When kicking, bottom or top english on CB?

[CreeDo]

When hitting straight across the table to have the cb return to your tip,
follow or draw won't matter as long as you stay on the vertical center line of the cb.
When you get off center hits by accident, then it matters.

For the truest angles off the rail, you want medium speed and hit the cb one tip above center.
One tip above center gives you a naturally rolling ball.

I would like if there's physics to confirm but it seems like follow is a little more "error-resistant" than draw.

I feel like you hit off center with draw, the ball's slowing down and getting
more sideways revolutions per foot travelled, than it would with similar off-center hit with follow.
Draw also prevents sidespin from 'converting' into natural roll as soon so the ball arrives at the rail
with a little sidespin, which might have worn off if you were aiming at a distant rail with top + a hair of spin.

Kinister has a drill where you follow a center-table object ball straight into the corner a few times,
then try to draw into the opposite corner a few times.
No matter how carefully I try this, following into the hole is always far easier. It could be because it requires less
force than the draw, but I suspect it's also because follow can accept an off-center hit more easily,
the immediate rolling action of the cue ball 'dilutes' the accidental sidespin.

In a nutshell I think kicks are easiest to predict with a naturally rolling ball.

 

[dabarbr]

On one rail kicks I use about a tip above center and on multiple rail kicks I use running English and a little above center.
If I'm kicking to hit the object ball hard and going one rail ball, then I adjust and hit the cue ball low and aim a bit longer on the rail because it will shorten up. I hit low to make sure the cue ball does not leave the table like it would if I used high on the cue ball.

 

[dr_dave]

I would like if there's physics to confirm but it seems like follow is a little more "error-resistant" than draw.

I feel like you hit off center with draw, the ball's slowing down and getting
more sideways revolutions per foot travelled, than it would with similar off-center hit with follow..

That's one reason ... the effect of any sidespin (intentional or not) is greater with a draw shot, where the CB slows down without losing much spin on the way to the rail. At slower speed, the effect of the maintained sidespin is greater.

Also, with a draw shot, it is very difficult to control the exact amount of bottom spin the CB has when it reaches the cushion. The effective rebound angle can vary quite a bit with the amount of backspin. With a rolling-CB shot, the amount of topspin is always exact (the rolling amount).

Other reasons why follow shots can be more accurate in general are listed and described on the follow shot accuracy resource page. Check it out.

Regards,
Dave

 

[DaveK]

Learning to bend your kicks with top and draw will open up all new avenues to you and let you maximize your chances to hit the ball and come away with favorable results...

This is the best advice in this thread imo. See Bobs port #20 for one reason .... there are many more. Kicking with a dead-ball hit is but one path, and sometimes it is not the best path. Learn how to make the ball go straight first, but then start the learning The Renfro suggests.

Dave

 

[DaveK]

Also, with a draw shot, it is very difficult to control the exact amount of bottom spin the CB has when it reaches the cushion.

With practice this too can be learned. I suggest practicing your drag-stop, drag-follow, and drag-draw over distances from 3' to 9'. The learning of how backspin wears off the cueball over distance is critical and not something to be avoided.

Dave