Shooting when CB Jammed Against Cushion
- Thread starter berlowmj
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use high center and try to keep your stick as level as possible.berlowmj said:
M.C.
great advise from post #2...i practice these types of shots everyday.both long and short.try setting them up everyday in your drill routine then when it comes to game time you will have more confidence and accuracy in shooting them..good luck..berlowmj said:
other thoughts
missing a key element... shorten your stroke... one other thing, pat fleming and some other instructors recommend elevating the butt of your stick slightly so that more of your tip contacts the cue ball, but that point is debatable... one other thing that people do is to apply downward pressure to the butt of your stick by flexing your wrist forward slightly to help increase accuracy and make a more solid hit... finally, i think the MOST important thing is to not try to do too much with the cue ball, even if you pretty much sacrifice position on your next shot just concentrate on making the ball or consider playing safe even if the shot is somewhat makeable....
missing a key element... shorten your stroke... one other thing, pat fleming and some other instructors recommend elevating the butt of your stick slightly so that more of your tip contacts the cue ball, but that point is debatable... one other thing that people do is to apply downward pressure to the butt of your stick by flexing your wrist forward slightly to help increase accuracy and make a more solid hit... finally, i think the MOST important thing is to not try to do too much with the cue ball, even if you pretty much sacrifice position on your next shot just concentrate on making the ball or consider playing safe even if the shot is somewhat makeable....
All the above and be sure you don't put a death grip on the cue because of nerves. Consciously hold it lightly. Consciously take your time. Consciously stroke very smoothly and consciously follow through. I like to raise the butt just a hair above level.... like less than 5 degrees.
Stroke smoothly and focus primarily on the task at hand(striking OB at desired impact point) instead of shape. And practice, practice, practice. This is tough for everyone!
Probably said before, but moving your back hand forward a bit seems to help for me, as well.
Probably said before, but moving your back hand forward a bit seems to help for me, as well.
Between CurlysCues & HithrdnDraw, you have some very GOOD advice. If there ever was a shot to practice, so your confidence is there, this is one of them.
I wonder how many players strike the CB that high, out in the middle of the playing surface??? A famous player & instructor, George Rood, told me to learn that shot. He said that CUEING that high will get you around the table.
I wonder how many players strike the CB that high, out in the middle of the playing surface??? A famous player & instructor, George Rood, told me to learn that shot. He said that CUEING that high will get you around the table.
gwvavases said:
Yes, that was a good tip...here's my "add-on" to that tip:
Choke up on your cue so that you are holding it closer to the balance point. This will make it easier to hold that tip down with less pressure.
Black-Balled said:
You beat me to it. Great tip.
apply downward pressure to the butt of your stick by flexing your wrist forward slightly to help increase accuracy and make a more solid hit...
This is very good advice---But I add to that:
The downward pressure on the butt makes downward pressure on the tip.
Make sure you are cueing in the vertical center of the ball.
Have a firmer grip with downward pressure on the bridging hand.
This is very good advice---But I add to that:
The downward pressure on the butt makes downward pressure on the tip.
Make sure you are cueing in the vertical center of the ball.
Have a firmer grip with downward pressure on the bridging hand.
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I am the Queen of those shots. Mainly because I try not to play shape in the middle of the table where I can't reach it, so I get more than my share of these shots, where the cueball is frozen or close to the rail.
I choke up on my cue and take smaller swings. No english if it's a long shot. Using a rail bridge, I SQUEEZE my fingers together to tighten the cue in the bridge. Make sure to follow-through straight and stay down on the shot.
I choke up on my cue and take smaller swings. No english if it's a long shot. Using a rail bridge, I SQUEEZE my fingers together to tighten the cue in the bridge. Make sure to follow-through straight and stay down on the shot.
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HitHrdNDraw said:
Excellent advice once I started doing those things the accuracy greatly improved, still have to follow too.
Also I have noticed that in my case there is some kind of an optical illusion when comes to those shots. Normally, I could put the cue down and shoot with my eyes closed and make the ball.
But, with the QB against cushion I usually have to get up once and approach the shot again.
You could also move your bridge hand back on the rail so you can get a full stroke without poking it. This seems to help me alot.
Tony
Tony
no technical advice here, but a post I read here in an identical thread ages ago has always helped psyche me up before one of these shots. like any difficult shot in pool, it's easy to miss it before you even shoot it, so one thing i always tell myself is, "you're just shooting a follow shot". tell yourself that rather than thinking all the negative thoughts about how difficult it's gonna be.
It also helps to focus on where the cue will strike the cueball and watch that contact through the shot instead of looking at the object ball during shot, this is really good when jacked up over a ball out in middle of table. I also look only at the cueball after lining up for the break,it seems to help park whitey better if you focus and strike the exact spot you pickout. Leonard
I don't know if it was mentioned in this thread but hold the cue flat on the rail and use about a 2 inch bridge. You don't need any power plus a very short bridge is way more accurate than several inches.
One thing for certain if you accidently hit off center it will affect c/b direction at slow speeds.
Moving your grip hand up is fine but I don't buy into using your backhand to create down force in your bridge. Reason being it can cause tension which is exactly what you don't want. If your stroke is true with a short bridge you won't need worry about a miscue.
I play these shots by feeling like my back just hand falls forward. Even on long shots the c/b only rolls forward about a ball width. All you can do is trust the table and your stroke.
Rod
One thing for certain if you accidently hit off center it will affect c/b direction at slow speeds.
Moving your grip hand up is fine but I don't buy into using your backhand to create down force in your bridge. Reason being it can cause tension which is exactly what you don't want. If your stroke is true with a short bridge you won't need worry about a miscue.
I play these shots by feeling like my back just hand falls forward. Even on long shots the c/b only rolls forward about a ball width. All you can do is trust the table and your stroke.
Rod
As always, your advice is immensely constructive & saves a great deal of trial & error & anguish. I have been doing drills with the CB against the cushion & attempting shots the width of the table & even the length of the table. I shocked myself when I even sank a few clean into the pocket on a 9 foot table. Shooting with the CB mashed against the rail is really tough, but it comes up often. Also when shooting rail shots with the CB close to the rail, I have managed to use sufficient follow against the rail so that I don't leave myself mashed against the rail. Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!