training cue balls

PKM

PKM

OB-1 Kenobi
Silver Member
What kind of drills can you do with one of those training cue balls, like Elephant or E-Z cue ball? Are they useful basically to show you how much English you're using?

They show you where a center cue ball hit should be, but I was wondering how useful that is when you have to hit an unmarked cue ball. I would think Joe Tucker's 3rd eye trainer would be better for that (I haven't used that either, so I'm just speculating). I don't have a table at home, so if I wanted to use any of these training aids, I'd have to take them with me.
 
PKM said:
What kind of drills can you do with one of those training cue balls, like Elephant or E-Z cue ball? Are they useful basically to show you how much English you're using?

They show you where a center cue ball hit should be, but I was wondering how useful that is when you have to hit an unmarked cue ball. I would think Joe Tucker's 3rd eye trainer would be better for that (I haven't used that either, so I'm just speculating). I don't have a table at home, so if I wanted to use any of these training aids, I'd have to take them with me.
Click to expand...

I've never used them, but I don't see why any marked cueball would be better than just using the 9-ball for a cueball if you need some feedback.

If you need to see things like high-right, high, center, etc. just look at the clock on the wall; it's all right there. Looking stright down your cue at the ball, 12 is follow, etc...
 
I use several of the training balls when teaching students. I like the elephant balls because they hold the chalk marks very well. I can have a student try to make contact "one tip" above the red dot, and when the cue ball stops, we can see how accurate the student was. They can also see how little side spin it takes to change the rebound angle off the rail.
Steve
 
Using an object ball as a practice cueball is frowned on by some. They say the chalk is abrasive, so the balls get damaged (sanded).

I have the set with a black stripe, and a second ball that's half red and half white. Elephant?

I've only used the striped one, and it's kind of a pain to align it every time. They include a plastic guide to help align, but I always forget to take it with me.
 
JohnnyP said:
Using an object ball as a practice cueball is frowned on by some. They say the chalk is abrasive, so the balls get damaged (sanded).
Click to expand...

I've heard that too, but I'm not buying it... Chalk gets on the object balls just as much as the cue ball...it's on the cue-ball for one, it's in cloth for two, it's probably even in the air... I call BS on them...but even then, ask the owner for an old striped ball for practice, I'm sure they have them and they won't mind...:)
 
I've been very successful at training the cue ball to sit and rollover.

I've had a little bit of success getting it to return, although sometimes inconsistent.

Fetch and speak have had miserable results. The cue ball also has a nasty habit of not staying on the table.
 
FLICKit said:
I've been very successful at training the cue ball to sit and rollover.

I've had a little bit of success getting it to return, although sometimes inconsistent.

Fetch and speak have had miserable results. The cue ball also has a nasty habit of not staying on the table.
Click to expand...

Sounds like you are doing great! Mine just wants to play dead!!!:eek:
Steve
 
I use a few of the different training sets, and they each have their own strong point.

One of the best out there IMO is Joe Tuckers Aiming By Numbers. No matter what level you play at, I would bet that these show you at least one shot you were looking at wrong.

Pooltchr, if you havent yet, you should get a set and check them out.

Woody
 
The Rempe training ball is great for showing someone else how far off center they can hit the ball as well as all the in-between. Then they can visualize what you are telling them.

It is good to use a striped ball, as the cue ball, with the stripe pointed vertical - to see if you are hitting dead center or not. Also this will show you draw.

Personally I like playing with the measles (Pro Cup) cue ball because I can see what the cue ball is doing when it is down table. It gives me feedback on my shooting.
 
I use the ez shot ball when practicing power breaking. Easy to see where you hit the ball. High or low etc. On that ball there is an up and down as the cross on the ball is made a little different on one axis...place that up so u can tell where you hit. With just a red dot...there is no orientation. There is an area marked thats suppose to indicate the limits of english etc. Might be usefull for a beginner.
 
Measle Ball

I recently replaced my Red Circle with a measle ball. You know the one, with a bunch of red dots. It actually plays better than the Red Circle. Tang said it's heavier and he may be right. I don't know who makes it, but these are great cue balls.
 
FLICKit said:
I've been very successful at training the cue ball to sit and rollover.

I've had a little bit of success getting it to return, although sometimes inconsistent.

Fetch and speak have had miserable results. The cue ball also has a nasty habit of not staying on the table.
Click to expand...

LOL! Thanks for the laugh. don't make me chortle coffee.

I also just use a striped ball and follow the Byrne theory that the top of the stripe or 70% is as much as you'd need to really hit it if you stroke it right.
 
Billy_Bob said:
The Rempe training ball is great for showing someone else how far off center they can hit the ball as well as all the in-between. Then they can visualize what you are telling them.

It is good to use a striped ball, as the cue ball, with the stripe pointed vertical - to see if you are hitting dead center or not. Also this will show you draw.

Personally I like playing with the measles (Pro Cup) cue ball because I can see what the cue ball is doing when it is down table. It gives me feedback on my shooting.
Click to expand...

I'm with you, but just to re-cap: there's nothing wrong with training balls, the cheap alternative is the 9-ball, and I like the feedback from the Pro Cup Cue ball, as well.
 
jay helfert said:
I recently replaced my Red Circle with a measle ball. You know the one, with a bunch of red dots. It actually plays better than the Red Circle. Tang said it's heavier and he may be right. I don't know who makes it, but these are great cue balls.
Click to expand...

It is a little heavier. Get used to it, and you'll really make a red-circle dance...
 
I use my elephant ball to practice particular shots.

First I place one of those sticky rings - the kind used to reinforce the holes in loose leaf paper - at the spot where I want the object ball. I then place the elephant ball on the ring with the seam where the white and red meet aimed straight for the pocket I'm shooting at. This gives me a good view of the contact point and the path the ob must take.
 
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