Weight vs Length vs Timing question

[Sidd]

Hello everyone,

I have been playing on and off, whenever I can get some time, have been up to my sleeves with my bread and butter lately. the new cue is working fine I guess. I went in yesterday and was not able to play well and then all thoughts started coming in my mind about the grip changed cue length and weight etc but I did something this time with some struggle.. I kept on saying that its just about focus and nothing else and kept trying to be in my BOB cocoon and guess what- it worked near the end and the last three frames suddenly became a breeze

Anyway, my question here is that I have noticed that since I have changed my cue I am having trouble with deep screw shots. Deep screws have never bothered me before and I can easily screw any length of the table with ease and effortlessly. However, lately with this new cue I find that my CB does not travel as it used to with my old cue. Hmmm thinking what is wrong ?

My old cue was 60 inches long and about 21 ounces (yeah that heavy) and this new beauty is 58 inches and hardly 18.5 or 18.75 ounces.

I do not personally think that its the weight or length but its timing and I am not timing well but then just to seek advice from you all if the short / light cue might be asking me to alter some technique aspects ???

I am playing well overall I would say and yes with the bigger tip on this the effect of my side spin has been reduced. But I can get used to with that and my medium pots long pots slow dead weight rolls stuns and follow give me the required and intended position quite fine ... why are screw shots being messy.

I can still deep screw quite a length but I have to apply force and power much more than with my old cue.

Any ideas ???

Regards,
Sidd.

[Leo]

Would think it's more about your technique coming from a 60" to a 58" cue, in cue length terms 2" is massive and can change everything about a players technique in an instance, mainly your backswing I would think combined.

[vmax4steve]

Anyway, my question here is that I have noticed that since I have changed my cue I am having trouble with deep screw shots. Deep screws have never bothered me before and I can easily screw any length of the table with ease and effortlessly. However, lately with this new cue I find that my CB does not travel as it used to with my old cue. Hmmm thinking what is wrong ?

This is going to be the first of many, back to square one I'm afraid. I'm not one to say I told you so, but I did tell you so.

[j6uk]

i think we're talking about one step back and two steps forwards?!
sid sun shine, sick up a vid with you and your new cue then we can take it from there..

This is going to be the first of many, back to square one I'm afraid. I'm not one to say I told you so, but I did tell you so.

[Terry Davidson]

Sidd:

A 58" cue should be plenty for your height of 6ft. As j6 says we need to see a video in order to help you out. One question though, is your back (left) foot right underneath your grip (hold) hand? If it is behind so your toes are actually behind the back of the grip hand that could be why you're having some problems.

However, if all you've lost is the ability to screw the cueball 8ft on a 10ft shot but are still able to screw the ball well with shorter shots then I would say it's either the bigger tip or perhaps the shaft is a little more stiff than your last cue.

[trevs1]

Hello everyone,

I have been playing on and off, whenever I can get some time, have been up to my sleeves with my bread and butter lately. the new cue is working fine I guess. I went in yesterday and was not able to play well and then all thoughts started coming in my mind about the grip changed cue length and weight etc but I did something this time with some struggle.. I kept on saying that its just about focus and nothing else and kept trying to be in my BOB cocoon and guess what- it worked near the end and the last three frames suddenly became a breeze

Anyway, my question here is that I have noticed that since I have changed my cue I am having trouble with deep screw shots. Deep screws have never bothered me before and I can easily screw any length of the table with ease and effortlessly. However, lately with this new cue I find that my CB does not travel as it used to with my old cue. Hmmm thinking what is wrong ?

My old cue was 60 inches long and about 21 ounces (yeah that heavy) and this new beauty is 58 inches and hardly 18.5 or 18.75 ounces.

I do not personally think that its the weight or length but its timing and I am not timing well but then just to seek advice from you all if the short / light cue might be asking me to alter some technique aspects ???

I am playing well overall I would say and yes with the bigger tip on this the effect of my side spin has been reduced. But I can get used to with that and my medium pots long pots slow dead weight rolls stuns and follow give me the required and intended position quite fine ... why are screw shots being messy.

I can still deep screw quite a length but I have to apply force and power much more than with my old cue.

Any ideas ???

Regards,
Sidd.

Sidd,

I think you might have answered your own question to some extent here. Reading through your post, the parts which stand out for me are highlighted in bold.

If any player I knew that had no prior trouble with generating screw on the white, suddenly starts to have trouble doing so, I would question their technique and striking of the cueball first and foremost. You would need to ensure contact was low enough and correct in terms of delivery through the ball. However, if they said the problem was only evident since they had changed their cue, and, that generally speaking, they were actually playing fairly well for their own level, then I would be looking at the cue first.

A player who has at least some ability, even someone who can only perhaps make the odd fifty break, will notice the difference between a responsive cue and a less than responsive cue. Of course, more proficient players will notice it even more, as their understanding of what they are asking of the cue will be far more refined and consistent. I cannot speak for where you fit in this "ladder" of standard of play, but, it's clear that you know how to get some action on the ball by what you say you were able to do previously with your old cue. Length, weight, stiffness, tip size and condition are (or can be) ALL aspects of what can affect the ease by which spin can be applied to the cueball.

I am only saying this because I feel it might be a shame to go through all sorts of technical self analysis when the issue all along was about the cue, and not yourself. Getting "overly" technical can (and often does for many) spoil the enjoyment of the game, as well as inhibiting development.

I hope you resolve your problem.

[Master Blaster]

Play some test shots (in the balls, medium, long pot) with both cues using the same technique and see what happens. You still have the old cue right? Mark the start and finish position of the cue ball with a bit of chalk. Pick one of the two cues to play with after the comparison. Sell the other cue or use it as back up.

[Ramon]

Sidd,

I think you might have answered your own question to some extent here. Reading through your post, the parts which stand out for me are highlighted in bold.

