A technical checklist for shooting over balls.

[mnorwood]

I would like to get some input on the key aspects of shooting over a ball. Some thoughts of my own include: keeping a loose grip, keeping the cue as level as possible, following through and adjusting where you grip the cue (gripping further forward.) Is it safe to say that you shouldn't pop the cue which could open the risk of jumping the cue ball?

I know this sounds like a beginners question. I have hit thousands of shots like this, but have never formalized my thoughts on it. I am interested to see what many posters here have to say.

Is there any other nuance to this technique?

Thanks,
Marcus

 

[softshot]

my philosophy...

when jacked up you have a smaller margin for error

so make smaller errors..

I shorten my stroke.. shorten my bridge.. shrink it all up

in the most extreme case I'll begin with my back hand in my finish position and bridge as close to the shot as possible.. and bridge as stable as possible

the entire forward stroke may only result in 2 or 3 inches of tip movement total...

sight the shot and line it up level....

and then shrink your stroke more and more as you are forced to jack up higher and higher..

smaller movements make smaller errors..

seems to be working for me..

 

[gmillioni]

to me the main key here is to keep from putting inadvertant masse (curve) into the shot. depending on how steep you are over the ball will make a difference on getting a solid straight hit on the cue and avoiding unwanted curve. so basically i agree with the short stroking guy but not a choppy hit. and one has to hit the ball on the center line - when jacked up center line will be above the center of the clock (i.e. center of the clock is where the hands meet.) so jacked up would mean you'd have to hit above that point but below the 12. i try to strike a medium hit with follow through on the center line. gerald

 

[I rack balls]

It depends on how close the cb is to the ball you are shooting over. I think the thing that is the trickiest is that the shot will not look right due to the awkward body position. The stroke will feel different. If you stroke back the way that feels comfortable you will not be aimed correctly. Or at least thats my take on it..........

 

[softshot]

to me the main key here is to keep from putting inadvertant masse (curve) into the shot. depending on how steep you are over the ball will make a difference on getting a solid straight hit on the cue and avoiding unwanted curve. so basically i agree with the short stroking guy but not a choppy hit. and one has to hit the ball on the center line - when jacked up center line will be above the center of the clock (i.e. center of the clock is where the hands meet.) so jacked up would mean you'd have to hit above that point but below the 12. i try to strike a medium hit with follow through on the center line. gerald

you don't have a choice.. you have to sacrifice some cueball options... staying centerball axis is critical.. because you are right... masse is a huge problem here... the higher you jack up.. if you have a good pure stroke... anything off center will will curve and swerve....

and thats great in front of Nathans camera but sucks ass when you are not expecting it..

you have to simplify the shot.. to the highest degree... you are looking to minimize cueball movement... because you have less cue ball options...

a little follow.... a little draw....a slow speed stop...maybe..

draw 3 rails not likely..

you have to work with what you have..

lower your expectations and just put the ball in the hole

dig out next shot when you have a better angle and a bigger target on your CB

 

[sr 9ball]

put weight on bridge hand

 

[sfleinen]

Another addition to the forcefollow collection?

I would like to get some input on the key aspects of shooting over a ball. Some thoughts of my own include: keeping a loose grip, keeping the cue as level as possible, following through and adjusting where you grip the cue (gripping further forward.) Is it safe to say that you shouldn't pop the cue which could open the risk of jumping the cue ball?

I know this sounds like a beginners question. I have hit thousands of shots like this, but have never formalized my thoughts on it. I am interested to see what many posters here have to say.

Is there any other nuance to this technique?

Thanks,
Marcus

Mark:

(Looks into crystal ball.) "I feel a YouTube 'how to shoot over a ball' how-to video by forcefollow on YouTube coming on..."

Just razzin' ya.

j/k,
-Sean

 

[Tramp Steamer]

I go along with everyone else on this. Stay focused. It's easy to misscue when you're using a very high bridge.

 

[mnorwood]

Mark:

(Looks into crystal ball.) "I feel a YouTube 'how to shoot over a ball' how-to video by forcefollow on YouTube coming on..."

Just razzin' ya.

j/k,
-Sean

I must confess I like to get everyone's opinion before doing a video. The forum also serves as an awesome companion for the video. I think its good for the forum, I direct allot of new players to this site.

 

[randyg]

I would like to get some input on the key aspects of shooting over a ball. Some thoughts of my own include: keeping a loose grip, keeping the cue as level as possible, following through and adjusting where you grip the cue (gripping further forward.) Is it safe to say that you shouldn't pop the cue which could open the risk of jumping the cue ball?

I know this sounds like a beginners question. I have hit thousands of shots like this, but have never formalized my thoughts on it. I am interested to see what many posters here have to say.

Is there any other nuance to this technique?

Thanks,
Marcus

Tough shot. I actually have that shot in my Practice routine.

Like everyone said, aiming is difficult. But there is a routine for aiming also.

Don't worry about the cue ball jumping, it's going to jump anyway, center axis is paramount.

To quote SOFTSHOT: "smaller movements make smaller errors.."


SPF=randyg

 

[dardusm]

I would like to get some input on the key aspects of shooting over a ball. Some thoughts of my own include: keeping a loose grip, keeping the cue as level as possible, following through and adjusting where you grip the cue (gripping further forward.) Is it safe to say that you shouldn't pop the cue which could open the risk of jumping the cue ball?

I know this sounds like a beginners question. I have hit thousands of shots like this, but have never formalized my thoughts on it. I am interested to see what many posters here have to say.

Is there any other nuance to this technique?

Thanks,
Marcus

Something that I do when the cueball is extremely close to the object ball is to watch the cueball last instead of the object ball when shooting. Get lined up but on the final stroke watch where you hit the cueball.

Darryl

 

[cmsmith9]

Choke up on the stick with your back hand, you want your back arm hanging similar to when you're shooting a regular shot. And shoot as quickly as you can. Take your warm up strokes but not too long. You don't want your arm to get tired quickly.

 

[12squared]

In addition to what has been said, to help relieve tension, I bend my elbow on my bridge arm. This also brings your body a little closer to the ball so you can choke up a little more comfortably on the butt w/your stroking arm.

Try it and let me know if it helps.

Dave

 

[Siz]

Some thoughts of my own include: keeping a loose grip, keeping the cue as level as possible...

I prefer to firm up my grip slightly. I would also rather be jacked up than level but having to hit too close to the edge of the cb

... following through and adjusting where you grip the cue (gripping further forward.)

With you here :smile:

I also find that it is worth looking at the white last and paying extra care to keep the head still.

 

[jdxprs]

When I shoot over a ball I do it similar to a jump shot. I set up behind the ball im shooting over, get my aim, then i bridge up over the ball and shoot. dont spend a lot of time stroking after you are bridged up. odds are, you will lose your aim, or not catch the cue square.