espn 2 right now

[Aske]

...

$100 to paypal, plz

[stroh]

...

$100 to paypal, plz

I appreciate it.  But, before I execute the transaction.

That graphic seems a bit elementary.

to wit.  I guess, I already knew that, on some level, and attempt it.  (I mean, removing, variables such as velocity, spin, etc.)

Am I looking/trying to hard?  Or do I just teh sukk?

[Aske]

theres probably 3 or 4 real common problems

1: your equipment  may suck.  cheap cues/tips easily bend asymetrically at impact with the cue ball (think shaft spine align, etc)  and hence impart impact and spin not necessarily intended.

2. you don't get low enough to aim correctly  your waist bend should be as close to 90* as possible (obviously not in pain...)

3. you shoot with more than a vertical elbow hinge (horizontal hinge, wrist, shoulder, hip motion for power, etc)

4. you shoot right handed but are right eye dominant

5. your stance is bad

6. your bridge technique is bad (too loose or too tight)



i'll offer some tips on fixing all this below

[Aske]

this is all for practicing, and learning about your game.   it's a game of technique, mechanics, muscle memory 


stance-  line a cue on a table. approach it, set your hips 45 open to the cue. bend as low as you can get, hopefully on the table basically.  pick up the cue (without changing its alignment) your shoulder line should be parallel to the cue.  feet a bit wider than shoulders.   if you get all this right.... the cue should be about 4-8 inches out from your pecs...  depending on your exact height/size/etc

bridge- forefinger and thumb for most shots.  others are easier, but will let you down .  it should be like your golf grip. just tight enough to feel. anything less, no control, anything more, too much friction

stroke- this MUST be with your elbow only.  try to get a video or a mirror. the cue should only travel the exact same line it was aiming originally. ANY lateral movement will ruin your shot.    practice, practice, practice this.


aiming- 1st test...  put a chalk against the  top rail center, corner sticking out!!!..  go to the bottom rail and set up the cue ball on the break dot.  just hit the chalk  on the corner repeatedly. ... assuming your mechanics (above) are good....when you get good at this, you are aiming pretty well if you have eye dominance alignment issue, this will tell you ...  you will slightly miss one side consistently even though you SEE your aim as being correct.  slight adjustments... must overcome the mind!!!

refining the stroke and the 'aim' .   now that you are hitting the corner of the chalk ok... set the cue ball on the dot again, and aim at the STRAIGHT ahead diamond in the rail.  if you hit the ball and it hits the diamond...  it should come back to your original break point exactly !  if it comes off the rail right or left...   you put sidespin on it.  without realizing it!    this means either your eye dominance / aim is bad,  or your stroke is slightly lateral...   this can be overcome... like a golf slice/hook... but you have to have it 'consistently' one way... then you can play too it.

finally, regarding general ideas... i show the cut shot aim diagram above... the principles are sound...

but the rails, table, and balls are not 'perfect'
hitting hard into the rail narrows the reflection angle, and conversely with soft

you do not have to hit the ball hard to get a lot of top or bottom spin.   just accelerate through it (like golf).  the tip of the cue should finish 1 foot ahead of the impact point (unless something is in the way) on most shots....  NOT AT THE IMPACT POINT!!!.  this can be practiced (at least on bottom spin) just by keeping the cue chalked up, and looking at chalk trails on the felt.     unless you are striking extreme angles (very close to 0, or 90)  you will not damage the felt this way, either

bottom spin (draw) shots in general. a nice 10-20 * stroke at the ball about 1/2" up  is more than enough if you accelerate through it.  you don't need steeper angles or lower contact  as an amateur/newb.

leave side spin alone for now.   you want the cue ball travelling dead straight  right now.


top spin on the cue NARROWS the cue deflection on cut shots
bottom spin on the cue WIDENS the cue deflection on cut shots











well, that's it for now, it's late, and my mind is rambling along...

[stroh]

Damn!  Thank you!!  I wanna go out and play now.

No one, has ever broken it down, in anything close to those terms/points/physical needs. (for me)

Schweet.  I don't have a cue of my own.  I've got so fed up (see previous) it was never worth it.

I'm gonna print this out, and apply some of those things, and see what I can do.

 

Paypal.......processing.......

[Aske]

sure thing.   i'm in the holiday mood.  no paypal needed actually.

save the $ for a cue (i'll point ya towards some good options,  if ya want)

[Aske]

oh, and EVEN the PROS  start to have mechanical breakdowns when they try to hit the ball approaching 80-90 % of how hard they 'can'.  just something to keep in mind... like golf...

[stroh]

 

Must be the star on the tree.

[TFT]

I rool at pool.

[dystopia]

I rool at pool.

Me too.  We need to have a GolfHos billiards/golf tournament.

[Aske]

I rool at pool.

Me too.  We need to have a GolfHos billiards/golf tournament.

odds are  aske wins 9ball, finishes last in golf (when adjusted to index)