanced age I am still trying to improve step by step with a very good instructor who is currently focusing on the stroke and really spending a lot of time on that particular fundamental ..thanks. you are on point!!
This is critical for all beginning billiards players, I agree. I recently began playing pool again after a long time away from the game. As a youth, I was a pretty good, self-taught, intermediate player, but I picked up many poor habits along the way. When I began playing again, I couldn't understand why I was missing relatively "easy" long shots, then after closer self-examination, I noticed that my bridge hand position would ever-so-slightly change when I was ready to deliver the final stroke. This would cause the cue tip to move just a millimeter left or right of the original aiming point. Not as noticeable or crucial on short shots, but my longer shots were way off target by the time the cue ball reached the object ball at the far end of the table. I guess that with age and time, my bridge position changed, and it has now been causing all sorts of other issues. So I need to go back to a more consistent basic foundation point and build consistency from there. If the foundation isn't strong, anything built on it will be unstable.
This is the best pool channel but the average hobbyist isn’t going to watch it because it doesn’t appeal to their short attention span
I've come to the same conclusion you have after watching many hours of videos on shaft edge, CTE, ferrule, split the difference, and other aiming systems. They are far too mechanical and require memorization of many variables which seem very unlikely to me. Any some require crazy pivots after you've set your bridge hand. I'm one of those intermediate players that is frustrated because it's taking me a lot of effort to advance so was seeking out aiming systems. I'm rethinking this now.
While I agree to most of what you are saying, you and I have a completely different philosophy behind why we use aiming system. I am considered a average player and on a run to 7 I would usually atleast run 1 rack consistently (I'm not a absolute noob, is what I am trying to say).
As you mentioned pool is not all about aiming but it has other steps that needs to be consistent and well rehearsed. Totally agree with that. Where you have lost it for me is the effectiveness of aiming systems.
Any logical person should understand that a fractional aiming system that has only 5 or 8 aim line will of course not pot the millions of angle that exists. If someone believes aiming system is the silver bullet then they do need some therapy.
But, the philosophy behind aiming system is to give you a frame of reference. The mental image/sight you are talking about takes years of practice to build. A well established aiming system (such as fractional) will atleast get you started on the basic 4 to 8 angles. Repeating those 4 to 8 shots and trying to feel/memorize/sight (whatever you want to call it) will give you your first set of mental picture/collection of feel/collection of sight.
Once you have that initial set of mental pictures, such as what it looks or feels to have a half ball shot, if you did your due diligence at drilling Half balls shots you should be able to identify it on the table. And if you know how to add 2 and 2 together you'll start using your frame of reference to adjust to slightly more/less than half ball shots.
This adjustment can only come when you have a set of existing validated baseline. Any decent aiming system can give you that initial set. Rest is just practice to build the missing "feel".
Essentially what I am trying to convey is this, there's no alternative to shooting a millions ball..but having a framework or baseline set of mental image helps you towards the million balls in a more systematic and progressive manner.
On a last note, I want to say aiming system can help you learn angles/feel faster and also help you identify your problem angles. If you have a baseline it is comparatively easier to identify the types of angles you miss the most thus making it just a tad bit easier to progress.
I think we agree. This video was to make a point. I am working on a follow-up to my How-to-Aim video right now and it includes concepts you are talking about. Look for it sometime next week. Thank you!
@@ShortstopOnPool looking forward to it
Thanks. Great video.
Bob, Howdy; Thanks for that. Never truly had a "system". Tried a few, just know what works for me and that's
pretty much what you described with Filla and Souquet (sp?). Find your as Dr. Dave puts it "Vision Center" yet? chucklin'
PS. Always appreciate you mentioning it's YOUR OPINION. That goes a long way.
I believe you’re spot on! Great video.
Thank you so much!
Your Best tip ever is once you drop down to the cue ball with your tip, dont move a thing! Train this way and you will improve.....
Am interested, help me with this and video memory stick. I would like to watch these over and over again to improve my skills
@7:24 While I might agree that moving sideways being down on a shot may not recommended, I favor bracketing my aim, i.e. moving ever so slightly to cheat the target, left, middle, right, and then a smidge to the left, between the right and middle aim lines for final delivery. That would be for an object ball going to the left. Opposite for right cut. In other words for either side, thickest, middle, thinnest, and then back a smidge thick. This "movement" is mainly within the eye. No outside observer could notice this movement.
