Why is it hard to___?

Puck90a

Puck90a

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Why is hard to shoot when the cue ball is frozen to the cushion? I know it's an awkward position, but why is it awkward? Why do I miss these shots (I'm a lot better than I used to be but still inconsistent)? Is it because of accidental masse? I have a good stroke, but if I'm ever a little off center, could masse be causing it? I shoot with a level cue, so I don't see how much accidental masse could be happening - perhaps a little squirt?. Or is it something mental about how angels are perceived from the cushion? Sometimes if I'm stroking on a full cue ball out in the open, I have mental images of angles, but if I'm on the cushion, it feels like I have a different set of mental images. Like, if I'm in the open, I think, "Ok, I need THIS much angle", but if I'm on the cushion I think "If I were in the open I'd need this much angle but I always miss when I do that on the cushion, so I will mentally compensate for being on the cushion and alter my angle some to correct it" and I've made shots that way. But that's stupid and doesn't make much sense. It's also inconsistent.

Why is it hard to make balls when you're stroking downward into the cue ball in order to elevate over other balls that are in the way? It seems like I either get none of my intended angle, or WAY too much angle. I'm always way off either way (I'm getting a little better I think). Could this be because of accidental masse? Assuming my stroke is true (and it usually is), what is going on? Is it harder to visualize angles when jacked up? A lot of times I THINK I see the angle I need, I stroke it, and something completely different happens. What's going on? I make the conscious effort to keep my bridge hand rock solid all the way through the final stroke, and keep my stroke arm straight, and I've improved, but I still struggle.

Why are "outside angle" shots more difficult that "inside angle" shots?

Outside:
outside-1.jpg


Inside:
inside.jpg


Why do I have a harder time with accuracy when I put follow on the cue ball than when I use center or draw? This might apply to the "shooting on the cushion" question. Follow is kinda like shooting from the cushion, and I miss follow shots almost as often. For some reason my accuracy goes out the door if I'm a tip or two above center and I don't know why. It seems like it has less to do with ball action and more to do with a mental problem relating to how I see the angle. I have very little problem with accuracy when shooting with draw however. Could this be because the ball is gliding over the felt rather than rolling? And in a follow shot, the cue ball is DRIVING over the felt or "peeling out". It would seem follow would have an effect on the path more... Maybe if I'm off center on a draw shot I'm not penalized as much because the ball is "floating" over the felt and not affected by error as much, but with a follow shot that has accidental english, perhaps the path is altered more significantly?

I'm looking for philosophies and theories (and perhaps fact) as to why these things are harder, with explanation other than "It's hard just cuz. Now go practice."
 
Hmm, looking at my pictures, I think the reason inside angles are easier is because the pocket's width can be easily seen within my peripheral vision. The outside is more difficult to see in my peripheral vision, and I I'm not facing the open jaws of the pocket. On the inside shot, it's like I'm aiming a gun at someone that is standing diagonally in front of me and facing me. On the outside shot, it's like I'm aiming a gun at someone who's standing beside me, and facing away from me.
 
[Inside:
[Why do I have a harder time with accuracy when I put follow on the cue ball than when I use center or draw? This might apply to the "shooting on the cushion" question. Follow is kinda like shooting from the cushion, and I miss follow shots almost as often. For some reason my accuracy goes out the door if I'm a tip or two above center and I don't know why. It seems like it has less to do with ball action and more to do with a mental problem relating to how I see the angle. I have very little problem with accuracy when shooting with draw however. Could this be because the ball is gliding over the felt rather than rolling? And in a follow shot, the cue ball is DRIVING over the felt or "peeling out". It would seem follow would have an effect on the path more... Maybe if I'm off center on a draw shot I'm not penalized as much because the ball is "floating" over the felt and not affected by error as much, but with a follow shot that has accidental english, perhaps the path is altered more significantly?

I'm looking for philosophies and theories (and perhaps fact) as to why these things are harder, with explanation other than "It's hard just cuz. Now go practice."[/QUOTE]

I'm interested in this follow thing as well. I have the same problem when i try to follow. I usually find i put to much english on it and miss it. I find that I canly only go maybe a half tip either way to really make it; any more than that I miss.
 
