Addressing The Cue Ball Low For Most Strokes

M

Mikjary

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
I've found it to be a reliable cuing position on most of my basic shots. It's a solid hit on the cue ball as I "move up the ladder" toward follow strokes. I also find it's easier to gauge my speed control by stroking through the cue ball rather than off of it, up or to the side.

SVB and The Pinoys use the stroke quite a bit. It's probably not for everyone, but could be a new tool in the tool box. My basic long pots with position have gone up and I like the feel as the cue ball leaves my tip. Anybody else working with this at all?

Best,
Mike
 
Do you mean like Efren Reyes, where he starts every practice stroke with the tip near/at the felt regardless of whether he's going to draw, stun or follow?

It drives pool commentators crazy because they can never tell what he's going to do...and Efren is so creative that he often does the unexpected. I remember one match where Billy Incardona basically said, "Oh, the hell with it, I'm not even going to try to predict what Efren's going to do." :D

Personally, I've tried it for short periods a couple of times but my tip placement ability isn't good enough to incorporate it into my stroke.
 
Mikjary said:
I've found it to be a reliable cuing position on most of my basic shots. It's a solid hit on the cue ball as I "move up the ladder" toward follow strokes. I also find it's easier to gauge my speed control by stroking through the cue ball rather than off of it, up or to the side.

SVB and The Pinoys use the stroke quite a bit. It's probably not for everyone, but could be a new tool in the tool box. My basic long pots with position have gone up and I like the feel as the cue ball leaves my tip. Anybody else working with this at all?

Best,
Mike
Click to expand...

Hi Mike,

I've tried it recently after a post by SmoothStroke. It can certainly work well, but to me, I think it would take some considerable time to get precise with it, the CB control after the pocketing of the ball, I mean.

When I gave it the try, it brought back memories of when I was young & first started playing, as I used a low address & hit for nearly every shot & went with the type shot that you talking about when I did not want to draw or immediately stop the ball. My Uncle, a very good player, made the comment that I used low too often. I, that same day, made it a point to use high more often & I think that got me away from the stroke you're talking about.

It certainly can be good & perhaps 'should be' a preferred method but as with anything, it takes time to incorporate it & become proficient.

At my age & outlook for me & my game I don't think I want to make the investment of time, etc. But that said, I see it as a tool that at certain times I can employ in certain situations. I had just sort of forgot about it. I'm kind of glad that it was brought back to my conscious attention after all of these years.

Best 2 You & All,
Rick
 
bdorman said:
Do you mean like Efren Reyes, where he starts every practice stroke with the tip near/at the felt regardless of whether he's going to draw, stun or follow?

It drives pool commentators crazy because they can never tell what he's going to do...and Efren is so creative that he often does the unexpected. I remember one match where Billy Incardona basically said, "Oh, the hell with it, I'm not even going to try to predict what Efren's going to do." :D

Personally, I've tried it for short periods a couple of times but my tip placement ability isn't good enough to incorporate it into my stroke.
Click to expand...

It took me a couple of weeks to get used to it. Not full time, but a concerted effort to actually "see" what was happening with the stroke. There were quite a few spasms along the way. :D Like anything, you get a whole different picture doing something than just imagining what it's about.

My opinion changed after a few days when I noticed some improvements in my position play on long shots. Speed control is the biggest plus I've found, but I'm not sure why yet.

Best,
Mike
 
More shots are hit low on the cue ball than high because low is more versatile. With a high cue tip on the cue ball, you can only follow. But with a low cue tip you can draw, stop, or follow, depending on the speed and distance to the object ball.

However, I've never understood cueing in one place on practice strokes and then shooting at another place. :confused:
 
ENGLISH! said:
Hi Mike,

I've tried it recently after a post by SmoothStroke. It can certainly work well, but to me, I think it would take some considerable time to get precise with it, the CB control after the pocketing of the ball, I mean.

When I gave it the try, it brought back memories of when I was young & first started playing, as I used a low address & hit for nearly every shot & went with the type shot that you talking about when I did not want to draw or immediately stop the ball. My Uncle, a very good player, made the comment that I used low too often. I, that same day, made it a point to use high more often & I think that got me away from the stroke you're talking about.