If any player I knew that had no prior trouble with generating screw on the white, suddenly starts to have trouble doing so, I would question their technique and striking of the cueball first and foremost. You would need to ensure contact was low enough and correct in terms of delivery through the ball. However, if they said the problem was only evident since they had changed their cue, and, that generally speaking, they were actually playing fairly well for their own level, then I would be looking at the cue first.

A player who has at least some ability, even someone who can only perhaps make the odd fifty break, will notice the difference between a responsive cue and a less than responsive cue. Of course, more proficient players will notice it even more, as their understanding of what they are asking of the cue will be far more refined and consistent. I cannot speak for where you fit in this "ladder" of standard of play, but, it's clear that you know how to get some action on the ball by what you say you were able to do previously with your old cue. Length, weight, stiffness, tip size and condition are (or can be) ALL aspects of what can affect the ease by which spin can be applied to the cueball.

I am only saying this because I feel it might be a shame to go through all sorts of technical self analysis when the issue all along was about the cue, and not yourself. Getting "overly" technical can (and often does for many) spoil the enjoyment of the game, as well as inhibiting development.

I hope you resolve your problem.

+10 ,,,,,,,,,,,,

[ace man]

I always had trouble generating cue power when trying out somebody else's brand new cue. Same thing happened when I got mine brand new. Or every time when a brand new tip was put on. Somehow I have this love/hate relationship with novelty of equipment...feels nice, but makes my cue action somewhat hesitant and not very positive at all. Subcosciously scared of damage? Who knows.
Some players are like that, very very hesitant with brand new stuff. Others really enjoy borrowing other people cues and then show off with better cue action than normal.
Maybe what you need to do is give it some serious time for the feeling of novelty to wear off. Plus, your new cue is radically different in specs to the previous one it seems. This also has to affect confidence.

[Sidd]

Thanks for your kind responses.

Seems like its about time I put up a video soon so you can see what is happening and suggest accordingly. I shall have a few clips uploaded soon. In the meanwhile, I am trying to shape and bed in my new tip. Its rather big for me but I am careful in not destroying it in the process of shaping it, as its a medium soft elk masters. Lets see about that.

Sidd.

[Sidd]

I always had trouble generating cue power when trying out somebody else's brand new cue. Same thing happened when I got mine brand new. Or every time when a brand new tip was put on. Somehow I have this love/hate relationship with novelty of equipment...feels nice, but makes my cue action somewhat hesitant and not very positive at all. Subcosciously scared of damage? Who knows.
Some players are like that, very very hesitant with brand new stuff. Others really enjoy borrowing other people cues and then show off with better cue action than normal.
Maybe what you need to do is give it some serious time for the feeling of novelty to wear off. Plus, your new cue is radically different in specs to the previous one it seems. This also has to affect confidence.

I am not sure its the wearing off of novelty but well who knows. Knowing my OCPD and the things she makes me do, yes I am a person who has done so since childhood. when I had a new video game after playing it had to be packed the way the pack was opened for at least two months and then wow where did I put the damn joystick happened The soles of new trainers have to be cleaned after use hahaha for at least two months and then well hey has anyone seen my trainers. But with the cue, I am not sure as I go for the shots without caring for the novelty etc but well time shall tell.

[Sidd]

Sidd,

I think you might have answered your own question to some extent here. Reading through your post, the parts which stand out for me are highlighted in bold.

If any player I knew that had no prior trouble with generating screw on the white, suddenly starts to have trouble doing so, I would question their technique and striking of the cueball first and foremost. You would need to ensure contact was low enough and correct in terms of delivery through the ball. However, if they said the problem was only evident since they had changed their cue, and, that generally speaking, they were actually playing fairly well for their own level, then I would be looking at the cue first.

A player who has at least some ability, even someone who can only perhaps make the odd fifty break, will notice the difference between a responsive cue and a less than responsive cue. Of course, more proficient players will notice it even more, as their understanding of what they are asking of the cue will be far more refined and consistent. I cannot speak for where you fit in this "ladder" of standard of play, but, it's clear that you know how to get some action on the ball by what you say you were able to do previously with your old cue. Length, weight, stiffness, tip size and condition are (or can be) ALL aspects of what can affect the ease by which spin can be applied to the cueball.

I am only saying this because I feel it might be a shame to go through all sorts of technical self analysis when the issue all along was about the cue, and not yourself. Getting "overly" technical can (and often does for many) spoil the enjoyment of the game, as well as inhibiting development.

I hope you resolve your problem.

Indeed... Many thanks

[Sidd]

Just a little update. I haven't played much lately but well I did manage some time in the club. I went in and simply sanded off the extra bit of the tip hanging out of the ferrule and tried it down to my liking, which means that the tip should not be a mushroom and should be just fit in terms be the ferrule. Then I shaped it again and guess what... Breaks of 20 odds and 30 odds are back again.

I have been playing really smoothly and am pretty relaxed on the table now that my timing and confidence is back. As for the deep long screws - hey guys - I am back to my normal self Not having enough screw is not the problem anymore how to stop the cue ball on my screw shots is the problem now

This means it was the tip and I have known now that I can't play with a 10mm and 9.5-9.8 is the best for me. So I shall always get a bigger tip on the ferrule i.e. 10mm and then trim it to my liking.

No chance for the video yet, will upload very soon indeed !

Sidd.

[hotpot]

You will not get the same reaction from a mushroom tip as one that is flush

[Sidd]

You will not get the same reaction from a mushroom tip as one that is flush

Exactly. With the Mushroom I found out that I was always missing think and the amount of spin / side was not as much as I used to get. Now with eh Flush, as you call it, I am back in confidence ! So it was the tip after all !!! I mean the shape and size of it !