Re: Dominant eye Centered over cue....

Ron Shepard wrote:

> ...  I would like to have my upper arm 
> and shoulder joint in the same plane as everything else, but with 
> the cue stick aligned under the center of my eyes, it just isn't 
> possible.

It's possible with another compromise:  Tony (or you) could turn his 
head a little to his left, so that his shoulder is in line with his line 
of sight and move his elbow out a little onto the same line (picture 
pivoting the stick at the chin).  This results in a more "closed" stance 
with everything (stick, forearm, upper arm/shoulder, chin/nose) in line.

Then the elbow hinge is (usually) aligned correctly for a "natural" 
straight stroke along the line of sight, but this extra head turn is 
uncomfortable for some.  (BTW, I think this "natural" alignment of the 
elbow hinge with the shot line allows maximum effortless power in the 
stroke.)

The key to this alignment is turning your head so you're looking 
straight in line with your shoulder, then positioning your elbow on that 
line.  I'm not saying everybody wants to, but that's an easy way to find 
this alignment.  Doing it in a mirror helps -- you get the same view 
that we have of Tony in the picture.

> If the player aligns the cue stick with his outside eye, then it is 
> possible to get the upper arm and shoulder in (almost) the same 
> plane as everything else.

Yes, and I think that's often the reason for the common "outside eye 
alignment" -- not necessarily to get the stick nearer the dominant eye, 
but to get the stroke aligned with (or at least parallel to) the line of 
sight.

Pat Johnson
Chicago