Long tough cut shots

[CaptainJR]

I've been doing better with these. Here is how. First off this is not an aiming thread! I don't think this will make any sense or help anyone that doesn't already use contact points to aim.

I think on these long tough cut shots it is more difficult to see the exact contact points. This seems to have helped me.

What got me thinking about this is the way I practice this kind of shot. Putting the cue ball closer to the object ball made this shot very easy for me so I would set up the shot with the cue ball where the circle is, make that shot, then move it back a little. Make it again a couple times, then move it back some more, and again until the cue ball is in the position shown. It seemed like a good way to practice these. Make the shot easy and work you way up to it.

One day I went to shoot this shot in a game and when I got down on it, I wasn't sure of it. I stood back up, thought for a few seconds and bent over the table lining up the cue stick (brown line) as if the cue ball was close to the object ball. It was like, 'OH!!! There is the contact point'. Came back to the cue ball and made the shot center pocket.

Take it or leave it, there ya go.

 

[CaptainJR]

When I said bent over, that is what I meant, just like I was going to shoot from the circle. Not just laying the stick on the table. Thought I'd better clear that up.

 

[Jude Rosenstock]

I've been doing better with these. Here is how. First off this is not an aiming thread! I don't think this will make any sense or help anyone that doesn't already use contact points to aim.

I think on these long tough cut shots it is more difficult to see the exact contact points. This seems to have helped me.

What got me thinking about this is the way I practice this kind of shot. Putting the cue ball closer to the object ball made this shot very easy for me so I would set up the shot with the cue ball where the circle is, make that shot, then move it back a little. Make it again a couple times, then move it back some more, and again until the cue ball is in the position shown. It seemed like a good way to practice these. Make the shot easy and work you way up to it.

One day I went to shoot this shot in a game and when I got down on it, I wasn't sure of it. I stood back up, thought for a few seconds and bent over the table lining up the cue stick (brown line) as if the cue ball was close to the object ball. It was like, 'OH!!! There is the contact point'. Came back to the cue ball and made the shot center pocket.

Take it or leave it, there ya go.

Hey Captain,

There's something many of us refer to as a "comfort zone". By that, I mean shots that we feel comfortable with and can make using most speeds or spins. It sounds like initially, you were simply outside your zone on this shot and did exactly what it takes to extend your zone a little.

You did EXACTLY what I do when I'm having problems with particular shots. Shorten the shot. Make it a few times. Bring it back to where it was before and try again. I find most of the time, I'm just distracted by the distance and not focusing on the simplicity of it. Just find the contact point and hit it.

 

[drivermaker]

OH-OH, VAP....you're in BIG trouble now. (and so am I) wanna decrease that bet Cap?

 

[CaptainJR]

OH-OH, VAP....you're in BIG trouble now. (and so am I) wanna decrease that bet Cap?

No matter how much you try to get my goat, I'll not be changing the bet or the game

 

[Black-Balled]

No matter how much you try to get my goat, I'll not be changing the bet or the game

Tha's right Captain! You get 'em!! See DawgAndy's avatar for further!!!

 

[CaptainJR]

Hey Captain,

There's something many of us refer to as a "comfort zone". By that, I mean shots that we feel comfortable with and can make using most speeds or spins. It sounds like initially, you were simply outside your zone on this shot and did exactly what it takes to extend your zone a little.

You did EXACTLY what I do when I'm having problems with particular shots. Shorten the shot. Make it a few times. Bring it back to where it was before and try again. I find most of the time, I'm just distracted by the distance and not focusing on the simplicity of it. Just find the contact point and hit it.

Jude
Your right about the comfort zone. Mine frequently changes, does yours?

I have always practiced a shot I'm having trouble with in this manor. What I really started this post about is that I more recently started using it during games. By putting a cue ball in my mind closer to the shot and actually taking aim on it like it was the close shot. Then backing up to the longer shot. Taking aim with the closer shot reimforced the contact points.

 

[bruin70]

I've been doing better with these. Here is how. First off this is not an aiming thread! I don't think this will make any sense or help anyone that doesn't already use contact points to aim.
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,was close to the object ball. It was like, 'OH!!! There is the contact point'. Came back to the cue ball and made the shot center pocket.

Take it or leave it, there ya go.

if you practice on a snooker table, all 9' shots look short.

