Advanced Pocket Billiards by |
Don Rose has been an advanced BCA Instructor since the first 12 instructors were chosen. He has been Midwest 3 Cushion Champion as well as Arizona State 14.1 Champion. The writer of numerous instructional articles, Don has been teaching billiards for 29 years and playing the game for over 50 years. Always willing to help anyone who asks, Don is available for group or private lessons. He will answer any instructional questions, anyone might have. E-mail him at donrose@azbilliards.com His archive of columns is available here. |
Dominance is a normal tendency. You have a dominant side of the brain - genes - foot, etc. We will deal with the dominant eye & the message it sends to the dominant hand (grip hand), and combine it with natural instinct.
First, I believe it wise to be aware of anything that affects our ability to perform. The adage "Practice-Practice-Practice" is good advice. However wouldn't it be wise to know what we're practicing and trying to accomplish? Practice boredom is caused by the lack of a specific goal.
Theoretically if your alignment is perfect and you deliver your cue dead straight, you will never miss another ball as long as you live. SURE!!
So what generally goes wrong? I believe in most cases it stems from an improper alignment.
The following data is not a theory or vague opinion. In fact-they are my observations over a period of 25 years of looking down the line of numerous students and watching their habits unfold.
First, they are all misaligned to a certain degree.
Second-This misalignment is constant every time (either right of target every time or left every time.) This is their dominant view.-The thing of course that varies is the degree of misalignment. I have never seen anyone line up dead perfect.
So, it's no surprise that the AAA to Pro players "see the ball" better than the rest. They will be lined up usually a maximum of 1/8 of an inch off line (left every time or right every time.) Their cue tip will now adjust while stroking the shot-left slightly if they have a dominant view to the right or right if their view is dominant left. This has taken place in all my observations and is totally "natural".
"B" players will misalign up to 1 inch (1/2 ball) off target. They of course will have to veer back, hooking their tip (cue) left or right depending on their dominant aiming.
"C" players are in big trouble. They're 1 to 2 inches offline. Both eyes are looking at the ball but their cue is not. They now must swerve the cue in an attempt to adjust. Of course they invite a host of further complications with this violent move.
What's going on? Well the moving cue adjustment is normal and the degree each player must adjust it surely is the degree of misalignment. - It's an instinctive move that only can be lessened by better alignment.
You can find out where you're rated by having a friend look down your shaft alignment for you. Put a five foot shot straight in and have him place a "ghost" ball frozen to exactly the spot you're aiming on the object ball. Prepare to be surprised. Isn't it any wonder then that thin cuts (exacting hits) are difficult for you?
The secret is to maximize the visual dominance you naturally will possess. This will automatically give you a more accurate delivery of the stroke. Yes practice aiming! Use any device necessary in order to line up properly. Save your instinct for better things than trying to adjust your misalignment while stroking.
If a friend isn't around to help you try this: Again use a 4 to 6 foot straight shot. Now take your normal stance and line up to the shot till you feel you are in dead alignment. Now close your weak (non-dominant)eye. You will immediately feel a slight head shift as your dominant eye re-seeks the proper alignment. You should also notice at once how far you're out of whack.
The answer here of course is keep your strong eye over the shaft and "don't let your weak eye look". If you do, it will push your dominant eye out of line. This "displaces" an observed object because of the improper position of the observer (parallax line of sight). - When shooting a rifle your weak eye is idle because the dominant eye is concentrating on the proper sight(s) alignment. - This is not "casual" viewing we're talking about as in a normal scenic view - this is precise aiming! If you stand some distance away you can view a large apartment buildings 300-400 windows, but to pick out a single one of these windows and concentrate on it is aiming. (Your strong eye will "take over")
Try this - Line up to any shot and get so low your chin touches the cue. You will find your dominant eye should line up better actually seeking the target. You can now raise up slightly if you wish but keep the dominant eye dominant. Or-Stay down for a number of shots till it dominates. Forget for now that staying that low may inhibit your stroke somewhat - we're practicing aiming.
In the end, your alignment has a direct relationship to your expertise. You cannot play well without it.
This article merely scratches the surface of this subject. If you need aligning: See me at Clicks on 40th street and Thomas in Phoenix.-Every Wednesday 7-9pm - Besides, who wants to go thru life out of whack.