Pocketing the white ball

blacktop37

blacktop37

Member
Good evening everyone. I've been working a long time trying to get to where I feel comfortable playing in tournaments. I've really got a handle on the shots even some very difficult ones, I've become pretty good. I'm playing on an 8-ft table. My only problem is I'm having a very difficult time keeping the white ball out of the pocket. Nine times out of 10 it's after making the object ball. It's not just straight in shots it's all the different ones including straight in. Do you guys not take the shot if there's a pretty good chance of scratching? Would you rather pocket a ball and surrender the white ball or would you just not go for the shot. I'm sure experience is what I'm after I'd like to know what you think on what you do? Thank you!

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blacktop37 said:
Good evening everyone. I've been working a long time trying to get to where I feel comfortable playing in tournaments. I've really got a handle on the shots even some very difficult ones, I've become pretty good. I'm playing on an 8-ft table. My only problem is I'm having a very difficult time keeping the white ball out of the pocket. Nine times out of 10 it's after making the object ball. It's not just straight in shots it's all the different ones including straight in. Do you guys not take the shot if there's a pretty good chance of scratching? Would you rather pocket a ball and surrender the white ball or would you just not go for the shot. I'm sure experience is what I'm after I'd like to know what you think on what you do? Thank you!

Sent from my SM-S908U using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Sounds to me like you need to learn the tangent line and the effect follow and draw have on it.
 
I dont think you can solve your problem on a forum.
You need hands on help from an instructor or a very good player.
Where are you ?
 
Figure out which shots you scratch most often, set up the cue and the object ball and see where the cue ball goes, then try to make the cue ball go different places. The centerfield drill is an excellent drill for developing your speed control and learning the paths around the table.


Here's another example:

I know other people were working the same concept earlier but this is a clear example going through the entire range.
 
I'm in Wichita Kansas. I've spent so much time learning how to get the angles correct that I haven't done much with the follow-through. I'm 67 and I've only played for 3 years in my basement. It hasn't been easy but I have not given up I've got the angles of the shots down very well I just have to work on positioning the cue ball. So I take it you guys don't have to worry about sacrificing a shot because you may scratch ,you should always be good enough to maneuver the ball correct? I've gotten a lot from YouTube if it wasn't for YouTube I would have quit 2 years ago. I guess it's a really hard game as I'm only halfway there I realize without positioning the cue ball it makes it a very difficult game to win. I can draw and follow the cue ball very well I just can't seem to get a knack for where it ends up.

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LOL my five ball is a burnt orange.
P.S. I'm making some really tight shots and I cannot imagine some of the shots I'm able to make from an 8-ft table that if I put anything on the ball at all it wouldn't go in the pocket.

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Learn to hit a stop shot at different distances. Once you can do that move the cue ball to create an angle shot. Hit the same stop shot at an angle and the cue ball will leave the object ball at 90 degrees. This is also called the tangent line. This will allow you to see where the cue ball is going.
Go on youtube. Look for vids by dr dave and tor Lowry. You specifically want info on 30 and 90 degree rules.
 
I don't want to wear out my welcome here I appreciate you guys, as you were learning this game did you feel like pocketing the balls and figuring out all the angles was harder than maneuvering the cue ball for the next spot or is maneuvering the cue ball harder than shooting the ball. I don't know if I can go through much more

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I actually know a few people with the issue of following in the ball. I explain best I can. Set up a ball 5” from the side and. Set cue ball just off center a little ways back. Aim for center pocket. No matter what follow- top left, top right, or top center you put on there you should never follow it in hitting firmly. If you do your aim is off or your stroke is off. If you follow in straight shots idk what to tell you. Maybe use whole pocket or something.
 
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tomatoshooter said:
Figure out which shots you scratch most often, set up the cue and the object ball and see where the cue ball goes, then try to make the cue ball go different places. The centerfield drill is an excellent drill for developing your speed control and learning the paths around the table.


Here's another example:

I know other people were working the same concept earlier but this is a clear example going through the entire range.
Click to expand...
I watched the video. I can work on that. Is all my aiming techniques going to be a waste now that you have to hit the cue ball differently? I am ready to move to The second level, this is a great way to start, thanks again!

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blacktop37 said:
I'm in Wichita Kansas. I've spent so much time learning how to get the angles correct that I haven't done much with the follow-through. I'm 67 and I've only played for 3 years in my basement. It hasn't been easy but I have not given up I've got the angles of the shots down very well I just have to work on positioning the cue ball. So I take it you guys don't have to worry about sacrificing a shot because you may scratch ,you should always be good enough to maneuver the ball correct? I've gotten a lot from YouTube if it wasn't for YouTube I would have quit 2 years ago. I guess it's a really hard game as I'm only halfway there I realize without positioning the cue ball it makes it a very difficult game to win. I can draw and follow the cue ball very well I just can't seem to get a knack for where it ends up.

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Click to expand...
It’s hard, I’m 55 played probably 30 years all added up. I still don’t have a clue where the ball is going sometimes.

It’s great you are playing and keep trying you’ll improve. If you can get a instructor that would be best. There’s lots of knowledgeable people on here.

Enjoy your self, welcome to pool,

Fatboy 😀💪
 
blacktop37 said:
LOL my five ball is a burnt orange.
Click to expand...
Well, that's a great start!

blacktop37 said:
I watched the video. I can work on that. Is all my aiming techniques going to be a waste now that you have to hit the cue ball differently? I am ready to move to The second level, this is a great way to start, thanks again!

Sent from my SM-S908U using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
You'll still want to hit the object ball in the same spot but delivering the cue ball to that spot is a little different. There is some friction that can throw the object ball off course but I honestly rarely notice any effect. With a regular cue, I would line up the shot and then shift my back hand to position the tip of the cue at the proper spot and then add a little correction by adding 25-50% more. So I would aim center ball and line up the shot, move my back hand to get the tip 75% of the way there and then add the rest with my bridge hand.

With a low deflection cue, I line up the shot and then move my bridge hand to put the tip where it needs to go and then maybe add a little correction.

I've only been serious about adding sidespin about 3 months, it's still a work in progress but it is nowhere near as hard as I thought it would be. I would have started earlier if I knew that it wasn't that hard. As you learn to use spin and the paths around the table, you can be very ambitious with your position. By making your shots easier, the potential loss of accuracy from spinning the ball is much less of a factor, the 2 foot shot is much more forgiving than the 4 foot shot.

What I like to do is set 2 balls on the table in symmetrical positions, like 1 foot up the long rail from the corner pocket. Then I shoot and try to get position on the other ball. The repetition of the same shot helps me understand the nuances. Then I can take that knowledge and spread it around the table. I will also do like Mr. Delicious above but I put the ball in the middle of the end rail. It just means I don't have to stretch to set the ball up but it's the same shot.
 
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