Cueing across the cue ball

[JimJam]

Hi everyone. Recently I have had a nightmare of a time with my potting. I am finding that 80-90% of all shots I miss are hitting the right side of the intended pocket - I assume this means that I am cueing across the ball from right to left, it is very frustrating trying to point a finger at and correct a fundamental fault in my setup that is causing this problem so I wonder if anyone has had similar experiences or has any ideas? I find slowing down my cue action and concentrating on cueing straight helps reduce the problem but it's difficult not to concentrate on correcting a fault that I know is there before I move on with my game.

[nrage]

Are you right handed? If so, and you're hitting the right of the pocket, then you must also be hitting the right of the white, sending it to the left, sending the object to the right.

What happens when you play the white up/down the spots? .. At various speeds .. Do you hit the rail where you intend? Does the white arc/curve to get there? Does it come directly back off the rail, or go off at an angle?

The most common cause for this problem is tightening the grip too early. Ideally your grip should be loose enough that the cue slides relatively easily in it - it basically encases the cue without applying any pressure, as if you were holding a baby bird or something else precious/breakable. So, on the stroke the grip starts like this, and stays like this until the tip of the cue hits the white, only after that is the grip allowed to tighten - tho to be honest, if you get the pressure right it doesn't need to - the cue will not go flying out across the table.

When you tighten before striking the white the cue will slow (reducing speed, cue power, and screw) and move off-line (like braking hard in a car can do).

Another possible cause is sighting and alignment. When you get down on the shot how close to the white is your cue tip. The further away it is, the more likely you are not lined up straight - but simply cannot see it. Get the tip as close as 1/2 inch or less, and if you don't already, introduce a front pause where just before the final back swing you focus on the cue tip, and where it is (almost) touching the white and make sure it's dead center (or where you intend).

If you can, get a mate to check your alignment from above, and directly in front of you. If they reckon you're off line, then you might have your head/chin in the wrong place relative to the cue. A very slight twist of the head left or right, or shift of the head/body left or right will correct this. What you're aiming for is to have it "look" right to you, and actually be right, when you're down on the shot.

[Terry Davidson]

What he said

Terry

[JimJam]

The strange thing is that my cueing is very straight up and down the spots - I saw a coach who said he thought it looked ok with the loose grip etc.

I notice the problem mostly when I am practicing long straight blues from both sides of the table. I never play with much power to concentrate on the loose grip and if anything I make more pots when I practice power shots - screwing back into the other corner pocket.

The reason I think it must be the left side of the cue ball Is that on long shots I would expect the arc of the cue ball to 'outdo' the effects of any squirt if left hand side is applied.

The other potential problem of course is if I am actually cueing centre ball but sighting incorrectly...

[JimJam]

The strange thing is that my cueing is very straight up and down the spots - I saw a coach who said he thought it looked ok with the loose grip etc.

I notice the problem mostly when I am practicing long straight blues from both sides of the table. I never play with much power to concentrate on the loose grip and if anything I make more pots when I practice power shots - screwing back into the other corner pocket.

The reason I think it must be the left side of the cue ball Is that on long shots I would expect the arc of the cue ball to 'outdo' the effects of any squirt if left hand side is applied.

The other potential problem of course is if I am actually cueing centre ball but sighting incorrectly...

[nrage]

Hmm.. tricky one then. Can you get a video of yourself potting long blues. From front, back and side (where we can see the cue). Play 10 with screw back, and 10 softly. I am hoping we will be able to 'see' a possible cause/problem in the 10 softer shots, which we can't see in the 10 with screw back - for example.

[JimJam]

Hmm.. tricky one then. Can you get a video of yourself potting long blues. From front, back and side (where we can see the cue). Play 10 with screw back, and 10 softly. I am hoping we will be able to 'see' a possible cause/problem in the 10 softer shots, which we can't see in the 10 with screw back - for example.

Cheers, will do my best!

[JimJam]

What he said

Terry

Terry, out of interest, since you have been coaching - have you come across someone who hits centre cue ball, cues reasonably straight, but consistently misses due to aiming incorrectly/not having their master eye over the cue?