Does natural angle only happen when you roll the ball with a center hit? If you hit a little above center with different speeds, wouldn't that change the angle?
A Catalog of Common SCRATCHES, and How to Avoid Them
- Thread starter dr_dave
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If you hit the cue ball dead center and medium speed, within a couple of feet, the cue ball is rolling smoothly on the cloth. Rolling smoothly on the cloth is the maximum follow you are ever going to get on the cue ball. If you hit the cue ball a little above center, it will have natural roll a little sooner. If you hit it for average follow, it will be rolling smoothly sooner still. And if you hit the cue ball a little below half way from center to the top, it will be rolling smoothly right off the tip.
The huge advantage of a rolling cue ball is that you can predict the exact angle it will take off the object ball for any particular cut. That angle does not change with cloth or distance as long as the cue ball is rolling smoothly. The angle doesn't even change with speed, but a fast shot will slide over a little before the cue ball takes its destined angle.
If you want to learn the natural rolling angle of the cue ball, play the first five shots of the Wagon Wheel drill:
... only if fast speed is used or if the OB is close to the CB. See the explanations and demonstrations here:
So what you are trying tell me and everyone else here...
The shot you hit at the 10:35 point in the video.
The cue ball direction isn't being influenced by using top?
Where does cue ball go with a strike in the center? How bout 1/8, 1/4 or 3/8's up or down on the vertical axis?
As clearly demonstrated in the video linked above, when the CB is close to the OB or when fast speed is used, the tip must be high to guarantee the CB will be rolling when it reaches the OB.
All different directions. The natural-angle peace-sign applies only when the CB has full natural roll when it hits the OB.
So in the shot I referenced how do you teach your students to not find the bottom of the side pocket?
I start from the path the cue ball wants to follow with it rolling smoothly on the cloth and no sidespin. If that leads to a pocket or anywhere else they don't want to be, then the shot has to be modified. In the case of the scratch shot at 10:35 in the original video, there are many ways to avoid the scratch. Which way you choose depends on where you would rather go. If you don't want to use side spin, hitting lower on the cue ball to get less than full follow when it arrives at the object ball is the only choice. Well, you could hit it so hard the follow action is delayed, but that would cause other problems.
I think a good way to learn the paths of the cue ball from full draw to full follow for various cut angles is the Wagon Wheel referenced above. Those paths can also be used for the shots along the rail in the video.
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Is the cue ball not rolling smoothly with a center ball strike in the example referenced?
Yes, it is rolling smoothly for the cross-side scratch, but the cue ball is hit well above center. See the graphic inset. To me, "center ball" means with neither side spin nor follow/draw.
That's what I am talking about Bob. No follow, no draw, no side spin - center ball.
Again would the cue ball be rolling smoothly with a center ball strike in Dr Dave's video at the 10:35 mark?
Are u guys talking about 2 different things? Hitting center ball on the cueball vs center ball contact with the object ball? The later meaning the cueball makes contact with the object ball at the exact moment there is no spin. Is that what u mean?
Obviously not. That’s why a high tip was used. Again, all questions you have asked in this thread are answered with clear explanations and demonstrations in the video linked above.
What if I or anyone else for that matter do not want to be directed towards a video for an answer? Is that all you can provide is a link to your videos? How about just a straight answer?
I pretty much know all I need to based upon a few tidbits of info I have gained recently. Your use of high ball, calling it "natural." Your reply of "all different directions" to what should have been simple question to answer. How about "good action draw" what the hell is that? Either you are purposefully deflecting or just don't know.
I don't & just can't agree with your methods. There is no way in hell I would teach my students in this manner. It is my opinion that you shouldn't either. "To each their own" I guess applies here.