Do you do this?

Cdryden

Cdryden

Pool Addict
Silver Member
I have noticed that I hit balls softer or harder depending on the game I am playing. When playing one pocket I tend to be very careful and hit very soft for obvious reasons. While playing 8-ball I am less careful but still cautious and still hit them soft on average. But with 9-ball, i can be a little careless and tend to hit them allot harder than usual.

Is it the fast paced nature of the game, is it the slop factor or is it just ignorance and bad habits on my part? Probably the latter.
 
Being the noob that I am, all I can add is that I have a difficult time playing 9-ball because I don't change the way I usually hit balls. I tend to be a soft hitter, quite often going with "pocket speed". Of course in 8-ball that's cool because if I miss a shot my object ball is still right around the pocket. In 9-ball, that becomes a major problem, missing with a soft hit and leaving the ball near the pocket.

Answer = Don't Miss!

or

Hit'em harder!

or

Don't play 9-ball!

:grin:

(I still play in a weekly small 9-ball tournament, and try to adjust accordingly. I'm still new and learning, so perhaps this will come in time. It's still all fun to me.)
 
Shots in rotation games are often hit more firmly than other games. The reason for this is pretty simple - since you have no choice on what ball you must play next, you often need to travel long distances to get shape on the next ball. Also, in rotation games where you are very often relying on english off the cushions to get shape, you don't need to cheat the pockets as often as in some other games, so you can hit more shots firmer.

In games like 14.1, 8 Ball, or 1 Hole, you have choices of shots to play position on so you don't have to cover long distances nearly as often. Additionally, you are often using cut angle to play position rather than english off a rail, especially in straight pool. Because of this you need to cheat the pockets more often in these games and this requires more "pocket speed" shots.

No, it's not just you. :wink:
 
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DogsPlayingPool said:
Shots in rotation games are often hit more firmly than other games. The reason for this is pretty simple - since you have no choice on what ball you must play next, you often need to travel long distances to get shape on the next ball. Also, in rotation games where you are very often relying on english off the cushions to get shape, you don't need to cheat the pockets as often as in some other games, so you can hit more shots firmer.

In games like 14.1, 8 Ball, or 1 Hole, you have choices of shots to play position on so you don't have to cover long distances nearly as often. Additionally, you are often using cut angle to play position rather than english off a rail, especially in straight pool. Because of this you need to cheat the pockets more often in these games and this requires more "pocket speed" shots.

No, it's not just you. :wink:
Click to expand...


Same here. Good explanation.
 
justadub said:
Being the noob that I am, all I can add is that I have a difficult time playing 9-ball because I don't change the way I usually hit balls. I tend to be a soft hitter, quite often going with "pocket speed". Of course in 8-ball that's cool because if I miss a shot my object ball is still right around the pocket. In 9-ball, that becomes a major problem, missing with a soft hit and leaving the ball near the pocket.

Answer = Don't Miss!

or

Hit'em harder!

or

Don't play 9-ball!

:grin:

(I still play in a weekly small 9-ball tournament, and try to adjust accordingly. I'm still new and learning, so perhaps this will come in time. It's still all fun to me.)
Click to expand...

Easier solution for 9ball play - pattern rack. Practice your breaks and figure out the best pattern so that you don't have to move the cueball nearly as much :grin:
 
Cdryden said:
I have noticed that I hit balls softer or harder depending on the game I am playing. When playing one pocket I tend to be very careful and hit very soft for obvious reasons. While playing 8-ball I am less careful but still cautious and still hit them soft on average. But with 9-ball, i can be a little careless and tend to hit them allot harder than usual.

Is it the fast paced nature of the game, is it the slop factor or is it just ignorance and bad habits on my part? Probably the latter.
Click to expand...

It all depends on what's needed for each particular shot, so it's constantly changing, and depends entirely on what needs to be done, to gain shape.

But, sometimes it just feels good to let my stroke out and slam one.
 
In my game, CB energy (== speed off the cue tip) is entirely determined by what I want the CB to do after the CB-OB contact.

Its part of the old mantra: "You don't have to hit the OB any harder than it takes to get the OB to the hole." So, if you do hit it harder, you need a reason to have done so.
 
I think most people hit it harder playing 9 ball, but it really isn't necessary most of the time. Call accu-stats (1-800-828-0397) or go to the website and order any 9 ball video with Buddy Hall. He hits the balls incredibly soft 95% of the time. It really is a beautiful thing to watch. To me, watching him is watching how 9 ball should be played at it's highest level.
 
I hit them as hard or soft as they need be....but the games that have more CB movement are going to have more speed to the shots than those with less CB movement
 
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