mantis99 said:
...Stopping it where it needs to stop is another story, and is very frustrating. I find it especially difficult with draw. I have nor trouble drawing the ball, but getting it to stop where I want it to consistently is very difficult.
What do you guys feel are the best drills to improve this?
With "draw", everything can change depending on cue, cue ball, cloth, and distance between cue ball and object ball!
Being able to draw the cue ball back a specific distance requires *consistent* equipment and months/years of practice.
The first thing is a consistent cue weight, brand of tip, hardness of tip, curve on tip, condition of tip, and chalk applied well to tip especially around sides of tip. And even a consistent "slickness" of shaft can help so shaft slides the same through your fingers the same each time (or wear a glove).
If you always play with the same cue, and that cue always has the same exact tip in good condition, and you always apply chalk well (especially sides of tip) before each shot, then learning to draw back a specific distance will be a WHOLE lot easier!
Basically the tip will *always* be gripping the cue ball the *same* each time, every time.
Look at your tip under the light after chalking. Are there dark spots on the tip? This is bad. I lightly scuff my tip with a sandpaper shaper after about every 8 hours of play. When I chalk, there is an even coat of chalk all around my tip. The entire surface of my tip is the same color. It is pretty! Sort of like brand new blue carpeting installed and all the same texture and color.
Next practice with the *same* table and cue ball. Old pitted dull looking cue balls do not draw well. A brand new shiny cue ball will draw the best. Slow dirty cloth does not draw well. New clean fast cloth will draw well. If you always practice on the same table, then you will more easily get the same results.
Next practice with the *same* distance between cue ball and object ball. I practice with the cue ball 1 diamond back from the object ball. When the cue ball is a further distance from the object ball, everything changes!
To demonstrate this, use a striped ball for your cue ball. Shoot just the striped ball to the end of the table. Shoot with draw. Notice the ball has a backwards roll at first, then slides, then begins a forward roll. Well if the object ball is down where the cue ball is sliding, you are not going to get any draw! You need to learn to shoot so the cue ball still has a backwards roll when it gets down there (to be able to get draw with that distance between balls).
Next get the Jim Rempe Training Ball. This has numbers on the ball. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. This will show you where on the cue ball you can hit to get more or less draw. This will show you how low you can hit on the ball. More toward center = less draw. Shooting lower down = more draw.
Next practice the following everyday for 2 months... Set up a row of balls between the side pockets or in that area. Place cue ball 1 diamond back. Shoot 1st ball into far corner pocket with draw. Try to draw the cue ball back 1 diamond. Shooting with more follow-through will give you more draw. Shoot level. Light grip. You don't need to "kill" the ball to get draw. You can shoot slow with a lot of follow through and get excellent draw.
Try shooting at "1" on the training ball. Then 2, 3, 4, and 5. You should notice you get more draw with 5, than with 1.
Try hitting the same spot on the ball, say 4. Follow through more, then follow through less. See what happens.
Try hitting same spot on cue ball with more speed, then less speed. See what happens.
Now just practice getting the cue ball to come back 1 diamond. Then 2 diamonds. Then 3, 4, etc. Last practice is to try and get maximum draw with every shot.
After practicing the above for several months, you will be able to draw back the cue ball a specific distance when the cue ball is 1 diamond back from the object ball on your "practice table".
Next practice the same thing on a different table. Try tables with fast cloth and slow cloth. Notice the difference. With time and practice, you will easily be able to adjust to different tables. Before playing on a different table, I always shoot a few draw shots to "get the speed of the table" in my mind.
Then next add distance between cue ball and object ball. Say practice with cue ball 2 diamonds away from object ball. Come back 1 daimond, 2, 3, etc.
Also try shooting that striped ball so it has a backwards roll all the way down to the end of the table. Not easy.
Picture of training ball...
http://www.fivestarbilliards.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=F&Product_Code=11-132
