Just noticed something.

TommyLee

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Been watching a lot of streams and YouTube lately and noticed most people line up and aim at the bottom of the ball...why?
 
sugeknight...Good catch! That's exactly why pros line up that way. It's impossible to see a "vertical axis" on a sphere. You can guess, but the only way to really "see" it, is where the CB touches the cloth. Players line up with their tip on or near the cloth, where the CB meets the table. It's called "grounding your cue".

Scott Lee
http://poolknowledge.com

one reason is that it makes finding "center ball" easier
 
sugeknight...Good catch! That's exactly why pros line up that way. It's impossible to see a "vertical axis" on a sphere. You can guess, but the only way to really "see" it, is where the CB touches the cloth. Players line up with their tip on or near the cloth, where the CB meets the table. It's called "grounding your cue".

Scott Lee
http://poolknowledge.com

And what keeps that center line steady when the tip goes up to hit higher? Or is it just a higher chance of hitting center ball going "bottom to up" rather than just lining up in the middle? It would seem to me that moving up would introduce a bunch of other variables, unless the ball is hit with draw.
 
TommyLee...When someone refers to 'center ball' they are talking about the vertical axis of the CB...topspin, 'dead' center, or simple draw. No sidespin is naturally attached to 'centerball pool'. If you watch the best players, they use sidespin sparingly, and usually only when vertical axis won't get them where they want the CB to go. Top and bottom centerball are what make the CB curve...not sidespin (unless there is top or bottom with the english).

Scott Lee
http://poolknowledge.com

Center ball for no English or finding center to apply more accurate English to the shot?
 
hang-the-9...That's a variable that everybody has to be taken into effect. Some do it better than others...but lining up on the bottom is the only true way to see the vertical axis centerline on the CB. I can tell you that a pendulum stroke goes back straight, and is delivered forward straight...imo quite easily and accurately. :D

Scott Lee
http://poolknowledge.com

And what keeps that center line steady when the tip goes up to hit higher? Or is it just a higher chance of hitting center ball going "bottom to up" rather than just lining up in the middle? It would seem to me that moving up would introduce a bunch of other variables, unless the ball is hit with draw.
 
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TommyLee...When someone refers to 'center ball' they are talking about the vertical axis of the CB...topspin, 'dead' center, or simple draw. No sidespin is naturally attached to 'centerball pool'. If you watch the best players, they use sidespin sparingly, and usually only when vertical axis won't get them where they want the CB to go. Top and bottom centerball are what make the CB curve...not sidespin (unless there is top or bottom with the english).

Scott Lee
http://poolknowledge.com

The angles come from leaving yourself a good tangent line into the target ball then not straight in, correct?
 
Yes, assuming you stun/skid the CB to the contact point on the OB. That said, tangent lines are where the CB goes, after contact with the OB. There is no tangent from the CB to the OB...only from the OB. If the CB is in a natural roll when it hits the OB, it will leave at appx a 30 degree angle (not a tangent line)...versus a 90 degree tangent line, when the CB skids into the OB. If you stun the CB with draw, and it still has draw at contact with the OB, the CB will travel a small distance down the tangent line, and then curve away off of it. Sidespin has no effect on these lines...only after the CB contacts a rail.

Scott Lee
http://poolknowledge.com

The angles come from leaving yourself a good tangent line into the target ball then not straight in, correct?
 
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Try this exercise...put the OB on the spot. Place the CB only a foot away from the OB, and at just a slight cut angle (the cut angle doesn't matter, but the thinner the cut, the more likely to miss the shot...LOL). This is a easy shot. Aim dead center on the CB, and pocket the OB in the corner pocket. The CB should travel down the tangent line, right into the side pocket. If the CB is rolling, this won't happen. If you aim slightly above center, this won't happen. If you have some draw left on the CB, after contact with the OB...this won't happen. Learn to pocket the OB in the corner and the CB in the side, and you'll start learning about tangent lines in a hurry! Again, sidespin won't change this shot...the CB will just travel down the tangent line, spinning like a top. This is, btw, just simple physics. Hope this helps...:thumbup:

Scott Lee
http://poolknowledge.com

This has been pretty damn enlightening I'm glad I decided to ask this. You guys are geniuses
 
Question for Scott Lee

TommyLee...When someone refers to 'center ball' they are talking about the vertical axis of the CB...topspin, 'dead' center, or simple draw. No sidespin is naturally attached to 'centerball pool'. If you watch the best players, they use sidespin sparingly, and usually only when vertical axis won't get them where they want the CB to go. Top and bottom centerball are what make the CB curve...not sidespin (unless there is top or bottom with the english).

Scott Lee
http://poolknowledge.com

I have read this over and over. Are you saying that if you shoot using only top or bottom in the vertical center of the cb, the cb will curve off line?
 
Been watching a lot of streams and YouTube lately and noticed most people line up and aim at the bottom of the ball...why?

The only reason is to ensure long lasting spinning cue ball so OB does not throw much, also note the long bridge they use to ensure accidental squirt is extremely minimized, in case tip contacted CB slightly off center.

Another reason, they aim so low, some players have tapered shaft with long bridge that taper raises the tip up so slightly it could reduce the draw spin , but also ensure no miss cue.
 
I'm going to hate myself for chiming in but...
The reason players set up to the bottom of the ball is to improve accuracy. This gives the shooter a more precise line from the OB contact point and the CB center. You don't need to test anything or apply spin or what have you. It is simply to help the player get down in his or her stance as close to perfectly on the line as possible.
 
So I can see how this would work well for draw or stop shots. But I am confused on how this would work well for say, a follow shot, or a 3:00 o'clock, 9:00 o'clock shot, etc.

That seems difficult to me to start warm up strokes at the bottom and then switch?
 
Been watching a lot of streams and YouTube lately and noticed most people line up and aim at the bottom of the ball...why?

I could swear someone just made this same post within the last two weeks. Not that I'm busting on you, but there was a lot answers there, too.

Freddie <~~~ need a search party
 
So I can see how this would work well for draw or stop shots. But I am confused on how this would work well for say, a follow shot, or a 3:00 o'clock, 9:00 o'clock shot, etc.

That seems difficult to me to start warm up strokes at the bottom and then switch?

Read my post above. The part of the CB that touches the cloth is the CB center. I aim from that point to my target. Where I plan to hit the CB in the vertical plane (high, low, center), is not related to finding the line.
 
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