I never hit center ball no matter the shot

Jimbojim

Jimbojim

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Anybody else?

I'll always put a hair of outside (or inside if Im trying to do something for position) on a shot the could be played with dead center beside straight in shots. If I wanna stop it, I'll play lower but not as hard.

I feel when hitting center ball it undercuts the shot because of friction.

I have always played like that and know some pros who do that also.
 
I use primarily center ball only adjusting my tip on the vertical axis. I've learned that you can control the cueball and get position majority of the time without side spin. The Wagon Wheel has taught me this. Of course there are times when I must use side spin, but far less than 50% of the time for me. YMMV
 
Jimbojim said:
I feel when hitting center ball it undercuts the shot because of friction.
Click to expand...

This effect of cutting thick happens at lower speeds.
But it does not happen at higher speeds.
...one of the reasons I have issues with aiming systems.
 
If you want to learn to hit center ball, try this drill.

At one end of the table, set a ball two diamonds off the end rail and one off the side rail.

Place the CB as for a straight shot down to the far rail. The distance between the two balls not to far.

The object of the drill is to stop the CB and have the OB go to the far rail and back hitting the CB.....hopefully, dead center.

I call this "Is everything straight drill" because to do this requires everything to be straight and you being able to see when a shot is straight.

Because of this drill, I can hit center ball or any part of the CB I need to.
 
It seems like I always find some reason to be at least a little off of center. I guess it's that I'm trying to tweek the shot "to be all it can be." Of course, the truth is I should put more effort into simply pocketing the ball...but...well, I've got no excuse; that's just me.

The only times I can remember consciously hitting exact center is when I'm stunning a slight cut shot and want the CB to follow the tangent line
 
I've been using center ball hits in certain shots. Don't get me wrong, I spin say, 80% of my shots for what's needed, but I have to admit, when I play on a foreign table, it seems that when I adjust to the speed of the table, my cue ball seems to stay better in line of its intended path! I move through other object balls much more accuratly. Now, that's not to say I can't do it with spin, but sometimes, away from my home table, I'll stay close to center until I get a real good feeling!

As far as undercutting/overcutting,, I've a simple solution to that problem, watch how you cut a ball into a pocket with your normal spin! I always try to play center of the hole! Now, if I don't use spin, all's I do is aim for the point on the overcut line of the shot. Boom, center pocket again! Hope this helps! We are all different filled, with different strokes, this may help you, and it may not! Good luck:)
 
Jimbojim said:
Anybody else?

I'll always put a hair of outside (or inside if Im trying to do something for position) on a shot the could be played with dead center beside straight in shots. If I wanna stop it, I'll play lower but not as hard.

I feel when hitting center ball it undercuts the shot because of friction.

I have always played like that and know some pros who do that also.
Click to expand...

Then you play pool the right way.
 
The only time I use 'spin" is if I need to for position, ball pocketing, or banks. I prefer to use center ball to keep things a little more simple, I have only been playing a couple years so in the future I may feel different about this.
 
Not trying to contradict you Donny...

donny mills said:
Then you play pool the right way.
Click to expand...

I think it vastly depends on what level you are at. I don't think intermediate to lower level players should be using side spin at all.

I think it depends on your level of play as to what you should be focusing on.

At early levels, I think it more important to focus on stance, stroke and other fundamentals. At intermediate levels, draw and follow, and speed control and then at advanced levels, the more complex areas of side spin, reverse spin, etc...

When you introduce multiple variables too early on, there is a tendency to develop bad habits that can be difficult to eradicate as you advance, causing stagnation in development.

Even when they are eradicated, pressure situations can cause fall back to bad habits that have been gotten rid of.


Jaden
 
Since most players can't hit through the centre of the cue ball consistently ....
What is you point? :D

Willie Mosconi in his little red book said that you only need inside or outside on 15% of your shots.
So anyone who uses it all the time is wrong 85% of the time.
Most players are wrong 85% of the time. :D
 
Jaden said:
I think it vastly depends on what level you are at. I don't think intermediate to lower level players should be using side spin at all.

I think it depends on your level of play as to what you should be focusing on.

At early levels, I think it more important to focus on stance, stroke and other fundamentals. At intermediate levels, draw and follow, and speed control and then at advanced levels, the more complex areas of side spin, reverse spin, etc...

