This might just be a stupid question...

[bluenose1940]

I am wondering what players are actually doing when they are 'feathering' Are they actually making microscopic/miniscule/atom sized adjustments to their line of aim?

We have a player at our club who doesn't feather at all. He looks at the shot and I assume that he makes the decision as to where he needs to hit the object ball, he then gets down ready to play, he then puts the tip of his cue about 1/8th of an inch from the point where he wants to hit the cue ball, he then waits for about 10 seconds and then he plays the shot. I have intended to ask him what is going through his mind at the point of address but I haven't got round to it yet. What could he be thinking during that 10 seconds?

And so the question is, what is the point of feathering? I do it myself but, am I doing it because I have seen the pro's doing it on TV.

I'm not 100% certain of this but I seem to remember seeing that Marco Fu is a non-featherer

Apologies if this does seem a bit daft.

[andy carson]

practicing the line of the shot and getting a "feel" for it i would imagine... never really wondered myself before

[jonny66]

I'm a bit of a non featherer, I did used to feather but as you say, just because I'd seen pros doing it on TV. I do give the cue some very slight wobbles now to try and take any tension out of my arm, but bigger feathers just upset the feeling of the cue in my hand and make me worry about whether I'm cueing straight too much.

[tomwalker147]

I've always feathered since picking up a cue, god knows why.
Recently I changed my feathering so that it is exactly the same number of feathers on each shot, I've found this has helped with my rhythm and stopped me missing silly shots mid break.
Scoring has improved as has my positional play.

[Byrom]

I've always feathered since picking up a cue, god knows why.
Recently I changed my feathering so that it is exactly the same number of feathers on each shot, I've found this has helped with my rhythm and stopped me missing silly shots mid break.
Scoring has improved as has my positional play.

good advice - consistent n robotic the way to go a la Selby you think?

Well all have our ways - sticking to them consistently perhaps key....one player that always confused me with pointless feathering on the way down and into a shot was Smurphy? Thoughts - is he just getting a feel for the shot?

[thai_son22]

I'm Dave Harold number 1 fan. feathering is overrated LOL

[jonny66]

good advice - consistent n robotic the way to go a la Selby you think?

Well all have our ways - sticking to them consistently perhaps key....one player that always confused me with pointless feathering on the way down and into a shot was Smurphy? Thoughts - is he just getting a feel for the shot?

If you want to see some pointless feathering just look at some US pool players, some of them look like they're winding up to smack the ball into next week, then they just give it the lightest tap, odd.

[Shockerz]

I know when I'm over feathering it's either to pinpoint where to hit the object ball on long shots or to make sure on crucial balls.

I've had some good results when I just get down and strike it without feathering but also some disasters but it seems to me it's a checking process and gaining feel for the shot.

[Terry Davidson]

Feathers are just to get the elbow ready with a little movement to see if everything is working right. It's NOT to make changes in aim, no matter how small. 2-3 feathers max is all that's needed but it is wise to stop the cue at the end of the feathers and lift the eyes to the object ball and keep them there but not for 10 seconds though.

I think that 10 seconds might be a little high but nothing wrong with 2-3 seconds or so

[qc2]

Terry can you explain why american pool players feather a totally different rhythm? It seems more pronounced and dare I say 'aggressive'. It's noticeable especially when you see snooker players playing pool, or pool players playing snooker; their feathering technique carries over from their native game.

[the lone wolf]

Terry can you explain why american pool players feather a totally different rhythm? It seems more pronounced and dare I say 'aggressive'. It's noticeable especially when you see snooker players playing pool, or pool players playing snooker; their feathering technique carries over from their native game.

American Pool:
1. The game is more 'aggressive', so the player has to be a lot more brave than in Snooker as its a do or die situation.
2. It's important to get the right feel for each shot. There's a greater need to stroke the ball...
3. One needs to stay as loose as a goose in American Pool and players tend to over exaggerate their cueing to maximise this.

[Hello, Mr Big Shot]

American Pool:
1. The game is more 'aggressive', so the player has to be a lot more brave than in Snooker as its a do or die situation.
2. It's important to get the right feel for each shot. There's a greater need to stroke the ball...
3. One needs to stay as loose as a goose in American Pool and players tend to over exaggerate their cueing to maximise this.

I'd say it's cultural as well. Their endless fidgeting drives me crazy.

[dcrackers147]

I'd say it's cultural as well. Their endless fidgeting drives me crazy.

agreed... Also you do not need to cue with the same level of accuracy in American pool. In fact if you are not careful you could hurt yourself and fall in the pocket ...Joking aside, because the level of accuracy in terms of delivering the cue in a straight line and hitting exactly where you feather is not as important to pot the ball with position, players cue erratically with a loose grip to relieve tension in the arm as short of a "twitch" it's unlikely affect a routine shot.

[the lone wolf]

I'd say it's cultural as well. Their endless fidgeting drives me crazy.

Agree! American Pool players have fewer fundamentals to their game. The idea of keeping still on shots is from planet Mars to most of these guys.

[blahblah01]

I am wondering what players are actually doing when they are 'feathering' Are they actually making microscopic/miniscule/atom sized adjustments to their line of aim?

We have a player at our club who doesn't feather at all. He looks at the shot and I assume that he makes the decision as to where he needs to hit the object ball, he then gets down ready to play, he then puts the tip of his cue about 1/8th of an inch from the point where he wants to hit the cue ball, he then waits for about 10 seconds and then he plays the shot. I have intended to ask him what is going through his mind at the point of address but I haven't got round to it yet. What could he be thinking during that 10 seconds?

And so the question is, what is the point of feathering? I do it myself but, am I doing it because I have seen the pro's doing it on TV.

I'm not 100% certain of this but I seem to remember seeing that Marco Fu is a non-featherer

Apologies if this does seem a bit daft.

Feel, tempo, arm loosening etc. It's amazing how many times I miss after doing slight adjustments, oh and it probably helps get the cue off-line )

I'm trying to cut it right down\out.....