Very Deceiving Shot

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DrCue'sProtege

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Over the years I have missed this shot a great deal. I have both overcut it just slightly and undercut it slightly. There are times when I swear if I miss it I will overcut it and I undercut it. And there are times when I swear if I miss it I will undercut it and I overcut it.

Instructors, any thoughts or tips on how to be more consistent with this shot? And yes, I know its an easy shot, but for some reason it is a hard one for me. Maybe its because my eyes are so bad. I need 3.0 magnifiers to read nowadays.

r/DCP


https://pad.chalkysticks.com/20d24
 
DrCue'sProtege said:
... Instructors, any thoughts or tips on how to be more consistent with this shot? ...
Click to expand...
Sure. Decide on exactly where you are going to put the cue ball on the shot and practice that particular shape for 20 shots. On this particular shot whether you have draw/stun/follow or any side spin on the cue ball makes a huge difference in whether the ball goes in or not.

As one example, try 20 shots with outside draw to come back between the side pockets.
 
i am not an instructor
but if i am correct you have trouble shooting a straight in shot
if that is the case your inconsistency in making the ball could have nothing to do with aim but your stroke
 
Missing bread and butter shots like this is most commonly associated with approaching the shot wrong. I have a recent thread on how to approach shots correctly that could be of some use if you want to dig it out.

Many players on these types of shots let the desired pocket dictate how they approach it and not the line of aim. Meaning they give the pocket too much attention when it doesn't deserve it. I'm sure you can aim these shots well, but missing them means your approach is all wrong and it brings in countless inconsistencies on these shots.
 
This is a borderline back cut. Back cuts are among the hardest shots because you can't see the line from the ob to the pocket when you are down over the cb. So when it comes to back cuts, you have to trust what you looked at while you were standing because you won't get a second chance to adjust your aim once you're down over the shot.

My suggestion to you is to pay extra attention to studying the shot from a standing position and then trust your decision once you get down over the shot. Try not to make adjustments in the blind.

Also, as stated by others, pay attention to your approach as you step into the shot. Make it very specific.
 
....and after you work on all of the excellent advice given, set up the shot and shoot it over and over again until you never miss it.
 
It's a half ball aim shot...the most COMMON shot on the table. CTE all the way...aim the middle of the CB at the edge of the OB, and it goes straight into the heart of the pocket. This is the same cut angle as a spot shot...30 degrees. This angle comes up about 60+% of the time, both in cuts and banks.

Scott Lee
http://poolknowledge.com
 
Scott Lee said:
It's a half ball aim shot...the most COMMON shot on the table. CTE all the way...aim the middle of the CB at the edge of the OB, and it goes straight into the heart of the pocket. This is the same cut angle as a spot shot...30 degrees. This angle comes up about 60+% of the time, both in cuts and banks.

Scott Lee
http://poolknowledge.com
Click to expand...

scott
to me its a 3/4 (this is an edit i put 1/4 in my first post incorrectly) ball hit or 15 degree
icbw
 
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bbb said:
scott
to me its a 1/4 ball hit or 15 degree
icbw
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The shots as drawn are neither half-ball nor 3/4-ball hits. The 4-ball shot is about a 20.5-degree cut. The 6-ball shot is a 17.2-degree cut. A half-ball hit will not pocket either ball. A 3/4-ball hit will not pocket either ball. The two shots as drawn are different angles and the aim is not the same for them.
 
Bob Jewett said:
The shots as drawn are neither half-ball nor 3/4-ball hits. The 4-ball shot is about a 20.5-degree cut. The 6-ball shot is a 17.2-degree cut. A half-ball hit will not pocket either ball. A 3/4-ball hit will not pocket either ball. The two shots as drawn are different angles and the aim is not the same for them.
Click to expand...

thanks bob for being so accurate
maybe thats why i miss them too....:D
 
DrCue'sProtege said:
Over the years I have missed this shot a great deal. I have both overcut it just slightly and undercut it slightly. There are times when I swear if I miss it I will overcut it and I undercut it. And there are times when I swear if I miss it I will undercut it and I overcut it.

Instructors, any thoughts or tips on how to be more consistent with this shot? And yes, I know its an easy shot, but for some reason it is a hard one for me. Maybe its because my eyes are so bad. I need 3.0 magnifiers to read nowadays.

r/DCP


https://pad.chalkysticks.com/20d24
Click to expand...

Fran described this shot as a "borderline back cut" and this is the best description for shots like that. From this point you should learn to play them as back cuts.

First of all, you should make sure you can pocket 20 degree cuts that are not back cuts. Pay attention to your stance and left foot position (if you are right handed).

Once you do that, start playing the 20 degree back cut with exactly the same visual alignment and same left foot position. Now, your shots should always UNDERCUT.

Two things you can try and see what works tor you. Change your visual alignment keeping your left foot position the same, or keep the same visual alignment and find your NEW LEFT POSITION that will do the job.

It's not always on the angle. It's more on perception.

Hope you find this helpful.
 
I guess things aren't so bad here after all. I was just watching the 2003 World Championship match between Bustamante and Ortmann and Bustamante missed what is basically this same shot. And it might have even been a little easier than what I have diagrammed here. The announcers, Forsythe and Wych, were just amazed that he would miss that shot.

r/Mike
 
If I make a trip up to Indiana can I play some on your table with you? It might make you feel better about yourself.
 
DrCue'sProtege said:
Over the years I have missed this shot a great deal. I have both overcut it just slightly and undercut it slightly. There are times when I swear if I miss it I will overcut it and I undercut it. And there are times when I swear if I miss it I will undercut it and I overcut it.

Instructors, any thoughts or tips on how to be more consistent with this shot? And yes, I know its an easy shot, but for some reason it is a hard one for me. Maybe its because my eyes are so bad. I need 3.0 magnifiers to read nowadays.

r/DCP


https://pad.chalkysticks.com/20d24
Click to expand...
Non professional opinion but from a guy who struggles with the same shot. It is easy to see more angle on a back cut then is actually there. Then you miss it a few times and start shooting it straight ahead and undercut it. For me it is worse if near a rail with just a tiny back cut and I need to go forward and off the head rail for shape.

Things that help me. Be very careful how you approach the shot and set up. It is easy to be careless and start out doomed. Make surer you are positioned directly over the cue ball each time, not leaning a little in the direction you want the cue to travel or from tension over the shot. Then, as mentioned above. Set it up in a variety of configurations and shoot it until it is ingrained in your muscle memory. This "muscle memory" for me fades over time and I have to refresh it again the same way.

Best wishes.
 
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