Fine Tuneing your aiming/shooting.

JoeyA said:
Everyone knows that you need a straight stroke but few people know how important it is to have a VERY, level stroke.

Another poster once mentioned that hitting the cue ball with follow and draw have dramatic differences when cutting an object ball. I've even mentioned in past years that I seem to be able to cut a ball better when using follow versus draw.

I think you would be doing yourself a big favor by setting up the same shot over and over shooting it the way you normally do and then shooting the same exact shot over and over using a VERY, level cue. You might even need to get someone to watch your stroke to see how level it really is.

The truth is that many of us "think" we have a very, level stroke and many of us "think" we hit the center of the cue ball every time (when we are trying to hit the center of the cue ball) but that simply isn't true, at least not all of the time.

Sometimes when I am playing pool, I know that I am aligned poorly but shoot the shot anyway, knowing from experience that the shot "should go anyway" but that is a terrible habit I am trying to break.

If you set up the same shot and shoot it over and over, a variety of different ways you will start to understand that there is a lot more to making a shot than just aiming correctly..

Another peculiarity in my game is that it far easier for me to line up correctly if I use about 1/8" below center rather than one tip above center, especially on cut shots. I can "see" the shot better using a touch of bottom versus using a full tip of follow.

I'm just rambling but I can tell you that I continue to develop respect for the different places you can hit the cue ball and still make or miss the pocketing the ball.

I think one of the reasons I "think" I am playing better is the regular shooting of the same shot dozens of times, over and over hitting the cue ball at different spots.

I think I have finally "realized" how I need to hit the cue ball to go three rails for shape on the 9 ball.

CueTable Help

(and still make the object ball)

JoeyA
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So how are you hitting the cue ball to go 3 rails for position on 9 Ball?
1- hitting cue ball bottom left, shooting down into cue ball?
2- Top left?
3-Top ?
 
JoeyA said:
You articulated the item I am talking about quite well. Thanks!

But, for those of you who pass over this thread nonchalantly, you will NEVER know the difference unless you practice the shots over and over with the various angles of cue stick (and like Ponytail says, the intended or unintended english can cause dramatic movement on the cue ball).

The information you learn can be quite impressive when you finally "get it".

Thanks,
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Does the cue being stroked downward and not level create appreciable "skid". Is a rolling cue ball more accurate?
 
It may be pricy, but the Joe Tucker laser trainer will tell you if you're stroking straight. Whenever I feel like I'm out of alignment that's what gets me back on track.
 
interman said:
It may be pricy, but the Joe Tucker laser trainer will tell you if you're stroking straight. Whenever I feel like I'm out of alignment that's what gets me back on track.
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You know I have thought about ordering Joe's Laser Traiing device for sometime now. Thanks for the feedback on his device that you can see by clicking here.
I don't think that the device shows if you have a "level" stroke, correct me if I am wrong.

Thanks,
 
Joey;

I think your right on. I've done this also. Most notable, for me at least, in your post was the fact that you are exploring parts of the cue ball that you, and many, have not used before on certain shots.

I am still amazed when I find a new part of the cue ball to use effectively. Its like a light going on.

That is great practice and is certainly something that will help your all around game.
 
JoeyA said:
The information you learn can be quite impressive when you finally "get it".
Click to expand...

I don't know if I've quite "gotten it" yet, but paying attention to the levelness of the cue did make a huge difference when I tried it. It's one of those things that you know you should be focusing on, but never quite get around to actually doing so. It's posts like this that prompts me to try things.

Thanks!

In fact, I've had my cue jacked up so high (in normal shots) that someone might have thought that I am trying to massé! :-)
 
LAMas said:
Does the cue being stroked downward and not level create appreciable "skid". Is a rolling cue ball more accurate?
Click to expand...

Any time you are stroking down, the cue ball is being shot into the table. That's where the energy is going. Into the table.

What results is not a skidding of the cue ball, but rather a jumping of the cue ball. Inelastic collision and all. So.. if there is any english on the cueball, I.E. side spin, whether it's intentional or not, will cause the cue ball to masse' off it's path. Even if it's a very slight masse', the cue ball is no longer going on the path needed to contact the object ball for what ever you were wanting to do.

Now, the more level the cue is when you contact the cue ball, the energy is put into the cue ball, and not the table/felt/cloth.

Interesting note: When using follow (Cuing high on the cue ball), even with a level stroke, the cue ball will jump.
Don't believe me. Try this. Place a penny about 4 to 6 inches in front of the cue ball (about the width of your hand, fingers together), and with a level stroke, shoot the cue ball into a pocket. If done with a medium to firm stroke, the cue ball will not touch the penny.

