Shot / stroke problem

T

teddosan

New member
Hi all,

I'm pretty new to pool. Well, I'm new to trying to get better at pool...

Anyways, for the past few weeks, I've been working on getting some semblance of a stroke. I thought I was doing pretty well... until tonight. For the first time, I decided to try a simple drill. Shoot a ball straight in across the table to the opposite corner pocket. Do it 30 times in a row and start over if I miss...

Well, I placed the cue ball about 12 inches behind an OB with a straight-in path to the pocket, got down, practice stroked to make sure I get the middle of the CB, and took a stroke that felt good. Unfortunately, the OB hit the rail an inch left of the pocket. Crap... So, I tried it again. Same result. And again and again. I always hit an inch or so to the left.

Any ideas what could be causing this?

These are straight in shots! And I can't hit them. I don't even know where to begin analyzing what is wrong...
 
teddosan said:
Hi all,

I'm pretty new to pool. Well, I'm new to trying to get better at pool...

Anyways, for the past few weeks, I've been working on getting some semblance of a stroke. I thought I was doing pretty well... until tonight. For the first time, I decided to try a simple drill. Shoot a ball straight in across the table to the opposite corner pocket. Do it 30 times in a row and start over if I miss...

Well, I placed the cue ball about 12 inches behind an OB with a straight-in path to the pocket, got down, practice stroked to make sure I get the middle of the CB, and took a stroke that felt good. Unfortunately, the OB hit the rail an inch left of the pocket. Crap... So, I tried it again. Same result. And again and again. I always hit an inch or so to the left.

Any ideas what could be causing this?

These are straight in shots! And I can't hit them. I don't even know where to begin analyzing what is wrong...
Click to expand...

Don't feel too bad. Straight in shots are probably the hardest shots when you are just starting. A lot of the time you are steering the cue because ob over gripping. It could be many other things, but try shooting the shot at a slow speed with a loose grip.
 
ChrisBanks said:
It could be roughly 575 different things. So don't listen to anyone that claims to know the answer.
Click to expand...

I understand that it could be any of a myriad of things, but I have to start somewhere to figure this out. I don't even know how to begin analyzing what could be wrong.

I'll try slower and focus on loosening my grip like Mantis suggested and see if that helps at all...
 
teddosan said:
Hi all,

I'm pretty new to pool. Well, I'm new to trying to get better at pool...

Anyways, for the past few weeks, I've been working on getting some semblance of a stroke. I thought I was doing pretty well... until tonight. For the first time, I decided to try a simple drill. Shoot a ball straight in across the table to the opposite corner pocket. Do it 30 times in a row and start over if I miss...

Well, I placed the cue ball about 12 inches behind an OB with a straight-in path to the pocket, got down, practice stroked to make sure I get the middle of the CB, and took a stroke that felt good. Unfortunately, the OB hit the rail an inch left of the pocket. Crap... So, I tried it again. Same result. And again and again. I always hit an inch or so to the left.

Any ideas what could be causing this?

These are straight in shots! And I can't hit them. I don't even know where to begin analyzing what is wrong...
Click to expand...

im sorry i didnt read the replies
you need a video lesson
find an instructor to do that
you can thank me later:wink:
 
work on your bridge,grip and stroke. I will make the shot looking at some chicks ass at the next table. :grin:
 
Don't try to build a stroke based on input from an internet forum.

You would be miles ahead to ask your local pool room to refer you to a qualified instructor. The more habits you create before getting a lesson(from a qualified instructor) the worse off you will be. Asking league shooters and unknown internet posters for advice can screw you up big time. Even if someone is a good player it does not mean they are a qualified instructor.
 
gregcantrall said:
You would be miles ahead to ask your local pool room to refer you to a qualified instructor. The more habits you create before getting a lesson(from a qualified instructor) the worse off you will be. Asking league shooters and unknown internet posters for advice can screw you up big time. Even if someone is a good player it does not mean they are a qualified instructor.
Click to expand...

How does one determine if another is qualified?
 
3andstop said:
Agreed. It's beyond me how anyone can make a shot looking at the CB as they shoot.
Click to expand...

It really doesn't make too much of a difference, in fact I'm pretty sure Rodney Morris also looks at the cue ball last before he shoots. It could be that you're making adjustments when you're down on the shot. I myself do most of my thinking and adjustments while I'm looking at the shot and once i get down into my stance I focus 100% on executing my same old repeatable stroke.
 
Qualification can come from education or experience.

ChrisBanks said:
How does one determine if another is qualified?
Click to expand...
Qualification can come from education or experience. Even if an instructor is qualified he might not be the best for you. Ask what their experience and credentials are. Talk to some of this instructors students. Take a first lesson as a feeler. If they want to teach you english in the first lesson.....bail!
 
have you tried it without the object ball. put the cue ball about 4 inches from the cushion aligned with one of the diamonds near you, then stroke the cue ball center aiming for the diamond straight across from you. If you are aiming and stroking straight, the cue ball should rebound straight back to the tip of your cue. If you can do it consistantly on the width of the table, change to the length of the table. Maybe this will help.
 
If you have a video camera,set it up to record the head on image of you shooting.

If you don't have a video camera invest in this gizmo to give you feedback before you strike the cue ball

http://www.joetucker.net/store/stroke_trainer.htm

For diversion :D
You won't mind that it is Russian- the visual is instruction enough
Approaching The Shot
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QAXIS9NYdIA

Practice you stroke on the rail, where the cushion meets the rail - does it run straight?

