Can't do a draw shot to save my life

softshot said:
Loosen your grip for max spin. let the CUE slide a couple inches through your hand when you stroke... Gripping tight when hitting hard is probably the most common problem in pool.
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I'm no instructor, actually I was in your position not that long ago. Struggled and struggled with draw. I still struggle with it at distance, but half-table shots or closer, I have gotten better.

Loose grip, and don't hit it so hard. Your subconscious is telling you that you have to really strike it in order to generate the backspin, but it isn't necessary (on the half-table shots or shorter...again, I'm still doing the same thing on longer shots). When you go to hit it too hard, you tighten your grip and it won't work.

I got a little better at it by just working on nothing but that for a few minutes. Grab the balls, and hit the same shot into the same pocket, just generating a little draw, with softer shots, to get the feel of what works. Then I started applying that for longer and longer shots. It becomes easier once you see it work. I cannot stress enough, looser grip, softer shot. Maybe concentrating on looking at the cueball only, at least during the practice portion, while you try to get the feel for it.

These folks here all have great suggestions, and they have all helped me greatly. Try the different techniques they suggest, something will click for you, eventually. This has been my experience, having been exactly where you are recently.

Good luck. It's really cool, once you get it. I warn you, once you start to get it, you'll start trying it more than you should, just because you can. :D It is really fun, especially if you have struggled with it before. Just gotta remember to use it when appropriate.

Thank you to the instructors here, for helping me "get it" over the years.
 
PaulHarvey said:
Thanks Fran. Yes, I know I've hit the ball low enough. I know because I've hit it every possible fraction of an inch below center, including low enough to gouge the cloth and send the CB flying off the table.

Not giving up though ;)

Thanks again,
Harvey
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Ok, then get someone to video you shooting draw shots and post up a link to it so we can see.
 
Your not hitting it LOW! Period. Watch with a mirror or now -a-days video yourself up close...once you hit it low it will draw and your confidence will let you strike like a pro.....just do it and get off this forum. Spend the time drawing instead Good luck.

justadub said:
I'm no instructor, actually I was in your position not that long ago. Struggled and struggled with draw. I still struggle with it at distance, but half-table shots or closer, I have gotten better.

Loose grip, and don't hit it so hard. Your subconscious is telling you that you have to really strike it in order to generate the backspin, but it isn't necessary (on the half-table shots or shorter...again, I'm still doing the same thing on longer shots). When you go to hit it too hard, you tighten your grip and it won't work.

I got a little better at it by just working on nothing but that for a few minutes. Grab the balls, and hit the same shot into the same pocket, just generating a little draw, with softer shots, to get the feel of what works. Then I started applying that for longer and longer shots. It becomes easier once you see it work. I cannot stress enough, looser grip, softer shot. Maybe concentrating on looking at the cueball only, at least during the practice portion, while you try to get the feel for it.

These folks here all have great suggestions, and they have all helped me greatly. Try the different techniques they suggest, something will click for you, eventually. This has been my experience, having been exactly where you are recently.

Good luck. It's really cool, once you get it. I warn you, once you start to get it, you'll start trying it more than you should, just because you can. :D It is really fun, especially if you have struggled with it before. Just gotta remember to use it when appropriate.

Thank you to the instructors here, for helping me "get it" over the years.
Click to expand...
 
I haven't read all the posts, so someone may have already shared this tid-bit: Take a stripe ball, and make sure it is really clean. Set the ball so the stripe is horizontal with your playing surface. The bottom line of the stripe color is your aiming point. Chalk your cue really well; more than usual, so it is caked on the tip. Now cue the striped ball, aiming for the bottom color line. Then, check the stripe for the chalk mark, and see exactly where you are making contact. Also, make sure your bridge is closer to the cue ball; really close. It will feel a little weird. This will help, and you can gradually move to a natural bridge length after you're drawing consistently. I really don't think you are striking the cue ball where you think. Use a stripe.

Josh
 
Also, try gripping the cue a little farther back. This will force you to follow through, reaching your natural finishing position. And make sure you're not jerking the cue back after contact. The bridge hand should remove the cue from the table, not the grip hand.

Josh
 
I've helped dozens of people to draw the ball, I'm sure the regular instructors here have done it hundreds of times. Usually it only takes 5 or 10 minutes to get some initial success, then a lot of practice after that to build consistency, distance control, etc.

Almost always it's one of two things - you aren't hitting the ball where you think you are (i.e. not low enough), or you aren't getting any sort of power/acceleration through the ball. You don't need a ton of power, but you do need to get through the ball somewhat.

I demonstrate table length draw shots by just aiming 1 1/2 - 2 tips below center (if using a striped ball, bottom of your tip at the bottom of the stripe) and having the cue rest in the palm of my hand, no fingers around it or anything. By just pulling the cue back smoothly and accelerating smoothly through the cue ball from 1 or 2 diamonds away from the OB, you can draw back to the other end of the table easily. I hit it this way on purpose to show how smooth it can be, it has to be or the cue will shift in my hand since I'm not really even holding on to it.

