What are possible reasons I am not hitting the ball straight?

JohnnyP · Nov 24, 2020

Tennesseejoe said:
View attachment 575760
Try shooting this shot. Both balls should be 1/2 inch off of the rail. This will give you a good visual to identify anything that is not in line. This is also a good shot to video so others on the forum can critique. Shoot this so the one ball is closest to the camera looking directly at the shooter.
If you have a Rempe cue ball, use it to determine if your chalk mark is contacting in the center of the cue ball. If you do not have the Rempe just use a measles ball or stripe to see any undesired rotation.

Yes, I used to set that shot up all the time. Couldn't figure out why I was putting left English on the ball. I set up a camera over the corner pocket, and saw exactly what Mark Wilson is pointing out at the 12 minute mark. My back hand was moving the cue in an S curve. A video with Thorsten Homann and Mike Massey put me on the right track...let me find it...

Toasty doesn't say it, but when you turn the body so the "hanging cue" is in line with the shot, then you get down on the shot, the shoulder, elbow, and stroking arm magically line up, curing the S curve. With some practice, I was hitting knuckle balls (no unintended spin) at my highest stroking speed.

APA Operator · Nov 24, 2020

NYCnoob99 said:
I just realized it might be the lighting. I don't have a dedicated pool table light and the track lighting is not even on both sides. This casts shadows that are unbalanced and I noticed I miss more to one side from one side of the table and vice versa.

You could be onto something here. A pool hall where I used to play had brown pocket leather and windows that cast a slight shadow across the table, just enough to shade a small part of the brown pocket black. In my peripheral vision, it made center-pocket look like it was moved slightly to one side or the other, and I found myself missing more often than usual. Whenever I realized that and consciously thought about it, without further thought my mind automatically compensated and my miss rate returned to normal. The more your shot becomes automatic, done without thinking, the more you are susceptible to things like shadows.

MitchAlsup · Nov 24, 2020

Put 2 balls on the end rail and the CB on the head spot.
The 2 balls on the railld be 1 ball plus 2 match sticks apart inner edge to inner edge.
You should be able to roll the CB between both of these balls from 3/4 table distance.
If you can't it is something you are doing at or before CB impact

Texas Carom Club · Nov 24, 2020