cueing to the left. help needed.

[Suke]

I try to test what's the problem with my cue action with some long straight blue to the corner pocket.
During my feathering, the action is straight ( to my knowledge at least) and pointing to the center of the corner pocket.
Then at the rear pause, I switch my sight from the cue ball to the object ball.
I deliver with a not too tight grip, then when the right hand hits the chest I pause and usually the cue is pointing to the left when I miss.
I'm wondering what is usual reason for this?
any help is appreciated.

[nrage]

So, you're right handed, and at the end of delivery the cue is pointing to the left.

Does the blue miss the pocket on the same side each time?

Does it miss by the same amount each time?

Just because the tip ends up on the left at the end, doesn't mean it was left of center when it struck the white. So, sometimes looking at where it is at the end, doesn't help figure out what is going wrong.

If you can, get a video of yourself potting long blues. Try to get it from directly over the blue pocket, so you can see the cue, grip hand, white, blue and the pocket is out of shot in the center of the video.

I use my mobile phone, and a joby gorillapod as a tripod:
http://joby.com/

My phone is just a standard smart phone (HTC desire original), with the joby I can mount the camera literally right over the pocket, or attach it to a nearby pole, or stairway, or.. whatever. It allows me to film my action from in front, behind and to the side.

Next, download kinovea: (FREE)
http://www.kinovea.org/

Load the video up, and watch it back in slow-mo. Use a zoom box to zoom into the area of the white and try to find the exact moment of impact with the white. Check the angle of the cue, grip hand, etc at this point.

If you cannot spot anything from this angle, try filming from closer i.e. get a mate to film from above, or right behind, or similar.

[Terry Davidson]

It's very normal in a right-handed player for the tip of the cue to end up a little left of the line of aim. What is important though is WHEN this occurs.

When the hand hits the chest the butt will normally move to the right just from the contact.

My recommendation would be to video yourself and using software analyse your backswing and delivery and see how straight the cue is going. If you discover that the tip of the cue is to the left of centre at the time of striking then you do have a problem you must correct.

Play long blue stop shots with the camera covering from the top of your right elbow down to about 6in in front of the cueball and use (freeware) Kinovea to play it back frame-by-frame. Watch the tip at time of contact and then wind back and watch the cue over the leather of the yellow pocket and see where in the delivery the cue butt is moving to the right as the leather provides a very good reference point.

Terry