At the 4 minute mark where you have a red on the pink spot, made me think of something. You said up and down the spots is pointless, and you make some very valid points that I had not thought of. So maybe, if you have a red on the pink spot or maybe even the blue and you strike the cue ball, if that red goes up and back in a straight line, your aim must be right and your cueing must also be straight. I am not sure if this is even possible to do but just something that i thought at the moment. I will be trying this today. Thank you again for another great video.
Definitely agree that it's not the be-all and end-all to hit the middle of the ball. But I do think it can give you a lot of confidence if you know you can hit the ball firmly and know it will stop dead straight. It's that level of control, that confidence, that thing that makes you feel you're striking the ball cleanly. So maybe not pointless, but not worth obsessing about either.
I tried it after watching someone else's UA-cam channel and found that the white was closer to the green spot than the brown on the way back up. It seriously screwed my head and game up for months trying to correct my technique. Managed to eventually forget about it and started playing well again. Long and short, I wish I'd never tried it.
One method is playing the over the spots aiming for double kiss on black. Play 10 and note which side is your error. You will see your error. ( wrong line, incorrect delivery etc) Then move to double kiss on pink, then blue. Spend 10-15 minutes on this. You will see a pattern in your error and have a target to improve on.
I have to admit ,I do at times try this,couple of shots but always go back to straight shots to get my arm going. Then do shots off line ,,as in potting angled yellows Browns and Green. Then blues ,pinks, and angled blacks. Love to see what i am doing wrong,, it cannot be a lot as when i am in the mood, i tend to hold my own with the club top guys.. PS.. i sm 80,, and gave it up after I got married for about 56 years.. I am not perfect by a mile. But find I have to concentrate a lot to get anywhere near my best.. I think I am rubbish. But I would live to know what I am doing wrong. Thanks for reading anyway. Love your relaxed way.. I am never under pressure. I just like to plsy the game.
Why when i play with bottom on cue ball- especially long screw pots do i aways hit them thin? I find i have to adjust my aim a lot thicker to get near the pocket. I assume im striking across the ball when using bottom (with pace) but really focused on centre striking so not sure whats going on. I once heard Shaun Murphy say ‘if youre gonna miss them its always going to be thin ‘ but not sure why that is. Any ideas on this pls. Thank you in advance.
Hi Michael just a question I hit up and down all ok but sometimes I hit point I’m aiming at ie chalk cube sometimes it comes off left or right don’t understand if I’ve hit the point but if I hit side how have I hit the chalk thanks for your teaching you’ve helped me a lot regards Chris
If you play a touch of side it will still go in the direction you hit (towards the chalk) but after it hits the cushion the side will take more effect and it will come off left or right. Next time you’re on the table just aim at a point and deliberately put left or right on and you’ll see what I mean.
I always practice with a spotted white in my case of 1Gs. Forgot to replace it once with a plain white on league night. Opponents refused to use it. Bunch of divas 😂
Something I've never done, occasionally played shot up and down to get some sort judgement on table speed before a match. Practice reds lined down the middle, followed by colours off spots, my break then specific shots/pots with aim of landing cue ball in an area for next shot.
It is pointless you're dead right Michael. If you hit a bit of left hand side by accident at a certain pace, it would push the cueball to the right of the spots a bit, which when it hits the cushion the side would take effect and bring it back to the left, possibly right back over the spots to hit your tip again... so you think you've hit it perf!
i sometimes do this and try go up and back and then try and get the pace right to land on the blue spot on the bounce off the baulk cushion, it makes it a bit more of a challenge
I agree with him and disagree...I mean hitting middle of the white like Davis and Hendry tried to do a lot just is not possible to hit centre all the time - it dont exist and I said this myself years ago and all the good players i know all use bits of hs ...and so up and down the spots is the most boring exercise you can do its like potting long blues it does not form part of the game very much and its something that came from the joe davis handbook. I mean we all tried it but what mike is saying is there are better/more intersting ways to understand your cueing _ spotty white and i agree .... After all not everyone cues like neil robertson arrow straight . ROS is up n down and arm bent and he aint bad ... However that said I think it can help in other ways - and was a exercise reccomended by Davis and Hedry - I think up n down the spots can help you develop your timing and cueing to be consistant and it helps concentration and focus - Prob why Mike hates it ? So that is a different thing it helps other than hitting centre of white all the time which is what Mike thinks the excercise just helps and I agree with him on that point. I cue all over the white and start left or right of centre and I made a few tons as a casual player ,,,I think Mikw is both right and wrong though. because if the exercise is about developing a repeatable cue action and building focues and patience then this exercise could in theory help with these things. I mean I used to practice on me mams ironing board in front of a mirror now that was boring ...
