I remember watching an Allison Fisher YouTube video where she and Gerda Hofstätter were taking questions. This was one of those questions - cb or ob last??
Both said they normally look at the ob last. The exceptions (when they focus last on exactly where they want to strike the cb) are when the cb is froze to the rail, on jacked up shots, and on jump shots.
Miss-hitting the vertical axis of the cb (even by just 1mm) with an elevated cue causes quite a bit of unwanted massé, which means the cb will not end up where you want it to end up. So on these types of shots it's good to focus on striking the cb as accurately as possible.
For normal shots (where the cue isn't elevated anymore than normal), striking the cb 1 or 2 mm off from where you intend to strike it won't typically result in a drastic difference, as far as where the cb ends up. Of course, if it's a long shot (a lot of distance between the cb and ob), being of by a couple of mm's when striking the cb will probably result in a miss. But for the vast majority of shots, miss-hitting the cb by 1 to 2 millimeters won't cause disaster.
I respect you and the two ladies. However, I have to say that the conclusion that one or two millimeter off on your contact point usually doesn't matter is wrong. One of the best things anyone can do for their pool game is to learn to hit the cue ball exactly where they intend to, every time.
A pool shot is a chain of events when you think about it. The first event in that chain is striking the cue ball. If there is an error there, it will be compounded by every other event in the chain. "Good enough" ain't! If you can't hit the cue ball exactly where you need to, you need to spend ten or fifteen minutes at the start of every session just hitting the cue ball.
The old deal of hitting the rail and back to the tip is fine but you need to set up a gate at least a few inches from the rail, about six inches is better. At the foot spot works too. Put a ball on the foot spot, then add a ball either side of it. Roll the two side balls out about a quarter tip. Now put your cue ball on this line, at the head spot is fine. Shoot through your gate to the center diamond on the foot rail and back to your tip. When you can do this consistently you are hitting the right spot on the cue ball and stroking straight.
This can be a very tough drill so going back to side to side of the table for starters can a good idea. Also, this shot should be able to be executed at every speed from slow to firm. Most days I just took a couple of firm shots when I played daily. If I came back to the tip with them I could be very sure my stroke was on.
This isn't aimed at anyone in particular but at everyone. If you can't hit the cue ball, how do you expect to make other shots? One or two millimeter off is a roughly 10% to 20% error in your hit. That really isn't acceptable at any level although it is probably pretty common with recreational players with the long open bridges in style today. If I was giving lessons I think I would tell all students to practice hitting the cue ball for a few weeks before coming in for lessons. As I said in the beginning, a shot is a chain of events. If the first event in the chain is off, particularly if you don't recognize the first event is off, you are screwed.
Sorry for the rant. The idea of not being able to hit the cue ball being OK, center ball or off to the side, wherever you intend to, being acceptable got that out of me this morning. A final note, that shot through the gate isn't easy. Three or five in a row at medium speed is enough to move on most days. At first most will have to move on sooner. Don't frustrate yourself with this exercise but you might return to that several times during a session if you are struggling with the drill.
Hu