Enjoy..
 
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Ponytail said:
Any time you are stroking down, the cue ball is being shot into the table. That's where the energy is going. Into the table.

What results is not a skidding of the cue ball, but rather a jumping of the cue ball. Inelastic collision and all. So.. if there is any english on the cueball, I.E. side spin, whether it's intentional or not, will cause the cue ball to masse' off it's path. Even if it's a very slight masse', the cue ball is no longer going on the path needed to contact the object ball for what ever you were wanting to do.

Now, the more level the cue is when you contact the cue ball, the energy is put into the cue ball, and not the table/felt/cloth.

Interesting note: When using follow (Cuing high on the cue ball), even with a level stroke, the cue ball will jump.
Don't believe me. Try this. Place a penny about 4 to 6 inches in front of the cue ball (about the width of your hand, fingers together), and with a level stroke, shoot the cue ball into a pocket. If done with a medium to firm stroke, the cue ball will not touch the penny.

Enjoy..
Click to expand...

Thanks.
I might try to stroke upward on follow shots if that will help hit the penny.

My tip hits the felt after impacting the CB on the follow through...why dropping my elbow is helping...or this doesn't matter. I guess I must hold the cue farther back to impact the CB perpendicular to the floor and not bother with the follow through hitting the felt?
 
JoeyA said:
John,
That's a great looking training ball and although I haven't used it, I have no doubt that this would show you where you are hitting the cue ball.

HOWEVER, it will not show if you have a level stroke or not.



3KushN, CJ's finger tip bridge is one of the reasons for my attention to a level stroke. I'm assuming you're talking about the one where the palm doesn't touch the table?

Earl Strickland reportedly sports and teaches a raised bridge for follow shots.

Yeah, "disciplined practice" is what separates the better players from the also ran. :thumbup:
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Yes JoeyA that's exactly what I'm talking about. When it was taught to me it was in conjunction with standing taller. The lesson was "Bring the game up to you." It had nothing to do with a level stroke. I noticed that later and have been using it ever since for that reason.

Ever see The Fat Man shoot? Nearly all shots were off a finger tip bridge.
 
The Journey is such a pleasure.

Deadon said:
Joey;

I think your right on. I've done this also. Most notable, for me at least, in your post was the fact that you are exploring parts of the cue ball that you, and many, have not used before on certain shots.

I am still amazed when I find a new part of the cue ball to use effectively. Its like a light going on.

That is great practice and is certainly something that will help your all around game.
Click to expand...

I don't believe enough emphasis is put on these "finer points" of cueing by anyone. In my opinion, all of the information in the world won't help you reach these "epiphanies". You only "get it" when you set up the same shot and shoot it over and over with different hit locations on the cue ball and at different speeds, as well as the different levelnesses that can be achieved.

This is really where the fun pool is at. I see people wanting to practice with others and very few willing to repeatedly try to master the individual shots that sometimes give us trouble or even trying to master a level stroke.

Well it's off to the pool room and Buffalo Billiards Free handicapped nine ball tournament.

Thanks for the great feedback from all of you. It is especially gratifying to see that there are others who are traveling and have traveled down this special path.
 
I have found that sometimes it is not my stroke that is causing aiming problems.
I have alway shot bow and guns right and left handed. Tennis and racquetball the same. My dominate eye is my right eye but barely.

Because my eyes seem to be battling for supremacy I actually am not looking at the center of the ball when I get down and am stroking for a shot.
Center shot for me as it registers in my brain actually looks left of center.
So if my tip placement is off its a problem. If both my stroke and tip placement are off its no end of trouble.

Just something to be aware of if you happen to be ambidextrous.
 
JoeyA said:
John,
That's a great looking training ball and although I haven't used it, I have no doubt that this would show you where you are hitting the cue ball.

HOWEVER, it will not show if you have a level stroke or not.
Click to expand...

Very true. I was interjecting it for the off-center hit portion of your initial post. You can hit the cue ball dead center with a angled stroke and have the cue ball come dead straight back to you. I practice this off the rail in order to train myself to not hit the cue ball off center when using an elevated approach angle.


Earl Strickland reportedly sports and teaches a raised bridge for follow shots.
Click to expand...

In the Color of Money match Mark Wilson mentions this and you can see that Earl rarely plays with a "palm completely on table" bridge. He seems to raise and lowers his bridge hand according to the shot.
 
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