 

[Jude Rosenstock]

if you practice on a snooker table, all 9' shots look short.

Yeah but I can still show you a few shots that look less short than others!

 

[Jal]

...One day I went to shoot this shot in a game and when I got down on it, I wasn't sure of it. I stood back up, thought for a few seconds and bent over the table lining up the cue stick (brown line) as if the cue ball was close to the object ball. It was like, 'OH!!! There is the contact point'. Came back to the cue ball and made the shot center pocket.

Take it or leave it, there ya go.

I'll take it.

I have the video of the 1966 US Open Final (Joe Balsis vs Irving Crane). One thing that I've noticed is that whenever Crane faced a long tough shot, he would get down on it, get back up, then get down again and shoot. Basis did essentially the same thing on the one long shot he faced, but you don't get to see too much of him as Crane ran 150.

While I don't know what was going on in their minds of course, I would guess that they were giving themselves a little extra time to absorb the geometry of the shot, and perhaps to quiet any distracting thoughts such as "this is a going to be tough!".

The technique you described seems to be a good way of accomplishing both.

Jim

 

[drivermaker]

First off this is not an aiming thread! I don't think this will make any sense or help anyone that doesn't already use contact points to aim.

I think on these long tough cut shots it is more difficult to see the exact contact points. This seems to have helped me.

lining up the cue stick (brown line) as if the cue ball was close to the object ball. It was like, 'OH!!! There is the contact point'. Came back to the cue ball and made the shot center pocket.

Why does this have anything to do with contact points and why do you think one has to only contact points to "get it"? You keep emphasizing this contact point crap over and over like it's the only way to play, and as a result of your thick skull and closed mind (as well as other nitwits) that's why wars break out everytime theres's something about aiming on it.

Set that EXACT shot up as you have it illustrated with a cue going from diamond to diamond. Now...place a ball right alongside the cue starting about 10" to 11" from the object ball and keep stringing balls back along the cue every 10" or so until you get to the furthest diamond until you have about 5-6 balls. (I have a 9'table).

What you'll see...or should see is this...the first and closest ball (acting as the CB) has a 1/2 ball hit. In other words, the top dead center of that CB is aimed directly at the edge of the OB, and the right edge of the CB is in the dead center of the OB. It's like watching a 1/2 eclipse of the moon with the sun. Where the balls strike each other is the SAME as envisioning contact points.

EACH BALL BACK TO THE END has the EXACT 1/2 ball overlap on the OB for the shot to be made. IT DOESN'T CHANGE... However, what you'll see as you get back further, is that the edge of the (acting) CB starts covering the OB more and more. That's neither here nor there...as long as you envision the 1/2 ball hit from mid CB to edge of OB. It will strike the OB close to the rail in the exact spot where it needs to be made, and that's ALL you need to see from any distance...with NO CONTACT POINTS ENVISIONED. The contact points are where they are and taken care of automatically by this visual method.

You're going to have to set this up in real time to see it for yourself. And the point I'm trying to make is...there's more than one way to skin a cat and envision a shot other than "contact points". AND there's also more ways to envision it besides what I just illustrated in THIS post. (Guess it has turned into an aiming thread) Now, go set it up and look for yourself.

 

[pete lafond]

No matter how much you try to get my goat, I'll not be changing the bet or the game

Hey when you guys match up. I want to be there. Date, time and place will do. Hopefully it will be in the summer when my son is out of school.

 

[vapoolplayer]

Hey when you guys match up. I want to be there. Date, time and place will do. Hopefully it will be in the summer when my son is out of school.

don't worry........it isn't high stakes........race to 11 8 ball for a 100.........will probably be pretty boring to a specator........100 isn't very much motivation.....

VAP

 

[pete lafond]

Interesting......


What I want to know is why you would leave yourself that shot on the 9 in the first place???? ...........(JK)

Cruel, very cruel.

 

[drivermaker]

Interesting......


What I want to know is why you would leave yourself that shot on the 9 in the first place???? ...........(JK)

My guess is...contact point aiming WITH ENGLISH is another whole different animal and he didn't do something right coming off the 8, or maybe even the 7 to get to the 8.

