Do u have to draw the ball ???

[2rgrbn]

In the examples shown by the table inserts I would say there are better ways to get where you need to be then draw. One advantage to using draw is that it is easy to control the path of the cue ball and opens up a wide variety of throw options on the object ball however controlling distance traveled ofter contact takes some practice. In my opinion drawing the ball the length of the table (or equivalent) has more advantages if you are breaking up clusters or are in a situation where balls block the path of the cue ball otherwise. Being able to use draw at all levels including extreme helps to move the cue ball at a 90 to 140 degree angle after contact. So in my opinion the control of draw is the most important but it is an asset to be able draw the sh%t out of the ball if the need arises.

 

[okinawa77]

Do you have to be able to draw the cb the length of the table to be a good player. (Ob in jaws of cornner pocket Cb inside one diamond at other end of table, make Ob draw Cb back to end rail)

To answer your question, I don't have to peel out at a traffic light, but it sure is fun. :grin:

 

[Poolfiend]

Who dictates how long you should draw your ball? Why is the shot you described important? It isn't to me. From what I understand, drawing the ball back to the end rail with the object ball in the jaws and the cue ball behind the head string is really, really difficult. Buddy Hall would definitely struggle with that (trust me, I know), I have a good stroke too, and I would barely be able to do that. There's probably a hand ful of pros who could really draw their ball like that (without having to really lay into it), Jose Parica, one person who comes to mind is Larry Nevel. He could draw his ball 3 or 4 rails from the end rail. Efren can't draw his ball, and neither can Busti. Not without really laying into it. This is according to Buddy, cause we talked about this once.

You have to ask yourself, why that is necessary. It really isn't. I would have to say that to be a 9 or 10 speed player, you should come pretty close, but not to be an average schmo (4 to 6 speed).

If you can draw the ball back straight and more than half the table, from over a half a table distance away, you have enough stroke to be the greatest player in the world. The game is not just about 'stroke'. It's about much, much more. I have a drill for you and this is the drill for flaws in your stroke. Important to watch what the cue ball does after you make the ball, (if you even make the ball). When you can do this every time, you have the skill to become the greatest player in the world. Just condition your mental toughness by matching up everyday, and you will be on your way. :dance:

Here's the test:

The shot is down the long rail with the CB and OB a couple mm's (same distance) away from the rail. Put the OB at the first diamond above the side pocket and the CB at the diamond just above the corner pocket. Hit that shot with follow into the pocket, and then hit it with draw into the pocket. Can you do it every time? That is the skill you are looking for.

Check back with me when you have that answer. Good Luck.

I'll bet you could do it every time easy with a LD shaft.

 

[Jaden]

One of my strongest memories from years back....

Okay, for starters, I think it's important to diagram this shot because I seriously wonder if all the respondants even know precisely what the OP is talking about:

CueTable Help

I'll put it bluntly - if Johnny Archer hit me with this shot, it's pretty much a guarantee, you'll see me rolling my eyes mouthing the words, "You have to be kidding me!"

On the otherhand, if you're playing on new fast cloth with evenly weighted balls, you should be able to nail this given the right number of tries.


It's really not easy. In fact, this is an extremely challenging shot BUT having this sort of stroke in your arsenal is valuable. This type of stroke doesn't come up terribly often but it does come up. However, it's important to know, no player in the world LIKES to have to take a shot like this. There's just so much that can go wrong. If you're on old cloth or the cueball is 20 years younger than the rest of the balls, you're going to have a tough time pulling this off. I would venture to say almost every player out there will look for an alternative but assuming there's none, good players will be able to pull this off from time to time.

I was playing hickee pool down at Danny K's one night after a tourney and this shot came up.

I nailed the shot and drew back down below the head string and against the rail with no other balls available for the next guy to shoot at.

Wayne looks up at me after shooting the shot, and says "If I had a stroke like that, I'd frame it".
I remember it because it stands out as one of the best compliments I've recieved playing pool....

It's not a commonly necessary shot, but it does help to be able to shoot it and it's not as easy to cinch consistently as some people might think.

Jaden