Using side for certain pots?

[cyberheater]

You've had 3 max breaks and you have never had to pot a ball that didn't quite go by using a bit of side to turn it ?

Okay

Now I understand it.

[OmaMiesta]

I really wish the line up clearance by John Spencer was on YouTube or something like that, he talked through every shot to show you don't need to use side, I was only a lad when this was shown on the BBC I rekon its thirty plus years since I saw it first, then it was shown the next year, as it was requested by someone(back in the days when folk had to write in lol) I'm sure it was something they showed between sessions of a tourney on the BBC. Unfortunately I have never seen it again, I might get in touch with the Beeb and see if I can get a copy.

No I know youre not suppose to use side alot once your in amongst the balls, im talking strictly for long or difficult pots

[OmaMiesta]

Jimmy white and Alex were all over the place with cue striking yet they always managed to compensate well and deliver the cue effectly despite probably always using side with their strokes haha.

[narl]

Jimmy white and Alex were all over the place with cue striking yet they always managed to compensate well and deliver the cue effectly despite probably always using side with their strokes haha.

White has a really weird way of addressing the ball, he always aims bottom centre as if he's going to screw the ball but moves the cue to where he wants it as he delivers the strike. Surprising that its something he can do, aiming bottom centre for a shot that requires top left and only moving the cue up when you're hitting it seems very awkward to me.

[j6uk]

its a myth and so wrong, don't believe the hype

Jimmy white and Alex were all over the place with cue striking yet they always managed to compensate well and deliver the cue effectly despite probably always using side with their strokes haha.

[cyberheater]

White has a really weird way of addressing the ball, he always aims bottom centre as if he's going to screw the ball

I think he does this to ensure he's hitting the centre of the ball.

[j6uk]

jimmy and higgins were very sound technique wise, especially our alex

[j6uk]

its only until i started to play two point contact that really appreciated and understood what they were really all about

[Byrom]

I would never bash Canadians Terry - as some of the critique really does go a bit far sometimes

[cyberheater]

its only until i started to play two point contact that really appreciated and understood what they were really all about

I've slowly coming around to using this style. My chin doesn't quite sit on the cue and I don't have any chest contact. I find I can push the cue through a lot straighter just using a two point contact.

[rimmer10]

How did this turn into 'bash the Canadians'?

Just transcontinental banter Terry. Being Austrian here's a tribute to the Canadian us Austrians feared the most. One of the 4 "Crazy Canucks" as they were known at the time.

Absolute legends!

[Ramon]

White has a really weird way of addressing the ball, he always aims bottom centre as if he's going to screw the ball but moves the cue to where he wants it as he delivers the strike. Surprising that its something he can do, aiming bottom centre for a shot that requires top left and only moving the cue up when you're hitting it seems very awkward to me.

I always play this way !! aim bottom center of the CB !!! I do it because it makes two things easy for me: 1- find the center of The CB - 2 - deliver the cue parallel W the table. .. With Screw back shots , I do the opposite. I aim The top point of the CB. watch and follow the cue W my eyes coming back during backswn. and then Delivery ..... !!! useing two point contact makes it easy for me to use the side and helping side as well ( to hit the CB as close to the center as possible and not too far outside ) . Anyway, I think it is a matter of personal preference !!

[Terry Davidson]

I always play this way !! aim bottom center of the CB !!! I do it because it makes two things easy for me: 1- find the center of The CB - 2 - deliver the cue parallel W the table. .. With Screw back shots , I do the opposite. I aim The top point of the CB. watch and follow the cue W my eyes coming back during backswn. and then Delivery ..... !!! useing two point contact makes it easy for me to use the side and helping side as well ( to hit the CB as close to the center as possible and not too far outside ) . Anyway, I think it is a matter of personal preference !!

The only problem I see with your method is you have a lot more to coordinate in your backswing and delivery and as you age a bit this will become much more difficult to control efficiently. I think this one reason is why a lot of the really good younger pros fall away as they get over 35 years old or so. A case in point would be Hendry, however Ronnie looks like he's holding it together pretty well in his (relative) old age.

I think with cueing technique the KISS rule really applies (not the MISS rule) and that is 'Keep It Stupid Simple or Keep It Simple Stupid'.

[cyberheater]

I was practicing black to yellow today and a trace of running side really helps on the position side of that shot.

I also had a straight shot on the black and managed a near perfect reverse side screw shot to get on the yellow. Very nice. That is a tough shot to execute well.

[Byrom]

I feel there are players more comfortable with using it than others - what is perhaps more natural for onemista and myself might be more difficult to execute or unnatural for the likes of Terry by the sounds of it - though it does sunrise me that anyone can make a 147 and not understand or care how to use side to control the white in play naturally fractions on the line of the shot are easier to find.

Terry imagine you finish straight on a black you can only go forward or back and you need to get the white into the middle of the table for the next red how do you do it?

You are low on a red and straight and you need to get stun fractionally the other side of the line for the blue in the middle without hitting a cush - going straight would be in off how do you make the red and finish top side of the blue?

You need to pot black and come up for yellow as described above - without potting the black with a trace of side the shot is harder to gain position.

I cannot believe that you don't know how to turn a shot over or play the soft swerve if you are at such a high standard of play and you don't believe helping side exists?

I don't use side all the time myself but often use traces of it there are certain shots I find easier with it - surely you must have ONE shot you use side on and you must use side off the cushions in a game for position and for your safety surely?