Liked the video. Thanks for the share.
After watching several of these pool instruction videos, I am tempted to get out my old school geometry textbooks to help learn what these guys are talking about.
When pro players stand behind the object ball,they dont check the angle...they check the contact point,after that, they go back to the cue ball,they just feel how the cue ball "contact" with the contact point...
I have my own aiming system that use to warm up. It helps me get into stroke but once I'm warmed up, I don't need an actual aiming system per say. I drop into the shot on the aim line and I no longer need that micro focus. That's when I'm shooting my best pool is when it flows without thinking about it. I'm an advanced player and it took me a long time to figure this out.
Excellent video... reality is a tough pill to swallow for some. The comments should get interesting ;)
I agree with everything, This is only for someone starting/beginner learning about pool. Aiming system is for players who already got the most knowledge of the games and now they find something to create for themselves. I use Fractional Aiming system(15,30,45 and Edges) ,but also using my shaft edge/tip to dial down as I am aiming before striking the cue ball to the object ball.
I too have been viewing these 'aiming systems' from the corner of a skeptical eye. After 'getting' into one or two, I always wind up asking "what the heck are they talking about?" So many profess they have solved the puzzle of pocketing every ball. If this is so, why do you hear tales of VanBoening's work ethic? "He's on the table 7/8 hours a day. When he gets through with a match, he find another open table and continues his practice." If there is a magic aiming system, why would you need this king of practice regimen to stay on top of the pro list?
Great video, thanks.
I only use tangent line for everything. It gives me point of aiming and playing position from one look.
What is a tangent line system?
Used the ghost ball to start. But after a bit when my game improved it went away. Gave me a groundwork to understand the basics then I built off of that. I love the way you explain things in this video. I spend an hour a day mon-fri practicing drills and whatnot. And when I play sat and sun people comment where'd you learn that or what's your secret. Ain't got one. Get on the table and shoot. Apply the fundamentals and make a serious effort to learn. I still have a very very long way to go. I really like what you brought up about effort/reward. I did start to consider quitting my drills at one point. Took many hours but when I run a drill out without mistakes and my overall game inproved. To me the reward is worth the work. Thanks for a great videos.
Question - if I were to buy your book in Kindle format on Amazon will I get all the supporting videos that you mentioned would be on a memory stick - something like hot links within the Kindle version or should I buy the PDF version to get the full offering - thanks again, PS: I've just started your 3.5 hour video with Lil' Chris, can't wait to learn more from you.
You get all the videos with both. I think the PDF is easier to use.
Ghost ball is the only valid system for center ball hits. And even then, it doesnt account for contact induced throw. For me, the Poolology system is helping me rediscover game and has made substantial improvements in my pocketing for center ball hits. But sooner or later, I will revert back to HAMB but this gets me there sooner.
I have been playing pool for a while but on and off so l never improved until I found out about the fractional system my ball making went up but still miss. Like you said l need to work harder and do all dose repitions. I understand what you say and mean
I can watch how toos on every thing about how too's and still my long ball and the rail just suck...Some days better then others..But still they suck..Good info thks
i like your aiming system and do it matter on pool cue's tip's make a difference ?.
I'm a beginner. and I am including those who use the automatic aiming system technique. The technical drawback is that the visual of the person in front of us is not a ball object that can affect it because the person in front of me tries to damage the aiming system I use. and my punches often miss. but when playing solo my shot is very good because visuals don't bother (people).
