Judder....Judder....Judder

[Sidd]

Hate to disagree with everyone but this sounds to me like some upper body movement on the delivery or perhaps moving up on the backswing.

First and foremost, ensure you are keeping your head still as any movement at all will take the cue off-line.

In addition, ensure you eyes are locked on the object ball when you deliver the cue. It doesn't have to be a specific spot (which I find hard to imagine) just have the eyes locked on the object ball itself with the idea that the cueball will cover a portion of the object ball when it reaches it, this portion being getting the cueball into the plant position on the object ball.

Terry

Imagining a ghost ball has been very very hard for me so I dont do it, as i just couldnt. my line from the pocket to the OB is rather like a laser beam very fine and thin and then it pierces in the OB and comes out from the other end, which is my spot to keep in my eyes and go down having my eyes locked on it.... Terry if you do not have to imagine an exact spot but just take an idea and then go down then its rather easy to do. I have been trying to fix my eyes on an imaginary spot by the way...

[Terry Davidson]

Sidd:

The spot you imagine would be the contact point between the balls when in the plant position, which is exactly the same as my own ghost ball. I just find it too difficult to try and imagine a spot on the object ball being hit by the leading edge of the cueball.

However, all that said, most really good players insist aiming properly comes from experience and tons of practice until the player recognizes the proper line of aim. I don't really imagine a ghost cueball against the object ball as again I find this a difficult thing to do, however by now I have enough experience that I will recognize the correct potting angle for any shot and my difficulty is delivering the cue consistently straight along that potting angle. This is why I insist most pots are missed because the cue was not delivered straight for one reason or another rather than blaming choosing the wrong line of aim.

I would also like to add (for 'bluenose') that I said improvement becomes harder after one passes 30yrs of age but I didn't say it was impossible. I am still improving (in very small increments I must admit) and I'm now 68yrs old. It takes a lot of practice and especially a lot of solo practice to just maintain my skill level, never mind trying to improve it.

Terry

[vmax4steve]

Two point contact is when you just use the bridge hand and the so called grip hand. This is the stand-up style, no chest or chin involved.
This lad I talk about would have to stop every now and then to wipe his nose, hanky in left pocket and chalk in the right
Very very consistent, one chance 40+. He taught me a forward game, rolling balls in and moving the white around by going forwards. I don't remember him using a lot of back rotation, just a tad here and there.

Old bloke who learned the game using the old crystalate balls which were heavy and difficult to screw back any great distance. I learned to use side from an old bloke like him who played a topspin/sidespin game using a very old unbadged ash cue with an 11mm tip on it. It was a joy to watch him play around the top of the table, and a lot of people thought he was lucky with his cannons but he was also a very good billiards player and knew what he was doing.

[j6uk]

I also find the better I control the white the luckier I get

It was a joy to watch him play around the top of the table, and a lot of people thought he was lucky with his cannons but he was also a very good billiards player and knew what he was doing.

[j6uk]

Yeah I know what you mean, everyone loves the driver! I carry around in the boot a hours-whip, lightsaber and a 9 iron just in case.. Go to the driving range (though very rarely) whip it out the 9, get a bucket and have a chip. I feel if I ever do get on the course at some point in the future I'll know how to handle it at the end of the hole, when the pressure is on

It's interesting what you say about the 'old boys' - it's the same on the golf course too. You watch the youngsters trying to knock the hell out of the ball and an 80 year old steps on the tee and just strokes it straight up the middle! There's a 93 year old at our local club and he still amazes onlookers!