It certainly can be good & perhaps 'should be' a preferred method but as with anything, it takes time to incorporate it & become proficient.

At my age & outlook for me & my game I don't think I want to make the investment of time, etc. But that said, I see it as a tool that at certain times I can employ in certain situations. I had just sort of forgot about it. I'm kind of glad that it was brought back to my conscious attention after all of these years.

Best 2 You & All,
Rick
Click to expand...

I'm just addressing low and hitting through and higher as I need on each shot. It happens as part of the stroke rather than addressing low and jumping up to a final higher position.

My cue is moving up throughout the stroke. Not a large move, less than a tip or so. I'm working with the timing right now, but it's pretty natural after a couple of weeks. I find myself hitting closer to center and not glancing off of the cue ball on my hit.

After a bit of trial and error, eventually I hit several shots very well. That sparked my interest to pursue and test out just what may be happening with the stroke. The new "angle of attack" gives a lot of new feedback to my hand as I stroke. I just need to interpret the info and see if I can use it well enough to incorporate it into my game.

Best,
Mike
 
BRussell said:
More shots are hit low on the cue ball than high because low is more versatile. With a high cue tip on the cue ball, you can only follow. But with a low cue tip you can draw, stop, or follow, depending on the speed and distance to the object ball.

However, I've never understood cueing in one place on practice strokes and then shooting at another place. :confused:
Click to expand...

The biggest gain I can see right now is the changed angle of hitting the cue ball. For follow, I move up and through the cue ball instead of cuing high and glancing up off of the cue ball. A slight difference, but noticeable if you actually work with it.

Best,
Mike
 
I've been doing it for almost every shot since I started... Used to watch a strong local player and tried to mimic his stroke. It became very comfortable for me...
 
Nice stuff Mike.

Welcome to the dark side, may the force be with you.
It gets really crazy when you hit draw and clear the cue stick up knocking out a light bulb.

Have a good one..SS

P.S. I just looked in my documents, 39 pages on low cue ball and the ladder.
 
Mikjary said:
The biggest gain I can see right now is the changed angle of hitting the cue ball. For follow, I move up and through the cue ball instead of cuing high and glancing up off of the cue ball. A slight difference, but noticeable if you actually work with it.

Best,
Mike
Click to expand...

It's similar to cuing left to hit right english. You can stay closer to center cue ball and still get decent english.
 
SmoothStroke said:
Nice stuff Mike.

Welcome to the dark side, may the force be with you.
It gets really crazy when you hit draw and clear the cue stick up knocking out a light bulb.

Have a good one..SS

P.S. I just looked in my documents, 39 pages on low cue ball and the ladder.
Click to expand...

It's time for a DVD! :D I'm sure you could cut years off of the learning curve with it.

Every day I work with it, I notice something different. I've been been working with a soft grip and a firmer grip this week. It does seem to make a difference with feeling the speed control.

Best,
Mike
 
Question????

Hey Mike...

To help me visualize the change in 'angle of attack'....after setting up, cueing center low...


For the 'follow'/center ball hit..are you (slightly)lowering your back hand as you near the bottom of the stroking pendulum to cause the tip to angle up in your bridge as you stroke forward? (akin to the dreaded 'dropped elbow' style?)

For reference, imho, the true pendulum stroke imparts a slightly downward angled vector into the ball, if contact is made after the back hand passed the bottom of the swing arc. But with same bridge length and stroke, and back hand positioning on the butt...it's a consistent delivery.

I like the 'drop' and visualize the bottom of the arc being extended a couple inches to help the cue tip stay 'level' longer at impact..that's the movie I try to see....but likely, I am deluding myself....again.:eek:

Mike....nice post...again.

take care
 
I took this out of the file, not sure if I posted any, just throwing something in here. I need to go through it and play editor, my illustrations are awful, and I am working on it.

I rarely strike above center, maybe an eyelash if needed.
Once I have analyzed I drop my cue on the cloth, pause and hold to reset my sighting. I know my cue is in line, at this point I am looking through the balls, I don't really see my cue at all, it's irrelevant.

