Centerball...haters gonna hate

When looking at a cue ball there are 360* as there are with any 'circle' & NOT 180*

There are 4 quadrants of 90* each.

Around the center there can be an endless array of concentric 360* circles with an endless array of points on each of those circles.
 
The more I read these threads, the more I think some people are better at talking and bickering than actually playing the game.

They'd rather nitpick each and every argument and have to have the LAST word.

There are too many scientists and scientist wannabees...they have to explain everything down to the nano nano nano...instead of letting people read between the lines and figuring things out. You aren't EVER going to learn to play pool sitting here and reading all this BS...you have to put in PLENTY of table time and figure it out for YOURSELF.
 
If one could constantly be on the correct side of the ball, then side spin wouldn't be necessary, because the cue ball will already be traveling towards the correct area. That is what I meant earlier when I said, "the CB does all the work."

Of course, it's not possible to always be on the right side of the ball, and that's why the use of spin is available to us.

The best players will always be the ones that play as close to natural shape as possible, but know how to work the cue ball when they get out of line (or if the shot calls for it).
 
This will get flamed, but centerball is for beginners, not advanced players.

By hitting very low on the cueball, and finishing off the stroke, you stabilize the path of the cueball, minimize the possibility of object ball skid, and you can either draw, stop, or even follow the cue ball, with the either a sharp, or drag type of stroke.

This is not original with me, but I follow it, as the one who taught it to me was about as good as anyone who played the game - Babe Cranfield. He used to tell me it had a "snowplow" effect on the cueball, to keep it on line, and avoid skid.

If you doubt, take a good look at some great players. Earl, Efren, Cowboy Jimmy Moore, Dallas West, Mike Sigel, to name a few. They favored the lower to extreme lower portion of the cueball, even if draw is not involved in the shot.

That is how I played when I was about 14 years old but putting different amounts of side with it.

My Uncle, who was a very good player game to New Orleans for work & my Dad, I guess being a bit proud of me, told him that I was playing pretty good, as he said it, & asked my Uncle if he would play me a couple of games. He did & when we finished my Dad asked my Uncle what he thought. My Uncle answered, "He shoots good, but he uses low TOO much". When my Uncle left, I went back to the table & started using high when I would normally have used low & I started learning new ways to get to the same spot.

Like Fran Crimi said, just because one has a preferred method does not mean that they don't know or can't play with another method.
 
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When looking at a cue ball there are 360* as there are with any 'circle' & NOT 180*

There are 4 quadrants of 90* each.

Around the center there can be an endless array of concentric 360* circles with an endless array of points on each of those circles.

I'm stupid.

Diagram this for me please.

By tomorrow if you don't mind.
 
When looking at a cue ball there are 360* as there are with any 'circle' & NOT 180*

There are 4 quadrants of 90* each.

Around the center there can be an endless array of concentric 360* circles with an endless array of points on each of those circles.



...now stuff's gonna start gettin weird....:eek: 3D pool/unlimited axes;)

...we need to lighten up....and where is the the OP? ..off starting more fires?:confused:
 
If one could constantly be on the correct side of the ball, then side spin wouldn't be necessary, because the cue ball will already be traveling towards the correct area. That is what I meant earlier when I said, "the CB does all the work."

Of course, it's not possible to always be on the right side of the ball, and that's why the use of spin is available to us.

The best players will always be the ones that play as close to natural shape as possible, but know how to work the cue ball when they get out of line (or if the shot calls for it).

I agree. I can spin with the best of spinners, but if the ball is going to end up going where I want it to go naturally I don't put spin on the ball (there are exceptions, as needed).
 
The more I read these threads, the more I think some people are better at talking and bickering than actually playing the game.

They'd rather nitpick each and every argument and have to have the LAST word.

There are too many scientists and scientist wannabees...they have to explain everything down to the nano nano nano...instead of letting people read between the lines and figuring things out. You aren't EVER going to learn to play pool sitting here and reading all this BS...you have to put in PLENTY of table time and figure it out for YOURSELF.

I agree.

The thing is that when some say some of what they do in a manner that makes their opinion seem as though it is the 10 Commandments then an attempt should be made to make it understood that it is just an opinion & not the 10 Commandments.

That way individuals can make their own determinations as to what & how they want to spend their time on the table when they are not here reading.
 
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If one could constantly be on the correct side of the ball, then side spin wouldn't be necessary, because the cue ball will already be traveling towards the correct area. That is what I meant earlier when I said, "the CB does all the work."

Of course, it's not possible to always be on the right side of the ball, and that's why the use of spin is available to us.

The best players will always be the ones that play as close to natural shape as possible, but know how to work the cue ball when they get out of line (or if the shot calls for it).

