New Stick + Tip and Hitting Various Levels of Spin

JMASTERJ

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
I got my new stick (Rosewood) today from Schmelke, very nice, and I like it overall, so I was practicing some spins today during my match and a little practice after. Wanted to see how my new ultra skin soft tip (David over there said its fairly similar to Kamui black soft for less price) will work after shaping it myself using the tools to a dime shape on the 12.5mm tip. I think I did a pretty decent job, the tip is almost round, I didnt want to shave off too much, and took chalk beautifully.

Ok so I was crushing a 3 today (I'm rated 2, might soon be 3 after this one and had beaten a 7 and 1 in the last week), had one shot that was a long one, had ball in hand, and wanted to get position for the next ball. So I hit some top and I must have hit it perfectly because the top raced the cue down the table right behind the object ball right into the hole... I didnt think I even hit it that hard. (Yes I know I should not be lining up straight for a top but I honestly just wanted to drift it down).

So I was pretty impressed by the spin ability by that. Then later when I was doing some draw practice, I found it super hard to get the same level of action during practice. Either I shanked the ball because I aimed too low on the cue, or just hit a stop shot when I aimed too high. Actually the only times I even got the cue to come back near the side pocket (shooting object into the other side pocket) was when I took a slower, smoother stroke and pushed longer through the cue with a bigger follow through. But then I had to really hustle to get the shaft out of the way of the returning cue and a couple of times it hit on the way back.

There must be something terrible I am doing wrong, things just dont feel right on the draw. Like 1/20 times I can draw it back ok, but I can hit good top/straight side spin like 9/10 times with the same type of stroke, its just the DRAW that is hardest to replicate. If these problems sound familiar at all help! (BTW I have leveled by hitting angle more too, not so vertical and sharp down, more horizontal)

(P.S. I realize learning how to play without spin and using angle/natural etc etc is a higher percentage technique at my level etc., but this question is specific on hitting effective draw with the equipment I have if this makes sense... I play pool to have fun and to me, playing with spin (when I need it) along with angles and natural is fun, thanks for understanding)
 
Seems to me you are trying to hard to force the draw shots. You need a smooth and simple stroke like every other normal shot. I've seen a ton of league players try to draw & nothing because they end up poking or have no follow thru. The also seem to put a death grip on the button when trying for a draw shot.

My main advice would be to relax & relax your grip hand & use the same fluid stroke as following & no spin shots.

As far as your tip, I use Ultraskins often myself, mainly the Pro version so it's a medium tip with a soft feel. No issues getting any English or spin on shots.
 
Seems to me you are trying to hard to force the draw shots. You need a smooth and simple stroke like every other normal shot. I've seen a ton of league players try to draw & nothing because they end up poking or have no follow thru. The also seem to put a death grip on the button when trying for a draw shot.

My main advice would be to relax & relax your grip hand & use the same fluid stroke as following & no spin shots.

As far as your tip, I use Ultraskins often myself, mainly the Pro version so it's a medium tip with a soft feel. No issues getting any English or spin on shots.
Agree here. Loosen up and feel like you're kinda throwing the cue thru the the ball. If you stiff wrist it you won't get much action. With my new Schmelke sp (Triangle tip) i have no problem pulling it back 1/2-3/4 table length. Lighten up andsnap it back!
 
So I hit some top and I must have hit it perfectly because the top raced the cue down the table right behind the object ball right into the hole... I didnt think I even hit it that hard.

That wasn't spin, that was a double hit.
 
Start small.
Try drawing the cueball from close to the object ball maybe 6 inches to a foot .
Draw 3 inches then 6 then a foot and work your way up.
I had a heck of a time trying to draw the ball when I first started.
I had too many helpers and too much info.
Keep it as simple as possible.
If it isn't drawing back , you are not low enough.
Probably raising the tip as you go forward.
 
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it aint the tip. if you hit it hard enough and low enough it will come back.

practice your stroke so it goes where you are aiming. that is your problem.
as said above get someone that knows something watch you. and listen to him.
 
