Raising the cue

JimmyWhite

JimmyWhite

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Greetings

Although my stroke and aim are pretty good, (stroke straightness etc.) when I raise my cue off the rail everything falls apart. If the CB is close to the rail and I want to stun or -even worse- draw it, I will most certainly miss the shot by a mile even if it is a straight in.

I have seen Strickland shoot the 9-ball in when he is close to the rail, with even a 45 degree angle on his cue in order to get a fuller hit on the CB and stun it. He almost never shoots it with a level cue with follow.

I try to follow my PSR just as in normal shots but I never aim good with my cue raised. I have tried practicing shots with my cue raised but I just can't pocket any shot from, let's say, 20 degrees and up. From this angle and up, my aim is awful...I have tried practicing patiently but with no noticeable improvement.

Any suggestions to my problem?
 
IMO squirt and swerve play a huge part on jacked up shots. Looking at the CB last might help you out.
 
JimmyWhite said:
Greetings

Although my stroke and aim are pretty good, (stroke straightness etc.) when I raise my cue off the rail everything falls apart. If the CB is close to the rail and I want to stun or -even worse- draw it, I will most certainly miss the shot by a mile even if it is a straight in.

I have seen Strickland shoot the 9-ball in when he is close to the rail, with even a 45 degree angle on his cue in order to get a fuller hit on the CB and stun it. He almost never shoots it with a level cue with follow.

I try to follow my PSR just as in normal shots but I never aim good with my cue raised. I have tried practicing shots with my cue raised but I just can't pocket any shot from, let's say, 20 degrees and up. From this angle and up, my aim is awful...I have tried practicing patiently but with no noticeable improvement.

Any suggestions to my problem?
Click to expand...
This is most likely due to your vision center not being aligned properly when you elevate the cue. This is a very common problem. This causes your aim to be off, and it can also result in an off-center tip position, which creates throw and swerve (and a miss).

All you can do is practice to find a head position that works. I also like aiming the shot in a level-cue position and then elevate the cue from this aim (like a lot of people do when aiming jump shots). I also like glancing down at the cue in the elevated position to make sure my vision center is over the cue.

Good luck,
Dave
 
One tip I picked up is that some people will tend to sidearm their grip when they raise the cue which adds side to the shot causing a masse rather than draw or stun.

I had a problem with this for a long time too so I had to learn to start level to get my aim set properly, then raise the butt of the cue and keep it hanging in my hand rather than moving it to the side. It's something I hadn't realized I was doing until I saw that little tip.
 
Ghosst said:
One tip I picked up is that some people will tend to sidearm their grip when they raise the cue which adds side to the shot causing a masse rather than draw or stun.

I had a problem with this for a long time too so I had to learn to start level to get my aim set properly, then raise the butt of the cue and keep it hanging in my hand rather than moving it to the side. It's something I hadn't realized I was doing until I saw that little tip.
Click to expand...

Good point. Another reason why this happens (the side-arming thing) is that when elevating the cue, the angle of the body to the cue changes significantly. It jacks up the arm (elbow) past the shoulder, and while the technically-correct thing to do would be to lean the body forward to compensate, many times folks that don't like moving their face closer to the cue ball will instead "compensate to the outside" (i.e. side-arm the cue) to keep the head in the same place.

One technique that works in helping to relieve the "uncomfortable angle" that the arm takes, and minimize the amount of body compensation (i.e. moving closer to the cue ball), is to change your grip such that the fulcrum (the cradle) is no longer in the front of your hand -- i.e. the index and/or middle fingers -- and instead shift that fulcrum to the back of the hand. That is, grip the cue with the last two fingers -- the ring finger and the pinkie. Moving the fulcrum to the back of the hand, allows you to move your grip hand forward slightly a bit, reducing the amount you have to "lean forward" with your body.

