No one has hit the bullsye yet, and fast cloths are tough especially when the table is a short version 7' vs. 9' but this is very true for the 9' as well.
I already play with light pool cues.....18.2-18.3 ozs..........and my tips are Kamui Clear Black, Soft & Super-Soft.
Some pretty good suggestions but get your bows & arrows out again....... I learned this back in the 60's from one of the great masters of pool........it's hand position.
Have to shoot a tough shot off a rail, even a long version, shorten your balance point.......move your hand further up the wrap......the cue travels straighter with less effort.
Need to slow that cue ball down without also slowing down your stroke, move that hand up that cue towards it fulcrum point.......the stroke pendelum outcome changes.
And no, this isn't because all the players back in the 60's played with 20 & 21 oz cues, although that does dramatize the difference all the more.......my cues are very light cues
Fast table.....having a hard time controlling the cue ball, move your grip up towards the cue joint......you need to experiment to find out what works best for you....soft touch tough angle cut shot....even a backwards cut......I often use only a 3 fingered grip and also move my hand further up the wrap....but obviously sometimes a shot requires a firmer stroke.......generally my grip is 4-6" behind my cue's balance point and I use a soft handshake grip so I've got plenty of room to move my grip up or down the wrap for delicate shots requiring mastery of cue ball speed in order to attain position control. Sometimes I hold my my cue just below the collar with my hand is at the very top portion of the wrap......Hey, it's also what pros do with their golf clubs to change the outcome of their swing and also the loft of the club.....become more familiar with your pool cue and your stroke.....experiment and see..... you'll do better than before.
I'm surprised someone hasn't mentioned changing your hand position higher up on the cue butt (wrap-less) or cue wrap.......experiment to find out for your self. Amazing how far up the cue you can move your grip and improve your cue ball control for speed control on delicate shots or fast cloths. It's the opposite of what happens by moving your grip towards the bumper of the cue. This really does works & make sure to pay this forward. I'm sure someone must teach the significance of grip position for your pool stroke and how re-positioning your hand, i.e., grip, is very useful, i.e., helpful, for certain types of situations and shots. If this is not being covered in any pool training curriculum, then a very important subject is being omitted. I make sure to cover this whenever I teach or help someone with their pool game.
Matt B.