Any elevation of the cue offers negligible margin of error. Contact on the cue ball one little iota off the vertical axis and you are masse-ing the cue ball. Deflection and squirt...
 
shooting off rail

take a few decks of cards. stack them up in middle of table equal to height of rail.

now setup a shot in middle of table and make sure cue to only hit top 1/4 of cue ball. keep butt of cue higher than decks of cards to simulate same height as shooting off rail.

It shouldn't be any different than if you were actually shooting off the rail, but I bet you'll make a lot more shots.

keep practicing and try to remember the same feeling when going back to shooting off the rail.
 
I just had a fantastic practice session. Practiced shooting off the rail some more, and did pretty dang well.

I think a problem I have with shooting on top of the rail (and cue ball frozen on cushion) is that I'm moving my bridge slightly for some subconscious reason. Not sure why. I'm good about staying SOLID on the bed of the table, just not the rail. But if I DELIBERATELY stay rock solid, stick to the plan, follow through, then I'm having pretty good accuracy. One of the things that has drastically improved my game is simply having faith in my abilities - line it up, follow through, trust my judgment, and trust my cue to do its work.
 
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After playing more years of *****pool league than I care to think about....I have been left frozen on a rail so often, the mind boggles...LoL!

I don't over-think it. So what, it's on the rail...nothing a freshly chalked tip, a nice steady stroke, and a stable bridge won't handle. I try to get the cue as level as the shot allows, and make sure to follow-through with a normal speed stroke.

Honestly....I have found the people who have the most problems with shooting off the rail are those who like to shoot primarily draw shots. Get a nice solid follow stroke dialed in, and there is very little you cannot accomplish at the table. "Draw for show, follow for dough." That is one of my mantras. :thumbup:
 
When you are shooting over a ball or the rail, try tightening your grip hand up. I'm not sure if it will work for other people, but it works well for me.

Those are the only shots that I use a tight grip for and I never try to get fancy with my shape. My objective is to make the ball and have a shot on the next ball (preferably on the correct side of it) and not be in the same situation. On the next ball I can work on getting back in line!

Maybe it will help you too.
 
The masse effect is a huge part of it. In fact that knowledge is so crucial because using english on the rail or over a ball is something you should avoid due to tons of masse.

You should only shoot ducks for the most part with english off the rail and even then you have to wayyy over compensate. Something that must be practiced.
 
just a thought......i used to have issues when shooting off the rail, and the culprit was body height over the cue. I was struggling with an alingment issue that would change my back arm angle as I would raise or lower my body over the cue.....

This was a major issue in my setup and shooting off the rail would just make it worse, so.....as a "fix" I would raise my body up off the cue to compensate when playing rail shots......it worked fine...but masked a bigger problem that needed attention!

so, as a test....try raising or lowering your body when shooting off the rail to see if it makes a difference.

have fun with it!

G.
 
DukeOfAim said:
When you are shooting over a ball or the rail, try tightening your grip hand up. I'm not sure if it will work for other people, but it works well for me.

Those are the only shots that I use a tight grip for and I never try to get fancy with my shape. My objective is to make the ball and have a shot on the next ball (preferably on the correct side of it) and not be in the same situation. On the next ball I can work on getting back in line!

Maybe it will help you too.
Click to expand...

This is what I do also. The only difference is the word I use, firm.
 
Why is hard to shoot when the cue ball is frozen to the cushion?

Probably has something to do with the cue tip hiding the top of the CB so you can't see the centerline of the CB and use it as a reference.

Why is it hard to make balls when you're stroking downward into the cue ball in order to elevate over other balls that are in the way?

Massé effect causes the ball to swerve. Also seems to be a centerline issue.

Why are "outside angle" shots more difficult that "inside angle" shots?

They should not, but they are for many, but not me, I happen to like outside cuts.

Why do I have a harder time with accuracy when I put follow on the cue ball than when I use center or draw?

You might not be seeing the centerline of the CB, hitting off center, and causing swerve as the CB rolls down table.
 
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