Speed Control: The Secret Ingredient

[duckie]

And what about safety battles? Winning in pool is not always about making a shot but also about not leaving a shot at times. This is where going for a zone area is not a good idea.

Straight pool requires very accurate speed and cb placement placement when a safety battle starts and the rack has not been opened. As the rack is opened up during the safety battle, position becomes critical as there are more balls in the open to shoot at.

If you are going for a precise spot on the table at all times for the CB, you are not understanding the true importance of position.

 

[philly]

Speed is less important when the CB's route takes it "along the shot line" of the next shot. In that case the only difference is going to be whether the shot is long/medium/short, but you've got the same angle on the next OB at any distance.

However, speed is very important when the CB's path is "crossing the shot line." Then, a matter of inches can be the difference between being on the right side of next OB or the wrong side.

Speed is important on all shots. Try hitting all shots at the same speed and see what shape you get.

 

[philly]

And what about safety battles? Winning in pool is not always about making a shot but also about not leaving a shot at times. This is where going for a zone area is not a good idea.

Straight pool requires very accurate speed and cb placement placement when a safety battle starts and the rack has not been opened. As the rack is opened up during the safety battle, position becomes critical as there are more balls in the open to shoot at.

If you are going for a precise spot on the table at all times for the CB, you are not understanding the true importance of position.

Safeties are a much overlooked aspect of the game. Safeties are important in all pool games not just 14.1. Talk to a 3 cushion player. They play safeties too in that they play an alternate shot rather than the one most obvious just to leave their opponent with a tough billiard. I had a really good 3 cushion player do this to me for a full game to 20 and it was frustrating as hell.

 

[bdorman]

Speed is important on all shots. Try hitting all shots at the same speed and see what shape you get.

Where has anyone recommended hitting all shots at the same speed? Sorry, I guess I missed that.

Importance is a relative function, i.e. compared to what?; that's why my comment said "less important" and "more important." To say that something is always important is the same as saying it has no importance.

 

[philly]

Where has anyone recommended hitting all shots at the same speed? Sorry, I guess I missed that.

Importance is a relative function, i.e. compared to what?; that's why my comment said "less important" and "more important." To say that something is always important is the same as saying it has no importance.

Sorry bdorman. Didn't mean to offend. I misunderstand a lot of things just ask the Mrs. I just feel the thread is getting overly technical as all threads do that have to do with aiming, speed, etc. To me this beautiful game is as simple as you make it. If you analyse what goes into walking you would probably forget how to walk. Then again I am a feel player. jmho.

 

[bdorman]

Sorry bdorman. Didn't mean to offend. I misunderstand a lot of things just ask the Mrs. I just feel the thread is getting overly technical as all threads do that have to do with aiming, speed, etc. To me this beautiful game is as simple as you make it. If you analyse what goes into walking you would probably forget how to walk. Then again I am a feel player. jmho.

No offense taken, all's good.

Some of us just enjoy understanding the technical aspects of stuff because...well, we enjoy it. You should have been there when my wife asked me when low tide would be today and I explained how the sun and moon cause ocean tides. Classic case of too much information.

 

[jay helfert]

Getting the speed of the table is fundamental to playing good on that table. A good player can learn a table's speed in a few minutes. How the rails react is part of this equation as well.

 

[mantis99]

Why doesn't anyone ever talk about speed control? I think it's the most overlooked aspect of the game. Most people purposely leave themselves long so they have a shot.

The really good players roll the cue ball right up next to the object ball to a position where they can't miss and can easily get perfect on the next ball.

How would you normally play shape on the 9? Position A or B? A is obviously better but would you try for perfection or settle for a longer shot?

Forget all these crazy aiming conversations and get your speed control right!

I would go somewhere in between because A leaves too long of a reach.
There are several things out there for cue ball speed control. I use the drill I learned from Scott Lee that helps you get to where you can repeatedly move the ball different distances, and then apply those to shots as you practice, allowing you to become good at getting the ball within a certain range all the time. I've seen the same drill
In the "Pool Gods" material which is also very good.

 

[Masayoshi]

Couldn't agree less Masayoshi. Even on a center english hit speed is important for shape. Speed of the CB is important on every shot and the shooter controls it. I think we are all splitting hairs. You hit the CB and want it to get somewhere. It needs speed to get there. Sometimes a lot of speed. Sometimes a little speed. Sometimes it does not have to hit a rail. Sometimes it must go 4 rails. This is what is called Speed Control. It's pool and pool is governed by the physics that dictates motion in this universe we inhabit.

Good players will play most of their shots to where they don't need to differentiate between a medium hit and a medium-hard or medium-soft hit because all 3 will result in pretty much the same position. Rarely will a good player play a shot where he has to differentiate between those.

Speed is important on all shots. Try hitting all shots at the same speed and see what shape you get.

It's funny you mention that. The best players -and very good players that are in stroke- tend to hit most of their shots the same speed. The few shots they shoot that require a different speed only fall within 2 or 3 other speeds as well. Watch Buddy Hall for the best example of this style of play.

 

[ENGLISH!]

...FWIW: I appreciate ktrepal starting threads like this...

I agree Colin. Anytime we can 'discuss' something real about playing the game is a welcome sight here.

Cheers.

 

[Colin Colenso]

i like how close you got for shape.....
thats what the op was talking about....

