The Problem With The Elephant Ball

[DrCue'sProtege]

as most posters know, per mark wilson's instruction, i have begun to practice with the elephant ball in an effort to begin to strike the cue ball more accurately.

but the problem is when you play certain types of shots with the elephant ball you have to have it turned funny so you can see if you strike it on the black, or the little red dot. for example, if i want to shoot a shot with low right english i have to turn the elephant ball at a funny angle so i can hit the little red dot. this seems awkward, and takes time to line up the elephant ball to get it where you need it to be.

and it seems like i pay too much attention to hitting that little red dot, and as a result, unless i have it aligned just perfect, miss the shot because i am more worried about the chalk mark on the dot and not the actual shot itself.

anybody else have situations like this?
DCP

 

[drivermaker]

as most posters know, per mark wilson's instruction, i have begun to practice with the elephant ball in an effort to begin to strike the cue ball more accurately.

but the problem is when you play certain types of shots with the elephant ball you have to have it turned funny so you can see if you strike it on the black, or the little red dot. for example, if i want to shoot a shot with low right english i have to turn the elephant ball at a funny angle so i can hit the little red dot. this seems awkward, and takes time to line up the elephant ball to get it where you need it to be.

and it seems like i pay too much attention to hitting that little red dot, and as a result, unless i have it aligned just perfect, miss the shot because i am more worried about the chalk mark on the dot and not the actual shot itself.

anybody else have situations like this?
DCP

That's why I prefer the Rempe training ball.

 

[Zims Rack]

IMO, the Elephant balls are good to check your alignment and the Rempe ball (2 different sides) are good for applying english!

Zim

 

[woody_968]

I agree with Zim and Driver, I use the Rempe ball when I am doing anything other than center ball hits. Of course I have to use the Rempe ball for center ball hits too as I dont yet have the Elephant Ball, but will be ordering it soon.

 

[Banker Burt]

The elelphant ball is for understanding where centerball is top to bottom... period. visual center ball perception escapes players on a regular baisis, and is a primary reason for inconsistancy, day to day.

The idea is to simply know, or be more confident, that when you are gauging side english you know where centerball is in the first place.

So the stripe on the elephant ball offers a player more visual information, thus awareness of where center is. Then when using (X) amount of side your accuracy will increase.

Visually, everything starts at and is adjusted from center. I personal use the headspot to center diamond on a regular basis. Then I take this exercise to shooting any and all types of shots.

You gotta know where center is, otherwise you will be compensating and most commonly crossing center as you stroke.

 

[Williebetmore]

With any training ball you must make sure it is sitting JUST RIGHT, so that the equator is really the equator. This is harder than it seems, and does take some significant effort (well worth it to me). With the laser aiming devices, it takes significant effort to have the little laser dot perfectly centered (it finds the equator automatically). Most beginning players are quite surprised at where the equator really is when they first see one of these laser devices.

 

[JimS]

I use the measles ball for home training. I shoot straight in shots corner to corner diagonally across the length of the table with stun on the cb. If it spins or moves after contact then I know I'm not hitting it where I want to. If I learn to hit the cue ball in the center with some degree of consistancy then I"ll also hit the edges accurately with consistancy.