Most Important Concept

[Island Drive]

What does the ball want to do naturally? This concept is the bar, its the above center, 12 o'clock striking/then rolling of the cue ball that 'stands alone' in its importance. This is what the ball always does once all the unnatural spin comes off the cue ball, and probably what the cue ball does well over 90% of its time during movement. This is the first question all pros ask themselves when they first come to the table and asses the shot and position of the next shot to be made. The only person I have ever heard say "you must learn this first" is Allison Fischer where I was part of the seminar. Simply put, if you know where the balls want to go then and only then can you move forward quickly with your game. In all my years I have never heard anyone but her say that. If your instructor has never brought this "natural ball" issue up, ask them why? .

 

[Colin Colenso]

What does the ball want to do naturally? This concept is the bar, its the above center, 12 o'clock striking/then rolling of the cue ball that 'stands alone' in its importance. This is what the ball always does once all the unnatural spin comes off the cue ball, and probably what the cue ball does well over 90% of its time during movement. This is the first question all pros ask themselves when they first come to the table and asses the shot and position of the next shot to be made. The only person I have ever heard say "you must learn this first" is Allison Fischer where I was part of the seminar. Simply put, if you know where the balls want to go then and only then can you move forward quickly with your game. In all my years I have never heard anyone but her say that. If your instructor has never brought this "natural ball" issue up, ask them why? .

I don't see the CB as naturally wanting to go anywhere.

I see the angles from soft follow to tight draw, then see what it can with various speeds, then what it can do off rails, with various speeds and spin or off balls lying on these paths.

Check all these options for probabilities compared to the position I want for next shot.

Only occassionally the roll-through, or rolling topspin shot takes me to the best position. Stun shots generally are more natural choices and come up more frequently for the angles I play for.

 

[scottycoyote]

interesting concept. I never realised how detrimental skid could be to your accuracy until it was covered at pool school myself. I had tended to not use top on the cueball unless i specifically needed it, i would shoot centerball. Now i use a little top on all my shots unless something else is needed and i seem to be alot more accurate. Skid really kills you on a bad table or bad cloth, you will get some roll off that a little top will let you bypass.

 

[Colin Colenso]

interesting concept. I never realised how detrimental skid could be to your accuracy until it was covered at pool school myself. I had tended to not use top on the cueball unless i specifically needed it, i would shoot centerball. Now i use a little top on all my shots unless something else is needed and i seem to be alot more accurate. Skid really kills you on a bad table or bad cloth, you will get some roll off that a little top will let you bypass.

I don't know what they taught you at pool school, but rolling shots are definitely the worst for getting skid. More common and larger amount of skid.

The topspin pushes the CB into the cloth and increases the effect of the friction.

 

[pooltchr]

I think what Scott is saying is that when you hit center or below, the first thing the cue ball does is slide forward before it starts to roll. When top spin is used, you are starting the ball rolling sooner.
Steve

 

[bruin70]

The only person I have ever heard say "you must learn this first" is Allison Fischer where I was part of the seminar. Simply put, if you know where the balls want to go then and only then can you move forward quickly with your game. In all my years I have never heard anyone but her say that. If your instructor has never brought this "natural ball" issue up, ask them why? .

maybe it's because she's a snooker player.

she's preaching centerball and the concept of "simplicity", which everyone knows. it is your basic abc before you get to the advanced stuff. maybe no one had told you that before.