a few thoughts about english . . .
Back before a very extended break from pool I used parallel and back hand english even a little front hand english on some very specific shots.
These days I use the so called parallel english because it seems simplest to me. I have a hard time with the idea of coming down perfectly on a shot and then pivoting my cue stick out of line. No doubt that many people make it work, I wrestle too much with alignment problems to want to add to them. My bridge length is dependent on many different things, forcing it to one length to compensate for pivoting seems restrictive also.
Finally, back hand english is easier to misjudge because when you add and subtract english you also change the direction of force through the cue ball. Although it isn't completely true, the center of the base of the cue ball is basically the cue balls rotational center. Hitting one and a half tips off center with the stick pointed in one direction is not the same as hitting a tip and a half off center with the stick pointed in another direction.
For me coming down onto my bridge with parallel english already added is easiest. If I find I came down a wee bit different than intended then it is time to stand up, adjust, and come down again. Although it is often effective to add or subtract a quarter tip or less of BHE, it is "wrong" according to my preshot routine.
With parallel english the length of my bridge is much less important, the amount of english I apply is much less "touchy" and bottom line, I pocket more balls. Note I am not saying what other people do here, just commenting on my own results.
Having said this, we all use what is essentially the same as front and back hand english to a certain extent to move the tip towards the edge of the cue ball. Disagree? Tell me that you never adjust the height of your bridge and back hand one more than the other or in opposite directions to get draw or follow.
In the end, the more we have in our bag of tricks the better. Not getting much time in on tables these days I am finding it best to simplify my game though and I truly believe that parallel english as it is defined in this thread is the simplest to master.
Hu
Back before a very extended break from pool I used parallel and back hand english even a little front hand english on some very specific shots.
These days I use the so called parallel english because it seems simplest to me. I have a hard time with the idea of coming down perfectly on a shot and then pivoting my cue stick out of line. No doubt that many people make it work, I wrestle too much with alignment problems to want to add to them. My bridge length is dependent on many different things, forcing it to one length to compensate for pivoting seems restrictive also.
Finally, back hand english is easier to misjudge because when you add and subtract english you also change the direction of force through the cue ball. Although it isn't completely true, the center of the base of the cue ball is basically the cue balls rotational center. Hitting one and a half tips off center with the stick pointed in one direction is not the same as hitting a tip and a half off center with the stick pointed in another direction.
For me coming down onto my bridge with parallel english already added is easiest. If I find I came down a wee bit different than intended then it is time to stand up, adjust, and come down again. Although it is often effective to add or subtract a quarter tip or less of BHE, it is "wrong" according to my preshot routine.
With parallel english the length of my bridge is much less important, the amount of english I apply is much less "touchy" and bottom line, I pocket more balls. Note I am not saying what other people do here, just commenting on my own results.
Having said this, we all use what is essentially the same as front and back hand english to a certain extent to move the tip towards the edge of the cue ball. Disagree? Tell me that you never adjust the height of your bridge and back hand one more than the other or in opposite directions to get draw or follow.
In the end, the more we have in our bag of tricks the better. Not getting much time in on tables these days I am finding it best to simplify my game though and I truly believe that parallel english as it is defined in this thread is the simplest to master.
Hu