Personally I've noticed that cut shots are no so much aimed as visualized.
If you can visualize straight in shots the same way, you will make them.
Chris
Why do I hit really hard cut shot consistently, but miss the straight shot just as..
- Thread starter Chrisivac
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Personally I've noticed that cut shots are no so much aimed as visualized.
If you can visualize straight in shots the same way, you will make them.
Chris
Try this...
Set up a line of object balls between the side pockets. Then, using a measle ball or a striped object ball as a cue ball, take ball-in-hand behind the headstring. Set up a straight-in shot at one of the far corner pockets, and try to hit a PERFECT stop shot-- one with NO movement of the cue ball after contact and NO evidence of sidespin on the cueball when it comes to rest. Rinse and repeat ad nauseum.
I think you'll find this exercise to be A LOT more challenging than it seems. The purpose here is not to pocket the ball-- that will become routine after a few sessions-- but to put a perfect stroke on the cue ball. By focusing on the action of the cue ball after contact with the OB, you will become sensitive to even small errors in your aim and your cueing.
Try it for a few days, and post again here with your outcomes and impressions.
Set up a line of object balls between the side pockets. Then, using a measle ball or a striped object ball as a cue ball, take ball-in-hand behind the headstring. Set up a straight-in shot at one of the far corner pockets, and try to hit a PERFECT stop shot-- one with NO movement of the cue ball after contact and NO evidence of sidespin on the cueball when it comes to rest. Rinse and repeat ad nauseum.
I think you'll find this exercise to be A LOT more challenging than it seems. The purpose here is not to pocket the ball-- that will become routine after a few sessions-- but to put a perfect stroke on the cue ball. By focusing on the action of the cue ball after contact with the OB, you will become sensitive to even small errors in your aim and your cueing.
Try it for a few days, and post again here with your outcomes and impressions.
Thanks for all the advice.. You guys on here rock.
When I'm shooting center of cb should my stick be at any pitch pointing down when my stroke is finished... Or should I practice hitting parraell through my whole shot.
I was getting tips a few weeks ago from a Very good shooter and he told me i was lifting the butt of my cue too high. I'm having a hard time following through straight(especially if there is draw/spin or English). He said to fix it, it's something that'll take years :/
When I'm shooting center of cb should my stick be at any pitch pointing down when my stroke is finished... Or should I practice hitting parraell through my whole shot.
I was getting tips a few weeks ago from a Very good shooter and he told me i was lifting the butt of my cue too high. I'm having a hard time following through straight(especially if there is draw/spin or English). He said to fix it, it's something that'll take years :/
Thanks for all the advice.. You guys on here rock.
When I'm shooting center of cb should my stick be at any pitch pointing down when my stroke is finished... Or should I practice hitting parallel through my whole shot.
I was getting tips a few weeks ago from a Very good shooter and he told me i was lifting the butt of my cue too high. I'm having a hard time following through straight(especially if there is draw/spin or English) and parallel to the table. He said to fix it, it's something that'll take years :/
When I'm shooting center of cb should my stick be at any pitch pointing down when my stroke is finished... Or should I practice hitting parallel through my whole shot.
I was getting tips a few weeks ago from a Very good shooter and he told me i was lifting the butt of my cue too high. I'm having a hard time following through straight(especially if there is draw/spin or English) and parallel to the table. He said to fix it, it's something that'll take years :/
Here is a tip, I learned from the late great Harry "Poochie" Sexton:
When alligning a long straight in shot, lower your tip onto the surface of the cloth directly behind and below the cue ball to where the tip is almost touching the cueball. At that point, you will be able to ensure you are at the perfect diagonal center of the cue ball. Do all of your aiming and adjustments in that tip position. When you believe you are in perfect allignment to make the shot, elevate your tip according to what you want to have the cue ball do after making contact with the object ball you wish to "pot" Recognize that your options are limited to stop, draw, follow. All of which will require a perfect diagonal hit. As you become proficient with the straight in shots, regardless of distance, start to experiment with English, ensuring you are compensating for "squirt"
Hope this helps.
Cross-Side-Larry
Good mechanics aren't that complicated, and it doesn't "take years" to learn them if you have proper instruction.
Based on the observation that you are lifting the butt of the cue during the stroke, and given your issues with straight in shots, it appears that your stroke mechanics need work. I'd urge you to invest in a lesson or two with a qualified instructor in your area. A good teacher can see what you are doing, quickly set you straight, and clear up a lot of the confusion that you are feeling.
To answer your question about the "pitch" of your stroke-- the ideal stroke results from a pendulum action where your lower arm swings from the elbow and the upper arm stays quiet. It is typical for the cue tip to dip down a bit (even lightly touching the cloth) as you follow through at the completion of the stroke.
the closer to center your object ball is, the more throw you will exert on it.
ever see an object ball HOP when struck with a cue ball rolling at table speed? The cue ball is trying to THROW the object ball down, into the table. Since it cant go through it, it rebounds and produces this seemingly unexplainable hop. dirty balls...
an object ball shot at an angle generates this gearing motion without the aid of english. You're coming across it, the object balls inertia resists this spin you're trying to put on it, so it torques off its natual line. You either put opposite spin on the cue to compensate, or you adjust your angle to where it will be thrown to.
If you really want to make your straight shots... use draw. This way you will be throwing the ball forward, regardless of how much english you unintentionally place on the cue. You may still have a little left or right left on the cue ball, but you should have more draw.
New players who are used to shooting center ball all the time, are going to fall prey to this until they figure out how to shoot a good stop shot. My girlfriends solution to a stop shot (without knowing how to draw)? Shoot hard so the cue ball jumps to the object ball, and does not generate forward spin from the friction of the felt. She doesnt know she's doing it, but this is why she does it.
Like many previous posters have said... most peoples shot problems can be fixed by revisiting their fundamentals. (I would also add in some strength training)
my .02
Josh
ever see an object ball HOP when struck with a cue ball rolling at table speed? The cue ball is trying to THROW the object ball down, into the table. Since it cant go through it, it rebounds and produces this seemingly unexplainable hop. dirty balls...
an object ball shot at an angle generates this gearing motion without the aid of english. You're coming across it, the object balls inertia resists this spin you're trying to put on it, so it torques off its natual line. You either put opposite spin on the cue to compensate, or you adjust your angle to where it will be thrown to.
If you really want to make your straight shots... use draw. This way you will be throwing the ball forward, regardless of how much english you unintentionally place on the cue. You may still have a little left or right left on the cue ball, but you should have more draw.
New players who are used to shooting center ball all the time, are going to fall prey to this until they figure out how to shoot a good stop shot. My girlfriends solution to a stop shot (without knowing how to draw)? Shoot hard so the cue ball jumps to the object ball, and does not generate forward spin from the friction of the felt. She doesnt know she's doing it, but this is why she does it.
Like many previous posters have said... most peoples shot problems can be fixed by revisiting their fundamentals. (I would also add in some strength training)
my .02
Josh