Hard to Find the Center of the Cue Ball

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ChrisinNC

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
I know center CB is advised when you don’t need spin for positioning, but I’ve found that particularly under pressure and late in the rack, even when CB position is not needed, it’s more comfortable for me to apply some inside or outside, as I’ve done my entire life as a pool player.

I’ve found that I’ve missed some really crucial easy 9 ball shots trying to convince myself to try to hit center ball, but then I guess subconsciously in the middle of the stroke I either accidentally apply spin and don’t adjust my aim point or visa versa, causing a miss. Does anyone else experience this?
 
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ChrisinNC said:
I know center CB is advised when you don’t need spin for positioning, but I’ve found that particularly under pressure and late in the rack, even when CB position is not needed, it’s more comfortable for me to apply some inside or outside, as I’ve done my entire life as a pool player.

I’ve found that I’ve missed some really crucial easy 9 ball shots trying to convince myself hit center ball, but then I guess subconsciously in the middle of the stroke I either accidentally apply spin and don’t adjust my aim point or visa versa, causing a miss. Does anyone else experience this?
Click to expand...

I think that’s part of CJ’s touch of inside concept
 
Exactly same with me, I have played for oh 36 years. I have always shot with mostly with outside. Probably 90 percent of my shots are with left or right of center. This is how i aim to pocket balls. I can throw balls in the pocket at lightning speeds at about a 30 degree angle using outside and very accurate. If i was to try to pocket the ball just shooting center ball i would miss 50 percent of the time. I have tried numerous times to use the center ball method but my brain says no to late now. For the life of me if i have a ball on the rail at about half table length. I cannot make it with center ball cut. SVB said he uses the left and right side of his tip to aim also. So that tells me he is probably not a center ball player either.
 
Since baseball is my background, I think of the knuckle ball. That's what pure centerball should produce. Then I consider what makes the knuckle ball so hard to hit. 🤔
It wanders. I know as a catcher. It moves unpredictably. Obviously our cueball is less wander as it lacks the laces that create the knuckle ball effect.
A Good knuckle ball is hard to throw. A pure centerball is hard to effect. Short range stop shot and mild draw is a good way to find the center of mass and how much variation from center effects the cueball rotation. Simple stuff. Practice Practice Practice.
In competition I look for angles that like a natural rolling ball. So just above center. The side becomes critical if a rail or rails are involved. Smallest bits of side can have negligible effects on the path to the object ball. Again Practice.
Watching where my tip contacts the white gives me feedback. The path whitey takes is most accurately tracked when I am looking at the white as it is struck. Giving data. 🤷‍♂️
 
How many beginners want to shoot the fancy exhibition shots? First!
Precision strike to whitey should be the beginners goal. Heck Willie Hoppe only got one ball for a month as a beginner. Think of all the cueball rail interaction to investigate.
 
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jlrowe said:
Exactly same with me, I have played for oh 36 years. I have always shot with mostly with outside. Probably 90 percent of my shots are with left or right of center. This is how i aim to pocket balls. I can throw balls in the pocket at lightning speeds at about a 30 degree angle using outside and very accurate. If i was to try to pocket the ball just shooting center ball i would miss 50 percent of the time. I have tried numerous times to use the center ball method but my brain says no to late now. For the life of me if i have a ball on the rail at about half table length. I cannot make it with center ball cut. SVB said he uses the left and right side of his tip to aim also. So that tells me he is probably not a center ball player either.
Click to expand...
I do the center ball drill every day but I still think it’s a little easier to play a ball with just a little outside English then try to hit perfect center ball.
 
the vertical centerline of the center of the ball and every ball on the table, is the exact spot where it touches the cloth.

that is why you see good players start lining up from the bottom and lifting their cue upwards.

most of the filipinos do it that way. and for good reason.
 
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gregcantrall said:
How many beginners want to shoot the fancy exhibition shots? First!
Precision strike to whitey should be the beginners goal. Heck Willie Hoppe only got one ball for a month as a beginner. Think of all the cueball rail interaction to investigate.
Click to expand...
Not bad for playing 3c.😀😃😄😁
 
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ChrisinNC said:
I know center CB is advised when you don’t need spin for positioning, but I’ve found that particularly under pressure and late in the rack, even when CB position is not needed, it’s more comfortable for me to apply some inside or outside, as I’ve done my entire life as a pool player.

I’ve found that I’ve missed some really crucial easy 9 ball shots trying to convince myself hit center ball, but then I guess subconsciously in the middle of the stroke I either accidentally apply spin and don’t adjust my aim point or visa versa, causing a miss. Does anyone else experience this?
Click to expand...
If those type of thoughts are going thru your mind late in the game or when down on the money shot, that's the problem right there. Clear all that crap out b4 going down.
You're fighting your own mind as you stroke. No wonder you miss. Happens to the best of us.
 
ChrisinNC said:
I know center CB is advised when you don’t need spin for positioning, but I’ve found that particularly under pressure and late in the rack, even when CB position is not needed, it’s more comfortable for me to apply some inside or outside, as I’ve done my entire life as a pool player.

I’ve found that I’ve missed some really crucial easy 9 ball shots trying to convince myself hit center ball, but then I guess subconsciously in the middle of the stroke I either accidentally apply spin and don’t adjust my aim point or visa versa, causing a miss. Does anyone else experience this?
Click to expand...
Centerball is a mythical creature not worth chasing my friend.
 
Gonna make a guess based on issues making the money ball. I missed the money ball far more than I should have for years. Finally figured it out. Every other shot, I played to make the ball and get shape. Money ball, I didn't need shape so I just played not to scratch. I was playing the money ball shot differently than any other shot!

I cured my problem by choosing a spot for shape when I shot the money ball, then it became just like any other shot.

For practice, shoot the spot to spot shot but put a gate to go through. Something else, put a ball near the cue ball's path. Keep getting it closer until you can almost rub it without the cue ball getting sucked into it.

99% certain your unconscious is causing your issues. Need to train it not to anticipate.

Hu
 
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