My struggle with follow
- Thread starter FuManchu
- Start date
Yes. You probably picked up a bad habit when shooting with top spin. You're either aiming wrong or there's a flaw in the way you're striking the ball.
First, make sure it's not your aim. Aim as if you're going to hit center ball, then adjust for top spin. Do that a few times and see what happens. If you're still missing, then it might be in your stroke execution.
To troubleshoot your execution:
1.) Make sure your bridge hand stays still throughout the stroke, all the way to the end.
2.) Also, check the the position of the knuckles of your back hand before you shoot, then check them after. Have they changed position? If yes, then you might be twisting the cue.
Do you mean typical follow or is this more the case with force follow?
Check that you're keeping a level cue,especially if you're adding any sidespin. Because t's not possible to keep a perfectly level when hitting low or center ball, a cue that is not 'level' is still 'normal' for those shots. That's just what you get accustomed to and it has little effect because striking low on the ball gives a small lift to the CB when it starts off so it's not gripping the cloth and swerving. But when you're playing high on the CB, 'normal' cue elevation may in actuality be striking down on the ball. Playing high on the CB will always result in a little downward force into the cloth, but is more dramatic as you hit harder or have any extra cue elevation, so especially with any sidespin (intentional or not) the CB is getting pushed into cloth and might start its journey with enough swerve to result in a miss.
But like FranCrimi said, also check your aim, it can also be slightly harder to visualize ball-to-ball contact when your cue is obstructing more of the CB as it is when playing high CB.
Check that you're keeping a level cue,especially if you're adding any sidespin. Because t's not possible to keep a perfectly level when hitting low or center ball, a cue that is not 'level' is still 'normal' for those shots. That's just what you get accustomed to and it has little effect because striking low on the ball gives a small lift to the CB when it starts off so it's not gripping the cloth and swerving. But when you're playing high on the CB, 'normal' cue elevation may in actuality be striking down on the ball. Playing high on the CB will always result in a little downward force into the cloth, but is more dramatic as you hit harder or have any extra cue elevation, so especially with any sidespin (intentional or not) the CB is getting pushed into cloth and might start its journey with enough swerve to result in a miss.
But like FranCrimi said, also check your aim, it can also be slightly harder to visualize ball-to-ball contact when your cue is obstructing more of the CB as it is when playing high CB.
Set up a perfectly straight shot into a pocket. Try to follow the object ball into the pocket for a scratch. Start with a short shot and make the shot longer and longer until you have a problem. Do you consistently miss to one side?
FuManchu...Do yourself a favor and take a lesson right there in Dallas with Randy Goettlicher (randyg here). He can easily diagnose and help you permanently fix your problem
Scott Lee
http://poolknowledge.com
Scott Lee
http://poolknowledge.com
Great advice from all above!!!
Also, remember...the bottom of the tip strikes the top of the ball.
2) as was mentioned, it is super important to keep cue level on these shots. Get that lesson or atleast get someone to film you. It really can feel like you are striking upwards when in reality you are slightly downwards(jacked up a bit). I wish I figured this out years ago. My follow rail shots are now light years ahead of where they were.
3) Do that drill BJ speaks of !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Also, remember...the bottom of the tip strikes the top of the ball.
2) as was mentioned, it is super important to keep cue level on these shots. Get that lesson or atleast get someone to film you. It really can feel like you are striking upwards when in reality you are slightly downwards(jacked up a bit). I wish I figured this out years ago. My follow rail shots are now light years ahead of where they were.
3) Do that drill BJ speaks of !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
What I did to help me increase follow/force follow was. During my walk-up too the shot I would intentionally lower the cue butt ALLOT, meaning over accentuate the motion, and almost make it feel like the butt was lower than the tip when I set my bridge hand down. I also found a closed bridge preferred over an open bridge when following whitey.
"Walk up the ladder" and follow by starting center ball then coming up a bit with the stick on the final forward stroke, rather than starting with a high aim on the cue ball. This ensures the bottom of your cue tip strikes the cue ball above center and you get beautiful roll to begin. Start with very slow strokes at first to get the feel.
A related question for the instructors (sorry for the partial de-rail, tho it seems these theads rarely take off any more)...
The OP notes that he struggles with follow, but has no issue with draw. I have the reverse issue, follow isn't an issue yet I struggle with draw.
Is this common, folks having trouble with one but not the other? I have encountered this with some of the people I play with (league setting), usually the same as the OP, struggling with follow....
The OP notes that he struggles with follow, but has no issue with draw. I have the reverse issue, follow isn't an issue yet I struggle with draw.
Is this common, folks having trouble with one but not the other? I have encountered this with some of the people I play with (league setting), usually the same as the OP, struggling with follow....
It is common in my opinion. The reason being just how one goes about stroking the cue. Many that have trouble getting draw tend to raise the cue by dropping the elbow, thereby raising the cue and not hitting the cb as low as they think they are.
The same goes for follow, they tend to drop the tip early, thereby not hitting the cb as high as they think they are.
Thanks. It seemed too obvious not to be related in some fashion, but I'm a mere hack and thought since the topic was at hand, I might see what the thoughts were.
Here's an oldie but goodie. Shane states that he starts off about center and finishes high. He goes on to ask if Efren does the same thing and he does.
https://youtu.be/_kL9ena6j6M
Shane's follow shot starts at 20:20.
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20:20.. Do you play with Elkmaster tips?.. Efren "Always"
Is this an Elkmaster tip endorsement from the Magician?
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Are you having trouble pocketing balls when you draw the cue ball, or are you having trouble getting the cue ball to draw back?
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Yes.
I can usually sort out where I went wrong using draw, and its often poking, jabbing and/or hitting too hard. I get it, I just struggle trying to correct it. I do understand the process, I think. I simply need to execute it better, and resist those bad instincts.
Conversely, I adapted to follow family easy, early on as I learned the game. Thus my curiosity about players struggling with one but not the other. Along with seeing some of that with some players I play with locally.
I wonder what the correlation might be. Its interesting.
Meaning the cue is angled up at impact ?
Will this potentially create a problem if the hit is slightly off center vs. using a more level stroke ?
I think a short video would be best to help
your issue, you need to crawl before you walk, instructors need to see your mechanics live....nearly impossible to correct from just words on the keyboard.
your issue, you need to crawl before you walk, instructors need to see your mechanics live....nearly impossible to correct from just words on the keyboard.