What the pros do differently ...

[Willowbrook Wolfy]

if you have two balls tied up ahead, you had better be thinking backward from on the ball before needed to break them up.

6 and 7 tied up.
you need to know where you have to be on the 5 ball to hit them to get the break out

then you need to know where on the 4 ball to be to be able get to that spot on the 5 ball
then you need get on that spot on the 3 ball to get to your spot on the 4 ball
then the 2 to the 3 and of course where to hit the 1 ball to the 2 ball.

any off angles or no planning that far, then its just luck or great shooting skill to get back to your lines.

of course you may get to break them out sooner but you cant count on that or must plan on that instead.

No you have to think “is my best option for the break out from the 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 ball” actually………if say the 4 is in a pocket you can take out the cluster with your shot on the 3 and still make the 4 with a bad leave after. And then can put the CB wherever you want from the 4 in the pocket.

There's the thing... Pros aren't doing the above. They're assessing every ball prior to the 5 to see if they can break up the 6/7 and still be good on the 5 afterward.

Strong players don't use the ball prior to open up a cluster. UNLESS, it's unlikely that they will end bad on the clustered ball.

It's more likely if an offensive option isn't presenting itself. That they develop a pattern to provide a move that leaves the opponent safe while breaking up the cluster for later.

Then I saw JV’s post.

Anyway. Why do pros shoot different…….Why would anyone shoot cuts center ball? Unless they have to? A center ball cut has more throw than a follow or draw cut a lot of times. It’s good to practice them center, but its more accurate to nullify some of that throw on any shot when possible. Thats the basic idea. Not saying its right. Just “throwing” it out there

 

[Brookeland Bill]

No you have to think “is my best option for the break out from the 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 ball” actually………if say the 4 is in a pocket you can take out the cluster with your shot on the 3 and still make the 4 with a bad leave after. And then can put the CB wherever you want from the 4 in the pocket.

Then I saw JV’s post.

Anyway. Why do pros shoot different…….Why would anyone shoot cuts center ball? Unless they have to? A center ball cut has more throw than a follow or draw cut a lot of times. It’s good to practice them center, but its more accurate to nullify some of that throw on any shot when possible. Thats the basic idea. Not saying its right. Just “throwing” it out there

To make a spot shot without fail assuming you know where to position the cue ball. That’s why and when center ball is used. It’s used in three cushion often.

 

[thoffen]

Pros play the odds and choose what they feel they can best execute that gives them the best opportunity.

 

[easy-e]

Pros play the odds and choose what they feel they can best execute that gives them the best opportunity.

Don't you do that? Don't we all?

 

[Fore Rail]

Do today's professionals even break out balls? Do they take chances? I personally don't see it very often. I see safeties being played more often than just about anything.

 

[Willowbrook Wolfy]

To make a spot shot without fail assuming you know where to position the cue ball. That’s why and when center ball is used. It’s used in three cushion often.

I hadn’t realized the spot shot due to the CB actually having follow on it by the time it gets to the OB. If the CB was sliding at true center wouldn’t you scratch on the spot shot?
Edit: sorry I misread your spot shot reference. I thought you were referencing spot to spot initially! Until rereading it

But now I have toyed with caroms and can understand what you are referencing in 3 cushion. You can work from center when playing double kiss shots. And it’s probably a similar approach in 3 cushion. But that is based more on CB movement so the ball stays in or out of the others path and in pool you are shooting to a 4-1/2” opening. So you have 2 balls to move around in 3 cushion but only 1 in pool.

 

[Mensabum]

Lately I've noticed pro's, including Efren, sometimes using open bridges. Imo non-pros don't switch styles. Could be wrong.

If you're playing a guy who uses an open bridge on some shots or elevates his cue on others, guard your wallet!!

 

[FranCrimi]

Many amateurs incorrectly interchange the words 'draw' and 'backspin.' So when they see a player hitting the cb low, they automatically think of it as 'draw.' Pros are masters of the skill of using backspin. Draw is just one of the several outcomes of using backspin. High level players can also control the point at which the cb changes from backspin to slide as it moves. With backspin, they can also control the point at which slide becomes normal roll. Controlling those points of conversion as the cb moves gives the high level player the ability to control cb speed at a more precise level.

 

[jbart65]

Many amateurs incorrectly interchange the words 'draw' and 'backspin.' So when they see a player hitting the cb low, they automatically think of it as 'draw.' Pros are masters of the skill of using backspin. Draw is just one of the several outcomes of using backspin. High level players can also control the point at which the cb changes from backspin to slide as it moves. With backspin, they can also control the point at which slide becomes normal roll. Controlling those points of conversion as the cb moves gives the high level player the ability to control cb speed at a more precise level.