Nice work on your videos, thx! Regarding your Aiming perspective, 2 comments. First, having a lesson with Jerry Briesath , he said “You can’t out-aim anyone to win.” However, there is, I believe, a little known aiming system that was developed by a German named Ekkes, the SAMBA system, which is unique in that, Except for cuts in excess of 60 degrees, it DOES provide an aiming point, ON THE OBJECT BALL, for every shot angle. Hard to believe, but true, because the system, (here”s a very very brief description) has the shooter adjust the vision center (and alignment) for every 15 degrees of cut angle, and uses the cutting edge of the ferrule (rather than center of cue tip) for the aiming line to the OB contact point. Further, the vision center alignment is adjusted (moved to a higher 15 degree category) when the shot is Short, Slow, or Stun => which accounts for the additional CIT on those shots. (Also, vision center alignment is changed up 2 levels if it is both a stun shot and very close. ). That SAMBA system has over 100 full sized pages of instruction and diagrams and links to about a dozen demonstrations of each of the shot angle groups being aimed and shot. Very very thorough and detailed. I believe you would find it has some very interesting concepts. One other note: a year after my initial lesson with Jerry B., I took a 3 day lesson with Mark Wilson. He identified 8 areas where I needed improvement, but as I showed him how I aimed, using SAMBA. and setting up 15,30, and 45 degree cut angles (with same OB ), and showed him how 8 aimed and made those different cuts, … aiming was the only area that got an “ok” check mark!
Draw it to scale with precision on a computer. You will find it is not accurate. Not the least of which because shadows on the balls are not well-defined enough. But mostly because it just does not work. What you have done is trained yourself to see the correct sight picture by distracting your mind from what you are really doing. I know convincing people of this is harder than convincing a believer that Bigfoot does not exist. Draw it precisely on the computer. That is the ONLY way to convice anyone it has any merit. And that is only the very first step.
@@ShortstopOnPool Don’t get me started on Bigfoot! I’ve been in Magic for 50 years and read an article in magic magazine about the guy who has that costume made and became the “Bigfoot” creature - story was released by the costume maker after the guy died. Yes, shadows are as you described; the SAMBA method describes using a shadow but that is just the way to indicate a 1/4 or 3/4 vertical line on the ball. So it’s not at all a shadow method. I believe the mechanism to use those several vision center alignments, which yields an aim to a specific point on the ball, is a concept that does not just fall apart, as do the pivot methods which use some Kentucky windage you had ascribed to the method I mentioned. It is purely line based with the Vision center orienting the sighting line, and the the OB aim point directly out of the pocket, and the ferrule edge to have the cue stick lay on that line. Having used this method from a standing start, it is not based on making adjustments when down on the shot, it just follows the line. I had gone away from this method as I wasn’t sure that my vision center ‘mechanics’ were “true” and precise enough and so looked for other aiming methods. Still, my experience with that aiming method, along with the fact that there is enough angle play (entry into the pocket) for any truly workable mechanistic system (60 degrees and less) that SAMBA can’t be dismissed as unworkable due to, well, the fact that no truly workable aiming method is possible to exist. I thought you might have appreciated the Short, Stun, Slow aspect of changing the vision alignment which I found, just starting with that system, to work very well - which I attribute to the inherent accuracy underlying the method, and not dependent on adjustments on the table.
@@michaelkozlowski857 Draw it to scale on the computer with precision.
I'm a 50-70 break snooker player and I strongly agree with this video, on every point. I have worked diligently and analytically on my game for nearly 20 years. Watching this video was like someone reading my mind! Sight picture and consistent execution is everything. I'm also big on not being results oriented, I don't hear it much in cue sports but it's definitely a philosophy of mine. It did occur to me though watching reason 7 'stay still' that each and every player you showed was lifting their head on the shot despite being world class players. Don't get me wrong they can clearly still get the job done. But as a snooker player that level of head movement would foster too much inconsistency over longer distances into smaller pockets. There is a noticeable difference in movement/flamboyance between pool and snooker players. So much so that I can't help but think that reducing this flamboyance would SURELY lead to slightly more consistent results for pool players. No?
Yes. Yet, you'll find that the very best keep their head very still. Most snooker players play with their chin on the cue making head movement nearly impossible. But snooker is more about accuracy. Pool players need to move the cue ball more and control it more precisely and spin the cue ball much more than snooker players. And pool balls are heavier. So although they look the same (hit balls with a stick) they are quite different. I'm not excusing pool players head movement, just saying it really is a different game.
I'm I guess what you would call a beginner, and the ghost ball aiming system has helped me immensley. My stroke needs a LOT of improvement, as I can rarely hit the cue ball dead center without some kind of side spin. My stance needs improvement also.
