How do you learn to not scratch?

[bill190]

How do top players learn to not scratch when using English? I've got the natural dead center hit 90 deg. scratches down pretty good (can keep from scratching). But when I use English, I have problems with scratching.

Sometimes I am using say top left/right English to help make a thin cut shot into the pocket, but this also winds up being a scratch shot.

I've noticed that top players rarely scratch. Scratching cost me a couple of games that would have placed me 1st in a tournament instead of 3rd the other night. I practice a couple of hours each day and am willing to work on the problem. Any suggested practice drills? (I have added those scratch shots to my practice routine BTW.)

 

[piglit]

How do top players learn to not scratch when using English? I've got the natural dead center hit 90 deg. scratches down pretty good (can keep from scratching). But when I use English, I have problems with scratching.

Sometimes I am using say top left/right English to help make a thin cut shot into the pocket, but this also winds up being a scratch shot.

I've noticed that top players rarely scratch. Scratching cost me a couple of games that would have placed me 1st in a tournament instead of 3rd the other night. I practice a couple of hours each day and am willing to work on the problem. Any suggested practice drills? (I have added those scratch shots to my practice routine BTW.)

Sounds like you are not yet as accurate predicting what effect(s) the different englishes will have.

Seeing that there is a problem is the first step in fixing it...Now pay attention and fix it!

Good luck!

-pigy

 

[jhendri2]

top left/right English to help make a thin cut shot into the pocket

You sound like an expierenced player, are you talking about using english to throw the ball into the pocket? If so, try using just left/right center, or left/right draw, instead of left/right top. Follow/draw/center don't help "make" a ball, unless it's a bank.

At least that's how I keep from scratching...

Jim

 

[ajrack]

Practice

Practice playing "Kiss pool"...
shooting the object ball into the cue ball and then caroming the object ball into the intended pocket...
play with a few social friends..you might be surprized that you enjoy the game..
note** the "cue" ball, after leaving the object ball, will have a "slight" delay before it goes to the intended direction...more delay with new cloth
In "English Billiards", one of the objects, is to contact one of the other two balls and then pocket the cue ball to receive points (on a 12' table)

 

[ZigZag Master]

How do you keep from scratching.....hmmmmm....well it's not as easy as the question sounds.

It's not simply a matter of appying a special kind of "non-scratching" english.....Just as it is not a matter of thinking that the English you put on the cueball ball is causing you to scratch.


If you set up a shot, I guarantee you that I can make it scratch with any kind of english. It's not a matter of simply applying the english....

In reality, it is accuratly predicting where the cueball is going after it makes contact with the object ball.

If you are having problems predicting (feeling) where the cueball is going, I suggest using less english (half-tip from center - to left or right)

95% of pool shots and position play can be accomplished staying within this small area of the cueball.

It is much more predictable and you will start to 'feel' where the cueball is going.

Hope this makes sense

 

[Keith McCready]

How do top players learn to not scratch when using English?

When you know that the cue-ball has a chance to scratch, you either come short or go long, and that applies with what english you are using. I use english to prevent from scratching. When there is a close shot looking like it may scratch, I apply a little bit more spin or a little less spin.

A lot of times, I'll hit balls a little bit harder with different techniques of spins to learn how much I am going to get on the cue-ball. A good practice drill I like to do is use your inside lefts, your outside rights, your downward rights, and your inside-kill lefts. Once you master those strokes, you will be able to eliminate the scratches.

When learning all those englishes, you will find that you can either come short or go long. Recognizing the difference of each of the "feel" strokes will help keep whitey from scratching.

My inside joke that I've always said, when I come back in my reincarnation, I want to come back as a cue-ball, so I can give everybody a bad roll! (ha-ha)