I just started playing again and I seemed to have lost my draw. I went back to the basics in one of my books

Like the others said loosen up ,smooth stroke and follow through.


I'll add with a level cue as possible and a long smooth backstroke, Then the long smooth follow through. Keeping your head down all through the follow through so you hit the cue where you think your hitting the cue.
 
Thanks guys, I'll try to pretend I am hitting a regular smoothy... I always have a loose grip, I am barely holding the handle actually on all shots, and I tighten a bit on impact only.

And yes I am sure my contact spot on the ball could use a lot of work, and yes I may be lifting the tip a bit on contact, I tend to do that... I think I have a phobia of not scratching the table with the tip/ferrel?
 
Thanks guys, I'll try to pretend I am hitting a regular smoothy... I always have a loose grip, I am barely holding the handle actually on all shots, and I tighten a bit on impact only.

And yes I am sure my contact spot on the ball could use a lot of work, and yes I may be lifting the tip a bit on contact, I tend to do that... I think I have a phobia of not scratching the table with the tip/ferrel?

It's funny sometimes reading how to books and watching videos then seeing guys you shoot with shoot in ways that are so crazy you wonder how the heck they make any shots.

I live in a senior community in Ocean County , NJ . There are dozens of these communities and most have pool rooms. The guys I play with are in there 70s-80s and have been playing their who life. A lot play with aluminum cues and screw on tips like fro Walmart or Models. One of my buddies stands straight up like at attention at the moment of impact. Another guy jacks the butt end up or left or right at impact to make spin or draw and he is an APA 6 . These guys make shots that make your hair stand up.

It's just good to start out with good proven basics so you have something to fall back on when things start going south in your game. Like the saying " I had my stroke when I came in here, don't know where it went"

Good luck
 
At that distance you can get follow naturally because the CB is rolling as it hits the OB...

As to draw... you can practice hitting soft ones with an open bridge and the OB about a diamond away, and work up from there. Juat get it to come back the same distance it left, it don't take much. Evwn on a long draw it is a bit less force then you may think to get it back. You could use a striped ball and GoPro in hi-speed to see what's going on...
 
It's funny sometimes reading how to books and watching videos then seeing guys you shoot with shoot in ways that are so crazy you wonder how the heck they make any shots.

I live in a senior community in Ocean County , NJ . There are dozens of these communities and most have pool rooms. The guys I play with are in there 70s-80s and have been playing their who life. A lot play with aluminum cues and screw on tips like fro Walmart or Models. One of my buddies stands straight up like at attention at the moment of impact. Another guy jacks the butt end up or left or right at impact to make spin or draw and he is an APA 6 . These guys make shots that make your hair stand up.

It's just good to start out with good proven basics so you have something to fall back on when things start going south in your game. Like the saying " I had my stroke when I came in here, don't know where it went"

Good luck

Haha I know EXACTLY what you mean... in fact I think I have better form discipline than some 4-5's I see, but the 6-7+ all have good form. I feel like my fundamentals are off her and there, but no one on my team is really good enough, or a good enough "teacher" to show me the ropes, so I'll keep chugging and maybe use more videos to watch myself, I'm used to that from golf. When I play "seriously" I do stay down quite a bit, again used to that from hitting critical putts on the greens, concepts are all the same there.


At that distance you can get follow naturally because the CB is rolling as it hits the OB...

As to draw... you can practice hitting soft ones with an open bridge and the OB about a diamond away, and work up from there. Juat get it to come back the same distance it left, it don't take much. Evwn on a long draw it is a bit less force then you may think to get it back. You could use a striped ball and GoPro in hi-speed to see what's going on...

Ya I am going to try the different speeds... I do think sometimes I hit too hard and quick to impart more draw, but the problem also is I dont hit the same spot on the cue ball as well, so with 2 variables, much harder to get better, especially when I dont have the chance to practice much either, bad combo. I think if I just took 1 hour and did draw drills, I would get it.... but as with my aforementioned shoulder pain, billiards life is tough, u know? LMAO :angry::D:o
 
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