That you know to work on your stroke and stance early in your career puts you ahead of most. Good luck!
i cant agree with the last one. for beginners, delivering the cue in a relatively straight line is defoly more important for potting. However, lets be honest here, the pool table in the club are already freaking generous(u can nearly fit 2 balls!). if u look at intermediate players, they miss some short or mid-range shots on a 9-footer which do not even threaten side of the pocket, and then u put the ball in the middle of the table, ask them to shoot in the kitchen, IF THEY MISS, they do still threat the pocket consistently. that cannot just be cueing. HOW BAD of your cueing need to be for u to miss short range shots BADLY? Yes, if u ask that particular player to maybe shoot the white ball up and down table or some straight shoots, as his cueing improves, he will pot more solely for a shortened error range. Yet, u have to TRY to pot in the centre of EFFECTIVE pocket to gave u the best chances. Especially for pros, i saw Judd Trump miss some shots in the U.S. night ball open which i just dont believe its about his cueing
I have not been visualizing the pocket line. I'm guessing it from the aim line and often am uncertain on where to aim. I'm going to add that.
Same here. I thought maybe Filler, Souquet, etc., were looking at an aiming spot on the object ball when they looked down the pocket line, such as with the ghost ball aiming system. I'm still not sure why they look down the pocket line unless it gives them a better feel or orientation when they walk back to the aim line.
I use the ghostball aiming system. As you discussed. This one doesn't suck, lol
The ghost ball mis no aiming 'system'. It is simply a way of intellectually understanding why and how a correct cue delivery willk bring your cue ball to the spot where it pockets the ball and to perhaps easier visualize the shot. You still need to visualize. Perhaps it helps you, perhaps not.
All the best.
Than you
So should I invest in an aiming system cue ball or not?
I would like a video on side spins and how they can help
This is just what I needed
At 11:12 you talk about quadrants my aiming well i call it alignment system and use two sets if quads that you align before you get down one quad from the cue ball one quad from the object ball. It is easy to see it you are not aiming but aligning the quads to each other of course i am still not great as you say if you can not shoot striaght in no drift stop shots nothing will help. I work on that mostly
Well I agree with a lot of this (BUT) its not quite right. I say this because the technique of delivery is the thing that you should concentraite on (developing a repeatable action and technique is essential - a pre shot routine focuses a player - this can only be done with hard work and the visualisation of shots improves as the patterns and potting angles repeat themselves all over the table. these aiming systems can interrupt this process giving a player too much to think about and filling your head with crap that takes away the natural pre shot routine (However) aiming systems can be a incorpriated into the pSR and can be useful guide at times if you cant (see) a shot or visualise it (usubf the cue tip or shaft to aim for example and there are some beifits to be had 0 I think the trouble comes when you start experminting with different aiming systems ad going down a rabbit hole of trying to find short cuts or ' aiming secrets' but many have done it and when something goes wrong or you have a bad day its very tempting to try something new. Developing a solid repeatable technique therefore and is what you should really try to perfect as this will give you better results over time. Tweaking this slightly can help - doing too much can be detrimental too... its just a simple game for complicated people
But, how do you best determine the aim line? That is the question for those of us old guys trying to relearn the game.
I see you found my how to aim video
This is my problem my aiming! I can easily control the cue ball after hundreds of hits on the table getting used to the rails and cloth but aiming is much more important.
Spot on!!!
I agree all aiming systems suck!! Except my parallel lines system and your visualization system. We could rule the pool world 🌍 😉 if we joined forces.
- [ ] I use the center ball aiming to pocket balls. It works great, however I cannot achieve position for the next shot.
Your videos are amazing.
Thank you.
Luther "Wimpy" Lassiter used to say...."I don't give lessons, because I don't know what I'm doing."
Yes, sensei!
I think your point is "no aiming system is complete" ... but the title got my attention :)
Most aiming systems can be disproven in some way by introducing the concept of cut induced throw at diffrent speeds.
What is a "cut induced throw"?
@@peterpuleo2904 The object ball being forced off is straight path because of the friction causing energy transfer from the cue ball. I guess that's how I'd explain it. Basically, if you hit the ghost ball point perfectly straight with the cue ball into the object ball itd go straight into the pocket. If you hit the ghost ball center of the object ball exactly the same from a 30 degree angle the object ball will be thrown off course slightly compared to the straight hit due to the friction/energy transfer from the cue ball. The cut of the cue ball induced throw on the object ball. Hence, cut induced throw.