That's true, but you need play the shot after all and hit the ball where you're aiming with as low margin of error as possible. And to achieve that accuracy and consistency, you need to work on your cue action too.
Very interesting. You say quite correctly that there's more than one reason why the ball doesn't come back to the tip of the cue. I put a square chalk on the cushion with its centre exactly in line with the spots. If I follow the cue ball's progress, I can see whether or not it hits the cushion at the centre of the chalk. If it does, and the ball doesn't come back to the tip, I think there's every chance that I was putting accidental side on the ball.
There’s too many variables involved to get it travelling perfectly up and down the spots. The accidental side you put on, finger marks on the cloth, same table or different table, if there’s indents where the spots are, the reaction of the rubber of the cushion, even the condition of the white (old, dull), pace of the shot etc etc… so it is pointless as you’ll never figure out what it is right or wrong.
The reason pros go up and down is purely to make sure the are finding the middle, if they are out with their cueing. They know its not something they will need, its to validate your cueing, so absolutely not pointless
Why does everybody always assume that players are putting unintentional side on the ball? In my opinion you should always second-guess your aim instead, after all it’s much trickier to aim correctly than it is to hit the ball close enough to the centre.
@@user-if1de8pt2j Fuck coaches. I don't agree. It's the height of ego to assume that your aim is correct, and since I also know that mine isn't - I'm assuming there are others with the same problem. I don't get coaching any more, and have since tested my aim, once and for all with lazers - to find out that I see shots thin when I'm down on them. Since I started to accept that fact, and don't assume that my aim is correct, since I abandoned the coaching ghost ball method, the straight cueing, the stance, the pauses, the backswing, the bridge and the follow through, I just stared to finally make the necessary adjustments to aim thick on almost every shot (except throw shots) - I put 30 on my break, and now get regular 50's and 60's on a good table. It's like Michael says - it's not rocket science - it's hitting a ball with a stick.
Ha! Bless him. He’s wrong. The biggest mistake he’s making is assuming hitting the middle consistently is possible. It isn’t, especially for amateur players.
6 time World Champion Steve Davis and 7 times World Champion Stephen Hendry advise this routine day in day out for cueing straight. Holt, what trophy did you win, mate?
Why would winning trophies make for a decent coach? The most successful coaches of today are not multiple world champions. In fact hendry often says he knows very little technical stuff about the game..
So many tables are not perfectly marked out with the spots down the middle. For those who don’t get it, the cloth moves when people play on it. Brown and black spots are rarely so perfectly aligned that this routine will work. Chuck a heavy nap into the equation and finger marks and this becomes a laughable test of cueing. Spotted white tells you if you are imparting any form of spin.
At the 4 minute mark where you have a red on the pink spot, made me think of something. You said up and down the spots is pointless, and you make some very valid points that I had not thought of. So maybe, if you have a red on the pink spot or maybe even the blue and you strike the cue ball, if that red goes up and back in a straight line, your aim must be right and your cueing must also be straight. I am not sure if this is even possible to do but just something that i thought at the moment. I will be trying this today. Thank you again for another great video.
Definitely agree that it's not the be-all and end-all to hit the middle of the ball. But I do think it can give you a lot of confidence if you know you can hit the ball firmly and know it will stop dead straight. It's that level of control, that confidence, that thing that makes you feel you're striking the ball cleanly. So maybe not pointless, but not worth obsessing about either.
