perfecting the draw

[mohrt]

A question for the instructors. Systems are great tools. For instance, if you teach someone good fundamentals on aiming a shot, they will likely make more shots consistently. They don't have so many "off nights" when the fundamentals are practiced, ie. they always get themselves aligned properly with the shot. So, I want to carry this concept over to drawing the ball.

This is a troublesome shot for many players. Say I want to draw the cue ball straight back exactly 1 diamond, every time. Some days I can hit this fine. Sometimes it goes 1.5 diamonds, which can be disastrous. So, how would I work on getting this shot consistent?

One way is HAMB until you can "just do it." I'd like to take a more objective approach, something that can get me there faster than just trial and error, something I can focus on at the table so I'm not always relying completely on feel and muscle memory.

Here are some ideas that come to mind:

* pause on the backstroke
* focus on where to strike the cue ball
* focus on firmness of stroke

So how would you instruct someone to learn this shot so they can do it consistently? What is most important to focus on?

 

[softshot]

perfect your stop shot line... for example take a stop shot with the balls 3 diamonds apart .. shoot that exact shot when the balls are 2 diamonds apart and you get one diamond of draw..

so if you need 1 diamond of draw and the balls are 4 diamonds apart.. then you need to shoot a 5 diamond stop shot..

if you need 2 diamonds of draw and the balls are 4 diamonds apart shoot a six diamond stop shot

I practice the line to 10 diamonds so the final shot of the drill is 5 diamonds of draw with the balls 5 diamonds apart....

p.s. when calculating distance in game and you need to come off a rail count the rail as a full diamond

 

[softshot]

also useful to know.. if you are say... 4 diamonds apart and you shoot a 3 diamond stop shot.. you get 1 diamond of follow..it doesn't extrapolate out like the draw spin does but for 1 diamond of follow it works perfect

 

[mohrt]

Good stuff! Just the kind of input I was looking for.

 

[slach]

perfect your stop shot line... for example take a stop shot with the balls 3 diamonds apart .. shoot that exact shot when the balls are 2 diamonds apart and you get one diamond of draw..

so if you need 1 diamond of draw and the balls are 4 diamonds apart.. then you need to shoot a 5 diamond stop shot..

if you need 2 diamonds of draw and the balls are 4 diamonds apart shoot a six diamond stop shot

I practice the line to 10 diamonds so the final shot of the drill is 5 diamonds of draw with the balls 5 diamonds apart....

p.s. when calculating distance in game and you need to come off a rail count the rail as a full diamond

You can hit the snot out of the cue ball and get a 4 diamond stop shot. Use that speed with 2 diamond draw and you'll get a lot more than 2 diamonds of draw.

 

[FranCrimi]

Try eliminating one variable by hitting the cb as low as possible for all your draw shots. Then you only have to focus on speed control.

Keep in mind that there are always exceptions, but I find it to be a pretty good rule of thumb. I play that way and I encourage it whenever possible.

 

[mohrt]

Try eliminating one variable by hitting the cb as low as possible for all your draw shots. Then you only have to focus on speed control.

Keep in mind that there are always exceptions, but I find it to be a pretty good rule of thumb. I play that way and I encourage it whenever possible.

There is another school of thought: Eliminate the stroke variable by keeping a consistent and repeatable stroke, and then focus on where you strike the cue ball: more tips of low for more draw and more tips of high for more follow. Is there an advantage to one over the other?

 

[Slasher]

My method is simple, I visualize. You will be amazed at the power of your mind to make the associations necessary to execute very accurate control, we don't give our brains enough credit

 

[FranCrimi]

There is another school of thought: Eliminate the stroke variable by keeping a consistent and repeatable stroke, and then focus on where you strike the cue ball: more tips of low for more draw and more tips of high for more follow. Is there an advantage to one over the other?

Yes, overall, the stroke will be softer by striking the cb the lowest possible which makes it favorable for ball pocketing.

 

[Cameron Smith]

Yes, overall, the stroke will be softer by striking the cb the lowest possible which makes it favorable for ball pocketing.

I agree, I feel it's important skill to develop wherein you can obtain the most amount of action of the cue ball with the least amount of effort. It's something you see in the greatest of players.

 

[Bob Jewett]

There is another school of thought: Eliminate the stroke variable by keeping a consistent and repeatable stroke, and then focus on where you strike the cue ball: more tips of low for more draw and more tips of high for more follow. Is there an advantage to one over the other?

When you are drawing at an angle there is no choice if you want a certain angle and distance. You need to have both the draw and the speed right when the cue ball gets to the object ball.

For longer draw shots -- cue ball behind the line, object ball near a foot pocket -- it turns out that you can get draw with less cue stick speed by hitting a little higher than for max draw. The higher hit gets more speed on the cue ball and there is less time for the draw to wear off.

 

[FranCrimi]

When you are drawing at an angle there is no choice if you want a certain angle and distance. You need to have both the draw and the speed right when the cue ball gets to the object ball.

For longer draw shots -- cue ball behind the line, object ball near a foot pocket -- it turns out that you can get draw with less cue stick speed by hitting a little higher than for max draw. The higher hit gets more speed on the cue ball and there is less time for the draw to wear off.

That's good info --- A little higher than max for long draw shots. Thanks.

 

[Neil]

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