Visualize BOB

[thunder66]

I always have problem visualizing BOB (back of the ball). I know where it is suppose to be, however, when I'm standing behind the white, and looking at a red, the back of the ball is just a blob of red color, it is very hard to visualize where the exact point is over this blob of colors.

Sometimes I try to visualize the curve of the back of the ball, and it helps a bit, ie, the furthest part of the ball from the pocket. But when I'm down, I could easily lose where the BOB is.

I know I'm suppose to line up while standing, however , I've also read on this forum, when delivering, I'm suppose to focus on the BOB. But without full confidence of where exactly BOB is, it sometimes affects my delivery.

So it brings me to the second question, should I really look at BOB when down and delivering? Or just look at the general direction of the red, and just deliver the cue as my setup has been aligned to when getting down?

Some had told me to look at shadow on the table of the red ball, however I can't really figure out how exactly this would help.

Any suggestion, or drills that can help me to visualize where BOB is?

[bmole]

I have the same problem, I have tried many different ways of keeping the focus on this point, over many years of trying I have decided that lateral thinking is the way for me, one method in particular gave me a bit more confidence in the step in. I continue the line of aim through the BOB and out the other side, this gives me two points of reference when getting down. It may seem simple but it has a calming affect on the approach that helped me ignore the nagging doubt that I had lost my point of aim once I was down. There are various additions that can be made to this, but it it better to give one method a complete workout before dividing your concentration

As to whether you should really look at the BOB when delivering, my opinion is a definite YES, hopefully you will get some more assurance from other members

[ace man]

I always have problem visualizing BOB (back of the ball). I know where it is suppose to be, however, when I'm standing behind the white, and looking at a red, the back of the ball is just a blob of red color, it is very hard to visualize where the exact point is over this blob of colors.

This is exactly how it is supposed to look. I don't understand your problem.
No human can see nor even visualize *exact* point of contact. The point is tiny, possibly a millimetre or so. How is anyone going to clearly see something like that, especially from a distance of say 2 metres or more?

[vmax4steve]

visualise the oval shape where the two balls overlap, not the exact millimetre contact point of the red dot.

[Terry Davidson]

Even though my own coach and teacher has told me to focus on BOB I've never been able to do that and can't figure out how anyone can possibly visualize a dot, say black on other balls and a white dot on the black ball.

What I do is as vmax has described above...I try and visualize how much of the object ball will be covered by the cueball when it makes contact. Now some could argue this is actually the same thing as BOB but I don't agree as I think visualizing the cueball in the plant position directly opposite the pocket is more realistic.

Besides which I think this is the natural way any beginner will determine the potting angle.

Terry

[thunder66]

Even though my own coach and teacher has told me to focus on BOB I've never been able to do that and can't figure out how anyone can possibly visualize a dot, say black on other balls and a white dot on the black ball.

What I do is as vmax has described above...I try and visualize how much of the object ball will be covered by the cueball when it makes contact. Now some could argue this is actually the same thing as BOB but I don't agree as I think visualizing the cueball in the plant position directly opposite the pocket is more realistic.

Besides which I think this is the natural way any beginner will determine the potting angle.

Terry

So visualize the oval or the cover happens while standing I presume, this is when the line of aim will be determined.

However, when I start to get down and finally on the table, since head is so much close to the cue ball, while object ball is far away, it's hard to see what the actual cover is at this point. So when doing flickering of the eyes, what/where do I concentrate on when eyes flicker to the red ball? and also when I shoot?

Although I do know my body/setup is all on the line of aim when down, but when delivery I feel I need somewhere to focus my concentration on.

Thanks!

[Terry Davidson]

Just focus on the object ball itself. Don't try to focus on the centre of the imaginary cueball as on any shot that's more than a 1/2-ball cut your cue will be pointed outside the object ball at a molecule of air or something.

Don't worry too much about this since as long as you do the same thing every time you will eventually train your brain to unconsciously compensate for the difference between BOB and the line of aim of the cue. They are only the same on a straight-in shot.

Terry

[jonny66]

I usually follow the line of my cue when I flick from cue ball to object ball, and just focus on sending the ball straight down that line.

[linglomsri]

So is it ok to look at the center of the OB on the final delivery because I also have problem focus at BOB as well

[jonny66]

Not the centre no, unless it's a dead straight shot, visualise where you want the centre of the cue ball to go.

[bolton-cueman]

I cant grasp how (or why) people try to visualise dots or ghost balls or points of reference or whatever....

I have to agree with J6 above - pick the line and push the cue along it. About as complex as it gets. Play the line.

[jonny66]

I'm not J6, the banned guy, I'm not even a cockney. But yeah, all your aiming gets done before you're down on the shot, after that it's just a case of pushing the cue through nice and straight.

[tedisbill]

I'm not J6, the banned guy, I'm not even a cockney. But yeah, all your aiming gets done before you're down on the shot, after that it's just a case of pushing the cue through nice and straight.

Nice idea. But wrong.

[bolton-cueman]

Nice idea. But wrong.

I love posts stuff like that.

Go and tell Del Hill and Griffiths they're wrong then lol

[pcb]

are we saying in the standing position to pick the line we wish the cue ball to go down and cue down that line ,ie play the cue down that line to pot the ball, hope someone can help.