Here are my thoughts after some more work with this.
The goal for using this knowledge is:
1) To increase margin of error allowed
2) To let you know better why you missed
Does it do this?
Using the calibrated bridge length, along with a pivot that is exactly at the point needed, will eliminate the need to adjust your aim for deflection. All you have to do is use the bridge length, line up like you are using center ball then pivot.
1) In one way this will increase the margin of error you can have because if you are off where you wanted to hit the cueball the deflection will automatically increase or decrease giving you the same end result target. As long as no curve had time to take over. (If you do not understand this part then study back hand english)
2) This will also let you know better why you missed... but only because you can take deflection out of the equation. It is still possible that you missed because of a few other reasons
The above is what I liked (the benefit being that your aim did not need to be adjusted to compensate for deflection)
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Now lets talk about what I did not like.
1) The biggest thing I did not like about the pivot system is that when I pivot I could not hit my target on the cueball nearly as accurately as simply lining up with parallel english. This might just be because I have spent years with parallel english and have not practiced bhe but to me it felt as if my stroke was crooked and this feeling had my stroke hitting inaccurately.
Now if you hit inaccurately, meaning a little more outside english than expected or something similar, as stated already it will not affect the deflection but it will still effect the spin induced throw, the amount of curve, and most importantly... it will affect your position play.
My conclusion is... if you can pivot precisely and if you can stroke as accurately using bhe then there is merit in using it because it does help with deflection. Personally, I am pretty good with parallel english, meaning my adjustment for deflection is pretty solid therefor the negative of not being able to stroke as accurate and not feeling good stroking is not worth it to me. Perhaps if I had learned to play with bhe and it felt more comfortable I would feel different but that is what I have noticed messing with this stuff.
P.S.
The other factors that go into aiming... curve, collision induced throw, spin induced throw, aiming precisely in the first place... I see no benefit to using bhe over parallel english whatsoever.
Colin... in the op you stated that "There is a bridge length for these shots, which varies according to the separation of CB and OB, where the CB deflection is perfectly cancelled out by the unintended spin induced throw."
I'm not sure if this is true. The result of deflection does not change when you change the amount of english if using bhe. The result of throw does change when you change the amount of english. What I am getting at is I dont think it is correct to say that a bridge length will allow deflection to cancel throw or the opposite unless you hit a precise point on the cueball everytime. So I think it is useless for increasing the margin of error in this way.
I like threads like this that cause me to think but now I definitely have to catch some zzzzz's.
A lot their to respond to, so please remind me if I leave something out that interests you.
First let me say that the original post was mainly to provide an interesting specific example that I felt was very useful in helping people get a deeper insight into the nature of bridge length, aim, and stroke inter-relationships.
It's kind of merged into a BHE discussion, which is fine, but that complicates the issue.
Regarding my earlier mention of longer bridging on shorter CB to OB distances, I was being specific to straightish shots, where left throws right and vice versa. So basically we need to squirt the CB about 1mm to the side of LOC on the OB. If using what I call my effective pivot point, I will hit exactly at LOC. If I want to deviate by 1mm over 10 inches, I need to lengthen the bridge considerably, but if need that deviation to occur over 3 feet, my bridge lengthening is much less.
This assumes firm cueing, to reduce the effects of swerve on this particular example. In general play using BHE, longer slower shots require a longer effective pivot point, due to swerve.
Regarding CB accuracy with a pivot: When I first started using BHE with pivot to impart english, I tended to put more english on most shots that I previously had, and the unfamiliar mechanical nature of the process negatively affected my speed control.
It just takes some time for it to feel natural and to stop any tendency to bridge shift or swipe to steer during the stroke.
Nearly all players steer the CB to make shots as a way to correct imperfect alignment. I've never seen it taught, but most do it from time to time, but there's no role for it in BHE, not even much point looking at the OB during the stroke once pre-aligned with the suitable bridge length for the shot.
I'm so familiar with it now, that my equivalent to making a pot, is SETTING my bridge. That may end up to be incorrect, but I can't influence it, so the pressure is largely off. So when I stroke, my only thoughts are about how to play shape. I should add, that the bridge placement depends on me having already decided on the type and speed of shot I intend to execute, though in most cases, I have a wide range of points on the CB I could hit that still work.
