Unable to generate much backspin - equipment related?

TripleM · 2012-07-09T09:44:46+00:00

Hi, I've owned a pool table for a few years and play regularly (just casually, not with pro equipment or anything). I've always found it very difficult to generate backspin - in some occasions where the cue ball is near the object ball, I can get a small amount of backwards movement with a very low and hard hit, but half the time the ball just stops, and never anywhere near the amount of movement you see on TV. Topspin is a bit easier, though often this happens when you don't want it to, eg on long shots. I thought this was just due to technique - until I went to a pool hall recently, where I discovered that I could generate a large amount of backspin consistently using exactly the same technique that I do at home. What would be the most likely cause of this? Would it be: a) Quality of the felt, and amount of dust on the felt - I give it a brush occasionally, though I've read vacuuming may be better b) Quality of the balls, or perhaps size - I noticed ours are a little smaller than what we had at the pool hall c) Quality of the cue - don't think this is the case as I was getting consistent backspin even without chalk etc at the pool hall. or something else? It may be a combination of all of the above, but is it likely/well known that you could get a pool table or balls that really make spin extremely difficult? Any suggestions?