Folks who comfortably assert (or think) that follow through can have no effect on what the CB does after the CB has left the cue tip are looking at the issue from the wrong point of view. The bio-mechanics involved in the delivery stroke are the central reason that follow through is a key determinant in exactly achieving the intended effect of the stroke in the first place.
This is easy to grasp by considering the amount of follow through seen for example in the delivery of a baseball pitch or as an elemental part of sending a bowling ball on its way. In both cases the ball has departed on its way and a short or non-existent follow through would be inconceivable -- in fact quite ridiculous and counter-productive were they connected to forward-swinging delivery of a baseball or bowling ball.
This bears precisely on the forward-delivery issue when considering the matter of the pool stroking follow through because . . .
. . . in order for all the delivery-associated muscles of a pool player’s arm and hand to produce an abrupt or only inches-long further forward motion of the cue tip immediately after CB/cue tip impact, the nerve signals will necessarily have already been sent to those required muscles/tendons in *advance* of the bio-mechanical action taking place -- directly affecting the *nature* and efficiency of the arm's mechanical action.
It’s clear that smoothness of stroke, optimal relaxed engagement of delivery-associated muscles, and deliberately trained follow through are three distinctly inter-related parts of the ideal-result-producing mechanical motion.
In my view,this is the way to look at the matter of follow through as it relates to quality stroking and effective pool playing.
Arnaldo
I agree with the fact that follow through is not physically needed (in terms of cue and cueball relationship) to develop a good stroke, but I am agree with you that it is consecuence of a good stroke. I always though that if you don't follow through correctly you are rushing the cue stopping, unwittingly you are thinking about stop the cue before the cue contacts the cueball, and that usually affects the impact.