I set up a straight in shot on a diagonal line to the right corner pocket. It is laser straight (thanks to Scott Lee and double checked since). Object ball is 3 diamonds out and cue ball is 3 diamonds back from that. I have hit this shot 2,950 times (50 a day).
Even on a very good shot my cue tends to finish 1/4 to 1/2 inch left of center. I have changed everything I can think of from feet position, stance, head angle, stroke and aiming.
I seem to be having some success by approaching the ball slightly from the right, kind of like a TOI but with no angle created, or at least such a small angle it does not cause a miss. I am able to pocket the ball and stay directly online with SOME consistency but I think I am actually hitting the ball slightly right of center. I know this because the cue ball is still spinning after coming to rest. So the cue is online, finishes online, the ball goes in the center of the pocket, it "looks" to me like I am slightly right of center and the spinning cue ball seems to confirm all this.
I suspected what I see is not actually the center of the cue ball, possibly an eye dominance thing or something, and the tiny right shift was putting me on true center, but why would the cue ball be spinning horizontally after stopping if I am not putting side spin on the ball.
I don't know if I like the stroke that appears slight right of center and ends up right online with the cue ball spinning or the one that looks correct to my eye but ends up slightly left of the center line. I am concerned that the right of center shot will affect cut shots that hit the rail, so am leaning towards living with the left of center finish.
Even on a very good shot my cue tends to finish 1/4 to 1/2 inch left of center. I have changed everything I can think of from feet position, stance, head angle, stroke and aiming.
I seem to be having some success by approaching the ball slightly from the right, kind of like a TOI but with no angle created, or at least such a small angle it does not cause a miss. I am able to pocket the ball and stay directly online with SOME consistency but I think I am actually hitting the ball slightly right of center. I know this because the cue ball is still spinning after coming to rest. So the cue is online, finishes online, the ball goes in the center of the pocket, it "looks" to me like I am slightly right of center and the spinning cue ball seems to confirm all this.
I suspected what I see is not actually the center of the cue ball, possibly an eye dominance thing or something, and the tiny right shift was putting me on true center, but why would the cue ball be spinning horizontally after stopping if I am not putting side spin on the ball.
I don't know if I like the stroke that appears slight right of center and ends up right online with the cue ball spinning or the one that looks correct to my eye but ends up slightly left of the center line. I am concerned that the right of center shot will affect cut shots that hit the rail, so am leaning towards living with the left of center finish.