Hard to Find the Center of the Cue Ball

[BilliardHome]

I know center CB is advised when you don’t need spin for positioning, but I’ve found that particularly under pressure and late in the rack, even when CB position is not needed, it’s more comfortable for me to apply some inside or outside, as I’ve done my entire life as a pool player.

I’ve found that I’ve missed some really crucial easy 9 ball shots trying to convince myself to try to hit center ball, but then I guess subconsciously in the middle of the stroke I either accidentally apply spin and don’t adjust my aim point or visa versa, causing a miss. Does anyone else experience this?

Dealer here, and 100% agree with this. The center ball is the whole game; everything else is decoration until you can hit dead center on command.

Cheapest drill that actually works: put a ball on the head spot, a cue ball on the foot spot, and shoot it straight back so the object ball rolls to the rail and comes straight back to your tip. If it drifts left or right, you're off center, not the table. Do this for 15 minutes before you touch anything else for about two weeks, and you'll feel a real difference.

One thing that trips people up is blaming their stroke when it's actually their cue. A warped shaft or a tip that's not properly shaped will make consistent center ball contact harder than it needs to be, worth ruling out early. Fuller guide on picking gear that won't fight you here: https://billiardhome.com/blog/best-pool-cues-for-beginners