English, I speak it but can't use it....

I Got Lucky

I Got Lucky

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
...I am living in the Philippines and started playing pool 2 months ago. I bought a new, local made cue here and play in 2 different 8 ball leagues. I practice a lot and have been watching some videos on youtube. My game is improving but I use NO English on the ball except for some backspin once in a while. Every time I try to use English to control the CB, I miss my shot. Without the English I can win games and I am progressing.

My question is should I wait a while and perfect my stance, grip, stroke and aim before I attempt to use English or should I be using it now. To me it's like learning to run before I can walk.

How should I proceed?

Thanks
 
I assume you don't have an instructor available...my recommendation is to keep playing with center CB for now, until you can run tables without spin; that's the most valueable foundation any player must have and will ensure that you continue to progress in skill level for years to come. A lot of guys fall in love with draw early on, then start spinning the CB (right and left) because it looks cool, without really understanding how it affects the CB (deflection) and OB (throw). At some point, you'll need to pick that up, but I think you'll find that you will naturally develop that part as you continue to play with center CB; then your muscles/hand/eye coordination will naturally fine tune themselves to account for the english you're applying. English is one of the most over-rated, over-done tools in your box as a player. You have to have it, but it needs to come in small doses at first.

A player that can run racks with nothing but a dead cue ball is a very dangerous player, indeed. The hardest thing for intermediate players (and even advanced players) to do is to try and go back and learn natural angles (post-collision) after they've spent years spinning the CB on every shot, and then can't figure out why their consistency sucks.
 
Unless you are playing straight pool the center ball advice won't cut it... But do not discount it entirely.... You have to practice as well as play your league matches and friends... When you practice work on making your shots with centerball using top and bottom and learning how the cueball reacts.... and then when you have a feel for making the ball using the vertical axis add a tip of inside and then a tip of outside and learn what has to be done to compensate for either.... When you are good with center and a tip of english move to 2 tips and then to 3 tips....

To speed up the process I would suggest learning backhand english.. Basically once you find the pivot point to compensate for english for the different shot speeds that's all you have to remember... If you don't learn backhand first you are very likely to end up swooping the ball to get it to spin and while it is an effective technique it will take you way more time to control it than just using BHE and adjusting the pivot for the speed......

I would also recommend investing in a practice cueball... You don't have to buy one of the expensive ones if you can afford a sharpie... Mark the ball so you can tell if you are hitting it where you are trying to... Hitting the cueball accurately is key to learning to play with english......

Chris
 
New2Cue said:
...I am living in the Philippines and started playing pool 2 months ago. I bought a new, local made cue here and play in 2 different 8 ball leagues. I practice a lot and have been watching some videos on youtube. My game is improving but I use NO English on the ball except for some backspin once in a while. Every time I try to use English to control the CB, I miss my shot. Without the English I can win games and I am progressing.

My question is should I wait a while and perfect my stance, grip, stroke and aim before I attempt to use English or should I be using it now. To me it's like learning to run before I can walk.

How should I proceed?

Thanks
Click to expand...

follow and draw to my understanding is not "english"
once you go away from the center vertical axis that is english
so do you miss trying follow and draw in addition to using english??
i am not an instructor
 
I have not found any instructors here. I play with Americans, Filipinos, Australians, Swedes, Canadians and although there are some very good players, they all seem to be self taught and have their own way of shooting. I have picked up some good tips from some but I don't want to pick up bad habits from them too early in my game. I would rather get my fundamentals down first.

I will have to find out more info on the cue I am using and the tip that is on it. As for getting a practice cueball I have not seen one for sale here. I might find one in Manila next time I take a trip.

As for the follow and draw vs English, I think my shots are affected if I try to use follow or draw but not as much as when I move away from the center of the ball. I think maybe I need to get my stroke stable.

Should the cue be parallel to the table when I hit the cueball?
 
There are a number of free resources on the web. The two below are good. I would focus on your fundamentals.

Billiards.colostate.edu
Easypooltutor.com
 
English

The reason you are probably missing shots is due to Deflection/Squirt.

When you shoot with left english the cue ball gets pushed off its path to the right a little. Which would cause you to miss the shot to the left side of the pocket.

An easy way to practice this is to setup a straight in shot to the side pocket with the cue ball about a diamond away from the ball. Try to do a stop shot with low and left english. If after contact the cue ball goes to the right it is because of the Deflection/Squirt. Adjust your aim to compensate for this and try again. Once you can get the cue ball to stop in its tracks when using left or right english then you should practice the shot from different distances, and different shot speeds (both will cause a slightly different needed adjustment). It is improtant to practice these on Straight In shots first because the cue ball will tell you where you hit on the object ball.

Once you have got some good practice in on the straight ins and can compensate for the Deflection/Squirt, then try it on cut shots.


BUT - only use english when needed. Staying close to center ball is important for accuracy and consistancy.

Good luck
 
Level cue...

New2Cue said:
I have not found any instructors here. I play with Americans, Filipinos, Australians, Swedes, Canadians and although there are some very good players, they all seem to be self taught and have their own way of shooting. I have picked up some good tips from some but I don't want to pick up bad habits from them too early in my game. I would rather get my fundamentals down first.

I will have to find out more info on the cue I am using and the tip that is on it. As for getting a practice cueball I have not seen one for sale here. I might find one in Manila next time I take a trip.

As for the follow and draw vs English, I think my shots are affected if I try to use follow or draw but not as much as when I move away from the center of the ball. I think maybe I need to get my stroke stable.

Should the cue be parallel to the table when I hit the cueball?
Click to expand...

There are very few instances when you can use a perfectly level stroke because the rails behind you and balls in your way demand elevation. The idea is to position yourself so you can get the cue as level as reasonably possible.

Of course, there are a variety of shots that require some elevation of the cue butt, even when a rail or ball is not in the way. A good instructor will demonstrate and explain this in the first lesson.
 
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