An example of this is the wagon wheel drill when the cue ball is in a fixed location for all the shots. For most of the shots, there is only one combination of speed and tip contact that will send the cue ball to softly hit the current target ball:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-b42018ceoE
The caveat here is "send the cue ball softly". This is a drill with a stated goal, not a playing situation. In most playing situations there are many ways to do things and many types of position options. A constant speed instructor would plan out a run that matched their chosen game style. In a situation where the only logical choice was a soft hit they would hit softly. Their advice, however, would be to make those shots exceptions and try to stick to a medium stroke where possible, not hard, not soft.
There seems to be 3 schools of thought:
1. Constant speed vary ball hit position and or cut angle
2. Vary speed and try to use the same cut angle and or hit position
3. Vary any darn thing you need to get it done. :wink: I think this is what most do.
I do see some value in trying to hit most shots with a constant speed. A typical situation is a cut across the table to get position on a next ball which is closer to the rail. You can slow roll it and shoot the other ball back or go across and off the opposite rail and back and shoot it in the same pocket as the first. Some slow roll and some go across and back to keep the speed to match their constant speed stroke. My friend and I call this double the speed and double the rails, or just double the speed for short. Soft shots and holding the cue ball for the next shot can be tricky and if the table rolls off you can miss the shot. Good player, good table, no problem.
It isn't to say ALL SHOTS can be hit at one speed. But this style instruction says to use your standard stroke speed as often as possible and use top, bottom and the number of rails to get shape instead of hitting hard and soft.
Stop shots are a good example. You can hit harder or lower and time it out. A constant speed shooter would hit lower at their normal speed.
Tim White teaches a 16 Diamond basic stroke. Scott Lee helped me find my "natural stroke length". It turns out it is about 18 diamonds for me. I probably hit a little too hard and that is not a shock.
I am not promoting either, I am asking what others think.