[QOUTE) DTL: Realizing that the CB is on its way at essentially the moment of tip contact (couple milliseconds), as CJ said, "Moment of truth", was the most helpful thing I've ever learned playing pool. That was about 24 years ago. It shot my game up 2 balls almost instantly. From the pause at the back swing (we all pause, some more than others) to tip contact is where the money is, IMO.
Disclaimer: I'm not a certified instructor.
It sort of speaks for itself. Read my first response to you carefully.
Basically when the tip hits the CB the shot is done in terms of what's gonna happen next. Soooo, its very important to hit the cue ball EXACTLY where you need to hit it........not just high left or low right, but where in the high right quadrant, etc. When hitting the CB off center (left/right or top/buttom) only part of the tip contacts the ball (was mentioned early by ? Scott Lee, ? 3 mm). I don't know how many different hitting areas there are in the high right quadrant but I'd guess 16 (some slightly overlapping). I look at the CB last as do some professionals (Ralf Souquet).
The 2nd thing that has to happen is when you do hit the exact spot on the CB the stick has to be pointed (dare I say, AIMED) in the right direction for any given shot........straight down the line for a straight in shot (using BHE with proper pivot point for your cue will cancel out some miss hits but that's another story/lesson). And of course when using english you have to adjust for squirt/swerve..........that's really the hard part, IMO. All this is done with the cue at level as possible (per most instructors) although the butt of my cue is elevated more than most....just the way I play.
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3rd, you have to have the stick traveling at the right speed for the shot at hand......BEFORE and at contact, accelerating. Slower than intended is probably worse (that squirt and swerve thing) than harder. Speed is crucial for not only putting the CB at the center of the ghost ball but for getting position on the next shot.
Finally, you have to do all this without moving your bridge hand, head and body! Do your pre-shot routine (PSR) and set up to the CB seeing the line all the way down. Now measure up, take practice strokes or whatever you do and then SET the tip at the CB. Try to pull back essentially the same on all shots, slow is better than fast. PAUSE, and then stroke straight at your intended target on the CB at the right speed. Your work is done, whitey won't lie after that. The follow through is just the release (not a good description) of the energy from the forward stroke and has nothing to do with the outcome.........it should be a straight follow through if you stroked it straight before contact with the CB. The head, bridge hand (push down hard on the table) and body have to be still until the stick comes to a stop (FINISH). And if your feet aren't properly placed (right foot on the line of shot for right handed player) during your PSR you can't expect any consistency at all. I like to pretend that my head (more like my dominant eye), bridge hand and right foot are connected by a steel rod triangle and stay exactly connected (still) until the stick stops.
OK, done. I hope I don't get too much flack from this post.