Eyesight Problems and Playing Pool
1/1/2012 10:53:27 AM
Eyesight Problems and Playing Pool
I have an alignment problem. It may come from my glasses. They are progressives.
When I step into the shot and get over the stick, I'm actually aiming to the left of where I think I'm aiming. I'm center on the cue ball but aiming about a quarter ball left of target. Needless to say, my game is in the trash can right now. It does not happen every time, but it happens quite a bit.
I have been playing pool for about 50 years, and right now I'm in a real slump. That's why I took the user name "2 ball run".
I don't know how to correct the problem? Any advice?
Eyesight Problems and Playing Pool
Replies & Comments
Mitch Alsup on 1/1/2012 11:10:16 AM
Step 1: Don't use progressive glasses when shooting pool Step 2: Have a set of bifocals made where the lower lens has a prescription for 3-6 feet of distance and the top lens has a prescription for 4.5-10 feet of distance.
The lower lens allows you to see the cue-tip and cue-ball in perfect focus, the upper lens allows you to see the OB and pocket in perfect focus. If the optical shop gets the 'pupils' in the glasses correct, there is minimal distortion as you transition between the close focus and long focus.
2ballrun on 1/1/2012 11:13:30 AM
Thank you Mitch!
I have to do something, that's for sure. This is making me crazy.Fenwick on 1/1/2012 11:58:22 AM
Do a search for billiard glasses. They are like shooters glasses only better. I use them at the pistol range and playing pool. I'd give you a link but I guess that's not allowed here.
Thank You Fenwick! I believe you can post links here according to the faq section?
billiardsforum on 1/1/2012 4:33:18 PMYou are good to post links Fenwick, since you aren't promoting your own company and you make other valuable contributions to the forum.
For glasses, http://www.billiard-eyeglasses.com/
For alignment problems call Geno at, 715-563-8712
Thank you Fenwick. I need to give them a call to see if bifocals are an option? I don't see that listed on their site ! I'm also not sure what you mean by alignment problems?(Gino). Is this someone I would call to order the glasses from who would be able to correct my aim problem (aiming left)? Or is this someone I would call after purchase to fit the glasses to my head properly?
Geno is a instructor who will offer you a free phone lesson in regards to alignment problems. Left or right eye dominant related.
You don't really need bifocals to play pool. One good thing is after you get the frames you can have any optometrist make new lenses should your eyesight change.
Wow! Thanks again Fenwick. It has been at least a year since I had my eyes tested, so I'm going to make an appointment. I will then get some shooting glasses and see if the alignment thing is corrected. If not, I'll give Gino a shout!
ziz9cp on 1/4/2012 12:24:16 AM
What ever you do, don't go for contacts, that's all I'm saying. Everyone has suggested billiards glasses which is tre-bueno, very good.
Contacts, they roll up your eye and blur the shot.
I also have some kind of strange optical aberration that produces a purple hue around the cue ball, possibly some kind of refraction off the blue cloth, but it's an extreme nuisance. And people often think i'm on some kind of high.
My pre-shot routine is literally; plan, chalk, drip (eye-drops), aim, strike.
I'm drinking carrot juice on a daily basis out of frustration.
Don't be confused. They're Billiard Glasses first and foremost. I just happen to use them at the range also.
I have got it! I guess I should have said Billiard shooting glasses. Sorry for the confusion! Thanks
I got my eye test done tonight. I will be ordering billiard glasses soon. It's worth a shot. i.m.o. If it helps at all. I am playing better though. I think that by using the side of the stick, it makes me more aware of where the cue is actually aiming.
PoolGod on 3/20/2013 7:27:21 AM
I need Bi-focals for reading, but would not use them for shooting. I use my regular glasses. seeing clearly close-up is not neccessary in pool. You know where the cue ball is, and you never focus on it. Your muscle memory tells you where to hit the cue ball. Distance vision, on the other hand is absolutely important. You gotta focus clearly on your object ball.
Wear your single vision glasses.
Zeke on 3/21/2013 8:21:54 AM
2ball,
Just for kicks (assuming you don't have a severe stigmatism) go to some cheapy eyeglass store (Wal-Mart, K-Mart, CVS) and use square floor tiles as a ruler.
Put on a pair of say 1.25 "readers" and see what floor tile (or better yet, objects on shelves at a 10' distance - based on floor tile squares) is in perfect focus.
Then put on a pair of 1.75 "readers and see what the "in-perfect-focus" point(s) are.
Mess around until you can find two pairs of readers that provide perfect relaxed focus from 3' to 10'.
You may discover a single pair may be more than adequate for your needs and, you won't be out a fortune for Rx glasses?
This thread is a bit old. Sort of like me! lol I tried the billiard shooting glasses. They did not work for me. After three different pairs I finally gave up and opted for Lasik. I'm now getting ready for my second Lasik operation next Tuesday. I'm not really looking forward to that again. My eyes were pretty bad.
Careful, you might have to change your name to 3ballrun...
Now that right there is funny!
allanpsand on 5/2/2013 10:59:26 AMThe problem may be in the position of your feet. If you are not in a natural stance, you may be swinging your stick arm outwards to avoid hitting your body on the stroke. Or, your feet position may be forcing your head out of a vertical location above the stick.
Set up a difficult straight in shot. Get down on your regular stance and shoot it five times. Any misses should consistently be off to one side. Shift your front foot outwards about an inch and shoot again, see if the misses are closer to the pocket. If not, move your front foot inwards and repeat.
Work with this for a few times over several practice sessions. If it is fixed, then it's the feet.
If you have real difficulty changing your pre-shot routine, here is a simpler trick: Get down on the shot and set up according to your routine. Then manually make a slight shift in your aim. Sometimes, if you are consistently off - you can add a manual shift to bypass your unconscious actions.
Eyesight Problems and Playing Pool
- Title: Eyesight Problems and Playing Pool
- Author: 2ballrun (Frank Stevens)
- Published: 1/1/2012 10:53:27 AM
