Dominant eye!

[scoo24]

Hi all

I have joined this forum cuz I have a question & I noticed there are so many people with excellent knowledge about the game.
I have made a couple of centuries in the last few months and can make 60+ breaks almost everyday. I'm right handed and I have a dominant right eye. I have been told recently that I'm not striking the cueball where I think I am, in other words, when I think I'm aiming to strike the middle of the cueball, I am actually pointing my tip a little towards the left but as I've been playing the game for over 15 years, I seem to have adapted somehow.
Should I continue doing what I'm doing or do I have to change my head posture and if so, can anyone tell me which of the top players is right eye dominant so I can maybe try to imitate how they sight the shot?!!
Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks

[Son of Cliff]

Hi all

I have joined this forum cuz I have a question & I noticed there are so many people with excellent knowledge about the game.
I have made a couple of centuries in the last few months and can make 60+ breaks almost everyday. I'm right handed and I have a dominant right eye. I have been told recently that I'm not striking the cueball where I think I am, in other words, when I think I'm aiming to strike the middle of the cueball, I am actually pointing my tip a little towards the left but as I've been playing the game for over 15 years, I seem to have adapted somehow.
Should I continue doing what I'm doing or do I have to change my head posture and if so, can anyone tell me which of the top players is right eye dominant so I can maybe try to imitate how they sight the shot?!!
Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks

My father had a dominant right eye he coped with it and had a good career playing while aiming with one eye, many of todays players aim with one eye if you watch Ronnie Osullivan I am pretty sure he is starting to move to his left eye.
Graham Miles who played in the 70's and was a very good player he made two 147's in a row in one exhibition and he aimed that far to the left it looked like he was aiming with his ear.
We nearly all have a dominant eye and to test this if you point to an object in the distance with both your eyes open then keep pointing while you close first the right eye and then the left eye with many people the object will be in the eye line of one of these eyes(the dominant one) and not the both.
I play to a good standard and I aim with my left but now that I have got a little older the cue has moved more into the middle this is probably down to my left eye getting weaker but I am not 100% sure as I have yet to go and have my eyes tested.
All in all you are playing to a good standard so I would not worry about it although a trip to have your eyes tested might help.

[jb134]

Hi, you'll find a bit about it which is quite informative in the coaching section of Frank Callans website, am a bit of a luddite so am not sure how to post the link. Interestingly, Frank claims to be the first to mention the importance of this aspect of the game although I am sure I read about it years ago in "Talking Snooker" by Fred Davis.

Perhaps someone who has read that could confirm if I am correct or if I am hallucinating as usual.

[angelinababe]

Hi, you'll find a bit about it which is quite informative in the coaching section of Frank Callans website, am a bit of a luddite so am not sure how to post the link. Interestingly, Frank claims to be the first to mention the importance of this aspect of the game although I am sure I read about it years ago in "Talking Snooker" by Fred Davis.

Perhaps someone who has read that could confirm if I am correct or if I am hallucinating as usual.

wasn't jimmy white im pretty much sure he had a dominant eye but don't quote me on that though guys???

[Strickimicki]

Hi, you'll find a bit about it which is quite informative in the coaching section of Frank Callans website, am a bit of a luddite so am not sure how to post the link. Interestingly, Frank claims to be the first to mention the importance of this aspect of the game although I am sure I read about it years ago in "Talking Snooker" by Fred Davis.

Perhaps someone who has read that could confirm if I am correct or if I am hallucinating as usual.

Hi jb134,

I'll have a look when I get home! The book's in the bookselves somewhere!

I'll get back to you! Do you remember which page it was on?

No really i'll have a look.

I'll be back

Brian

[The Doctor]

interesting subject this and one that has many coaches in disagreement. I know that some coaches say you must play under the dominant eye but i don't agree. I have been coaching for 16 years both pros and juniors. I was one of the origional WSA coaches and an examiner too. I think the question you should be asking yourself is, are you hitting where you intend. you can check this by trying to hit up and down spots and also hitting up and down spots with blue on spot thus trying to achieve a double kiss. also check along the baulk line, seeing if when you intend to hit green spot to yellow spot you are covering the baulk line with your cue. this might be easier with some help. You are trying to be able to idetify centre of white while it looks like centre to you. again a bit of help from a trusted source, then move your head until you find the centre of white and what looks right to you and is confirmed by your aid. Let me reassure you though, that some of the very best players, even world champs seem to be aiming left or right of centre but have come to compensate through years of playing.
i would recommend the exercises above and look to see if the cue ball is going where you intend and don't be so caught up in all this dominant eye stuff. It would be best if you could get a good coach to help you. i will look for a link for you that might help.

[The Doctor]

sightright can be very useful see website. or look on WSA website. dont get too concerned as you can obviously play a bit. just work on it and try to get a good coach if you are having problems.

[Strickimicki]

I'm back!

Hi jb134,

you were right on that call!

Page 75 - 77!

good memory!

Brian

[jb134]

Lol, I read it in a library in Birmingham in about 1989 while waiting for a bus. The two things I remember from the book are that thing about sighting using a doorpost and a quote along the lines of "on a poor table with old balls the game is reduced to mere bashing" or words to that effect.

Good book if I remember.

[Cyril]

Lol, I read it in a library in Birmingham in about 1989 while waiting for a bus. The two things I remember from the book are that thing about sighting using a doorpost and a quote along the lines of "on a poor table with old balls the game is reduced to mere bashing" or words to that effect.

Good book if I remember.

A very good book indeed, which I would recommend to anyone. By the way, brother Joe, was very much one-eyed and it didn't do him any harm!

[scoo24]

Thank you all for your replies. Much appreciated

[wildJONESEYE]

If youre a 60+ a day player and have no intension to be a profesional id leave right alone youre technique ....

because what will happen you might fix youre problam then again you might not but instead of playing youre game natrually you will become conscious of what you do and thoes 60+ breaks a day will go down and down and you might strugle and get frustrated and wont enjoy the game as much...........

[S Davis Fan]

Hi There

Steve Davis proves that you can have a dominant eye, and still sight with both.

His normal stance using both eyes. (Click to enlarge)
Early 80's vs late 80's.JPG

Using the Rest clearly showing his dominant right eye. (Click to enlarge)
Steve Rest2.JPG

[RonnieJunior]

If youre a 60+ a day player and have no intension to be a profesional id leave right alone youre technique ....

because what will happen you might fix youre problam then again you might not but instead of playing youre game natrually you will become conscious of what you do and thoes 60+ breaks a day will go down and down and you might strugle and get frustrated and wont enjoy the game as much...........

this is the best advice..

[hamedsullivan]

Hi , my problem reloaded !

i can't pot a straight shot !

i don't know my cue is not straight or i see the wrong angel ( not 0') .

when i stand for a straight shot , my lef eye is on a balls exactly and i'm left handed but

when i want delivery the cue i find my right eye on the cue !!!!