A Catalog of Common SCRATCHES, and How to Avoid Them

[dr_dave]

FYI, I just posted a new video that discusses and demonstrates a categorized collection of the most common scratches and shows the best ways to detect and prevent them. Check it out:

Contents:
0:00 - Intro
0:33 - Straight Follow
1:42 - Straight Draw
2:06 - Natural Angle
3:19 - Tangent Line
5:36 - Angled Draw
7:21 - Rail Cut Shot
9:08 - Hanger
10:02 - 1-Rail Position
10:48 - 2-Rail Position
12:17 - Break
14:10 - More Info

Supporting Resources:

• how to avoid a scratch: https://drdavepoolinfo.com/faq/cue-ball-control/scratch-avoid/
• CB control tutorial: https://drdavepoolinfo.com/tutorial/cue-ball-control/
• 30° rule: https://drdavepoolinfo.com/faq/30-90-rules/30-degree-rule/
• 30° rule peace sign: https://drdavepoolinfo.com/faq/30-90-rules/peace-sign/
• 90° rule: https://drdavepoolinfo.com/faq/stun/90-degree-rule/
• System for Aiming With Sidespin (SAWS): https://drdavepoolinfo.com/faq/sidespin/aim/saws/
• 3-times-the-angle system: https://drdavepoolinfo.com/faq/draw/trisect/
• tweener shots: https://drdavepoolinfo.com/faq/cue-ball-control/tweener/
• hanger CB control: https://drdavepoolinfo.com/faq/cue-ball-control/hanger/
• 45° rule: https://drdavepoolinfo.com/faq/cue-ball-control/45-degree-rule/
• break shot strategy and technique: https://drdavepoolinfo.com/faq/break/

As always, I look forward to your feedback, comments, questions, complaints, and requests.

Enjoy!

 

[Straightpool_99]

Good video. I'd just add that among better players, apart from the break, the most common scratches are probably caused by colliding into balls unintentionally, or being forced into shooting thin shots where the tangent line goes into a pocket and being unable to alter the line due to the thinness of hit. The last category is typically happening in tournaments where the cloth is brand new and the ball slides more before curving.

 

[dr_dave]

Good video

Thanks.

I'd just add that among better players, apart from the break, the most common scratches are probably caused by colliding into balls unintentionally, or being forced into shooting thin shots where the tangent line goes into a pocket and being unable to alter the line due to the thinness of hit. The last category is typically happening in tournaments where the cloth is brand new and the ball slides more before curving.

Excellent points. Those would have been good to mention and demonstrate.

 

[cueball2010]

lol. I came here thinking "Yes, I would like to learn how to avoid scratches on my pool cue". That is a bigger mystery for me.

 

[dr_dave]

lol. I came here thinking "Yes, I would like to learn how to avoid scratches on my pool cue". That is a bigger mystery for me.

If the CB scratches less, you will less likely to slam the shaft against the table for fewer scratches on your cue.

 

[cueball2010]

If the CB scratches less, you will less likely to slam the shaft against the table for fewer scratches on your cue.

Actually, Its random scratches on my butt. I think I am pretty careful not to abuse or get angry at mistakes on the table. I know why the scratches happen on the table but not my butt. I was think of wrapping it in something like this: https://amzn.to/47Aa388. I think it is for cars but I am wondering if they use the same clear coat on pool cues? Do you foresee any cue damage with this wrap?

 

[dr_dave]

Actually, Its random scratches on my butt. I think I am pretty careful not to abuse or get angry at mistakes on the table. I know why the scratches happen on the table but not my butt. I was think of wrapping it in something like this: https://amzn.to/47Aa388. I think it is for cars but I am wondering if they use the same clear coat on pool cues? Do you foresee any cue damage with this wrap?

I think it would be better to just stop being a "Rail Banger."

Instead, keep your elbow still during the stroke so the butt does hit the rail during your stroke. Then you won't need to cover the butt with anything.

 

[kling&allen]

One that always drive me crazy is the thin cut against the short rail.

 

[dr_dave]

One that always drive me crazy is the thin cut against the short rail.

View attachment 862885

How do you and others like to avoid a scratch on a shot like that?

 

[kling&allen]

How do you and others like to avoid a scratch on a shot like that?

Depending on shot speed I think side spin is the typical answer, but with that distance between the cb and ob it is more easily said than done for crummy players (SAWS or not).

 

[DrCue'sProtege]

https://pad.chalkysticks.com/927c3.png

This one is always a killer for me. I usually scratch in the side.

I saw a very similar shot jump up and bite Johnny Archer against Efren Reyes in a 10-10 match at the Sands Regency in Reno years ago.

r/DCP

 

[dr_dave]

Depending on shot speed I think side spin is the typical answer, but with that distance between the cb and ob it is more easily said than done for crummy players (SAWS or not).

I think I might prefer slow-rolling it was no sidespin, but I’m not sure.

 

[dr_dave]

https://pad.chalkysticks.com/927c3.png

This one is always a killer for me. I usually scratch in the side.

I saw a very similar shot jump up and bite Johnny Archer against Efren Reyes in a 10-10 match at the Sands Regency in Reno years ago.

r/DCP

That’s similar to the rail cut shot covered in the video.

 

[Fore Rail]

On your one rail position shots why is "natural" top instead of center ball?

 

[dr_dave]

On your one rail position shots why is "natural" top instead of center ball?

The “natural angle” is for a rolling CB. It is the easiest to predict and control. See:

 

[Fore Rail]

The “natural angle” is for a rolling CB. It is the easiest to predict and control. See:

​

You are creating every one of those scratches in the one rail position portion of your video. You should be starting with center ball using the resulting tangent as a baseline.

 

[dr_dave]

You are creating every one of those scratches in the one rail position portion of your video. You should be starting with center ball using the resulting tangent as a baseline.

… but “natural angle” scratches are more “natural.”

Although, I do have an entire section in the video dedicated to “tangent line” scratches.

 

[Fore Rail]

… but “natural angle” scratches are more “natural.”

Although, I do have an entire section in the video dedicated to “tangent line” scratches.

You have 4 shots in that 1 rail position segment. The first two & the last I can't definitively tell the positioning of the cue ball and object ball. The third example I most definitely can.

Let's take a look at the third example.

The object ball is sitting behind the diamond closest to the side pocket. The only way you can scratch across side there is if you hit above center a tick over 1/8 of an inch. IMO there is nothing natural about that. Hit the cue ball dead center in the middle & it goes back and forth along tangent with no scratch. Again you are creating a scratch there by hitting the cue ball above center.

I can easily come to the conclusion that if you are creating the scratch on the third example shot, that you are doing so with each and every other shot as well.

How are shots with enough angle to create a tangent line "natural" when you are influencing the direction of the cue ball with top? Natural is center cue ball taking the 90° tangent angle to point of contact.

 

[dr_dave]

How are shots with enough angle to create a tangent line "natural" when you are influencing the direction of the cue ball with top? Natural is center cue ball taking the 90° tangent angle to point of contact.

See this video for all the reasons why a “natural angle” shot is natural:

It is very easy to roll the CB with a wide range of tip positions, shot distances, shot speeds, and cloth conditions, and small changes in cut angle have very little effect on CB direction. Creating perfect stun at the OB with no pocket cheat to create the desired “tangent line” motion is not as natural.