Testing the straightness of your draw and follow strokes...

midnightpulp

midnightpulp

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
I was working on 5 and 6 diamond length straight in draw and follow shots tonight, and was somewhat inconsistent. I'd find the shot and lose it again. I determined I wasn't sighting the vertical plane of the cue ball properly. I had no problem firing in these long shots at a good speed using centerball, since it was easier to see.

Just wondering how you guys test the straightness of these strokes. I used to think hitting long straight shots was the best, but it's easy to improperly align yourself to compensate for an off-center hit. Does anyone use the time honored up and down and back into the cue tip stroke drill, but hit it with draw and follow?

Love to hear some thoughts.
 
My favorite is aligning an object ball and the cue ball with diagonally opposite corner pockets... separating them by about 3 or 4 diamonds... leaving yourself (relatively) long to the hole and long to the object ball.

Before you shoot, make certain that the two balls align with the (opposite) corner pockets. Shoot the shot with pure draw.

A perfect shot is pocketing the object ball while drawing whitey back into the corner pocket beneath your body.

Kepp shooting this shot over and over until you're able to make both balls at least 3 times in a row... and you'll be stroking as straight as possible because you won't make both balls unless you do. Tip: Make certain that you accelerate smoothly through whitey.

I should add that I practice this shot on a 9-footer... and so should you. It would be too easy on a 7-footer... right?
 
midnightpulp said:
I was working on 5 and 6 diamond length straight in draw and follow shots tonight, and was somewhat inconsistent. I'd find the shot and lose it again. I determined I wasn't sighting the vertical plane of the cue ball properly. I had no problem firing in these long shots at a good speed using centerball, since it was easier to see.

Just wondering how you guys test the straightness of these strokes. I used to think hitting long straight shots was the best, but it's easy to improperly align yourself to compensate for an off-center hit. Does anyone use the time honored up and down and back into the cue tip stroke drill, but hit it with draw and follow?

Love to hear some thoughts.
Click to expand...


First you say you have no problem shooting good speed center ball shots. In the next paragraph you admit improper alignment as compensation for your off center shots.
If your draw-follow shots are not working you are not hitting the cue where you are trying to.
imho, the hardest place to hit the cue is center ball. Do this: object ball in center of table, cue ball near corner, far enough away to bridge it with your hand on the table. Shoot into opposite corner with a firm stroke using a centerball hit. The objective is to A: pocket ball, and B: freeze cue ball. When I say freeze I mean dead perfect stop. if there is any movement at all you have not hit true centerball. My record for this shot is 67 without a miss and I can say maybe only 3-4 times actually froze the cue.
Most of your misses will be because side spin will throw off your shot
try it. Let us know your results.

I was just wondering how large an area the center actually is. My guess would be about the size of the period at the end of this sentence. Or maybe as large as the point of a dull pencil. Mr Jewett???
 
midnightpulp said:
I was working on 5 and 6 diamond length straight in draw and follow shots tonight, and was somewhat inconsistent. I'd find the shot and lose it again. I determined I wasn't sighting the vertical plane of the cue ball properly. I had no problem firing in these long shots at a good speed using centerball, since it was easier to see.

Just wondering how you guys test the straightness of these strokes. I used to think hitting long straight shots was the best, but it's easy to improperly align yourself to compensate for an off-center hit. Does anyone use the time honored up and down and back into the cue tip stroke drill, but hit it with draw and follow?

Love to hear some thoughts.
Click to expand...

First you say you have no problem shooting good speed center ball shots. In the next paragraph you admit improper alignment as compensation for your off center shots.
If your draw-follow shots are not working you are not hitting the cue where you are trying to.
imho, the hardest place to hit the cue is center ball. Do this: object ball in center of table, cue ball near corner, far enough away to bridge it with your hand on the table. Shoot into opposite corner with a firm stroke using a centerball hit. The objective is to A: pocket ball, and B: freeze cue ball. When I say freeze I mean dead perfect stop. if there is any movement at all you have not hit true centerball. My record for this shot is 67 without a miss and I can say maybe only 3-4 times actually froze the cue.
Most of your misses will be because side spin will throw off your shot
try it. Let us know your results.

I was just wondering how large an area the center actually is. My guess would be about the size of the period at the end of this sentence. Or maybe as large as the point of a dull pencil. Mr Jewett???
 
cigardave said:
My favorite is aligning an object ball and the cue ball with diagonally opposite corner pockets... separating them by about 3 or 4 diamonds... leaving yourself (relatively) long to the hole and long to the object ball.

Before you shoot, make certain that the two balls align with the (opposite) corner pockets. Shoot the shot with pure draw.

A perfect shot is pocketing the object ball while drawing whitey back into the corner pocket beneath your body.

Kepp shooting this shot over and over until you're able to make both balls at least 3 times in a row... and you'll be stroking as straight as possible because you won't make both balls unless you do. Tip: Make certain that you accelerate smoothly through whitey.

I should add that I practice this shot on a 9-footer... and so should you. It would be too easy on a 7-footer... right?
Click to expand...

This is one of my favorite drills too. In addition, once I am drawing this shot consistently I move the object ball closer and closer to the pocket as the additional distance will amplify any off-center hit you could still be making at this point.
 
Here is the Mighty X drill diagrammed. Start off with balls in this position. The drill is choose any ball and draw the CB back to orginal, or at least as close as possible. Balls can be shot in any order and must not touch a rail. Of course the goal is shoot all 4 balls without missing and again, not to have the CB (or any other ball) touch a rail.

CueTable Help

 
If the Mighty X is too challenging for ya, try this one. Shoot the 8 ball and try to draw the CB back into the side pocket. Balls are a little closer to each other and to the pocket. This is an easy one to practice.

CueTable Help

 
The size of the contact area between the tip and the CB remains constant (regardless of tip size or curvature), at about 1/8" or 3mm (this is the same size as the red circle on a red circle cb). Contact point between two OB's is a pinpoint.

Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com

driven said:
I was just wondering how large an area the center actually is. My guess would be about the size of the period at the end of this sentence. Or maybe as large as the point of a dull pencil.
Click to expand...
 
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