A bit lost.

T

tonythetiger583

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
So I played for a really long time yesterday against some players who are much better than me, and I feel like I have a lot of issues I need to sort through and I’m not sure how to go about it.

1. I've been playing with a low deflection shaft since December (OB Pro) and I think it’s a combination of my cue butt being cheap and the shaft being lighter in general, but I’ve noticed it’s MUCH easier for me to be consistent with the stock 13mm maple shaft that came with my Player’s cue. It feels like my shot wavers a lot less. I’ve spent this whole time practicing with a low deflection shaft, and I don’t know if I should scrap all that and use a maple.

I rarely use much English outside of a tip atm because I’m still trying to get a more consistent game, and I pretty much exclusively play 8-ball.
I’m wondering if it would be detrimental to my game if I shelved my OB for a while and just used the stock maple shaft until I get better. I would really like an OB-1, but can’t afford it.

So my question is, should I tough it out with the OB-Pro, or will it be okay to commit to the non-low-deflection shaft for the foreseeable future until I get good enough to use the OB-pro, or at least until I can get a low-deflection shaft with a larger diameter?

2. I’ve just learned last night how to do a dart-stroke jump shot. I’ve been doing it underhand since June. One of the A-player’s taught me how to dart stroke. I’ve noticed I can get a lot of height much easier and effortlessly with the dart stroke, but my underhand jump is much more accurate. I don’t know how to aim a dart stroke from down on the shot and bring it up without wobbling off the shot line. I’m also cross-eye dominant, so with my jump cue resting on the left-side of my face, and my right eye doing the aiming, I’ll miss if I try and trust my vision.

So do I just try and make my underhand better? Or is there some way I can my dart-stroke more accurate? Ideally I would like to be able to use both, one to be more accurate over long distances, while being able to get more height easily WHILE still being more reasonably accurate.
 
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It is hard to know what to suggest without knowing a lot more about how you play. It could be that the "wavering" in your stroke is due to tremor or a lousy bridge or a bad grip. No one here knows and to give advice would just be guessing. Maybe your stance is off. Maybe it is fine.

I think you should work on things other than your jump shots at this point but I'm from the old school.
 
Instructor?

tonythetiger583 said:
So I played for a really long time yesterday against some players who are much better than me, and I feel like I have a lot of issues I need to sort through and I’m not sure how to go about it.

1. I've been playing with a low deflection shaft since December (OB Pro) and I think it’s a combination of my cue butt being cheap and the shaft being lighter in general, but I’ve noticed it’s MUCH easier for me to be consistent with the stock 13mm maple shaft that came with my Player’s cue. It feels like my shot wavers a lot less. I’ve spent this whole time practicing with a low deflection shaft, and I don’t know if I should scrap all that and use a maple.

I rarely use much English outside of a tip atm because I’m still trying to get a more consistent game, and I pretty much exclusively play 8-ball.
I’m wondering if it would be detrimental to my game if I shelved my OB for a while and just used the stock maple shaft until I get better. I would really like an OB-1, but can’t afford it.

So my question is, should I tough it out with the OB-Pro, or will it be okay to commit to the non-low-deflection shaft for the foreseeable future until I get good enough to use the OB-pro, or at least until I can get a low-deflection shaft with a larger diameter?

2. I’ve just learned last night how to do a dart-stroke jump shot. I’ve been doing it underhand since June. One of the A-player’s taught me how to dart stroke. I’ve noticed I can get a lot of height much easier and effortlessly with the dart stroke, but my underhand jump is much more accurate. I don’t know how to aim a dart stroke from down on the shot and bring it up without wobbling off the shot line. I’m also cross-eye dominant, so with my jump cue resting on the left-side of my face, and my right eye doing the aiming, I’ll miss if I try and trust my vision.

So do I just try and make my underhand better? Or is there some way I can my dart-stroke more accurate? Ideally I would like to be able to use both, one to be more accurate over long distances, while being able to get more height easily WHILE still being more reasonably accurate.
Click to expand...

As usual, Bob Jewett is correct.

Have you considered seeing an instructor?
 
OB-Pro has the narrow tip, 11.75mm. - I work at Ozone Billiards and the way I describe it to people is that the Narrow tip is easier to get spin but it is harder to control. More often than not, beginner to intermediate players get More Unwanted spin when using a shaft like this. Do you have access to the Elephant Elephant Balls? The cue ball will keep the chalk mark on the ball and show you exactly where you hit the cue ball. If you are not cueing the ball exactly where you think you could be throwing the object ball. Also if you are slightly elevated the cue could be curving a little on the way to the object ball.

Option - see if you can trade your OB-Pro for an OB-1 or OB Classic

Jumping, I am 6' and find it much easier for me to jump underhand. This is not always an option due to reaching out over the table. Try to line up the shot with your head over the cue. Then pick 3 contact points, Center of cue ball, a point behind the cue ball (part of the rail or spot on the table) and a spot somewhere in front of the cue ball (usually part of the object ball you are jumping over). Now when you elevate (dart or underhand) make sure your head is still over the cue and make sure you are still in line with your 3 contact points. I've also heard of people that just use a spot a few inches in front of the cue ball and aim for that.

As said above, if possible see an instructor who can work hands on to help you in person.
 
Doesn't the OB-Pro also have a slight conical taper; somewhat like the cues that carom players use? It's difficult to shoot with a long bridge length with that type of taper. I used to play pool with that taper and resorted to using an open bridge. Eventually I switched back to a longer taper. Carom players do tend to shoot with shorter bridge lengths and many stand taller at the table.
 
RWOJO said:
OB-Pro has the narrow tip, 11.75mm. - I work at Ozone Billiards and the way I describe it to people is that the Narrow tip is easier to get spin but it is harder to control. More often than not, beginner to intermediate players get More Unwanted spin when using a shaft like this. Do you have access to the Elephant Elephant Balls? The cue ball will keep the chalk mark on the ball and show you exactly where you hit the cue ball. If you are not cueing the ball exactly where you think you could be throwing the object ball. Also if you are slightly elevated the cue could be curving a little on the way to the object ball.

Option - see if you can trade your OB-Pro for an OB-1 or OB Classic

Jumping, I am 6' and find it much easier for me to jump underhand. This is not always an option due to reaching out over the table. Try to line up the shot with your head over the cue. Then pick 3 contact points, Center of cue ball, a point behind the cue ball (part of the rail or spot on the table) and a spot somewhere in front of the cue ball (usually part of the object ball you are jumping over). Now when you elevate (dart or underhand) make sure your head is still over the cue and make sure you are still in line with your 3 contact points. I've also heard of people that just use a spot a few inches in front of the cue ball and aim for that.

As said above, if possible see an instructor who can work hands on to help you in person.
Click to expand...

I can't afford an OB 1 atm, but in the meantime, I'm going to try and use the OB-Classic for games such as 9-ball and early on in the night, while switching to the stock shaft for 8-ball, or when I'm getting tired. The classic still feels better, now that I have both shafts installed with a medium ultraskin, but I like having the option of playing more basic positional pool when I start getting tired and sloppy.
 
taper

FranCrimi said:
Doesn't the OB-Pro also have a slight conical taper; somewhat like the cues that carom players use? It's difficult to shoot with a long bridge length with that type of taper. I used to play pool with that taper and resorted to using an open bridge. Eventually I switched back to a longer taper. Carom players do tend to shoot with shorter bridge lengths and many stand taller at the table.
Click to expand...

I had much the same experience. I do like the OB shafts, but I found myself going back to a 314 with a long taper.

Tough thing for me though, because I play so little any more, is that one day the OB works and another day the 314 works!
 
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