:thumbup:
I agree...except for the part about getting the CB to go where you want. That is one of the main reasons to select english over a center hit.
Only matters if the cb contacts a rail.
I can only form the opinion that Patrick Johnson is expressing his opinion & that of some others based on his & their playing experience & not for the likes of many upper level players that have mastered english such as Keith McCready or Mike Sigel who hit nearly every shot with outside english or CJ Wiley & others who came to hit nearly every shot with an off center inside hit.
Of course it's his opinion, but you dismiss the fact that his opinion is based on fact. Why compare yourself to Sigel or McCready? Yes, they have english mastered, but you and most others do not. So, what is the point of constantly using something that you have not mastered, and probably never will master to equal their level, when you could just as well be using something else that could improve your game much faster?
There are reasons that top players chose to hit most of their shots off center. Could they hit shots with center? Yes, but there are reasons that these top players CHOSE to hit the predominant number of their shots with an off center hit.
You totally dismiss the fact that the pros, which are less than 1% of all players, have something you do not have. They have the mental ability to quickly learn and duplicate what they want to happen without knowing exactly what they are doing. Their subconscious has connections we don't have.
Because of that, they are able to mentally automatically compensate for stroke errors and hits on the cb that are a little off. And, many, without realizing it, are actually close to the pivot point of their cue without ever knowing what a cue pivot point is.
Plus, you are only naming a few pros that predominantly use english. Most pros use as little english as possible. Why dismiss them?
I do not understand PJ's opinion regarding the subject except that yes there are more scientific parameters that come into play when hitting the ball off center, but... one does not play pool with a science book in their subconscious mind, or at least I think most don't, at least not the better players. The subconscious mind is an amazing entity if one can get their conscious mind out it's way. Some are more adept at doing this than others. Perhaps those that have trouble doing so have an intellectual ego too big to allow it.
No, the best players do not play with a science book in their hands. They don't need to. They are already doing what science says to do. You dismiss the science as if not knowing it makes the science go away. It doesn't. It's still there on each and every shot, whether you know it or not.
The subconscious mind can only do what is put into it. Nothing more. If you haven't already discovered the scientific principles behind pool by experimenting, it's not going to automatically appear on it's own. However, you can train the right way and put those experiences into your subconscious so they can later be recalled. The fastest way to do this, is for someone to show you what those principles are. Yet, here you and others are saying that it is not a good thing to add info to your subconscious mind. Doesn't make a bit of sense.
Naturally, all of the above are just my opinions, as are most posts in this forum.
Best Wishes.
PS I do not understand what seems to be a rather large contingency that seems to want to scare everyone off learning & playing with english. Did Mosconi not say after expressing the importance of knowing how to pocket balls with center that one is NOT a complete player until one also learns & uses english?
Either you need to re-read, or you are just making this up. There is NO contingency, let alone a large one, that is trying to scare anyone off of using english. There are several here, myself included, stating that one should strive to stay near the center of the cb. That is far, far different than what you just said. You often claim Pat and I are being disingenuous, well, that is exactly what you are doing here. You are just making false claims to bolster your opinion.
PSS There are many styles of play but to break them down into 3 basic types:
1. Those that play only on the vertical axis or at least try to hit only the infinitely small center line.
2. Those that play mainly on the vertical axis & will use english when needed for a reason determined by them, so when they want to do so.
3. Those that play hitting most of their shots with an off center hit for reason(s) chosen by them.
One can play at a high level with ALL three of these styles of play. That said, I know of no one at the very upper levels that can not use an off center hit to their advantage when the opportunity arises.
Again, all of the above are merely my opinions as are most posts in these forums.