I tried it after watching someone else's UA-cam channel and found that the white was closer to the green spot than the brown on the way back up. It seriously screwed my head and game up for months trying to correct my technique. Managed to eventually forget about it and started playing well again. Long and short, I wish I'd never tried it.
One method is playing the over the spots aiming for double kiss on black. Play 10 and note which side is your error. You will see your error. ( wrong line, incorrect delivery etc)
Then move to double kiss on pink, then blue. Spend 10-15 minutes on this. You will see a pattern in your error and have a target to improve on.
*groan* I can see what my day is going to consist of tomorrow. lol. Thank you
Exactly what I was just thinking.
I'll try it...
I have to admit ,I do at times try this,couple of shots but always go back to straight shots to get my arm going.
Then do shots off line ,,as in potting angled yellows Browns and Green.
Then blues ,pinks, and angled blacks.
Love to see what i am doing wrong,, it cannot be a lot as when i am in the mood, i tend to hold my own with the club top guys..
PS.. i sm 80,, and gave it up after I got married for about 56 years.. I am not perfect by a mile. But find I have to concentrate a lot to get anywhere near my best..
I think I am rubbish.
But I would live to know what I am doing wrong.
Thanks for reading anyway.
Love your relaxed way..
I am never under pressure.
I just like to plsy the game.
❤
Think pointless is bit strong 😂
Why when i play with bottom on cue ball- especially long screw pots do i aways hit them thin? I find i have to adjust my aim a lot thicker to get near the pocket. I assume im striking across the ball when using bottom (with pace) but really focused on centre striking so not sure whats going on. I once heard Shaun Murphy say ‘if youre gonna miss them its always going to be thin ‘ but not sure why that is. Any ideas on this pls. Thank you in advance.
Hi Michael just a question I hit up and down all ok but sometimes I hit point I’m aiming at ie chalk cube sometimes it comes off left or right don’t understand if I’ve hit the point but if I hit side how have I hit the chalk thanks for your teaching you’ve helped me a lot regards Chris
If you play a touch of side it will still go in the direction you hit (towards the chalk) but after it hits the cushion the side will take more effect and it will come off left or right.
Next time you’re on the table just aim at a point and deliberately put left or right on and you’ll see what I mean.
I always practice with a spotted white in my case of 1Gs. Forgot to replace it once with a plain white on league night. Opponents refused to use it. Bunch of divas 😂
Really interesting to me this as Davis swore by it. Mike is centre vision important?
I'd like to here his views on this too. It definitely improved my game.
@@user-if1de8pt2j Ok. I get that
What did bud...centre vision. Tell me how you did it@@SO-om2yy
Brilliant as usual.
Very good vídeo.Where are you look when you stroke?objet ball ,or Cue ball ?
England are that poor I soon watch you go up n down the spots 😅
you are really perfect. my opinion I believe the aiming is most important.
Something I've never done, occasionally played shot up and down to get some sort judgement on table speed before a match. Practice reds lined down the middle, followed by colours off spots, my break then specific shots/pots with aim of landing cue ball in an area for next shot.
Thanks nice one 👍
It is pointless you're dead right Michael. If you hit a bit of left hand side by accident at a certain pace, it would push the cueball to the right of the spots a bit, which when it hits the cushion the side would take effect and bring it back to the left, possibly right back over the spots to hit your tip again... so you think you've hit it perf!
i sometimes do this and try go up and back and then try and get the pace right to land on the blue spot on the bounce off the baulk cushion, it makes it a bit more of a challenge
I agree with him and disagree...I mean hitting middle of the white like Davis and Hendry tried to do a lot just is not possible to hit centre all the time - it dont exist and I said this myself years ago and all the good players i know all use bits of hs ...and so up and down the spots is the most boring exercise you can do its like potting long blues it does not form part of the game very much and its something that came from the joe davis handbook. I mean we all tried it but what mike is saying is there are better/more intersting ways to understand your cueing _ spotty white and i agree .... After all not everyone cues like neil robertson arrow straight . ROS is up n down and arm bent and he aint bad ... However that said I think it can help in other ways - and was a exercise reccomended by Davis and Hedry - I think up n down the spots can help you develop your timing and cueing to be consistant and it helps concentration and focus - Prob why Mike hates it ? So that is a different thing it helps other than hitting centre of white all the time which is what Mike thinks the excercise just helps and I agree with him on that point. I cue all over the white and start left or right of centre and I made a few tons as a casual player ,,,I think Mikw is both right and wrong though. because if the exercise is about developing a repeatable cue action and building focues and patience then this exercise could in theory help with these things. I mean I used to practice on me mams ironing board in front of a mirror now that was boring ...