Give it a try!
-Sean
 
When you jack up it makes the CB jump. If the CB is in the air on a cut shot you'll overcut. Try adjusting for a thicker hit.
 
frozen to rail or another ball

I have found that when I am shooting a cue ball that is frozen to the rail or behind another ball I am much better off changing my process to where I am looking at the cue ball during my final stroke instead of looking at the object ball.

The nearness of the rail or frozen ball is so distracting and the avoidance of unwanted masse effect is so important that I have found that getting a confident accurate hit on the cue ball helps me. If you have lined up and your stroke is true, not focusing on the object ball for these shots is not the end of the world.

Try it, you'll like it
 
joelpope said:
I have found that when I am shooting a cue ball that is frozen to the rail or behind another ball I am much better off changing my process to where I am looking at the cue ball during my final stroke instead of looking at the object ball.

The nearness of the rail or frozen ball is so distracting and the avoidance of unwanted masse effect is so important that I have found that getting a confident accurate hit on the cue ball helps me. If you have lined up and your stroke is true, not focusing on the object ball for these shots is not the end of the world.

Try it, you'll like it
Click to expand...

I'd give what this guy is saying a shot if I were you!
 
i may be way off base but a change in strategy is the answer for me. if pocketing the ball is a must then maybe making the ball with a leave for a tougher shot such as a bank or difficult cut, or maybe shooting a safety on the next shot.

a cue ball near or on the rail is a difficult shot, even without considering shapes; especially a draw shot or even a stun shot.

i say it depends on the competition and the wager when considering diffficult shots and position play.
 
Look at cue ball last

joelpope said:
I have found that when I am shooting a cue ball that is frozen to the rail or behind another ball I am much better off changing my process to where I am looking at the cue ball during my final stroke instead of looking at the object ball.

The nearness of the rail or frozen ball is so distracting and the avoidance of unwanted masse effect is so important that I have found that getting a confident accurate hit on the cue ball helps me. If you have lined up and your stroke is true, not focusing on the object ball for these shots is not the end of the world.

Try it, you'll like it
Click to expand...

Yes, this has helped me. I also like the responses from Dr. Dave (as always) and others. When practicing shooting with CB close to or on the rail, I generally shorten my stroke. It's similar to when you need to draw the CB and it's two to four inches from the object ball, and you can't use a longer follow-through. I also began practicing these shots by hitting the ball gently, and then build up speed gradually until I achieve the stun or draw desired. This really helps to avoid the unintended spin that destroys the shot.

Donny L
PBIA/ACS Instructor
 
I shoot through the rail when frozen. What I'm doing is shooting through the cushion or cloth itself.

I use a unorthodox bridge method when executing this shot also. I use a closed bridge on the rail. I know it's wrong but I comfortable with it. It's also one of the few times I slightly firm up my grip.

I practiced this very shot last week before my 14/1 match. Frozen cue ball, frozen object ball. It was the shot I was left with to finish the game.
 
On some shots you just have to take what the table will give you and not try to do something crazy and miss the shot, give up the table, and/or sell out. Johnnyt
 
Johnnyt said:
On some shots you just have to take what the table will give you and not try to do something crazy and miss the shot, give up the table, and/or sell out. Johnnyt
Click to expand...

True, but sometimes it's all you have left and if you've never spent the time practicing what you hate or are bad at, you'll find yourself in a trap when it comes up.

When the hall is quiet I sometimes play against some of the old billiard and snooker players. Those boys can shoot. But when I'm in a spot I know exactly what to leave them, long shots frozen to the cushion. Sometimes you'll run across an opponent that pays attention to what you can and can't do, and if they need to give up their inning, they'll leave you what you don't spend time practicing.
 
You might also try moving your grip hand up so the stance isn't so uncomfortable. This also gets your head closer to the stick, but also closer to the CB, which you may or may not like.

pj
chgo
 
Hal Mix

Hal, told me when I am jacked upon the rail to put more pressure on the bridge hand.
It helps me to keep the cue straight.
Try it and see if it works for you, Barney
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top