Why Is This A Hard Shot For Me?

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DrCue'sProtege

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
invariably when i have this shot i end up missing. i hit this shot about a tip below center, not real hard with very slight stun, and want it to come around two rails for an angle on the 8-Ball so i can come back up for the 9-Ball.

had it last night and missed it. must be the fact that i let up a little on the shot and perhaps dont follow through, dunno.

DCP

CueTable Help

 
DrCue'sProtege said:
invariably when i have this shot i end up missing. i hit this shot about a tip below center, not real hard with very slight stun, and want it to come around two rails for an angle on the 8-Ball so i can come back up for the 9-Ball.

had it last night and missed it. must be the fact that i let up a little on the shot and perhaps dont follow through, dunno.

DCP

CueTable Help

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Probably because you have to hit it fairly softly (which means lots of swerve), which you're not really used to so you're not "feeling" the speed during all your practice strokes but adjusting your shot stroke. It's kinda like "steering" your shot stroke, but for speed.

You need to practice this kind of shot a lot because it comes up constantly. Visualize the shot completely, including how hard you'll hit it and what aim is required as a result - imagine the feel of the stick hitting the cue ball at just the right speed.

pj
chgo
 
That shot looks like a hanger to me, and I can't understand how anybody could miss that.
 
You must need a low d-flexion shaft, I have one and I haven't missed this shot in about 2 decades. I guess you just aren't making your mind up before you shoot the shot or you are thinking about missing (letting up is usually a sign of this IMO). No follow thru?? Thats all I can think of since you have had all these lessons and such.

Eric.
 
I am at work, so I can't see the diagram.

But, if it makes you feel any better, I miss that shot about 90% of the time!!

Russ.......
 
i dont think i would go low center with that one. im thinking softer stroke with left or just center ball a little bit harder stroke.
 
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Simple solution to your problem...use a little left with your low. It will help reduce throw and also let you spin easily off the rails. "helper English"
 
Patrick Johnson said:
Probably because you have to hit it fairly softly (which means lots of swerve), which you're not really used to so you're not "feeling" the speed during all your practice strokes but adjusting your shot stroke. It's kinda like "steering" your shot stroke, but for speed.

You need to practice this kind of shot a lot because it comes up constantly. Visualize the shot completely, including how hard you'll hit it and what aim is required as a result - imagine the feel of the stick hitting the cue ball at just the right speed.

pj
chgo
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Oh, sorry - I just noticed you didn't say low/left. In that case my comment about swerve doesn't apply.

pj
chgo
 
Okay, I'm going to start off by saying that tables play differently so what I see happening in this diagram isn't always going to be consistent with what others see.


In the poolroom I play out of, this shot simply isn't possible. You cannot kill the speed of the cueball with that path but that has to do with the fact that the rails at my poolroom are a little bouncier than most other rooms I've been to. If a player needed to take this shot, I would imagine them under-cutting the ball in an attempt to keep the cueball from running away.

If I have this shot, I'm going one rail with inside english.
 
PIRANHA said:
Wow, Nice quote Gregg. I think I sent you a P.M. ?,LES
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Piranha, Piranha, PIRANHA.

Lookey here.

You need to get in tune with what is going on with the MB before judging.*


*Look at all of the other posts dripping with sarcasm on this thread. There IS a reason for them, as there is nothing new to see here.

PM again if you need to be brought up to speed.
 
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Mike

Like I have told you many times in the past, most of your problems are not "shotmaking issues" as much as they are "position/pattern issues". The first thing I noticed is that your 7 ball is down there and your cue ball is up above the side pocket. Basically you messed up on the position and you will pay for it with the more difficult shot.

Try to notice which side of the pocket you are missing the shot on. If you are missing on the outside consistently, aim to pocket the ball on the inside of the pocket - if you are missing it on the inside, aim for the outside of the pocket.

f_overcut1m_b70b3c2.jpg


The space between the two arrows on either side of the pocket is your margin of error for this shot.

Also pay attention to the contact point on the ball. In the diagram below, I have drawn a red line from the center of the pocket, through the center of the 7 ball and out to the rail. I have also drawn a line from the cue ball to the point where the red line goes through the 7 ball... where these two line intersect, that is your contact point. Notice that you need to have the cue ball hit that contact point at the angle in which is it illustrated... if you hit the 7 ball too full on either side of that contact point - you will miss.

f_overcut2m_634a975.jpg


The natural angle of this shot is also diagrammed. I have also shown what is called "angle in" and "angle out". This is something that is extremely important with determining the path of the cue ball. I illustrate a "natural pattern" on this shot, and the direction of the ball is determined by the "angle out". When you have identified the contact point and the angle out, then you can control the cue ball by using inside our outside english, low right, high right - whatever. Just make sure that the contact point and the angle out remain the same.

These shots are not very difficult if you learn how to determine the contact point - and the direction the cue ball will take after contact.
 
DrCue'sProtege said:
invariably when i have this shot i end up missing. i hit this shot about a tip below center, not real hard with very slight stun, and want it to come around two rails for an angle on the 8-Ball so i can come back up for the 9-Ball.

had it last night and missed it. must be the fact that i let up a little on the shot and perhaps dont follow through, dunno.

DCP

CueTable Help

Click to expand...

Pay attention to which side of the pocket you're missed the shot. Most players tend to miss to one side of the pocket much more than the other.

There are some shots that I hit which I know I am "optically off". This means if I aim the shot so I think I will hit the center of the pocket, I will miss it practically every time to the same side of the pocket. Over the years, I have learned to make slight adjustments in my alignment to compensate for these "optical" flaws. Works for me.

Try it. It may help you.

Stones
 
my guess and insight on this is it is jsut prolly a mental thing.......Just get focused and tuned on your aiming and cue speed.... then take the shot.......cause you are either worrying too much bout either making the shot or gettin position......
 
you miss it because you suck!!!


just messing with you man everyone has some shots they just have a hard time with. i like to use a little low left to throw the ball a little more and don't baby the shot you can come anywhere bellow the head spot and be considered in good shape to get to the 9
 
If you miss this shot often set up variations of it and shoot it over and over again. Try different approaches, different stroke speeds etc. Make it one of your easiest shot patterns in the future:)
 
All this talk about using english on the 7 ball...

The 8-ball is almost as easy as it gets. Screw position play off the 7-ball. 100% of you effort should be on MAKING THE 7-BALL, english or not. Just MAKE THE 7.

You'd have to be pretty darn unlucky to get stuck without position on that big black hanger.
 
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