left/right side spins

[Buuu147]

everytime i try to put a left or right spin on the ball, i would just totally miss my shot.. any tips on how to shoot it?

for example if i am shooting a straight shot and am i able to put a left or right spin on the cue ball? i notice i would usually miss... if i have a small cut to make and put a spin on the cue ball i would also miss. what can i do to improve my shot?

[RaNeN]

When you apply spin on the cue ball. Your aim also changes. I cant explain this in detail. Maybe Statman will help you soon.

[The Statman]

Well the only way is trial and error really.

Put the blue on its spot and give yourself a straight pot to the middle pocket (place the white halfway between blue and the other middle pocket). You will pot it 100 times out of 100.

Now, do the same, but with a little side on the cue-ball. What sidespin does is essentially create a small amount of swerve on the cue-ball. So when it reaches the blue it will firstly not hit it from the same direction that you have played it, and secondly not hit it at the same point as if it were struck without side. So this will naturally affect the blue's path.

All you can do is set it up a number of times and, through compensation and overcompensation, practise till you get a feel for what amount of side produces the right result.

Also bear in mind that if you hit it hard the effect will be different from that of hitting it softly. Also, the ditance between cue-ball and blue will affect the contact.

Just practise and practise, merely to observe what happens.

[missneworleans]

Yes, I think Statman has explained it perfect

[Stunrunthru]

I'd advise anyone playing Snooker not to use any side until they are making regular breaks of 50-60.

After that it's just a case of practice.

Gary Player (The Golfer) once said ' the more I practice the luckier I get'.

[Buuu147]

thank you for the help... i think the only time i could be able to use the side spin and not mess up a shot is when i neeed to cut the blue into the side. at times i would be able to get where i want it or maybe trying to get out of a snooker.

[Welshsteve]

It really is a trial and error thing. Try it in practice over and over again, and before you know it, you'll start to understand it.

[Semih_Sayginer]

everytime i try to put a left or right spin on the ball, i would just totally miss my shot.. any tips on how to shoot it?

for example if i am shooting a straight shot and am i able to put a left or right spin on the cue ball? i notice i would usually miss... if i have a small cut to make and put a spin on the cue ball i would also miss. what can i do to improve my shot?

you may find the link in this thread http://www.thesnookerforum.com/showthread-t_2436.html helps you to understand the spins etc...

[trevs1]

Well the only way is trial and error really.

Put the blue on its spot and give yourself a straight pot to the middle pocket (place the white halfway between blue and the other middle pocket). You will pot it 100 times out of 100.

Now, do the same, but with a little side on the cue-ball. What sidespin does is essentially create a small amount of swerve on the cue-ball. So when it reaches the blue it will firstly not hit it from the same direction that you have played it, and secondly not hit it at the same point as if it were struck without side. So this will naturally affect the blue's path.

All you can do is set it up a number of times and, through compensation and overcompensation, practise till you get a feel for what amount of side produces the right result.

Also bear in mind that if you hit it hard the effect will be different from that of hitting it softly. Also, the ditance between cue-ball and blue will affect the contact.

Just practise and practise, merely to observe what happens.

The effect on the cueball described above here can be referred to as 'THROW' and is not just a 'thing' that always happens at all.

As a test for yourself, what you can try is to place the cueball on the brown spot and play it, striking centre white, up through the spots - blue - pink - black. You will notice it will hit the top cushion directly behind the black spot having travelled in a straight line.

Now, if you try the same shot again, but this time striking off centre white (lets say on the left of the cueball), something different happens. The likely outcome is that the white ball will travel slightly to the right, then swing back to the left, in a sort of arcing motion as it travels towards the top cushion.
This 'arcing' effect on the white can be very variable when using different amounts of power as described above, but also, and perhaps more importantly, can be extremely variable when using different cues. It's a well known fact that cues can be enormously different when playing with side on the white, and, a cue that creates this extreme throw off effect is better thrown in the bin.

What any player needs is a cue that allows as much as possible for you to play a shot using off centre striking, but without the need, or at least with minimal need, for making aiming allowances for this throw effect.

In the reply above by Statman, the explanation given is largely accurate, but he doesn't mention the fact that the only way to be able to pot 'fairly' consistently with a cue that throws excessively when playing with side, is to make these rather large allowances in your aim.

The bottom line is.....if you're playing with a cue that throws the white, and you know nothing of the effects of this throw, you won't know when or how to make any aiming adjustments.

It's an area which is one of the most critical in making a cue trustworthy and reliable or not worth a stuff and ready for bunging in the nearest river.

[jimbo]

It's an area which is one of the most critical in making a cue trustworthy and reliable or not worth a stuff and ready for bunging in the nearest river.

I'd be more inclined to blame a tip than a cue. I recently changed my cue tip (see pics here) and the new effect of *throw* has become massive. I believe this is because I now have a much spongier tip than I used to, which pushes the white out more when I play with side. Now about a month later I'm finally getting used to the new tip's throw... and it has lessened a bit as the cue tip has hardened up. I find I compensate my aim now much more than I did with my old knackered tip! Its just a case of getting used to it.

Jimbo

[Semih_Sayginer]

how much, if anything, did you lose of your old cue in length?

[jimbo]

Hmm, not exactly sure as a friend put the new ferrel/tip on for me. I can't notice any difference though so it must be very small.

jimbo

[trevs1]

I'd be more inclined to blame a tip than a cue. I recently changed my cue tip (see pics here) and the new effect of *throw* has become massive. I believe this is because I now have a much spongier tip than I used to, which pushes the white out more when I play with side. Now about a month later I'm finally getting used to the new tip's throw... and it has lessened a bit as the cue tip has hardened up. I find I compensate my aim now much more than I did with my old knackered tip! Its just a case of getting used to it.

Jimbo

Naturally, a tip has a massive effect on a cue, but, the cue itself is the most critical part of the chain as to whether 'excessive' throw or deflection occurs.

A new tip often gives far less feel to the contact (especially if it's a little soft) and can create the feeling of more throw, as it is more difficult to feel the tip 'grip' the white.

The thing to look for in any cue is where a minimal amount of guesswork is done when striking off centre white. The closer you are able to aim to the natural pot, while striking off centre the better.

This way, a player is 'judging' a far narrower area of allowance, which in turn allows greater chance of consistent accuracy.

[Welshsteve]

I'd be more inclined to blame a tip than a cue. I recently changed my cue tip (see pics here) and the new effect of *throw* has become massive. I believe this is because I now have a much spongier tip than I used to, which pushes the white out more when I play with side. Now about a month later I'm finally getting used to the new tip's throw... and it has lessened a bit as the cue tip has hardened up. I find I compensate my aim now much more than I did with my old knackered tip! Its just a case of getting used to it.

Jimbo

WOW!!! Your tip and ferrell were a right mess weren't they LOL Looks good now though

[trevs1]

Just took a look at the photo's.

I'd have said the origianl ferrule could have stayed on there and instead of replacing it, could have been ground down in length (as long as it's kept cool).

A little tip for you - If you're finding your cue throws the cueball more now than before, do as above and grind the ferrule down to half its current length.

I'll have a fiver on it with you it will improve it.