I was practicing my break stroke in my room to get a feel for different techniques I was reading about, and I noticed at full power it looked like a vibration going up the shaft making the tip dance for a moment... am I seeing things? Is this something I am causing by an improper stroke? I put a little wrist snap in the start of the stroke to get the cue moving faster is that causing it?
Shaft vibration on break shot?
- Thread starter Kaiser Bob
- Start date
Did you feel any vibration, or did you here any sound from your cue that did not sound right? (like a buzzing sound)
If not, there is probably nothing to worry about. A wood shaft has flex and will bend, or vibrate depending upon the hit.
If not, there is probably nothing to worry about. A wood shaft has flex and will bend, or vibrate depending upon the hit.
If you tap the cue on the side, near the joint, do you get the same "wiggle"?
You have a good break; if I were you I would get a limb saver for my break cue.
Nothing unusual, though I wasn't hitting anything I was stroking into the air in my room. Normally I'd be focused on the cue ball but since there was nothing to aim at I was looking at the end of my shaft which is how I noticed the vibration. It looked like a wave going up the shaft but like I said I wasn't sure if my eyes were playing tricks on me.
I can't check now but this piqued my curiosity, I'll check and also compare the flex against my play cue when I get the chance.
I wish I had a better one!
What got me doing this to begin with was reading that you want to hit the second ball from the side rail on a break (8-ball) when I usually shoot from head on a little less then a diamond from the back rail. My break isn't consistant, maybe half the time I have what I consider a 'good' break; a nice loud crack and the cue ball pops straight up maybe an inch and stays near the head spot with the rack blowing apart. Other times the rack breaks pretty nice but the crack is noticeably less loud and I'll leave a wide open spread for someone with nothing dropping. Maybe 1 in 50 the cue ball flys off the table, pretty rare for me.
I meant you might want one of these, I have one on my break cue.
http://www.seyberts.com/products/LimbSaver_X_1_25133-1973-76.html
http://www.seyberts.com/products/LimbSaver_X_1_25133-1973-76.html
I got what you meant, I forgot to put in my last reply that I'm probably going to pick one up.
Gotcha, never realized how extreme it could be. From looking at how my tip was vibrating I can't see how I could consistantly hit the same spot on the cue ball with my break stroke.
PGHteacher...Just FYI, the Limbsaver doesn't significantly affect anything. It's a gimmick that never caught on. People who believe it has a dramatic effect on the stroke, or outcome are mistaken. That said, the power of the mind is incredible. Just like the old saying that a new cue will make you play better...it may, or it may not...depending on the person.
Scott Lee
http://poolknowledge.com
Scott Lee
http://poolknowledge.com
Well at least it helps people to identify my break cue (not everyone on the teams I shoot on has one), they look cool and they do change the "feel/report" of the hit in the boss hand. It may not have a significant effect or even any affect on the break at all; but the op was concerned about this "zing/twang" he is feeling and seeing post tip/CB contact and I will tell you the limbsaver dampens this.
So I like it, I did also say "you MAY want to get one of these", I understand what you're saying completely BTW. How can something at the other end of the stick make any difference given that the tip/CB contact time is 1000th of a second(or something like that)? I get that but it feels better to me, it may be 100% psychological, I don't discount that possibility and am ok with it being as such.
On a related note....
I was really irritated by the clanking of the new precision metal triangle -- the Delta-13. I think it was in use at a US Open 9-ball, and it sent chills up my spine every time a ball clanked against the metal. Well, the came out with a new model that has added thin layers of cork against the sides. Amazingly, those damped the sound so well that the modified triangles sounded more or less like wood triangles. A long time ago cork was a standard choice in wraps. I wonder if that provided a similar damping function on cues.
Actually it wasn't post contact as I was stroking at air, though to be honest since I was stroking at air I can't really tell how bad the tip is vibrating by the time it would have hit the CB, but it sure seems like there's vibration at the tip almost right after the stroke starts.
I see that all cues do this and it makes sense they would, just never gave much thought to it. I can also see that different cues do seem to vibrate at different frequencies at a given force applied near the joint. I still don't see how it's possible to hit the CB in the spot you are aiming for if the tip is vibrating on it's way there, is my start of stroke too jerky?
One of the first high-speed pool videos showed a player shooting a draw shot -- I think it was Jim Rempe -- and you could see the shaft spring-boarding up and down on the way to the cue ball. I think the answer is that you could learn to control that, but it would have to be subconscious. It's not clear what kind of stroke would minimize the vibration. Maybe a piston stroke, which has its own problems.
Yes diff cues have diff frequencies that they vibrate at WHEN THEY STRIKE THE CUEBALL......but in no way shape or form is the cue vibrating PRIOR to contact....not even if you had parkinsons or if your names Dick lane your cue is not vibrating one iota prior to contact.
The stick is SUPPOSED to vibrate after contact. Even if it were a solid metal rod you would notice some sort of vibration. The more solid and stiff the cues is the higher the frequency of vibration......if you shoot with a whippy cue that has alot of give to it then the vibration will be of a slower frequency and it is not as easily noticed in the feel, you may see it move but because the whippy cue has less spine it doesn't reverberate at a high enough frequency to really notice it in the hand, but you can see it. Its just the opposite in the stiffer cue, you will feel it more but you see it less. This has to do directly with the way the nodal points of the cue are positioned.
-Grey ghost
As mentioned above, high speed video seems to show otherwise. The mechanics of the stroke say there has to be some vibration. A piston stroke will minimize but not eliminate the vibration.
"I was really irritated by the clanking of the new precision metal triangle -- the Delta-13. I think it was in use at a US Open 9-ball, and it sent chills up my spine every time a ball clanked against the metal. Well, the came out with a new model that has added thin layers of cork against the sides. Amazingly, those damped the sound so well that the modified triangles sounded more or less like wood triangles. A long time ago cork was a standard choice in wraps. I wonder if that provided a similar damping function on cues."
Bob, are you thinking of the leather inserts that have been a $20 option for the Delta 13 for a while, or is this something new?
Bob, are you thinking of the leather inserts that have been a $20 option for the Delta 13 for a while, or is this something new?
'
Oops, I thought they were cork. But yes. Which kind of screws up my damping theory since my own experience is that leather wraps don't damp out sharp sounds from the hit.
I was stroking at air when I noticed the vibration, which is what made me pose the original question. Since there is high speed video confirming the phenomena, it would seem that a consistent bridge length would be of great importance on a high power shot, a few inches of stroke length could translate to several millimeters or more from the intended contact point of the cb. Since the frequency of the cue is consistent this is something people adjust to unconsciously?
If bob says that HS vid says otherwise then i agree with bob 100%
I've played along time and met tons of players, hell i been on here for years and never heard of or even fathomed of such a thing. I would have to say you would mostly be correct that players are unconsciously adjusting.
Question for Bob Jewett tho. Where are those vids at and where is the cue vibrating? The middle, the tip? Gimme the lowdown jedi master bob:wink:
-G.G.
It was a Meucci advertising video. I think it was on his site at one time but it is not there now, that I could find. It was of a break shot, so a lot of power was involved. The cue was vibrating just like when you whack it on the side except it looked like it was vibrating up and down like a diving springboard.