I like to stay inside the cue ball. Depending on the shot and how I want to hit it determines on where I drop the cue. I may drop it dead center on the crease, right or left crease, either way it's on the bottom and I work the ladder to where I need, my grip varies my footwork is important.

I never have a raised bridge or aim high on the cue ball when I drop in unless I need a nip follow ,over a ball ,or on the rail, it's always on the cloth or an eyelash above, I climb the rungs as I need. My bridge and strike hand will raise and lower as one if possible, and level as can be; it helps for maximum action, especially when clearing the cue up, an upstroke, or striking across.

I see players who need a 4 inch forward roll for position; they drop in and have their cue set high on the cue ball and immediately moving the cue stick, Houston we have a problem here.

Their eyes never get a chance to adjust. They have a 14 inch bridge and pull back 12 inches, they roll 6 inches too long and more, then wonder why.

My bridge distance varies, open or closed, it's a feel, a smooth transition and delivery. It adds to the follow through and cue ball travel needed with ease.
The completion or the extension of the stroke is what brings out the ultimate feel in a stroke, it's the last thing we do so release it with your soul and let the extension flow.

I see many players working on finish and follow through and have no clue how to use their natural extension and completion. I highly advise to work on the completion as natural as can be and let it flow until second nature kicks in….

Stroke Technique, The Final Frontier,,,haha
Sincerely: SS
 
One of the side benefits , that you may or may not realize this is the cause of , is that you will get maximum spin on the cue ball by using this method {at least it works that way for me}.
 
Mikjary said:
I understand what you're saying, but the last time that was mentioned, all I heard was "nonsense". :D View attachment 380673

View attachment 380674

Best,
Mike
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I guess when Earl and 1700 of his closest friends hit the blind pocket shot, strike low cue ball with inside juice, sending it 16 ft around the table with ease ,it's just for fun. God forbid somebody should stroke across or up, shoot me dead. Inside the cue ball WTH is that they say, are you crazy, you nutty guy you.

I am looking for members to join my new club, The Taboo Players Of Nonsense And Why Do That
We are on the Discovery Channel just after the Penan Tribe of Borneo. The Penans would cook people by boiling them as they did for generations, now they use different techniques. Some are steamed, deep fried, salted like cod; I think I saw a microwave.
Roasting is popular in the Fiji Islands.

This Friday we will be using a scrape and peel process, we start at the toes and work our way up. The other tribes are in the bushes lurking, watching what's going on, do they dare boil a knee cap.
Cook that toe nail however you want as long as it tastes good.

To become a member of the club there are three requirements.
1) When you talk or type make no sense at all to confuse others, and cross your eyes.
2) You must play by the rules.
Rule # 1---- there are no rules.
3) I forgot # 3----- make your own


I think I will add this to low cue ball play as page 1,maybe intro on the DVD
Sincerely: SS
 
cookie man:
...cuing left to hit right english. You can stay closer to center cue ball and still get decent english.
Click to expand...
Mikjary:
...the last time that was mentioned, all I heard was "nonsense".
Click to expand...
cookie man:
...the technique is not nonsense.
Click to expand...
The swiping "technique" is nonsense - you can't do anything with a swiping stroke that can't be done more accurately and reliably with a straight stroke.

This stands to simple reason and has been shown by experimentation - but of course you're free to believe and use whatever floats your boat. Have fun.


pj
chgo
 
I am just an average player. I kept experimenting on what suited me the most - the two changes that I made and am comfortable with now are - address the cue ball low (in most cases) and use above center only on exception and second not to use practice strokes.

It has certainly helped me improve my game as compared to myself. Of course it is not 'one size fits all'.
 
Patrick Johnson said:
The swiping "technique" is nonsense - you can't do anything with a swiping stroke that can't be done more accurately and reliably with a straight stroke.

This stands to simple reason and has been shown by experimentation - but of course you're free to believe and use whatever floats your boat. Have fun.


pj
chgo
Click to expand...

You can stay closer to center QB while using english which is huge. What experimentation are u talking about?
 
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