Adjusting for application of side

[Smeeagain]

Hi fairly new to this and apologies if it is seen as a daft question , but let's say I want to screw back with right hand side, how do I adjust my aim in terms of where the cue ball strikes the object ball? Does it just come with practice and a feel for what is right or is there a way to work it out or visualise it somehow?

[cyberheater]

Hi fairly new to this and apologies if it is seen as a daft question , but let's say I want to screw back with right hand side, how do I adjust my aim in terms of where the cue ball strikes the object ball? Does it just come with practice and a feel for what is right or is there a way to work it out or visualise it somehow?

From hours and hours of playing those types of shot. There is no easy way to work out the offset. It depends on how much side you are putting on the white, how hard you hit the shot, what is the distance between them, what type of cloth is on the table, how much throw your cue induces etc....

It's a nightmare.

I'm slowly introducing it to my game for very simple shots. Everything else is plain ball.

[Smeeagain]

From hours and hours of playing those types of shot. There is no easy way to work out the offset. It depends on how much side you are putting on the white, how hard you hit the shot, what is the distance between them, what type of cloth is on the table, how much throw your cue induces etc....

It's a nightmare.

I'm slowly introducing it to my game for very simple shots. Everything else is plain ball.

Thanks - I thought that may be the case just wasn't sure - glad to know I haven't been missing anything obvious.

Smee

[Terry Davidson]

Smeeagain:

Unless you are consistently running 50+ breaks you shouldn't be using side very much at all, only for the break-off shot probably. In your example of a straight black with screw and side you may have made the ball and gotten your desired position but when you land straight on the black IT'S A MISTAKE (unless it's the last black).

Much better to teach yourself to always try and get 3/4 to 1/2 ball black position because then you can put the cueball anywhere on the table (without using side).

Terry

[ace man]

Of course landing straight-ish on a black is a mistake, but like it or not it will happen...a lot...it will happen even more if you play with fear that should you not leave yourself a decentangle, you are doomed because reverse side with screw is needed...etc...

We had this discussion before a few times IIRC. The general consensus was that while centre ball striking is the preferred way to go, it is also highly unlikely that average players will leave themselves nice workable angles all the time...

[thelongbomber]

Hi fairly new to this and apologies if it is seen as a daft question , but let's say I want to screw back with right hand side, how do I adjust my aim in terms of where the cue ball strikes the object ball? Does it just come with practice and a feel for what is right or is there a way to work it out or visualise it somehow?

As mentioned, avoid being straight whenever possible. But if you DO end up straight, adjusting aim isn't straightforward. In American pool, where shafts have a lot of flex, you can place your cue parallel to the centre ball line of aim, and strike. The cue then deflects while the cue ball goes nearly straight (even when hit off centre). Predator makes a cue shaft with high flex for this purpose. In snooker, however, if you placed your cue parallel to the centre ball line of aim, you would almost certainly see some deflection of the cue ball, since its lighter and you have nap, and you are using a stiffer shaft (assumed). Tip-time-on-contact also generates different results as well. If you have a tendency to stop the cue at the cue ball face vs accelerating your cue through the cue ball, you will also see different results. Experimentation and paying close attention to the results will give you the answer you seek.

Some videos to help you understand some aspects of what I mentioned:

https://www.youtube.com/user/kevy62/videos
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y3iLFFfEjvc

I can't find the video right now, but in the first link above, he has a video where he talks about stun vs stun run and how striking through the white creates different results.

[vmax4steve]

Hi fairly new to this and apologies if it is seen as a daft question , but let's say I want to screw back with right hand side, how do I adjust my aim in terms of where the cue ball strikes the object ball? Does it just come with practice and a feel for what is right or is there a way to work it out or visualise it somehow?

A good rule of thumb for playing with side is on angled shots aim for the near jaw of the pocket (both running and check side) and for straightish screw back shots with side aim for the jaw of the pocket opposite to the side you're applying.

The reasons for this are myriad and complicated but you don't need to know them to play shots with side. I got this from Ray Reardons book Classic Snooker so don't question it, or me, just apply the method described.

Get used to this and with experience will come the minor adjustments to this method needed for pace of shot, playing against, across or with the nap, playing side over distance, thick nap or worn nap etc.

It's not as hard as Terry says it is, don't be scared of side, you'll need it to be a better player as no one ever gets the correct angle all the time to play every shot centre ball.

[cyberheater]

A good rule of thumb for playing with side is on angled shots aim for the near jaw of the pocket (both running and check side).

I know you said don't ask but I don't understand that at all. How does that work?

[vmax4steve]

I know you said don't ask but I don't understand that at all. How does that work?

You don't need to know, just do it and you will see that it works. Knowing the why's and wherefores of everything will just put thoughts in your head that don't belong there.

[alabadi]

You don't need to know, just do it and you will see that it works. Knowing the why's and wherefores of everything will just put thoughts in your head that don't belong there.

classic..well put

[sprogbasket]

I don't agree with this depending upon check or running side then different allowances have to be made due to the initial throw of the cue ball.

I know you said don't ask but I don't understand that at all. How does that work?

[vmax4steve]

I don't agree with this depending upon check or running side then different allowances have to be made due to the initial throw of the cue ball.

It's a rule of thumb, a basic that more subtle changes can be made from. Ray Reardon teaches it, I learned from it and it's correct.
All to do with the nap of the cloth and how the spinning cue ball reacts to it. Understanding the details won't make any difference to the fact that as a starting point for learning to play with side, it works.

Experiment and find out for yourself.

[Smeeagain]

You don't need to know, just do it and you will see that it works. Knowing the why's and wherefores of everything will just put thoughts in your head that don't belong there.

Thats how religions start .... I cant prove he is there but just believe .......

To be fair I think some do do need/want to know and an explanation would be useful or a point in the right direction as to where they can find the path of true righteousness .......

[Terry Davidson]

I definitely find if I explain the 'why' to students first they understand the 'how' much better afterwards. Easiest place to start the 'how' is the break-off shot and then adjust their aim until they hit the end ball about 1/4-ball even though the cue is actually aiming outside to the right of the pack (for right-handers of course) due to initial throw.

Terry

[vmax4steve]

thats how religions start .... I cant prove he is there but just believe .......

to be fair i think some do do need/want to know and an explanation would be useful or a point in the right direction as to where they can find the path of true righteousness .......

I have been through all this before only to be shot down by those with certificates and others who link to those nonsensical pool videos about non deflecting cues and transmitted side putting the fear into all the beginners making them afraid to try.

Give it a go, there are 24 virgins awaiting you in breakbuilding heaven if you will only believe that Ray Reardon is the path to enlightenment.