@@fixitrod4969 Oh yes, yes, of course. Thank you!
I just had to totally agree with what you have said.. After many years of play The biggest improvement I noticed was when I quit Trying. As counter intuitive as that may Sound It is a fact. The best analogy I can give the is like a simple math problem. After we have done 2 + 2 = 4 or several times in kindergarten we know the answer to that problem problem and you never actually solve For it again. After shooting the same shot enough times your brain knows where to hit the ball. If you do your job consistently with your stroke and delivery your brain will do its job and make sure you're aligned Correctly!
I think this is a great and I agree.
Aiming systems suck. A straight stroke does not suck. If a player starts watching aiming system videos on CZcams, they'll get wrapped around the axle so tight they'll never get untangled. There is no magic bullet. The only aiming system that works is time on the table and learning where to hit the object ball from any angle. Then there's using English on the cue ball which is another skill learned only from hours and hours of playing. Bottom line? Stroke stroke stroke.
yes you have to account for the kind of friction on angled shots
Hola, me gustaría sus videos tuvieran traducción. Gracias...
Hacer traducciones es nuevo para mí, y no hablo español. Mira este video y avísame si te funciona. czcams.com/video/IBuNitdR1ZY/video.html
I agree with you ive fell into this trap for years
Thx for saying it out loud. I just threw all the aiming systems over board some weeks ago. I realized they all just get you roughly near the pocket but not into the pocket. Only intuition can do that after having shot infinite balls.
Working on a video now called "How to Aim". Stay tuned, think you'll like it.
So is Filipino pre stroke like Reyes or Bustamante bad ? I do it because they were my idols and now I can’t stop doing it, I pot almost all of the half table shots but miss like half of the long shots I shot
Not bad, but not optimal for most players. They become consistent doing that at a very young age.
Yeah.. very nice
is it ok not to have aiming system
i mean i don't use aiming system when i play i just feel it when it is right i score most ball like that but not always
"feel it" is the definition of your brain learning what the correct sight picture looks like. THAT is how you aim with or without an aiming system. So the system is just extra baggage you don't need. Good job!
@@ShortstopOnPool thanks
people told me aiming system is mandatory and with out it you can't score but when i play i know where to hit with out any aiming system and i thought that might be bad
thanks for your video it really help me
One other point is that your brain does not see certain angles between 30° and 15° correctly because the pocket appears to be in a different place than it really is. Ex. If you take 5 object balls starting at LR 2nd Diamond SR 1st diamond and align them straight into the corner pocket, stand behind them and verify they’re perfectly straight dead center , then walk around the table, the table and the balls will appear to shift alignment right and then when you get to about 30° they were line up again straight dead center to the pocket visually and as you go past 30° They will appear to be turned toward the left of the pocket. I tested this with veteran players and they could not guess correctly if I never let them see if the were aligned to the left or right or center.
This is cool. I've started working on a follow-up video about "How to Aim". Gonna try this tomorrow, may include it in the vid. THANKS!
OMG! Every single point you made has been used by me to argue against "systems" with other players for decades! How did you steal my thoughts! :)
My argument, like yours, boils down to no "system" can make you deliver the cue straight and give you the "feel" needed for good position play, NONE OF THEM!
Unless you have some sort of eye damage or really poor eyesight, AIMING is the easy part!
I just like this video 😂😅!!
The reasons people have DISCOVERED aiming systems is because they work. Your intent is ABSOLUTELY to ruffle feathers.
First point: The aiming system is not SUPPOSED to help you hit the cue ball precisely. All the aiming does is to get the body aligned to the accurate shot line.
Second point. - AIMING is done standing up and IS a part of every aiming system. Using one creats a consistent pre-shot routine.
Third Point. YES ABSOLUTELY the aiming system helps to pocket balls in either side of the pocket. How? Because it gives you an accurate baseline to adjust from. Odd that yuoui refernce SVB's aiming system and at same time dismiss aiming systems.
Fouth Point: Has absolutely nothing to do with aiming systems. You aren't DOWN on the shot UNTIL you are in the shooting position.