Used to do this quite a lot but prefer to pot balls,only ever played with spiny white at pool might get one to try out 👍
Aiming is far most the most important thing but too many people are stuck in cue action loophole
That's true, but you need play the shot after all and hit the ball where you're aiming with as low margin of error as possible. And to achieve that accuracy and consistency, you need to work on your cue action too.
Very interesting. You say quite correctly that there's more than one reason why the ball doesn't come back to the tip of the cue. I put a square chalk on the cushion with its centre exactly in line with the spots. If I follow the cue ball's progress, I can see whether or not it hits the cushion at the centre of the chalk. If it does, and the ball doesn't come back to the tip, I think there's every chance that I was putting accidental side on the ball.
How’s that improving your game Sam?
There’s too many variables involved to get it travelling perfectly up and down the spots. The accidental side you put on, finger marks on the cloth, same table or different table, if there’s indents where the spots are, the reaction of the rubber of the cushion, even the condition of the white (old, dull), pace of the shot etc etc… so it is pointless as you’ll never figure out what it is right or wrong.
Absolute G.O.L.D
The reason pros go up and down is purely to make sure the are finding the middle, if they are out with their cueing. They know
its not something they will need, its to validate your cueing, so absolutely not pointless
Agree 💪
Why does everybody always assume that players are putting unintentional side on the ball? In my opinion you should always second-guess your aim instead, after all it’s much trickier to aim correctly than it is to hit the ball close enough to the centre.
@@user-if1de8pt2j Fuck coaches. I don't agree. It's the height of ego to assume that your aim is correct, and since I also know that mine isn't - I'm assuming there are others with the same problem. I don't get coaching any more, and have since tested my aim, once and for all with lazers - to find out that I see shots thin when I'm down on them. Since I started to accept that fact, and don't assume that my aim is correct, since I abandoned the coaching ghost ball method, the straight cueing, the stance, the pauses, the backswing, the bridge and the follow through, I just stared to finally make the necessary adjustments to aim thick on almost every shot (except throw shots) - I put 30 on my break, and now get regular 50's and 60's on a good table. It's like Michael says - it's not rocket science - it's hitting a ball with a stick.
Nic Barrow once said u dont need side if there is no cushion 😮
Ha! Bless him.
He’s wrong. The biggest mistake he’s making is assuming hitting the middle consistently is possible. It isn’t, especially for amateur players.
Isn't that spotted cue ball a bit heavier? It seems to react better with follow and a bit less reactive with screw back shots
Stone Roses fan I see Michael 🫶
Love em. 😃
Let’s not forget that your table would have to be perfect too…
Absolutely. 👍
It’s funny how all of the most successful players do the things you say people shouldn’t do
Just saying !!
Just doing it all the time won’t make you a better player,now and again for 10 minutes won’t hurt anyone
6 time World Champion Steve Davis and 7 times World Champion Stephen Hendry advise this routine day in day out for cueing straight.
Holt, what trophy did you win, mate?
He won the weekly tournament at hogan's sports bar
Why would winning trophies make for a decent coach? The most successful coaches of today are not multiple world champions. In fact hendry often says he knows very little technical stuff about the game..
Yeh but they are genius level. Most people aren't.
Cue the fan boys that are hurting.
So many tables are not perfectly marked out with the spots down the middle. For those who don’t get it, the cloth moves when people play on it. Brown and black spots are rarely so perfectly aligned that this routine will work. Chuck a heavy nap into the equation and finger marks and this becomes a laughable test of cueing. Spotted white tells you if you are imparting any form of spin.