When you introduce multiple variables too early on, there is a tendency to develop bad habits that can be difficult to eradicate as you advance, causing stagnation in development.

Even when they are eradicated, pressure situations can cause fall back to bad habits that have been gotten rid of.


Jaden
Click to expand...

Well I'm no pro but not trying to sound arrogant or full of shit but Im definately not a beginner also (Im not saying that you implied I were but just for general information). I have been experimenting with position routes with center ball versus spin on shots that dont necessarily require spin for position and I always felt that it was more precise for position even if center would work.

I think the only time I use dead center is when Im cutting a ball in the side and I need to go hit the short rail and come back out straight on the tangent line.
 
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Jimbojim said:
I think the only time I use dead center is when Im cutting a ball in the side and I need to go hit the short rail and come back out straight on the tangent line.
Click to expand...

If you use dead center on the shot you are describing, you'd not get the ball to return straight along the tangent line after hitting the short rail. Collision induces spin is naturally put on the CB when you cut a ball. If wanting the CB to come back straight along the T.L. you'd need to put a dab of inside on the CB for this to happen. YMMV
 
wasn't implying anything...

Jimbojim said:
Well I'm no pro but not trying to sound arrogant or full of shit but Im definately not a beginner also (Im not saying that you implied I were but just for general information). I have been experimenting with position routes with center ball versus spin on shots that dont necessarily require spin for position and I always felt that it was more precise for position even if center would work.

I think the only time I use dead center is when Im cutting a ball in the side and I need to go hit the short rail and come back out straight on the tangent line.
Click to expand...

No I wasn't implying anything about you. Once you are at a level to use sidespin, there are almost no situations where it isn't useful in some way. I rarely don't use any side spin.

You can always use it to make long shape easier by spinning off a rail and not having to super stroke, or to change a rebound angle to draw straighter back or stop where you have a cut angle, etc...

Developing the use of side spin is almost essential at a high level.

I just don't want people at all levels of play to think that it's a good thing to be using side spin all the time when they are still developing their ability to play.


Jaden

Also, the thing about center ball is that it is good for developing a feel for speed control. The more variables you enter in, the more difficult it can be to gain useful experience.
 
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There are so many new factors introduced that can affect your shot when you spin a ball that it's probably not a good idea to use it unless you really need to for position.
 
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Jimbojim said:
Anybody else?

I'll always put a hair of outside (or inside if Im trying to do something for position) on a shot the could be played with dead center beside straight in shots. If I wanna stop it, I'll play lower but not as hard.

I feel when hitting center ball it undercuts the shot because of friction.

I have always played like that and know some pros who do that also.
Click to expand...

It is natural elbow movement after long pause, is to send the CB to the left, the further the OB the larger the offset.
Let it be, aim with that offset in mind, but you have to learn how much offset for each diamond OB/CB apart. This IMO better than forcing the issue; try it, hope you like it.

Added edits:
But you have to be careful, with long bridge shots, English/squirt will cancel and CB end up going 100% straight. However if you use long bridge (more than 14" like SVB) with LD (like OB2) your problem will be solved, you will still have a little spin.
 
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Jimbojim said:
Anybody else?

I'll always put a hair of outside (or inside if Im trying to do something for position) on a shot the could be played with dead center beside straight in shots. If I wanna stop it, I'll play lower but not as hard.

I feel when hitting center ball it undercuts the shot because of friction.

I have always played like that and know some pros who do that also.
Click to expand...

I find myself doing the same thing mostly I think to reduce CIT....Buddy Hall called it "help'n english".
 
I do the same thing. For a long time I outside spun every ball,
even a long straight in stop shot (don't ask me how you can "outside" a straight in shot lol)
and it held my game back. I had trouble with center and inside.
Forced myself to unlearn the habit.

But now I've come to accept that a little helping outside is fine. And I definitely
agree lower and softer is best for stop shots.
 
cue ball

In other words you never need the cue ball to deflect at a 90 degree angle.................
Makes no sense to me why you would want to not be able have that option.

I like hitting the center of the cue ball. That means I don't have to shoot all the hi risk fancy stuff that sooner or later bit everyone.

I am no pro so maybe I should comment.
 
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