Measle balls in practice

[Mensabum]

When I started doing the Mighty X drill I often got a perfectly still CB, albeit one that is spinning counterclockwise. I know I have a perception problem where I hit the CB ever so slightly right of dead center. I never would have realized that with a plain white cue ball.

I recall when I first started playing that I would sometimes close one eye to make sure my dominant eye had my cue on the proper shotline. It's easy to tell if you're offline. And it may help you build a straighter stroke, unlike my shoot and holler sh** stroke.

 

[straightline]

Mostly. It was a combination of twisting my wrist which pulled my hand left toward my torso, tip goes right; and parallax where it looked like I was center ball but wasn’t. Former caused many misses.

I have fixed the stroke portion. Still occasionally hit the CB slightly right of center, though. On the Mighty X I might get < a half-ball rotation. Working on solidifying head position.

Just for the drill, try CBL - cue ball last. You might find bits you can adjust; both back hand and complete stance/preshot.

 

[maha]

shoot the cueball by itself up and down the table until you can most always come back to its starting position.

after and not until you can do that, learn to make it go to specific spots, hitting the short rail by you using english.

all other practice is worthless until you can do those easy things.

 

[Mensabum]

Just for the drill, try CBL - cue ball last. You might find bits you can adjust; both back hand and complete stance/preshot.

Good advice!!

 

[dquarasr]

Can you give us some deets on the parallax view for those who don't know what that is?? My guess is there are many. Tia!!

I’d rather people look up parallax themselves. Too complicated for me to attempt to describe it here.

What I did notice is that if I lined up center ball (center vertical and center horizontal), then move the cue tip to the bottom of the CB the tip was actually slightly right of where the CB touches the table.

So I repositioned my head so that center really was center. It has helped with unintended right spin.

Mind you, over time, it went from very concerning significant right spin to *barely* rotating counterclockwise on dead straight shots, if at all.

It’s still a work in progress.

Lately something that has helped with potting accuracy and eliminating unintended spin is to stand back much farther from the table and make a pronounced step forward into the shot bringing the cue down on the shot line, rather than stand and bend over with minimal forward motion.

Problem is that some places I play don’t always have enough room to step back then step forward into the shot. So I have to be even more cognizant of my feet if I can only take a very short step in, or even no step forward.

 

[dquarasr]

shoot the cueball by itself up and down the table until you can most always come back to its starting position.

after and not until you can do that, learn to make it go to specific spots, hitting the short rail by you using english.

all other practice is worthless until you can do those easy things.

I do this often.

I like putting Cb on the foot spot, aiming at the head spot (I have a donut on the head spot), then stepping in.

With this aiming, the cue should be easily and repeatedly directly centered over the short rail diamond. I have been able to achieve this very consistently.

Then I’ll hit the CB and see if it goes over the head spot donut and returns to the cue tip. I will also try various positions along the vertical axis (center, top, bottom), and at lag speed, medium speed (stop shot speed if an OB was at the head spot), and high speed (as if trying to draw the CB if an OB was at the head spot).

Some days I am really good with this. Other days can use improvement; usually if it needs work it’s with unintended right spin. Like I said, a work in progress. But it’s getting better and better.

 

[dquarasr]

Just for the drill, try CBL - cue ball last. You might find bits you can adjust; both back hand and complete stance/preshot.

I have tried CB last many times.

I’m much better off OB last.

There are a few circumstances, though, I will use CB last, like jacked up over a ball; CB frozen on a rail; or almost always when using the rake.

 

[straightline]

I have tried CB last many times.

I’m much better off OB last.

There are a few circumstances, though, I will use CB last, like jacked up over a ball; CB frozen on a rail; or almost always when using the rake.

I get the hand eye coordination but for drilling's sake, looking at the cue ball puts the focus_ right on the error_. This will probably cause errors at the object ball but think about this: If perfect cue ball causes errors, you're doing it wrong.

I suggest trying it and sussing out the line error it reveals. Work that out and you can look anywhere you want.

 

[straightline]

Before I forget, The x drill is not a necessarily a slam and stick affair. You may find errors at all speeds. It gets time consuming and still up to you.

 

[Patrick Johnson]

Can you give us some deets on the parallax view for those who don't know what that is?? My guess is there are many. Tia!!

Parallax refers to how two things at different distances (like cue tip and cue ball) align differently when viewed from different places (like from each of your two eyes).

Viewed from your right eye the centered tip might appear to be left of the CB’s center, while from your left eye the tip might appear to be right of CB center.

Since we don’t aim at pool with one eye closed, this is why it’s important to find your “vision center” head position over your cue - where straight looks straight when using both eyes.

Vision Center - Dr. Dave Pool Info

Answers to frequently-asked questions about how to find your personal 'vision center' in pool.

drdavepoolinfo.com

pj
chgo

 

[Mensabum]

I’d rather people look up parallax themselves. Too complicated for me to attempt to describe it here.

What I did notice is that if I lined up center ball (center vertical and center horizontal), then move the cue tip to the bottom of the CB the tip was actually slightly right of where the CB touches the table.

So I repositioned my head so that center really was center. It has helped with unintended right spin.

Mind you, over time, it went from very concerning significant right spin to *barely* rotating counterclockwise on dead straight shots, if at all.

It’s still a work in progress.

Lately something that has helped with potting accuracy and eliminating unintended spin is to stand back much farther from the table and make a pronounced step forward into the shot bringing the cue down on the shot line, rather than stand and bend over with minimal forward motion.

Problem is that some places I play don’t always have enough room to step back then step forward into the shot. So I have to be even more cognizant of my feet if I can only take a very short step in, or even no step forward.

Excellent advice about the step back!! Thank you.
Parallax is simply the view from each eye as interpreted by your brain. If you put your finger in front of your face at arms length and look at it with one eye closed and alternate, you'll notice your finger jumping from side to side. That's why it's so important to get the shotline from dominant eye. Head position over the cue is crucial to maintain it. The slightest variance results in, well, you know.

 

[pt109]

They were invented for tv/stream so people could see spin. I'm not a big fan. I've never stared at whitey after a shot to see how it spins. They play ok but i'd never buy one. I like a classic clean white cb.

My favorite cue has one red dot from a Diamond seven footer ….it stay clean.
Measle balls wear unevenly ….leave spots.

 

[Mensabum]

My favorite cue has one red dot from a Diamond seven footer ….it stay clean.
Measle balls wear unevenly ….leave spots.

Idk if I want to play in a hall that's so busy the CB gets spots worn in them or if I'm missing the best action in town!!!

 

[pt109]

Idk if I want to play in a hall that's so busy the CB gets spots worn in them or if I'm missing the best action in town!!!

Idk if I want to play in a hall that's so busy the CB gets spots worn in them or if I'm missing the best action in town!!!

Years ago, it was claimed that players using dots as targets and wearing them out…..then a carombola pic showed a cue ball settling in a flat spot. I should saved the video…..next time I looked for it, iI was taken down.