Best drill for practising driving the cue through straight.

[cyberheater]

I'm really working on getting a really good cueing action.

I've been practising potting longs straight reds. Basically put a line of ten reds between in the two middle pockets. Place white behind the balk line and try to pocket the reds in the bottom pockets.

Does anyone have any other routines that would help me deliver my cue though straight.

[checkSide]

Practice straight pots from all over the table... Particularly bridging on/off, or near to the cushions... right up to dead straight pots from under the cushion itself. This will hone your action and your bridge.

End with the ultimate straight cueing shot. Place the blue on its spot and the white on the brown spot. Hit the blue straight over the pink and black spots so it double kisses the cue ball back to your cue. Good luck!

[RocketRoy1983]

Good exercise check side! My favourite is to place two reds barely more than a balls width either side of the blue, pink and black spots and cue from the brown spot. Very similar to yours and needs very accurate centre ball striking.

O/P please keep us updated with your progress.

[cyberheater]

Thanks guys. The only problem with using the blue and brown spots is that they are not perfectly in line and have a small dent on all the tables in my club.

I like the idea of trying straight shots from all over the table including tight on the cushions. I will try that today.

I've got a weeks holiday but my wife is working and my kids are at school so intend to get a good couple of 4 hour training sessions at the club this week

[cueman]

you can't beat a dremel IMO.

[cyberheater]

That was hard work. Spent 4 hours just playing one straight long red after another. Must have potted hundreds of long reds.

A couple of things I've noticed.

1. I have an issue sighting the ball. It's really hard to picture a dot on the centre of a red ball. It took a while for my eyes and brain to get that right. Also noticed that sometimes my eyes would drift from that spot. Had to really force myself to keep my eyes on that spot and not move until the balls stopped moving. When I did that my pot success rate shot up.

2. My cueing needs a bit of work. At first I was barely potting balls but halfway through. I was managing to get 4 or 5 reds in a row. Once again due to correct sighting and putting a fairly large pause and then slowly bringing my arm through straight until my cueing hand hit my chest.

3. It's really hard to concentrate over that length of time. I feel quite tired.

I'm looking forward to trying that again.

[Terry Davidson]

cyber:

I don't know what age you are, however I've found that players over 40yrs get a big benefit out of using a FRONT pause (after the feathers and before the final backswing) and during that front pause to focus and lock their eyes on the object ball.

I have never been able to focus on a 'spot' on the object ball mentally and I use the ghost ball thing where I imagine a ghost cueball in the plant position and then just aim for the centre of that ghost cueball. I find this much easier although I have to admit I now believe my aiming is more from experience than trying to imagine a ghost cueball.

Terry

[cyberheater]

Terry

Yes I am over 40 and strangely enough I've been putting a front pause after the feathers and before the final backswing and it does help me to centre my eyes and mind on the spot on the object ball.

I do have a big issue with cueing consistency. I also practised at least 50 long reds today. Sometimes. I can get get 5 or 6 in a row and sometimes I have to wait 3 or 4 shots before downing another. It's very frustrating not have a consistent cueing action.

But I am improving.

I was also better able to sight the potting point of the OB today. I really do think at the moment that it's my biggest issue. It's really hard to aim at the centre of things or maybe just slightly to one side if the pots a shade off centre.

[ADR147]

I'm really working on getting a really good cueing action.

I've been practising potting longs straight reds. Basically put a line of ten reds between in the two middle pockets. Place white behind the balk line and try to pocket the reds in the bottom pockets.

Does anyone have any other routines that would help me deliver my cue though straight.

can't speak for others but i like to set the white just the wrong side of the blue and practise top spin of 3 or 4 cushions to get down to the business end.

[cyberheater]

I'll give this a go next time I'm practising. I do consider my top spin to be quite weak really. My screw shots are fine. If anything. I find it too easy to over screw.