Larry...Remember, there is NO tangent line, unless the CB is sliding at contact with the OB. I did not read that into the OP's post. I agree with Randyg...beginners need to learn vertical axis pool FIRST, before messing around with sidespin.
Scott Lee
http://poolknowledge.com
I am a rare data point, I think. I've had the privilege of joe tucker teaching me how to play, and he has a different philosophy than other instructors; its backwards. He emphasizes teaching sidespin immediately, especially to brand new players. The idea is that side spin is such an important tool, that being comfortable with it is more important than fundementals. The fundementals are there for you to figure out on your own, with little guidence.
I don't know. I've had a lot of success with it. More importantly, fun with it. My position is much better than my peers of the same career length.
But, I've also struggled with consistency in competition and pressure until now. I realized that I wasn't really really following through, which is a very fundemental part of the stroke.
I like to think that by discovering this problem 5 years late, adding it in is easier now, than learning how to shoot straight for 5 years then trying to apply spin.
Which habit is harder to break? Maybe that's the question.
But I don't know. I can't take the other path to compare.