Balance point

[Bavafongoul]

When I shoot the cue ball off the rail, I usually position my grip hand higher up on the butt
than I would normally hold the cue. For this type shot, I use an open bridge but normally I
use a tightly curled closed bridge. Moving my hand up allows me to stroke through the CB
better than when I shoot using my typical grip position on the cue butt for a CB on the rail.

 

[Cornerman]

Nailed it... Easily the most inconsequential characteristic/spec of a cue. Narrowly beating out weight.

I remember talking to Richard Chan (X-breaker) and he theorized the advantage (or disadvantage) I suppose) of a more rear-weighted cue. He said that since almost all shots have the cue at an angle, then the rear center of gravity would mean more potential energy (mgh for those wondering what the physics is - lol). Does that help this discussiom? Doubt it.

I favor my Schuler, which is more rear balanced than most of my other cues. But my other favored cue is my Tasc, whose steel joint has its balance more forward. The balance point has never crossed my mind while shooting with either. Add to that, to further your point, many of us have altered our cues to accept extensions. The weight of our original cues is out the door. And several players play with an extension full time, which adds a couple ounces. Weight isnt as big a deal either.

 

[Bob Jewett]

Pleas for help on shooting off the rail are common. ...

And here is an example FB video intended to help such problems. Probably bad advice for a rear-weighted cue.

56K views · 840 reactions | How to make shots when your cueball is frozen to the rail. #Tutorials #PoolTutorials #PoolLessons #PoolLesson #PoolTips #PoolTip #BilliardTutorials #BilliardTutorial #BilliardLessons #BilliardLesson #BilliardTip #Billiard

How to make shots when your cueball is frozen to the rail. #Tutorials #PoolTutorials #PoolLessons #PoolLesson #PoolTips #PoolTip #BilliardTutorials #BilliardTutorial #BilliardLessons #BilliardLesson...

www.facebook.com

 

[Fatboy]

I wonder if that equates to Earl's platform shoes... Guy

He says they help him see the ball better. Which makes sense to me, I think there is a sweet spot for line of sight playing pool.

Speaking for myself I can’t get low as I did before my back operations and that didn’t help me, I adapted and played better-but that took a lot of work and time, had I not had back problems I believe that I’d have played better. I always feel a “little to tall” to play my best/there are lots of guys who play better than I do who are taller than me. But for me-I think if I was 2”-3” shorter I’d play better.

So if Earls shoes work for him, it’s a good idea.

Best
Fatboy

 

[Guy Manges]

He says they help him see the ball better. Which makes sense to me, I think there is a sweet spot for line of sight playing pool.

Speaking for myself I can’t get low as I did before my back operations and that didn’t help me, I adapted and played better-but that took a lot of work and time, had I not had back problems I believe that I’d have played better. I always feel a “little to tall” to play my best/there are lots of guys who play better than I do who are taller than me. But for me-I think if I was 2”-3” shorter I’d play better.

So if Earls shoes work for him, it’s a good idea.

Best
Fatboy

Earl is trying to get taller to see the shot and your trying to get shorter to see the shot... Alex has a good view and I remember a seven foot man that had a good view... Tables on hydrolics with foot pumps this might be the future of some kind of pool... If we are not careful we might end up back outside on the grass... On the ground level most could see... Snow pool... Lord send help... Guy

 

[Guy Manges]

I remember talking to Richard Chan (X-breaker) and he theorized the advantage (or disadvantage) I suppose) of a more rear-weighted cue. He said that since almost all shots have the cue at an angle, then the rear center of gravity would mean more potential energy (mgh for those wondering what the physics is - lol). Does that help this discussiom? Doubt it.

I favor my Schuler, which is more rear balanced than most of my other cues. But my other favored cue is my Tasc, whose steel joint has its balance more forward. The balance point has never crossed my mind while shooting with either. Add to that, to further your point, many of us have altered our cues to accept extensions. The weight of our original cues is out the door. And several players play with an extension full time, which adds a couple ounces. Weight isnt as big a deal either.

