If you don't use side english exept on short shots, is an LD shaft worth it?
- Thread starter Magyar19
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Why would you only use side english on short shots? English was being used on all shots long before 'LD' shafts came along. I have been using all forms of english for 46 years & only aquired an LD shaft in June 2012.
To answer you question I would say yes, because you could then use english on more than just short shots with less adaptation.
Regards,
To answer you question I would say yes, because you could then use english on more than just short shots with less adaptation.
Regards,
Cues are like watches, you can buy a Rolex for $10k and can buy a $1.00 digital watch from $ store, all can tell the time accurately, but people's impression of you when they look at your hand could make a difference; similarly cues. If you can afford it buy a good brand cue, also buy two other brands, play with all, ones that plays the best for you, it is a keeper.
Because I've always had difficulty compensating for deflection but yeah I guess with an LD shaft I could shoot the long ones with side too lol I just have my doubts about the technology.
Well the money isn't an issue at all but I've never been one to spend money on fancy things just to look good. I'm not materialistic, anything I buy better perform better than the cheaper alternative.
Ok i see, if you are a casual player, play once or twice a week, do not gamble or compete, i'd say no. If you are serious about the game, yes it is worth it, also it is worth it to buy HD, and other brands to learn the game, even if you shoot with no english, at times you could stroke the ball bad and put inadvertent english on CB (CJ and English thinks it is not possible to hit CB at cenetr), depending on your cue and bridge length that could make you miss a shot. Once aced pool then you would know what to keep.
All shafts will squirt the cue ball just to varying degrees. In all my 46 years of playing, I never really gave any conscious consideration to the squirt (that is until TOI). I just allowed my subconscious to make the adjustments.
My focus was more on the amount of spin to get the ball to the contact point with the spin on the ball. (Yes there is an aim consideration but I pictured in my mind the swerve more than the squirt.)
If you try to calculate the amount of squirt with what amount of spin to get it to swerve back at what speed, you will go nuts or quit first.
When I got two(2) different LD shafts it took me only a couple of hours to make the adjustment from the non LD shafts & I can go back to them & adjust back in a short matter of tme as well. I don't do numbers & calculations. I just hit it & allow my subconscious to make the adjustments.
This may sound like voodoo but IMHO it is the only way to get proficient. Otherwise you are just guessing with your brain. It is very much like what CJ says about TOI & feeling the angle.
I've said it before. I trust my 'mind' more than I trust my brain (opening for a personal slur).
I would recommend LD shafts as they require less work for the mind to do.
I hope some of this helps.
Regards,
Less deflection would translate to better accuracy regardless of your lack of english use. I.E. if you mishit your intended spot on the cueball you may still hit your target as compared to a cheaper/flimsy shaft. Your mileage would vary based on type shots you play but it would never hurt. When you get better and start to incorporate english your learning curve would be shorter as the deflection would be consistent.
LD shafts are not for everyone. I know quite a few experienced players that like the deflection and have incorporated it into their games as it can open up certain shots you cant do with a LD.
Either way you have to learn to use the cue in your hands.
LD shafts are not for everyone. I know quite a few experienced players that like the deflection and have incorporated it into their games as it can open up certain shots you cant do with a LD.
Either way you have to learn to use the cue in your hands.
Mr. Naji,
I'd just like to clarify that I, & I think CJ, never said that it is impossible to hit the center of the cue ball.
I, & I think CJ, just believe it can not be done with any real consistency by an imperfect human being. So, I, & I think CJ, choose to accept that & play in a manner that does not attempt it. I, & I think CJ, have a plan for a controlled & planned for non center hit to a certain side of the center.
I hope that clarifies my belief regarding hitting the center of the cue ball.
Best Regards & Best Wishes,
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Well stated.
Do you have an example of such a shot? Fred Agnir has an example when the cue ball is very close to the object ball, but is there any shot with, say, six inches of separation between the balls that is easier with a squirty shaft?
A jump shot.
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What about long shots that are close to the pocket? You need side spin to go around/underneath a ball to get to the other side of the table. I would recommend getting a LD shaft, I have a Tiger LD shaft and I love it. All LD shafts have equaled for me is, a shaft that plays with more control.
Another shot that came up was that odd stretched out shot from the wrong side of the table where you just can't reach aiming center, but pivoting your cue you can reach it. Since you're now aiming off the pockrt the cue better squirt or you'll hit it to the rail.
Freddie <~~~ vertically challenged
Favoring one side of the cue ball is essential for FEEDBACK.
Even if you hit the exact center of the cue ball you're going to spin it slightly. If you hit it off center one way or the other it's going to deflect, and you're playing a guessing game trying to figure out if you missed the shot due to not hitting center or it was something else.
I can hit center if I have to, but why would I want to?
Favoring one side of the cue ball is essential for FEEDBACK. It takes an advanced player to hit the exact center of the cue ball, and then they are limited by how accurately they can hit different parts of the pocket. As you progress in your playing levels it's important to be able to hit all three parts of the pocket, and that's what TOI teaches because you MUST learn to use deflection, rather than be afraid of it.
I would not recommend Low Deflection shafts, from my experience they still deflect enough to miss shots so even with a low deflect shaft the TOI works the same (and is important to at least have a working knowledge of how deflection is related to your own personal stroke).
I just played with a TIGER shaft the last couple of days with students and it played REALLY well, however, the TOI amount was the same as my playing cue which is not a LD, but is under 12 mm.
Even if you hit the exact center of the cue ball you're going to spin it slightly. If you hit it off center one way or the other it's going to deflect, and you're playing a guessing game trying to figure out if you missed the shot due to not hitting center or it was something else.
I can hit center if I have to, but why would I want to?
Favoring one side of the cue ball is essential for FEEDBACK. It takes an advanced player to hit the exact center of the cue ball, and then they are limited by how accurately they can hit different parts of the pocket. As you progress in your playing levels it's important to be able to hit all three parts of the pocket, and that's what TOI teaches because you MUST learn to use deflection, rather than be afraid of it.
I would not recommend Low Deflection shafts, from my experience they still deflect enough to miss shots so even with a low deflect shaft the TOI works the same (and is important to at least have a working knowledge of how deflection is related to your own personal stroke).
I just played with a TIGER shaft the last couple of days with students and it played REALLY well, however, the TOI amount was the same as my playing cue which is not a LD, but is under 12 mm.
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The CB will still squirt on short shots if you apply English and hit it firm.
There are specialty shots, like a drag draw with English, where the CB will squirt at the last minute, when the CB starts to slide. But if you hit it firm it will deflect from the get-go.
So LD shafts, if you like them, still have an advantage on short shots.
There are specialty shots, like a drag draw with English, where the CB will squirt at the last minute, when the CB starts to slide. But if you hit it firm it will deflect from the get-go.
So LD shafts, if you like them, still have an advantage on short shots.
I don't have a problem playing masse shots with a low-squirt shaft. Maybe that's because I've spent hours practicing those shots with one. I'll have to try some with a squirty shaft which I haven't used for about 30 years.
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