the center of the cueball
- Thread starter jcpoolgod
- Start date
Get one of Joe Tucker's 3rd eye trainer. It really helps to see the center of the ball. I had one but I broke it and have never contacted him to get another.
Edit: I was beat to it, lol.
Edit: I was beat to it, lol.
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Take any striped ball, e.g., the 11 ball will work fine, and wipe it off so that it is clean.
Then set it up so number 11 is right in the center of the ball. Shoot your shot using the 11 as your cue ball. Look at the chalk mark on the ball and if you're not hitting the ball right in the center it will be obvious where you did hit it.
Adjust as necessary.
Then set it up so number 11 is right in the center of the ball. Shoot your shot using the 11 as your cue ball. Look at the chalk mark on the ball and if you're not hitting the ball right in the center it will be obvious where you did hit it.
Adjust as necessary.
The centre of the ball is internal, that is, the point equidistant from any external surface.
More generally, you want the cue stroke to go through the vertical centre line.
Joe Tucker's Third eye gizmo works and is inexpensive.
Cheaper is to practice your stroke on the baulk line - CUE ONLY - NO BALL!!!!
If the cue is going to either side of the line as you make your stroke, you have not aligned correctly
Place a mirror at the opposite end of the table so you can see yourself and if you cue is going to go through the vertical centre of the ball.
Set up a video camera.
More generally, you want the cue stroke to go through the vertical centre line.
Joe Tucker's Third eye gizmo works and is inexpensive.
Cheaper is to practice your stroke on the baulk line - CUE ONLY - NO BALL!!!!
If the cue is going to either side of the line as you make your stroke, you have not aligned correctly
Place a mirror at the opposite end of the table so you can see yourself and if you cue is going to go through the vertical centre of the ball.
Set up a video camera.
A good way to analyze your stroke....Set up next to one of the long rails, have a friend watch you take a full practice stroke(like a full table follow shot). Use the rail and your cue stick to measure how straight your stroke is after you follow through. Chances are your stick will be angled one way or the other, the rail is a great reference. Make an adjustment from there, could be your grip or something fundamental.
PocketPoint
Banned
The old coke bottle is great also to check your stroke out. But Joe Tuckers third eye and magic eye helped me. In order for me to hit center cueball looks like I'm putting a little left hand English on the cueball weird right.
first of all, congratulations, seriously. realizing what you have realized brings you a big step forward in playing better.
i would be willing to bet that what you are seeing as "left" for your center ball hits is really left, in other words, you really need to aim at the left side of the cb to hit center ball. there is nothing wrong with this! all players deal with this to a certain extent (ie favoring hitting one side of the cb when they stroke), better players just really have it down. so why is this happening to you?
i would also be willing to bet that if you look at your stroke on video, your back hand goes horizontally off axis to your right. so what do you need to do? u need to practice like crazy to hit exactly center ball whenever you want to, and at whatever speed. good players have gotten to this point of hitting the cb accurately in different ways. some aim exactly where they want to hit and have perfected that, others (eg bustamonte) aim wherever they want and just realize they will hit where they want even though they happen to be aiming at a different spot. but the take home message is just try to practice hitting dead center ball at all speeds. however you choose to do that, if you can do it, believe me your game will jump through the roof
In my country the languages are English and French.
Centre is the same in both, just like theatre.
But I do also understand American, and read it too, despite the weird spelling.
Why do Americans think to = too, reign = rein, your = you're?
Is it because you allow bad behaviour in your schools?
Damned if I am going to change my spelling to accommodate the rebels.
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Get Jim Rempe's Training Ball. It will not only help to hit the center it also shows where you are hitting the CB. It has a special coating that makes the chalk stick to it. The lines also are a guide and reference to show exactly where the tip of your cue is striking the CB.
In my country the languages are English and French.
Centre is the same in both, just like theatre.
But I do also understand American, and read it too, despite the weird spelling.
Why do Americans think to = too, reign = rein, your = you're?
Is it because you allow bad behaviour in your schools?
Damned if I am going to change my spelling to accommodate the rebels.
Americans have the best behavior.
(I do regret the your thing, though).
You can re-train your eyes to see the vertical center of the cue ball. Joe Tucker's Third Eye is where you should start, in my opinion.
It is kind of like banking. If you look at a shot and your eyes say bank hit the object ball here and you come up short every time you bank the ball, you have to simply say that you are hitting the object ball in the wrong spot or that you are using some English or speed that is making it come up short. When you decide to hit it with the same English or lack of English at the same speed, the only alternative left is to hit the object ball at a different contact point. Once you start making the object ball, your eyes will start to recognize the correct banking angle and make the adjustments. The same goes for finding the center of the cue ball.
I'm not going to discuss the CTE experience here because I think your problem is more severe and needs the help of the Third Eye first. :smile:
It is kind of like banking. If you look at a shot and your eyes say bank hit the object ball here and you come up short every time you bank the ball, you have to simply say that you are hitting the object ball in the wrong spot or that you are using some English or speed that is making it come up short. When you decide to hit it with the same English or lack of English at the same speed, the only alternative left is to hit the object ball at a different contact point. Once you start making the object ball, your eyes will start to recognize the correct banking angle and make the adjustments. The same goes for finding the center of the cue ball.
I'm not going to discuss the CTE experience here because I think your problem is more severe and needs the help of the Third Eye first. :smile:
Usually a stroke flaw. Check this out...
http://forums.azbilliards.com/showthread.php?t=209072
Video is the best tool for finding subtle flaws in your stroke.
http://forums.azbilliards.com/showthread.php?t=209072
Video is the best tool for finding subtle flaws in your stroke.
Here is a fun little drill. The object is to send the 1 down table and back hitting the CB dead center. When you can stop the CB dead in its track or even follow or draw and have the 1 go up and back and hit the CB in the center, you are stroking straight, and hitting along the center axis of the CB.
Whatever the issues might be, the drills and advice at the following links can help you figure out and fix the problem:
http://billiards.colostate.edu/threads/eyes.html#vision_center
http://billiards.colostate.edu/threads/drills.html#MOFUDAT
http://billiards.colostate.edu/threads/drills.html#MOFUDAT
Good luck,
Dave