For a single given cue, the only possible
dynamic influence a player can have on a cue ball is the following:
- The impact vector. The vectorincludes the following:
- position on the face of the cue ball (center of contact patch)
- angle of incident
- velocity
The impact time (duration) is only, at the very most, 2ms. It is physically impossible for human muscles to react at this speed, and therefore the impact vector does not change due to player influence.
With the same cue, the effective end mass can be changed very slightly with bridge length. But since the bridge hand does not move during the stroke, this is a static parameter and is not included.
It might be possible to grip the cue very firmly and add total effective mass to the cue, but I am unsure about this and don't know if this is true.
Chalk is binary. You either keep static friction during the (good hit) or transition from static-to-kenetic friction (miscue). Miscues aren't purposefully used as a technique so aren't considered. Tip softness helps maintain static friction to some degree.
Therefore, any twisting, swooping, drilling, side-movement, or any other claimed dynamic cueing motion doesn't "add" anything.
Different types of strokes only change the three components of the impact vector.
Dropping your elbow too early, following through properly, stroking downwards into the table, good action, bad action, etc. all only impact the accuracy of delivering the intended impact vector.
This means that if two different strokes, from either the same or different players, using the same equipment, creates the exact same impact vector... then the shot outcomes will be equivalent.
Therefore, there is no such thing as "a need for different types of strokes". (Excluding jumps, breaks and masse's which are different developed skills.)
The same stroke can reproduce all effects possible with proper accuracy.
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Do you agree? Or am I missing something. A lot of fellow players have discussions with me about their 'special magic strokes'