Problems with Backspin

[Gothic35]

I'm having problems consistently applying backspin, when I hit the ball
and follow through with the cue I more often than not stun the cue ball, but
when I just hit the ball without following through with the cue I can generate
a bit of spin more consisitently.

any help would be greatly appreciated.

[LWB]

Problems with backspin is normal, the way you describe it sounds backwards from the norm. I'd just keep practicing it, but make sure you're using the right technique.

You should be lining up the ball with a steady back and forth motion, then you should stop the cue in front of the white, then perform one full motion, in other words draw the cue back then forward, making sure to accelerate when you're striking the white for the best contact. You need to play with consistent technique if you want consistent results.

I can't explain it too well but I can do it I swear

[Cue wizard]

i get problems to with backspin

i always aim at the middle just a habit when goin for backspin its gettin near constant now when i try it.

[Semih_Sayginer]

I'm having problems consistently applying backspin, when I hit the ball
and follow through with the cue I more often than not stun the cue ball, but
when I just hit the ball without following through with the cue I can generate
a bit of spin more consisitently.

any help would be greatly appreciated.

hi Gothic

there are a few threads in this section which give advice on this. most if not all would be relative

this thread may be 'really good' for you http://www.thesnookerforum.com/board...ead.php?t=7728

[matoski]

Try to hold the cue lighter when you use backspin.

[Gothic35]

Thanks for the advice.

It seems the problem was a combination of a long backswing and a tight grip, I've gone from 6" of backspin to 6'. Allthough I'm now occasionally jumping the cue ball is that caused by striking too low, bad cueing or both.

[matoski]

Thanks for the advice.

It seems the problem was a combination of a long backswing and a tight grip, I've gone from 6" of backspin to 6'. Allthough I'm now occasionally jumping the cue ball is that caused by striking too low, bad cueing or both.

The reason for jumping the cue ball may be in the shape of the cue tip. The tip must be oval and roughened with sandpaper for a good backspin.

[Gothic35]

The reason for jumping the cue ball may be in the shape of the cue tip. The tip must be oval and roughened with sandpaper for a good backspin.

The tip is rounded but it's smooth, how much difference does that make.

BTW would'nt using sandpaper leave bits of glass in the tip.

[matoski]

Smooth tip is, in my opinion the biggest reason for any miscueing. Using sandpaper will make small fibres on the tip which alows better contact between the tip and the chalk.

[honleung80]

It's natural for a lot of players to cue down on the cue ball when playing screw back.i.e lifting the back of your cue up.

A really handy way to compensate for this is to make sure your palm is flat on the table and whenever possible, your elbow. Try keeping your arm flat on the table and not only will you find your balance and potting consistancy increase but you will also find you miscue much less often.

Thanks for the advice.

It seems the problem was a combination of a long backswing and a tight grip, I've gone from 6" of backspin to 6'. Allthough I'm now occasionally jumping the cue ball is that caused by striking too low, bad cueing or both.

[Semih_Sayginer]

. Allthough I'm now occasionally jumping the cue ball is that caused by striking too low, bad cueing or both.

could be striking too low, just general bad cueing, a bad cuetip, lack of chalk on the cue tip or a combination of these. (not exclusively)

[poolqjunkie]

A lot of players aim at one spot but strike at another on their follow through. i.e one will address the cue ball real low, but strike it at a point much higher when he actually hits it.
I suggest that you practise to develop a consisent cueing action, whereas you hit the cue ball where you address it.
For one thing, you need to move your cue as level as possible, and also keep your bridge firm so you do not raise your bridge or tight up and lift your cue butt up on your delivery.
Open up your grip on the backswing will help.
But bottom line, is practise a lot.
I like to practise my cueing with the pink ball, wheras I will hit say 15 pink balls with my cue ball starting at around the same place, and try to have my cue ball stop dead at the pink spot. I will hit a bit below center, with a medium follow though, or I will hit lower, but less follow though and so on. When you can place the cue ball at the same spot give or take a chalk's width, you know you are hitting the cue ball precisely.
Then I will try to draw the cue ball back half way between the pink and the cue ball 15 times, with a combination of various strike points and follow through. After that, I will put the pink close to the corner pocket, the cue ball close to the middle pocket and try to draw the cue ball straight back to stop just before the middle pocket. Again, try to leave the cue ball at the same spot. I am not very good at this, and am still working on it.
Your can do the same drill with the blue ball, just try to pot the blue into the middle and stop the cue ball at the same place (blue spot, half way between the pocket and the blue, just short of the pocket...etc)point is you want to leave the cue ball at the same place consistently. This will train you to strike the cue ball where you intend to, after a while, you will not have the problem of trying to draw but end up stopping the ball.
You need to hit the cue ball where you intend to, in order to have good control with your stun shot, without this control, you cannot build up big breaks when good positioning is required.

[Gothic35]

Thanks for all the advice guys.

[Argee1977]

Ah, screwback, i found that sometimes you just stab at the cue ball causing it to stun, even though you do follow through it's the initial stab that makes the contact causing this, try to get a more fluid movement when following through with the cue.

As for jumping the cue ball, as stated above it can be fixed by roughing up the tip a bit and changing the shape, although i tend to just leave my tip smooth and make sure to apply chalk, it's amazing the amount of people who forget to rechalk their cue before shots.

[Jlaix]

Try to hold the cue lighter when you use backspin.

This is a good tip - most people think 'grip the cue tighter' when playing a screw shot.