I think all have completely lost it... Most would be better off with the cue weight in their pocket... Lord send help... Guy

 

[Guy Manges]

He says they help him see the ball better. Which makes sense to me, I think there is a sweet spot for line of sight playing pool.

Speaking for myself I can’t get low as I did before my back operations and that didn’t help me, I adapted and played better-but that took a lot of work and time, had I not had back problems I believe that I’d have played better. I always feel a “little to tall” to play my best/there are lots of guys who play better than I do who are taller than me. But for me-I think if I was 2”-3” shorter I’d play better.

So if Earls shoes work for him, it’s a good idea.

Best
Fatboy

All Earl's tricks seem to pay off when he has to play... But this pool can be a confusing game... Guy

 

[ShootingArts]

Shooting the cue ball frozen or near frozen on the rail is one place where the slipstroke really shines. Easy to slip with the back of the cue elevated and the slip and power through feels much more natural than the usual constrained strokes some use.

If I don't use a slip stroke I use an open bridge with just my fingertips on the rail. Works pretty good on most tables too. Shooting off the rail like that is one of the things we rarely practice. I showed a shortstop how it worked shooting using a slipstroke and he was drilling table length shots one behind the other on a nine foot Diamond.

Whatever floats your boat as far as technique goes. The real secret is to practice shooting from frozen on the rail five or ten minutes every practice session. It becomes just another shot instead of "Oh crap, stuck on the rail again!" Drilling a few off the rail tells the other player that distance isn't a safety too. That way you don't see as many of those shots during a match. Of course you can do the opposite and belly ache and complain about being on the rail, A little Br'er Rabbit and the briar patch!

Hu

 

[Cue Alchemist]

Your grip will always be behind the balance point if the balance point is above the wrap/handle.
On the average , the top of the handle is 17" from the bottom.
15" from the bottom balance point will make cues undesirable on the market.
Even then , you still would grip behind the balance point.

Taking the balance point a bit further up also works, All the cues that felt best for me, are Foward balanced.20'' from butt cap, works for me.
I played with 2 cues, at different weights. One 21.85oz and one at 18.65oz even though, one is alot heavier than the other. Because the balance is in the same place. Thay don't feel that different. I also think, if your use to heavy shafts,it makes it easier, to move the cue. More straighter.
A Rear waighted, use to want too, pull my arm down wards.unless you know what your after, that will tend to be, what you get. If the balance is wrong, even a very light cue, can feel really heavy, when it shouldn't be!!!

 

[TheBook]

A friend of mine that has now passed away had a custom cue made by Richard Black. He gave Richard the specs he wanted. It was a very nice Balabuska design style cue. He got the cue and the balance point wasn‘t where he wanted and the weight was off his specs. He called Richard and complained about it. Richard asked how did the cue feel, and said weight and balance doesn’t mean anything. I tried the cue and it felt great. He didn’t like it. I would have bought it from him if I knew that he was going to trade it at a tournament with cash for a Hercek that was one of the worse feeling cues that I ever played with. While he was there he took the shafts for that cue and had them turned down to 10.5 mm by one of the cue repair booths that were there and had the wrap changed. He wanted the Hercek name. He would brag about the Hercek he had and everyone that tried it all told him the same. The cue didn’t feel good and was hard to play with. He got rid of it after a few months and said he wished he had the Black back.

 

[WobblyStroke]

And here is an example FB video intended to help such problems. Probably bad advice for a rear-weighted cue.

56K views · 840 reactions | How to make shots when your cueball is frozen to the rail. #Tutorials #PoolTutorials #PoolLessons #PoolLesson #PoolTips #PoolTip #BilliardTutorials #BilliardTutorial #BilliardLessons #BilliardLesson #BilliardTip #Billiard

How to make shots when your cueball is frozen to the rail. #Tutorials #PoolTutorials #PoolLessons #PoolLesson #PoolTips #PoolTip #BilliardTutorials #BilliardTutorial #BilliardLessons #BilliardLesson...

www.facebook.com

Nah, not so bad. Due to the shorter stroke, I also grip farther up the cue on rail shots with my very back-weighted cue. Works just fine.