Fifth point: Aiming systems are all about visualization. Namely USING the objective reference lines to accurately get to the shot line. Getting to an accurate shot line ALLOWS players to build muscle memory of what the correct shot picture looks like.
Sixth Point: Aiming is Easy????? So easy that you made 3 videos on the subject. So easy that you give a bunch of labels and terms to create and aiming system using your terms. Yes there is a "trick" it's called learning whatever techniques are valid to aim with. Not magic, just different methods.
Seventh point: Intent is EXACTLY what Aiming Systems offer. The aiming systerm user is DELIBERATELY and CONSCIOUSLY being intentional and deliberate.
I could go on but your video is incredibly false on so many points.
Tangent line is all that matters. No system needed
What is a tangent line
You need my parelell line system to bring that back to the cue ball contact point. :)
@@richardsmart4906 it's the line 90 degrees from the shot line
Now this was a honest video
I represent Queens, She was raised out in Brooklyn.
OMG - NO AIMING SYSTEM PROPONENT HAS EVER SAID ALL MISSED SHOTS ARE BECAUSE OF AIMING.
Sayın Bob acaba verdiğiniz eğitici vidyolarinizi Türkçe dublaj olmuş bir şekilde seyretme imkanı olurmu teşekürler
I have captions on. Press the CC button. If you don't see captions they are not available in Turkish.
I’m 52 , ready to play you some sets MR Shortstop
See you in Vegas
Well I have an immune system and I'm nowhere near a beginner and if it wasn't for the aiming system I would be in trouble it actually save my pool game Ghost ball sucks the only one besides the one that I use which I come up with on my own is the fractional system I used it for a long time but it just got so hard to know what fraction I needed to contact so I worked hard and I felt the Eureka moment hit me like a brick in the face and once I saw it I couldn't unsee it and now I use it but for the most part everything subconsciously I basically use it as a tool now not a crutch
Been playing for 50 years and would have to disagree respectfully. You haven't discussed anything faulty with aiming systems and several would be an issue no matter what method you used to pocket balls. No matter how I aim, movement for example, would affect the shot. The reason I use aiming systems is BECAUSE of the site picture. There are only 5 angles to a pocket due to the balls being smaller than the pocket. So recognizing these angles Aiming systems can also be used for banks and rail shots as well (using the pocket mirror image as a reference). Pundits of aiming systems also don't understand that 'feel' is still a part of any system. With an aiming system, it's often the feel of 'Trust it', vs. not. Learning to play well IS hard work and I agree no matter how you aim, the vast majority of why you miss is not related to aiming - more often to stroke. I studied aiming systems for 10 years. This was after 30 years of playing by rote. My consistency improved tremendously with an aiming system. And they can be used to double check other methods. Still most important is delivery of the stroke. Of course, position play is also critical and a consistent shot routine is as well.
I totally agree with you. Too bad for others who just have to "feel" their way into shots!
I agree totally when you say u use an aiming system to double check.
I do what the creator of video said(i also caught myself not doing it all the time-which i am already working on it)
To see the potting angle then aiming line....etc. but then in addition to that i have different aiming systems for different shots:tricky shots,medium tough,tough and very tough shots.
I let my subconscious play the rest of the shots.as long as i am in the zone...(the routine ones)
I like
Now How about Playing The Diamonds?
I don’t believe you are a shortstop, I’m definitely not !!!!! I’m ready to see how you play against a stranger
..when i am not in the zone i use aiming systems cause i hate missing balls and for me they work . nobody can stay for too long in the zone.
At this point having used them for some
Years now..i literraly catcth myself using some of them unconsciously..and i am very glad..my game has improved exponentially.
Yes in an ideal world its good without systems all automatic..but hey what do u want me to think about while shooting!?
How sexy legs has the girl next to me!?
You always have to think to something relevant to your current ball..and obviously everybody makes easy to medium pots..but when i am faced with a tough shot..dont tell me not to use my systems.interplay between conscious and unconscious mind is a common advice...so!?? What are you using your conscious mind for!?
Sounds like you are using aiming system(s) correctly. My vid was about people who expect to much from them and over-use them. Gonna make a complementary video about how a player "should" aim. Stay tuned.
I don't have an aiming system. It's just that my aim sucks. :):):)