Use a striped ball, place your tip as suggested, try to keep your cue somewhat level, and just pull back smoothly and accelerate through to a spot 3 - 5 inches in front of the cue ball. If you still aren't having success with the various tips posted so far, take a quick vid and post it so we can confirm what's going on.
Scott
 
Video of my draw attempts

Hello all.

Thanks to everyone for taking the time to try to help me out making a draw shot. Trust me, I tried every suggestion. Many times. And I'm still doing the 30-shot drill every day. Gettin' a lot of exercise too.

Anyway, I said I'd make a video of my attempts, so here it is:

http://plivingston.com/drawattempt.mpg

It's a standard video format so your default vid player should launch once you click on the link. I'll attach the file too, just in case.

Thanks again for all the suggestions! Well, except for the golf thing. I hate golf.

Harvey

Oops, never mind the attachment. Got some message about a missing 'security token.' Don't know what that is :/
 
Trying to post a vid...

Thanks everyone for the comments, tips & suggestions helping me with my crappy draw shots. I tried, and am still trying, them all without much luck. I'm guessing my stroke is wonky, but I'm not sure.

So a day or two ago, I tried to post a video, like many here suggested. I don't know what happened but the post never appeared. So I'm trying again. I'll post a direct link to it plus attach the file to this message. Hopefully, the message will go through this time.

Here's the link:

http://plivingston.com/drawattempt.mpg

And the file (drawattempt.mpg) should be attached.

Okay, forget the attachment. I got a message saying something about a 'security token' and the upload was refused. The link should work fine though. It's on my server and I've tested it.

Thanks again for your help!

Harvey
 
Reply posts not posting

In the last two or so days I've tried twice to post a video, both as an attachment and as a link. Neither post got posted.

I want to thank all who gave comments, suggestions and tips. I'm working on them.

The video I'm trying to post shows my attempts. Is there a way to do this?

Thanks,
Harvey

EDIT:

Okay, some suggested I up the vid to YouTube. So I did. Here's the link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ppKhgJjjBQ
 
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PaulHarvey said:
In the last two or so days I've tried twice to post a video, both as an attachment and as a link. Neither post got posted.

I want to thank all who gave comments, suggestions and tips. I'm working on them.

The video I'm trying to post shows my attempts. Is there a way to do this?

Thanks,
Harvey
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i dont know how to post videos either
but if you know how to post on youtube (i dont) you could link us to that
 
Just upload to youtube, vimeo, etc. and provide a link to it. There should be a globe icon with a "link" across it (middle of this window as I'm typing, above the typing box). Just click on that, paste the web link to the video, and it will embed it in the text so we can just click on it to see the video. Or just cut and paste the link and people can copy and paste it into their browser of choice.

Don't think there is a way to do an embedded video, not that I've tried at least...

Scott
 
PaulHarvey said:
In the last two or so days I've tried twice to post a video, both as an attachment and as a link. Neither post got posted.

I want to thank all who gave comments, suggestions and tips. I'm working on them.

The video I'm trying to post shows my attempts. Is there a way to do this?

Thanks,
Harvey
Click to expand...

Not positive, but I don't think you can provide links until you get 50 posts under your belt.
 
Draw is a few simple things:
Grip has to be loose - all the way through the shot, some start loose and tighten as they stroke
Level cue - as low and level as you can be
Follow-through - follow all the way through the cue ball

Tip placement - if you drop your elbow the tip comes up and this is pretty common. I'd say keep practicing aiming lower and lower on the cue ball until you miss-cue (then that will be your outter limit of what is too low)

Accellerate through the cue ball - your stroke should be a gradual accelleration from one speed and finish at the fastest the stroke will be. This doesn't mean you have to hit hard, but rather stroke all the way through (think of it as keeping your tip on the cue ball for as long as possible).

Leave your tip out there on the follow through - in other words, don't pull the cue back. If you are pulling the cue back then most likely you are slowing your stroke before contact instead of accellerating.

Start with practicing from a close distance - 1 diamond away from the object ball... and instead of the cue ball - use a striped ball with the stripe horizontal so you can see if it is spinning.
 
Neil said:
Not positive, but I don't think you can provide links until you get 50 posts under your belt.
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I guess I can see why they'd want to restrict new members in that way, but there must be a workaround we can figure out without bending the rules. Lots of folks may have no interest in being ongoing contributors to this site, but are merely wanting some helpful advice. If a video is needed to provide that help, we should be able to accommodate that need.

Maybe the OP can e-mail the link to an established member, who can then be trusted to link to it in a post after seeing it's contains nothing obscene or malicious? Just a thought...
 
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