Caveat: Beginner, practicing.
I find I am improving on general accuracy. While I am far from perfect knowing where to aim, my issue has mostly been hitting the OB where I am aiming. That is getting much better and more consistent with practice, and watching lots of videos and reading.
Except on draw shots. Note I am not even worrying where the cue ball ends up at the moment, but am finding that for any longish draw shot, I am way off on where it strikes the object ball.
Yesterday I hit about a dozen shots, perfectly lined up on the diagonal, cue ball about 6' from object ball - missed every one. I shifted up to the center and made 2 of 3. About the same with a follow shot.
The misses were variously soft and hard hits, with little difference. It seems whenever I shift my front hand down to get back spin, something goes wrong.
My question is: do you have suggestions for self-diagnosis?
I am trying to keep the cue as parallel to the table as practical, am trying not to change the stroke much from what I would hit at the center (which seems to work). I am getting a fair amount of backspin on the ball, and I do not feel I am mis-cueing at all (and am trying for a nice even layer of chalk). I do not think my bridge hand is moving, I think whatever is happening is either that I am not "seeing" the center (low) of the cue ball and actually setting up a bit off center, or more likely my back hand is doing something bad.
I've tried working my way down the cue ball, and indeed it just gets worse the further down I go.
Does a draw shot's lower hit actually require a lot more accuracy, due to rolling resistance (or other reason), and this is normal? Again, seeing no degradation in a follow shot accuracy, just bottom.
Or am I likely doing something different, and just not sensing it?
So back to the point: Suggestions for self-diagnosis?
PS. I have inquiries out to two instructors locally, but no response.
PPS. If it matters, 9' table, simonis 860 cloth.
I find I am improving on general accuracy. While I am far from perfect knowing where to aim, my issue has mostly been hitting the OB where I am aiming. That is getting much better and more consistent with practice, and watching lots of videos and reading.
Except on draw shots. Note I am not even worrying where the cue ball ends up at the moment, but am finding that for any longish draw shot, I am way off on where it strikes the object ball.
Yesterday I hit about a dozen shots, perfectly lined up on the diagonal, cue ball about 6' from object ball - missed every one. I shifted up to the center and made 2 of 3. About the same with a follow shot.
The misses were variously soft and hard hits, with little difference. It seems whenever I shift my front hand down to get back spin, something goes wrong.
My question is: do you have suggestions for self-diagnosis?
I am trying to keep the cue as parallel to the table as practical, am trying not to change the stroke much from what I would hit at the center (which seems to work). I am getting a fair amount of backspin on the ball, and I do not feel I am mis-cueing at all (and am trying for a nice even layer of chalk). I do not think my bridge hand is moving, I think whatever is happening is either that I am not "seeing" the center (low) of the cue ball and actually setting up a bit off center, or more likely my back hand is doing something bad.
I've tried working my way down the cue ball, and indeed it just gets worse the further down I go.
Does a draw shot's lower hit actually require a lot more accuracy, due to rolling resistance (or other reason), and this is normal? Again, seeing no degradation in a follow shot accuracy, just bottom.
Or am I likely doing something different, and just not sensing it?
So back to the point: Suggestions for self-diagnosis?
PS. I have inquiries out to two instructors locally, but no response.
PPS. If it matters, 9' table, simonis 860 cloth.