Over, under or center

[pt109]

I voted 'below center' for two reasons.

A- I feel it reduces the chance of a skid...the back-spin on whitey lessens
the 'cling' factor...it becomes really obvious on exaggerated British cloth..
...40 ounce cloth causes resistance to impact, therefore more skids.

B- my basic stroke is 'piston'...when I hit below center, the stroke morphs
into a pendulum stroke, which I prefer under heat.

 

[PGHteacher]

I have no intention of offending either of you but;

MitchAlsup:

IMO you have given the best answer, and for the right reason.

IMO he stated the obvious:

WHen I want follow I hit higher,
Really?
when I want stun I hit lower,
Film at 11.
when I want draw I hit lower still.
Duh
It all depends on what you are trying to do with the CB.
I think you missed the part when I said "don't consider position"

If "positional considerations" are of no consequence, why wouldn't anyone want to hit just a little above center for most of their shots?

Because as you move the tip contact point further up the vertical axis your line of sight and tip contact point diverge. At least that is my reason.

Hitting at the center line, or below, starts the cue ball off with a skid,

This is not generally what pool players mean when they say "skid" skid refers (usually) when we are talking about dirty balls or chalk smudges at the contact point of the 2 balls (the OB and the CB), they are not usually talking about Stop/Stun.

In fact stop/stun is one of the most, if not the most predictable lines used in the game. A sliding CB if it hits directly into the OB will stop, if it hits it at an angle it will travel along the tangent line at no matter what speed you hit it until it comes to rest (at least before it hits a rail). That's even more predictable than a naturally rolling CB hitting an OB at a 1/2 ball hit.

which means it is then easier for it to be forced off of its intended line of travel and can lead to a mis-hit on the object ball.

Not if you have a solid understanding of what speed & angle do to the path of the CB after contact.

 

[Treyf123]

Under

I know there are those that will come up with all kinds of "this can't be answered" answers, that's fine I will try to accommodate you as best I can, I am talking about "hairs" of tip offset; you know mms. Byrne said in his Standard book that "most players in their heart of hearts would rather hit below than above center." I am just wondering how true that is, or if it is true at all.

I am talking about shots that have little or no positional considerations.

Usually when i dont care about position i just stop the cue ball so i hit under the center of the CB

 

[TSW]

After seeing all of these responses, I think the best answer is "it depends."

There are shots on the money ball that I'd hit below center. There are shots I'd hit above center. And there are shots I'd hit at center. It depends on the cut angle, distance, potential scratch routes, location of the cue ball and object ball, etc. For example, if the cue ball is anywhere near the rail, using draw means elevating noticeably, so I'd rather follow. On the other hand, if the cue and object ball are close together but the object ball has to travel a long way to the pocket, I'm hitting with draw to transfer topspin to the object ball.

That said, if I could choose any money ball position, I'd prefer to shoot the money balls that I would hit above center.

 

[SpiderWebComm]

If I'm shooting at the money ball and there is nothing to consider for position, I will shoot low on the cueball (stop shot). I can't say I know a lot about what causes skids. All I know is, most of my skids happen when I follow. The occasions when I use center or follow are usually when I plan on using the entire pocket and I'm hitting the ball softly.

^^^^^ me too.

 

[Dunnn51]

Over,Under,Center

It depends on the shot, but for most instances it is just slightly under. The reason why being for a slight bit better CB control. I play on both big tables and barboxes. On the big tables you have to deal with well worn simonas 760/860 cloth. One place I practice at has regular leagues and there are 2 diamond 9ft tables with 860 cloth that is 18 months old. A VERY softly hit CB can easily travel over 1/2 a table length !

The 7ft barboxes are a different animal. They have 300 Mali or royal cloth and it probably hasn't been cleaned for 6 months. Generating the right amt of spin can be tricky at times.

As a rule: I got slightly under just to keep the odds of having the CB stay on the table.

 

[Patrick Johnson]

I hit above center most of the time, not follow, per see; just enough that the CB rolls immediately without skidding down table.

Ditto. The most reliably accurate CB roll to the OB.

pj
chgo

 

[Patrick Johnson]

...most of my skids happen when I follow.

It doesn't seem to me like it happens more with follow, but I think it can be more obvious with follow because the CB jumps a little and makes a sound as it hits the surface again.

pj
chgo

 

[Patrick Johnson]

pwd72s:
"draw for show...follow for the dough"

Fred:
I've always considered this saying pretty dumb.

Not me. It expresses the idea that follow distance is easier to control and you don't have to hit as hard - both of which I agree with.

pj
chgo

 

[Patrick Johnson]

Roger Long:
If "positional considerations" are of no consequence, why wouldn't anyone want to hit just a little above center for most of their shots?

PGHteacher:
Because as you move the tip contact point further up the vertical axis your line of sight and tip contact point diverge.

What does that mean?

Roger Long:
Hitting at the center line, or below, starts the cue ball off with a skid, which means it is then easier for it to be forced off of its intended line of travel and can lead to a mis-hit on the object ball.

PGHteacher:
In fact stop/stun is one of the most, if not the most predictable lines used in the game. A sliding CB if it hits directly into the OB will stop, if it hits it at an angle it will travel along the tangent line at no matter what speed you hit it until it comes to rest (at least before it hits a rail). That's even more predictable than a naturally rolling CB hitting an OB at a 1/2 ball hit.

You're talking about what happens to the CB after hitting the OB (which, by the way, is what you're reminding others not to talk about). Roger is talking about what happens to the CB on its way to the OB (which is why he said it can lead to a mis-hit on the OB). I agree with Roger.

pj
chgo

 

[DallasHopps]

I have a comfy feeling about using a touch of draw; it seems to roll the OB in more often instead of rattling it.

 

[jnf]

Just below center is how I was taught and it feels best. I think (no evidence) that the initial skid of the ball from the below center starts it on a more dependable line. In golf, I do the same putting.

 

[PGHteacher]

What does that mean?

We look over the stick not through it, when we hit draw our line of sight (that is over the stick) and the point that the tip actually contacts the CB are close together, as we move up the vertical axis and put follow on the ball now our line of sight and the point that the tip contacts the CB is farther apart. So if you look at the top of the stick and are hitting with the top of the tip the LOS and tip contact point are closer together than when you look at the top of the stick and strike with the bottom of the tip. I hope this clears what I said up

You're talking about what happens to the CB after hitting the OB (which, by the way, is what you're reminding others not to talk about). Roger is talking about what happens to the CB on its way to the OB (which is why he said it can lead to a mis-hit on the OB). I agree with Roger.

pj
chgo

You removed this paragraph:

This is not generally what pool players mean when they say "skid" skid refers (usually) when we are talking about dirty balls or chalk smudges at the contact point of the 2 balls (the OB and the CB), they are not usually talking about Stop/Stun.

This was just to illustrate the difference between skid and stop/stun. If you isolate that paragraph you bring what I said out of context. I may have expounded a little far so that many people shot past my point; but that's my fail as a writer not as a debater.

 

[One Pocket John]

I like to hit just below center. Its a cleaner hit and allows the OB to slide into the pocket or have a small amount of forward roll. Just seems like a natural way to pocket a ball.

Like throwing the OB into the pocket.

John