 

[CaptainJR]

Why does this have anything to do with contact points and why do you think one has to only contact points to "get it"? You keep emphasizing this contact point crap over and over like it's the only way to play, and as a result of your thick skull and closed mind (as well as other nitwits) that's why wars break out everytime theres's something about aiming on it.

Set that EXACT shot up as you have it illustrated with a cue going from diamond to diamond. Now...place a ball right alongside the cue starting about 10" to 11" from the object ball and keep stringing balls back along the cue every 10" or so until you get to the furthest diamond until you have about 5-6 balls. (I have a 9'table).

What you'll see...or should see is this...the first and closest ball (acting as the CB) has a 1/2 ball hit. In other words, the top dead center of that CB is aimed directly at the edge of the OB, and the right edge of the CB is in the dead center of the OB. It's like watching a 1/2 eclipse of the moon with the sun. Where the balls strike each other is the SAME as envisioning contact points.

EACH BALL BACK TO THE END has the EXACT 1/2 ball overlap on the OB for the shot to be made. IT DOESN'T CHANGE... However, what you'll see as you get back further, is that the edge of the (acting) CB starts covering the OB more and more. That's neither here nor there...as long as you envision the 1/2 ball hit from mid CB to edge of OB. It will strike the OB close to the rail in the exact spot where it needs to be made, and that's ALL you need to see from any distance...with NO CONTACT POINTS ENVISIONED. The contact points are where they are and taken care of automatically by this visual method.

You're going to have to set this up in real time to see it for yourself. And the point I'm trying to make is...there's more than one way to skin a cat and envision a shot other than "contact points". AND there's also more ways to envision it besides what I just illustrated in THIS post. (Guess it has turned into an aiming thread) Now, go set it up and look for yourself.

I did set it up. Interesting and certainly could be usefull, after I used contact points to make sure the aim on the closest ball was correct.

 

[CaptainJR]

Interesting......


What I want to know is why you would leave yourself that shot on the 9 in the first place???? ...........(JK)

Your lousy break left me this shit!

 

[Boro Nut]

It was like, 'OH!!! There is the contact point'. Came back to the cue ball and made the shot center pocket.

From that postion that's quite some shot. Well done. It never would have crossed my mind to even attempt it. I'd have simply knocked it in the corner pocket.

Boro Nut

 

[CaptainJR]

don't worry........it isn't high stakes........race to 11 8 ball for a 100.........will probably be pretty boring to a specator........100 isn't very much motivation.....

VAP

Here we go with the excuses already. "Oh, I couldn't really get into it because it wasn't enough money to make me try. Other wise he couldn't have beaten me." If your goal was to get me to play hard, you've succeeded. Someone I know and respect is finally going to get his wish. He's said several times that he'd like to see what I could do if I'd only go in it to win instead of just to have fun.

Here is a quote from the thread....



Pool Peeves - Apr. 29, 2005 (post #120)

Here is my biggest and I feel fairly strong about it.

I'll play a small money game. However, the way I feel about it is this. If you can't beat me in a free game just for the pleasure of playing, then your not a better player than me.

Don't go nuts about what I said. I know the pros can beat me in pool no matter if it is for money or not. I'm talking about the guy (or gal) that is my speed, (good player but not a pro) and thinks they are better than me just because they won't play a cheap game. Then if they finally do because they can't get a higher money game and I win, they say "you only won because it wasn't enough money to get me to play as good as I can. BULL SHIT!!!!

 

[drivermaker]

I did set it up. Interesting and certainly could be usefull, after I used contact points to make sure the aim on the closest ball was correct.

That's what I'm trying to get at that ain't sinking in for you and many others.
You don't have to get involved with the contact points. The other part is...what happens if you use 1 tip of right english...centerball...or 1 tip of left english? The contact point on the OB still remains the same, but knowing how to adjust the aim for the contact point on the CB can change due to throw, deflection, or speed. You CAN ALIGN A SHOT IN A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT WAYS WITHOUT THE USE OF CONTACT POINTS and be deadly. You just DON'T know how. At least I opened the window a crack for you to at least get a glimpse. There's a whole other world out there though.

However, if you're only going to use contact points, I strongly suggest getting and using Joe Tuckers' system. I don't use it, but it just makes a lot of sense to me the way he developed it to "SEE" the CONTACT POINT on the FRONT of the CB, where it really counts.