Yeah, I don't play shots like that to fornicate with spiders! If I get 1 inch out of position I'm turning the table over and spearing my cue at the luck ridden opponent! :grin:

 

[Patrick Johnson]

And what about safety battles? Winning in pool is not always about making a shot but also about not leaving a shot at times. This is where going for a zone area is not a good idea.

Yes, more precision is usually called for, but zone strategy, especially the line-of-approach kind (choosing a CB path that keeps the CB hidden longer), can work well with safeties.

If you are going for a precise spot on the table at all times for the CB, you are not understanding the true importance of position.

The most precise position players also use zone position strategies; they just aim for a precise spot within the zone. Top players know it would be silly not to give yourself the best chance for success (sometimes known as the most margin for error). This is true in all games to one degree or another.

pj
chgo

 

[sebroy9]

He Masayoshi, I think some people are not understanding where we are coming from and what we mean.

 

[ENGLISH!]

Jack Nicklaus chose to fade the ball, left to right for a right handed player because it gave him more control & a wider margin for error. The reason being that the ball stops quicker than a draw, right to left for a right handed player. Hence the ball could land almost anywhere in the fairway & have a good chance of staying in it as opposed to a draw that lands & rolls & could roll through a fairway if it did not land with enough room for the roll out.

The reason one usually chooses a curving shot of one variety or the other is because it is easier to be consistent doing that as opposed to trying to hit the ball straight where it will move in either of an unknown direction when the execution of the straight ball is not hit properly.

Some people understand this thinking & some seem to not understand this thinking. It's easy to argue in text but totally another to do so in reality. There was a very talented Jr. Golfer that played golf with my son in the Jr. program who when at the top of his back swing could hit whatever one called out, fade or draw & even high or low if you added that, such as high draw or low fade, etc., but... he could not hit it straight without the ball tailing to one side or the other when ever he wanted to do so. Sometimes it would go straight but most time is would tail off in one direction or the other & he never knew which until after he had hit it.

One might argue that missing the exact intended target has the same margin for error & they might be correct but the difference is that when one has a plan for a certain type curved shot they also implement a plan for that shape shot & adjust their initial target to take the plan into consideration. The two together yield an effective increase of the margin for error for the final outcome but not the chance of failure to execute perfectly.

Some understand this & some seem to not.

I have very rarely ever gone long of a spot when I tried to be short of the spot & vise versa. But... when I have had to go for an exact spot, I have been short & long when I did not hit it exactly.

Cheers 2 All,
Rick

 

[sebroy9]

A simple way to explain this.

It's better and more consistent to come into the zone of the next shot rather than to cross the line of the shot by relying on speed control.

 

[ENGLISH!]

A simple way to explain this.

It's better and more consistent to come into the zone of the next shot rather than to cross the line of the shot by relying on speed control.

I agree. And one can hone one's speed control while playing by picking a spot 12 or 15 or 18" or whatever from that cross over point because that shot that requires precise speed might come up & one should be comfortable with their speed control so that that shot does not give them too much pause.

I think most of us 'talking' here understand. I hope it is perhaps helping a few lurkers.

Cheers.

 

[sebroy9]

I agree. And one can hone one's speed control while playing by picking a spot 12 or 15 or 18" or whatever from that cross over point because that shot that requires precise speed might come up & one should be comfortable with their speed control so that that shot does not give them too much pause.

I think most of us 'talking' here understand. I hope it is perhaps helping a few lurkers.

Cheers.

True, speed control is still something you need to do properly.

 

[Patrick Johnson]

It's better and more consistent to come into the zone of the next shot rather than to cross the line of the shot by relying on speed control.

Another way to say this is, "For the greatest speed margin of error, approach the OB along the shot line rather than across it".

pj
chgo

 

[(((Satori)))]

Why doesn't anyone ever talk about speed control? I think it's the most overlooked aspect of the game. Most people purposely leave themselves long so they have a shot.

The really good players roll the cue ball right up next to the object ball to a position where they can't miss and can easily get perfect on the next ball.

How would you normally play shape on the 9? Position A or B? A is obviously better but would you try for perfection or settle for a longer shot?

Forget all these crazy aiming conversations and get your speed control right!

How close you play position for the next object ball depends on the position route you have to take. Of course you would rather be one and a half diamonds away from the objectball rather than five diamonds away but a lot of times it is just not worth the risk to play to get closer to the ball. Sometimes it is much better to play longer and know that you will have a shot.


As far as speed being more important than aiming... that is not true. If you are off on your aiming then it will effect your speed. For instance lets say that you have determined the exact speed you need, if you cut the ball a little thinner than you planned for then that speed is out the window because the cueball is going to roll off of the object ball farther now. Where you cue the ball can have an effect on speed too. Did you cue low and will drag come into play? is there going to be some running english making the ball pick up speed off of the rail or will the english kill it? Just the line the cueball takes after contacting the object ball will obviously change the speed needed. Stuff like that makes a difference in your speed you need to use so they are all important.

There are three factors to every shot... angle, speed, and spin. And they all are important. When learning this game you must learn how to hit the cueball where you intend to (spin)... you must know how to send the cueball directly where you intend (aiming/angle)... and you must be able to dot this with different speeds of stroke (speed).

P.S. I know CJ would disagree with this post if he were here but It's how I see it.

 

[mjantti]

Too bad but secret formula to superb speed control is ability to pocket ball really accurately. Too thin and you probably overrun position and vice versa...

Exactly! And really good players can evaluate the risk involved in trying to play for BIH-position or taking a longer shot with minimum position error probability. There is no point in trying to get pinpoint position near the object ball on every single shot.