Still struggling with screwback

[bluenose1940]

As per the thread title.

I am really struggling to get any consistently reasonable amount of screwback when I am playing. Most of the time I can only manage to screw the ball back about 8 or 9 inches, quite often even less than that, with the very very occasional 12 to 18 inches.

When I play this shot, I get the cue as low as possible at 6 oclock on the cue ball, with the cue as parallel to the table as possible but, I have noticed when watching other players that have much better success at it, that they seem to play the cue ball about 1/3rd of the way up (towards the centre of the cue ball) with the tip angled down as if aiming towards the cloth on the other side of the cueball. This seems to generate much more spin.

So FRUSTRATING!!!!

[Catch 22]

As per the thread title.

I am really struggling to get any consistently reasonable amount of screwback when I am playing. Most of the time I can only manage to screw the ball back about 8 or 9 inches, quite often even less than that, with the very very occasional 12 to 18 inches.

When I play this shot, I get the cue as low as possible at 6 oclock on the cue ball, with the cue as parallel to the table as possible but, I have noticed when watching other players that have much better success at it, that they seem to play the cue ball about 1/3rd of the way up (towards the centre of the cue ball) with the tip angled down as if aiming towards the cloth on the other side of the cueball. This seems to generate much more spin.

So FRUSTRATING!!!!

Do you have a smart phone ? If so they all have a slow mo video feature . Use that to see if your tip strikes the ball where you intended . It may be that you do something subconsciously that raises the tip a little bit .

[Bigmeek]

Similar problems myself but working hard to improve. Imperative to try and cue smoothly. Absolute MUST to push the cue right through or you get no reaction on the white. The other thing I notice is that if I grip the butt too tight I get no screw back. Just to repeat myself you need to go for MORE smooth and LESS power. You'll know when you've done it right.

[OmaMiesta]

Its most likely your grip or follow through. Try holding the cue looser and tighten during the strike with good timing. Follow through with the cue until you feel your hand touch your chest and try not to hesitate or worry about the cueball coming back to hit your cue.

[bluenose1940]

Thanks chaps, good advice.

A short while ago I decided to use a much looser grip and have found that this is helping my game. I was watching Mark Allen recently and he plays with a very loose grip.

I think too that there might be something in the thought that I'm not hitting the white where I think I am. Perhaps I should give 'cue ball sighting' a bit of a trial...............therein lies another story eh!

[Big Splash!]

Thanks chaps, good advice.

A short while ago I decided to use a much looser grip and have found that this is helping my game. I was watching Mark Allen recently and he plays with a very loose grip.

I think too that there might be something in the thought that I'm not hitting the white where I think I am. Perhaps I should give 'cue ball sighting' a bit of a trial...............therein lies another story eh!

Here's an interesting test. Place the CB next to the red with a two inch gap. Attempt to screw back as far as you can. Aim for at least 6ft. The trick is to raise the cue butt and dig down but not hit the table. This test will teach you just how much can be done with so little follow through and highlight that it's where we hit the ball that counts for a lot. At the moment, you are not hitting low enough. You should aim to leave a tiny graze of chalk on the bed. This will feel weird at first to you, like you are trying to play a jump shot but that's how low you go, with plenty of chalk on the tip to stop the mis-cueing you fear. The same is true with top-spin. Many players hit a stun-top shot and square the CB up afterwards by mistake. Aim to be just a tip width below the top edge of the ball for top-spin and vice-versa for screw.

[lennon11]

If you do have a loose grip and are cueing low enough,i would hazard a guess that you are probably not driving through the cue ball enough and probably punching it almost like a stun action??

[Cue crafty]

As per the thread title.

I am really struggling to get any consistently reasonable amount of screwback when I am playing. Most of the time I can only manage to screw the ball back about 8 or 9 inches, quite often even less than that, with the very very occasional 12 to 18 inches.

When I play this shot, I get the cue as low as possible at 6 oclock on the cue ball, with the cue as parallel to the table as possible but, I have noticed when watching other players that have much better success at it, that they seem to play the cue ball about 1/3rd of the way up (towards the centre of the cue ball) with the tip angled down as if aiming towards the cloth on the other side of the cueball. This seems to generate much more spin.

So FRUSTRATING!!!!

Practice potting dead straight blues into the middle pocket with the CB about 12inches away, the aim is to screw back into the opposite middle pocket with as little effort and pace as possible. You imagine the CB is not there and feel like you are trying to reach the blue with your tip. There is no HIT in a screw shot, you should be pushing the tip through the CB as if it isn't there. Once you can do this with no effort, you will fully understand how the screw shot feels.

[Terry Davidson]

The main reason is you're not hitting the cueball low enough. DO NOT RAISE THE BUTT OF THE CUE, rather drop the height of the bridge hand. The tip should be just brushing the cloth. If you are afraid of mis-cueing then get a spare piece of cloth and place it behind the cueball so you don't harm the cloth.

Loose grip, slow backswing, drive through to the chest with the grip hand. This method cannot fail if you follow it.

[j6uk]

its timing bluenose, and the more screw or distance between balls the better the timing needs to be.. as has been said you could get someone to do a video of you with a phone so we can see where your at

[bluenose1940]

I think that in the normal course of events I am hitting the ball low enough, on occasion I manage to jump over the object ball, I think that if I was cueing too high then that wouldn't happen.

I think that if I were to be videoed, we would probably see that I am 'stabbing' at the cue ball. I'm pretty convinced of this. I will concentrate on a smoother action and follow through when I play again on Tuesday to see if I can master this problem. I think that I have it in mind at the moment that if I 'stab' the ball, I will impart more spin.

[sealer]

Do you practice the shot a lot?

[bluenose1940]

Do you practice the shot a lot?

Unfortunately not sealer. I don't get a lot of opportunity to practice. I must endeavour to make the time methinks.

[jonny66]

Don't think you'll ever master a good screw shot without practising it, match shots don't give you enough feedback on what went right or wrong on the shot. Get on the practice table with what you've been told on here and you should have it down after a couple of hours.

[sealer]

Yes it is all about practice I am afraid. Countless hours work best :-)
If you cannot, 5 min before every game will change things a lot. Just remember to apply all of the basics of a good screw shot when practising.