That's a decent clarification. Good Job, but it's not quite that simple.
 
I'm stupid.

Diagram this for me please.

By tomorrow if you don't mind.

I'll see if I can find a picture for you.

Here you go.

polar_24-7l_43024_md.gif
 
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This is where we really disagree. I don't think it's rare at all for a center axis hit to produce shape good enough to make using spin a bad choice.

And maybe that becomes even more true as you get better, not less. I see pros opting for simpler shape more often than lesser players, I assume because they're confident enough of their pocketing skills to make spinning less of a constant necessity.

pj
chgo

Well, you could be watching pros playing on brand new cloth. Spinning can be futile in slippery conditions.

Other than certain tournaments, most of the time they're playing on fairly worn cloth in pool rooms. I see Earl practice a lot on fairly worn cloth --- live and up close --- and he does spin the ball a whole lot.
 
Well, you could be watching pros playing on brand new cloth. Spinning can be futile in slippery conditions.

Other than certain tournaments, most of the time they're playing on fairly worn cloth in pool rooms. I see Earl practice a lot on fairly worn cloth --- live and up close --- and he does spin the ball a whole lot.

Hi Fran,

I played a one pocket match a few weeks ago on brand new Simonis. The first game for both of us was fairly ugly. I banked a ball & was dumbfounded by what the ball did... or should I say did not do.:wink:

Best.
 
exactly Fran...

Well, you could be watching pros playing on brand new cloth. Spinning can be futile in slippery conditions.

Other than certain tournaments, most of the time they're playing on fairly worn cloth in pool rooms. I see Earl practice a lot on fairly worn cloth --- live and up close --- and he does spin the ball a whole lot.

The best players do not avoid using spin when it benefits them and the more you learn about what it can do for you, the more you realize how often it IS beneficial to use it.

Jaden
 
An interesting exercise could be to watch a match of 9 ball with top pros and count how many shots used any spin, and how many were center axis hits. I'm guessing it will be something like 70/30 in favor of spin.
 
Also worth mentioning is that a player's use of spin can be heavily determined by where they live and what the climate is like there.

I see why Jaden advocates the use of spin. He's from my neck of the woods (Inland Empire) and the stuffy, hot humid conditions of this place pretty much demand the use of spin on a lot of shots unless you're playing on brand spanking new cloth with perfectly clean balls. Even air conditioners don't temper the humidity.

Center Axis shots tend to really stick in humid conditions, demanding more power, meaning less accuracy and control.

And I can see why the guys from colder states (Patrick, Neil, etc) advocate center ball first.
 
Wow

This will get flamed, but centerball is for beginners, not advanced players.

By hitting very low on the cueball, and finishing off the stroke, you stabilize the path of the cueball, minimize the possibility of object ball skid, and you can either draw, stop, or even follow the cue ball, with the either a sharp, or drag type of stroke.

This is not original with me, but I follow it, as the one who taught it to me was about as good as anyone who played the game - Babe Cranfield. He used to tell me it had a "snowplow" effect on the cueball, to keep it on line, and avoid skid.

If you doubt, take a good look at some great players. Earl, Efren, Cowboy Jimmy Moore, Dallas West, Mike Sigel, to name a few. They favored the lower to extreme lower portion of the cueball, even if draw is not involved in the shot.

Babe Cranfield was taught to play by Sid Cole. Sid only taught 2 other people how to play! One was a fellow named Erving Crane! The other was a money player named Dick Hunzicker. Niether Babe or Erving would play Dick for anything. Willie Mosconi who taught Mezz hated playing Dick. Couldn't get anywhere with him. Told Mezz to never play Dick Srtaight. So Dick busted Mezz playing 9ball.
Dick taught me what was required. He preached centerball and centerball stroke. He also said after you learn it everything is automatic and no thought was required. Point and shoot.
Small world Wild thing.
When you use the weight of the Cueball to your advantage the center lowers. That makes it go straighter. By hitting it below center the weight of the Cueball is forced to stay in contact with your tip longer and is less likely to be miss hit. It forces you to hit it well.
Nick :)
 
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That's a decent clarification. Good Job, but it's not quite that simple.

Actually it is that simple. You are just choosing to make it difficult.

Below is a very common shot that occurs in rotation games. You can easily get shape on the 9 ball using a center ball hit. All you have to do is pocket the 8 ball, and "the CB does all the work."

What if the 9 wasn't the last ball, and you needed to maintain an angle to get shape on the 10 ball (not pictured)? Or what if you are worried about scratching? Well that's simple too. Just hit higher or lower on the cue ball, and you can adjust it's path.

Simple.

S73TSbq8W2vn27QvOvhn.jpg
 
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