Strange problem, hard to summarise!

[andyukguy]

Sorry about the dodgy title to this thread, but I've had this "issue" for all the years I've been playing. Basically, if I get straight down and hit a shot (practically) as soon as my bridge hand comes into contact with the cloth I pot the desired ball 80%+, no kidding that high. Long, short, cuts... anything. Of course playing in this way means it's impossible for me to add intentional side, backspin and I'm hardly in control of the cue balls destiny.

When I go down, do some feathering (which feels natural to me) and take a more usual approach to shots time wise my success rate drops right down to 45-50%

My question is: why?! What happens when I spend more time? Why is it even possible that I can basically still be on the way down into my stance and hit the shot and pot the ball with far more consistency than the more measured approach? Of course, I'd love for someone to give me a quick fix but I'm not so sure this problem can be easily diagnosed! In my mind I think I must be half decent at sighting a pot, and putting the cue through straight as I can pot with good consistency with the above speedy approach, but something must change that I can't figure out when I go the normal (for me slower) route.

Thanks,

Andrew

[Watford]

Hmmmm
Seeing as no one else has jumped in I'll try to help!
I have some experience of this, I used to fly round the table wapping everything in but my cue ball control was rubbish. Over the last year I've work on my control and slowed down, cue in a more measured way etc.
The thing is my potting has suffered a little, I've lost some rhythm and I seem to get more nervous.
I think that the change is still for the best in the end and will pay dividends in the end.

If you can't use screw and side you will struggle to improve. One thing I could suggest is rather than feathering you could point and shoot like Marco Fu does!
As you address the shot; first of all point the cue at the spot you want to hit on the white (bottom, top, side) draw the cue back once then shoot!
This works for Marco and you wont feel like your down on the shot too long!
Hope this helps!

[andyukguy]

Thank you very much for your reply. I was actually thinking that perhaps I could emulate what I do in the quick way by getting down and simply having a rather long pause on my back swing, the feathering could be the issue. The only problem is the long pause does feel very strange! But perhaps after a few sessions it might start to become second nature. Worth a try of course.

Any other opinions on this still welcome! It's obviously very frustrating to be able to pot balls but in a way which is of no use to improve my game!!

Andrew

[Watford]

Try it and see how you feel!
I'd also try pointing and shooting without a long pause!
Hopefully you could still be quick but the pointing may help you to get the spin going!

[andyukguy]

Try it and see how you feel!
I'd also try pointing and shooting without a long pause!
Hopefully you could still be quick but the pointing may help you to get the spin going!

Can you elaborate a bit, because in my mind that's what I've been doing just getting down, not feathering and hitting straight away...

Do you mean perhaps not pulling the cue back and simply moving forward through the cueball a bit like Dave Harold?

Andrew

[Watford]

No I don't mean like Dave Harold I don't think!
I think really do what your doing but make sure you start off by pointing the cue closly at the point on the white you want to hit, then pull the cue back and hit through!
If you point at were you want to hit the whit you should the stick the ball with desired spin while hopefully keeping your game feeling naturel!

It's a shame Marcos not in the UK so you could watch him!
I think he does pause on the backswing though!