Define perfect ball striking

[thelongbomber]

If we could all strike the ball purely as Ronnie or Shaun we would all be great players. Of course there is more to the game than just cueing action and cue power but it's the single tool common used by each player that is also individually unique.

Over the 10 years playing this game, I have learned a lot - mostly from better opponents, mentors, club gurus and the like. Cueing action, and ball striking is something I spend a lot of effort learning and mastering because I believe it's the fundamental building block to everything else in the game.

Conversations continually come back to one thing that can't really be clearly defined - perfect ball striking. Here is what I think it is:

Perfect ball striking is:

1. When you get completely through the cue ball
2. When you focus on the cue tip being the delivery point, not the cue arm
3. When the cue ball has "action" with minimal effort
4. When the cue ball doesn't hop or bounce (barring a kick).

What do you think it is?

[thelongbomber]

Are these signs you might not be striking the ball perfectly?

1. You hit the ball harder to get movement (see Mathew Stevens in frame 19 against Shaun in 2005 WC)
2. You don't pull the cue back slowly
3. You lack cue ball control

[Terry Davidson]

longbomber:

I would just make one change to your #1 point. Although it's inferred the real action is to 'accelerate through and beyond the cueball' just in case someone thinks just getting through the cueball by 2" is enough but ti means he was actually decelerating at time of strike

Terry

[ruby]

Perfect ball striking to me is when you barely feel the white ball when striking it. When your grip is in perfect timing so that it dampens the impact of the white so its a smooth clean stroke.

[gtjohnnymac1965]

Well, for me, a perfect ball strike would be when suddenly with minimal effort you just get the"ping", away goes the cue ball goes and you just "feel" everything you've put into the shot right thro' the full length of your cue back into your hand and arm....sh*t explanation I know, but you lot try putting it into words, it's pretty difficult as its just a certain feeling, and, until you've done it you don't know it....if that makes any sense?!

[the priest]

Feels lovely i know that much like a tuning falk right down through your loins lol.. nothing much to do with a slow backswing ill tell you that much because paul on my team has more cue power than jimmy or ronnie no fear.. and his pull back is short and quick. Heck of a lot to do with keeping your body/head absolutely motionless while the arm and more importantly the wrist remain fluid. Not easy to tighten everything up without the arm becoming tight also though.