Very true, but in my original post, I am referring to actual draw. Pros start out with a low tip position a lot, as you note, but obviously one has to look at the rebound angle of the CB to judge whether it was actual draw or not.

 

[jbart65]

Do today's professionals even break out balls? Do they take chances? I personally don't see it very often. I see safeties being played more often than just about anything.

Yes, they do. A lot more than you think, too, I would venture. Maybe not as much as in the past, but I see it in pretty every match I watch.

 

[FranCrimi]

Very true, but in my original post, I am referring to actual draw. Pros start out with a low tip position a lot, as you note, but obviously one has to look at the rebound angle of the CB to judge whether it was actual draw or not.

You asked what the pros do differently than amateurs. They are masters of backspin. As for draw, if they're masters of backspin, then draw also comes easier to them than it would to an amateur player. Many amateur players are afraid of draw because they haven't developed the skill to control it.

 

[jbart65]

You asked what the pros do differently than amateurs. They are masters of backspin. As for draw, if they're masters of backspin, then draw also comes easier to them than it would to an amateur player. Many amateur players are afraid of draw because they haven't developed the skill to control it.

Agreed. Which is why I still spend about 20 minutes a day on draw shots or draw drills (more when I first started).

It was really hard at first. Really hard. But I practiced long hours for months and months to get somewhat proficient. Opens up so many possibilities ...

 

[Mensabum]

Many amateurs incorrectly interchange the words 'draw' and 'backspin.' So when they see a player hitting the cb low, they automatically think of it as 'draw.' Pros are masters of the skill of using backspin. Draw is just one of the several outcomes of using backspin. High level players can also control the point at which the cb changes from backspin to slide as it moves. With backspin, they can also control the point at which slide becomes normal roll. Controlling those points of conversion as the cb moves gives the high level player the ability to control cb speed at a more precise level.

Absolutely!!

 

[Mensabum]

forty or fifty years ago i dont remember anyone who played well using an open bridge all or most of the time.
of course you also had to hit much harder on some shots than now.

You were taught closed bridge. Easy to tell a newb if they had that open bridged cue flying all over the place!!
That was then...

 

[Mensabum]

No you have to think “is my best option for the break out from the 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 ball” actually………if say the 4 is in a pocket you can take out the cluster with your shot on the 3 and still make the 4 with a bad leave after. And then can put the CB wherever you want from the 4 in the pocket.

Then I saw JV’s post.

Anyway. Why do pros shoot different…….Why would anyone shoot cuts center ball? Unless they have to? A center ball cut has more throw than a follow or draw cut a lot of times. It’s good to practice them center, but its more accurate to nullify some of that throw on any shot when possible. Thats the basic idea. Not saying its right. Just “throwing” it out there

Once your pocketing speed develops to a point where most shots are hit the same speed, center ball isn't used as often as most players think. Below center 70% and spin allow you to keep speed the same without sacrificing shape or worrying about throw. Becomes unconscious over time.

 

[Mensabum]

If I could go back and start playing pool over, I would never use sidespin unless I had to .
I would practice it enough to know my boundaries, but I believe it is the main cause for misses, in most peoples game.
If you play 8 to 10 hours a day , every day for 20 years, you can do whatever you want and probably still get out. But if you play once or twice a week for 2 hours, twirling the ball all over the table I believe is a mistake.
<book collector learned to twirl his ball at an early age and loved to watch the ball twirl, and his money say arrividerci.

Don't turn the cue ball loose unless abso necessary!!

 

[Mensabum]

Very true, but in my original post, I am referring to actual draw. Pros start out with a low tip position a lot, as you note, but obviously one has to look at the rebound angle of the CB to judge whether it was actual draw or not.

I see a ton of low being hit, but not an overabundance of draw, as it were. Many times it's more for the crowd than getting shape. Lol.

 

[Mensabum]

You asked what the pros do differently than amateurs. They are masters of backspin. As for draw, if they're masters of backspin, then draw also comes easier to them than it would to an amateur player. Many amateur players are afraid of draw because they haven't developed the skill to control it.

Well said.

 

[thoffen]

Don't you do that? Don't we all?

Not as well as pros do. Better execution is only part of it. For one, there is significant mental grit required to get yourself to execute the best shot (nearly) every time. For another, there is a much deeper understanding of what the right shot is at any given moment. The differences might be small on any given shot, but they add up extremely fast over the span of a match.

 

[The_JV]

Read Maha’s post again. Your above is exactly what he was saying.

I did, then again, but it still didn't read the same, so I read it again...

Maha talks about being on the 5 to break out the 6/7 cluster, and then breaks down where they need to be on the preceding balls to get to that shape on the 5. I suggest that the 5 isn't used as a break ball, but all the prior balls are break ball options if they provide shape on the subsequent ball after the cluster has been opened.

Those are different approaches. Maybe you misunderstood what I was trying to describe...?