I am reading my "Inside Pool" mag this morning and Bob Henning has an article titled "Points of Reference". The article is really about hitting the center of the cue ball.
Now if you do not understand collision induced throw or spin induced throw please do not comment in this thread. I don't mean any disrespect but if you do not know what these terms are then please get a book and understand them before reading this.
Nowadays, I am a seven in the APA and an A in any other leagues. When I was really getting started in developing the skills I have I would never use spin. I felt there were too many variables like chalk on the cue, scratched up balls, oil from fingers, aiming errors, squirt, throw and on and on. Back then I was a really good shot maker and had very sound fundementals due to some lessons I took from a pool hall owner. I was able to accurately pocket balls and was reasonable, (due to good speed control) at getting good position. My advise to anyone who asked was that spin was the death of all accurate shots. This is still my advise today for most players that play at less than A speed. Usually these players have far more to work on before using spin. Like just hitting the center of the ball usually due to poor stroke mechanics. I myself did not start using spin until I became a six in the APA.
I guess my question here stems from hitting the center of the cue ball. I myself practice long straight in shots. Sometimes, I practice to scratch by following the ball, (try that on a long straight in). There are times when I have stopped the ball dead, (no left or right movement at all) and I miss. Well, I did not hit center so the ball path was affected by throw from spin. So at my level I still fail to hit center ball at times and I am sure I can attribute this to not hitting center. However there are also times when I can attribute a miss to an error when inentionaly spinning the ball. I use spin at times nearly half the time. Obviously, cue ball control is the first reason, but then there is taking advantage of a little throw instead of a slight cut when I need to kill the cue ball and then correcting for collision induced throw and a couple of shots I am just comfortable with using spin. This all ads up to questioning myself as to how often I am spinning the ball? Or Perhaps, I should be questioning not spinning the ball? If I error at time not hitting center perhaps i should just spin more? Perhaps I just start putting some scotch tape on my tip and start practicing that way no spin no draw just rolling follow?
Just putting this out there for discussion. What do you all think? :thumbup: :bash: Some times I hate this game sometimes I love it!
Now if you do not understand collision induced throw or spin induced throw please do not comment in this thread. I don't mean any disrespect but if you do not know what these terms are then please get a book and understand them before reading this.
Nowadays, I am a seven in the APA and an A in any other leagues. When I was really getting started in developing the skills I have I would never use spin. I felt there were too many variables like chalk on the cue, scratched up balls, oil from fingers, aiming errors, squirt, throw and on and on. Back then I was a really good shot maker and had very sound fundementals due to some lessons I took from a pool hall owner. I was able to accurately pocket balls and was reasonable, (due to good speed control) at getting good position. My advise to anyone who asked was that spin was the death of all accurate shots. This is still my advise today for most players that play at less than A speed. Usually these players have far more to work on before using spin. Like just hitting the center of the ball usually due to poor stroke mechanics. I myself did not start using spin until I became a six in the APA.
I guess my question here stems from hitting the center of the cue ball. I myself practice long straight in shots. Sometimes, I practice to scratch by following the ball, (try that on a long straight in). There are times when I have stopped the ball dead, (no left or right movement at all) and I miss. Well, I did not hit center so the ball path was affected by throw from spin. So at my level I still fail to hit center ball at times and I am sure I can attribute this to not hitting center. However there are also times when I can attribute a miss to an error when inentionaly spinning the ball. I use spin at times nearly half the time. Obviously, cue ball control is the first reason, but then there is taking advantage of a little throw instead of a slight cut when I need to kill the cue ball and then correcting for collision induced throw and a couple of shots I am just comfortable with using spin. This all ads up to questioning myself as to how often I am spinning the ball? Or Perhaps, I should be questioning not spinning the ball? If I error at time not hitting center perhaps i should just spin more? Perhaps I just start putting some scotch tape on my tip and start practicing that way no spin no draw just rolling follow?
Just putting this out there for discussion. What do you all think? :thumbup: :bash: Some times I hate this game sometimes I love it!
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Until I read your post it was something that I have grown accustomed to do without thought, but it so vividly made me remember, I'll share it. I'm just reminiscing here so if you want the short version just go to the last paragraph. 