Next, practice your stroke on the baulk line - does it run straight?

Now add the cue ball - if you are hitting the cue ball on the centre lines BOTH of them - the vertical axis of the ball and the centre line of the circumference - the ball should return to the tip of the cue.
If it doesn't you are not hitting straight.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yf0PFH4U6Bg&playnext=1&list=PL93661C9AB111C67F&feature=results_video

Once you can do this consistently, add an object ball.

First you crawl, then walk, then shoot the lights out.
 
bullshot said:
It really doesn't make too much of a difference, in fact I'm pretty sure Rodney Morris also looks at the cue ball last before he shoots. It could be that you're making adjustments when you're down on the shot. I myself do most of my thinking and adjustments while I'm looking at the shot and once i get down into my stance I focus 100% on executing my same old repeatable stroke.
Click to expand...

Funniest thing I have read all week.
 
Where to begin.

Before a good instructor would give you advice on your stroke.......wait a minute. To quote Willie Hoppie from Billiards As It Should Be Played.
In the chapter FUNDAMENTALS -- THE KEYNOTE, he states:
"There ar seven important fundamental factors to consider first. When you master them you are on the way to becoming an expert billiard player. These seven essential fundamental factors are.

(1)---Position at the table (stance);
(2)---Grip on the cue (balance point);
(3)---The Bridge;
(4)---Cueing the ball;
(5)---The stroke (follow through);
(6)---Application of english;
(7)---Speed and force."

He then dedicates a full chapter to each in order.

Willie Hoppe was ranked number 1 on the Billiards Digest 50 Greatest Players of the Century.
From Wikipedia:
Hoppe won 51 world titles between 1906 and 1952. He was also known for various long-standing high runs, including scoring 2,000 contiguous points in straight rail, 622 points in 18.2 balkline, and a run of 25 points in three-cushion. He once made a tournament average of 1.333, a world record (at that time, but since broken).

Hoppe published his first book, Thirty Years of Billiards, in 1925, and followed this up many years later with the introductory work, Billiards As It Should Be Played, in 1941. Hoppe's peculiar style of stroke was a result of his career as a child prodigy. He barely reached the table and had to stand on a box. In Billiards As It Should Be Played Hoppe emphatically advised players not to use his way of directing the cue.

An interesting aside, In Striking the Cue Ball he says "The most important point to remember in cueing or stroking the cue ball is simply: Avoid extreme english."
Under Aiming he states; "A glance should go from the cue ball to the object ball, back to the cue ball, and rest there---so you must be looking at the cue ball, rather than the object ball before delivering your stroke."
Note that he was a 3 cushion billiard player and not a pool player. In 3 cushion control of the stroke on the cue ball was paramount. Anyway a person that dismisses looking at the cue ball last is speaking from ........well nevermind.
 
gregcantrall said:
Before a good instructor would give you advice on your stroke.......wait a minute. To quote Willie Hoppie from Billiards As It Should Be Played.
In the chapter FUNDAMENTALS -- THE KEYNOTE, he states:
"There ar seven important fundamental factors to consider first. When you master them you are on the way to becoming an expert billiard player. These seven essential fundamental factors are.

(1)---Position at the table (stance);
(2)---Grip on the cue (balance point);
(3)---The Bridge;
(4)---Cueing the ball;
(5)---The stroke (follow through);
(6)---Application of english;
(7)---Speed and force."

He then dedicates a full chapter to each in order.

Willie Hoppe was ranked number 1 on the Billiards Digest 50 Greatest Players of the Century.
From Wikipedia:
Hoppe won 51 world titles between 1906 and 1952. He was also known for various long-standing high runs, including scoring 2,000 contiguous points in straight rail, 622 points in 18.2 balkline, and a run of 25 points in three-cushion. He once made a tournament average of 1.333, a world record (at that time, but since broken).

Hoppe published his first book, Thirty Years of Billiards, in 1925, and followed this up many years later with the introductory work, Billiards As It Should Be Played, in 1941. Hoppe's peculiar style of stroke was a result of his career as a child prodigy. He barely reached the table and had to stand on a box. In Billiards As It Should Be Played Hoppe emphatically advised players not to use his way of directing the cue.

An interesting aside, In Striking the Cue Ball he says "The most important point to remember in cueing or stroking the cue ball is simply: Avoid extreme english."
Under Aiming he states; "A glance should go from the cue ball to the object ball, back to the cue ball, and rest there---so you must be looking at the cue ball, rather than the object ball before delivering your stroke."
Note that he was a 3 cushion billiard player and not a pool player. In 3 cushion control of the stroke on the cue ball was paramount. Anyway a person that dismisses looking at the cue ball last is speaking from ........well nevermind.
Click to expand...

There isn't a snooker player or instructor on the planet that would advocate CB last, you may get away with it on a table with buckets for pockets but it is fundamentally wrong and not the key to accuracy.
 
Different games

Slasher said:
There isn't a snooker player or instructor on the planet that would advocate CB last, you may get away with it on a table with buckets for pockets but it is fundamentally wrong and not the key to accuracy.
Click to expand...
3 cushion is a different game from pool, but so is snooker. I agree that object ball last is best for me when acuracy is critical but I am not afraid to use cue ball last when cue ball control is critical and the shot is not difficult.
 
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