Predicting and Controlling Cue Ball Direction off a Rail with Follow Shots

[dr_dave]

Yes, I just set up this shot. All my CB did was go straight over to the rail. No bending or curving like I expected.

When I hit the CB high about as hard as I am physically capable of hitting it there was a very slight bend. Probably about 1/4 of what I am seeing on this video.

It just convinces me even more that this GCIV has some kind of issue that prevents it from playing like it should.

Try to wax the CB to see if that makes a difference. As I mentioned, the cloth in my cushions is very new, so that could have something to do with it (but I doubt it). Also, if you post a video of the shot (maybe with unwaxed and waxed CBs), that might shed some light on things.

 

[loggerhead12]

Lol, I still struggle with cueball control. Not sure where my cueball was made but at times it balks at my application of English.

Maybe it's from Belgium and still pissed about Brexit.

 

[David in FL]

Yes, I just set up this shot. All my CB did was go straight over to the rail. No bending or curving like I expected.

When I hit the CB high about as hard as I am physically capable of hitting it there was a very slight bend. Probably about 1/4 of what I am seeing on this video.

It just convinces me even more that this GCIV has some kind of issue that prevents it from playing like it should.

Because it couldn't be the stroke?

 

[DynoDan]

….I'd sure expect to see some signs of aging in five years.

It may have something to do with my playing 14.1 exclusively. The corner shots are starting to bobble, but the rails don’t get much wear.

Polished balls seem to spread the pack better, and cut at the correct angle without using any outside.

I assumed banks were supposed to follow a geometric angle, and not go progressively over-long as the angle widens (?). On the 9’ tables where I learned. a ball in the pocket throat hit centerball at the 2nd diamond across/downtable, alway went 3 rails into the opposite corner, though ball & cloth conditions WERE quite different back then. That shot can never go here, even hitting just short of the side pocket, and regardless of any english used.

 

[straightline]

It may have something to do with my playing 14.1 exclusively. The corner shots are starting to bobble, but the rails don’t get much wear.

Polished balls seem to spread the pack better, and cut at the correct angle without using any outside.

I assumed banks were supposed to follow a geometric angle, and not go progressively over-long as the angle widens (?). On the 9’ tables where I learned. a ball in the pocket throat hit centerball at the 2nd diamond across/downtable, alway went 3 rails into the opposite corner, though ball & cloth conditions WERE quite different back then. That shot can never go here, even hitting just short of the side pocket, and regardless of any english used.

The ball bends every time it hits and leaves a cushion. The ball rolls into the cushion, cushion bounces it away, ball wants to keep rolling in the initial direction.
Mathematically you get incidence = reflection. Poolthetically, you get pretty lines caused by friction and inertia.

 

[jeephawk]

Yes, I just set up this shot. All my CB did was go straight over to the rail. No bending or curving like I expected.

When I hit the CB high about as hard as I am physically capable of hitting it there was a very slight bend. Probably about 1/4 of what I am seeing on this video.

It just convinces me even more that this GCIV has some kind of issue that prevents it from playing like it should.

Take some video of you hitting the shot - I'd guess Dr. Dave could analyze whether you are actually hitting it high and with a proper stroke/angle of your cue.