One other tip for shooting off the rail I like is to put a little downward pressure on the cue with the grip hand. This pretty much ensures a clean contact with the top of the ball and avoids that dreaded doink semi-miscue off the top of the ball. If anyone isn't feeling very steady in their delivery off the rail, this one helps a lot. I guess the downside would be this isn't easily implemented for all types of grips.

 

[kling&allen]

Mosconi thought it would throw off your balance if you gripped too far behind the balance point. Of course, most of us do not use this stance anymore.

I once posted about a donut I made for a lightweight butt to have a moveable balance point of ~13inches to ~25 inches from the butt end. It didn't make much (any) difference, although I liked the more rearward balance points as I grip the cue near the end of the butt (just off the wrap) because I have long arms.

 

[Cue Alchemist]

Efren is a darter.
He darted that cheap $15 cue in his best days.
It was a freaking forward balanced 60"+ 21+ oz'r.

Joey,
How did that jessie cue, compare to the balance of the other ones, he shot with?
I'm guessing you seen him alot over the years.

 

[JoeyInCali]

Joey,
How did that jessie cue, compare to the balance of the other ones, he shot with?
I'm guessing you seen him alot over the years.

It was a lot heavier and more forward. It was also the longest.
Denny Glenn now has it as part of his collection.
Efren told me and my late best friend over lunch , he won that cue in a match. He used it as a breaker then he started liking the tip on it so he started playing with it.

 

[Cue Alchemist]

It was a lot heavier and more forward. It was also the longest.
Denny Glenn now has it as part of his collection.
Efren told me and my late best friend over lunch , he won that cue in a match. He used it as a breaker then he started liking the tip on it so he started playing with it.

Yeah, if watch the video of his collection. You can see it there with many others, he used.
Including another jessie he used at the US Open in 95 where he lost to pearce in the final.

 

[JoeyInCali]

Yeah, if watch the video of his collection. You can see it there with many others, he used.
Including another jessie he used at the US Open in 95 where he lost to pearce in the final.

Used it I. 1999 world 9 ball. He alternated it with a Judd JT1 which he broke with.

 

[Guy Manges]

Mosconi thought it would throw off your balance if you gripped too far behind the balance point. Of course, most of us do not use this stance anymore.

View attachment 689129

I once posted about a donut I made for a lightweight butt to have a moveable balance point of ~13inches to ~25 inches from the butt end. It didn't make much (any) difference, although I liked the more rearward balance points as I grip the cue near the end of the butt (just off the wrap) because I have long arms.

View attachment 689130

Mosconi thought it would throw off your balance if you gripped too far behind the balance point. Of course, most of us do not use this stance anymore.

View attachment 689129

I once posted about a donut I made for a lightweight butt to have a moveable balance point of ~13inches to ~25 inches from the butt end. It didn't make much (any) difference, although I liked the more rearward balance points as I grip the cue near the end of the butt (just off the wrap) because I have long arms.

View attachment 689130

This picture of Willie at stance , shows Willie holding a cue as it was designed to be used to play pool with... The custom made cues weren't designed to grip the very butt and shoot with the chin on cue... Can nobody see this ? Guy

 

[DeeDeeCues]

This picture of Willie at stance , shows Willie holding a cue as it was designed to be used to play pool with... The custom made cues weren't designed to grip the very butt and shoot with the chin on cue... Can nobody see this ? Guy

Right. And boxers aren't supposed to move their feet. Basketball players aren't supposed to dunk. Golfers should be fat and white.

Why can't people see that?

 

[Cue Alchemist]

Used it I. 1999 world 9 ball. He alternated it with a Judd JT1 which he broke with.

I remember that year. First year I watched him. Funny enough I commented on that, on another thread. Also was mentioned Judd JT1. Was fantasticly balanced with the ebony handle.