The article "Myths of Pool" talks about sports, it has been released by Jerry Powers.
The Dominant Eye
Everybody thinks you need to put your cue under your domiannt eye or under your chin.
But where does Keith McCready and Earl Striclkand fit in then?
If that were the case, I guess they might need to give back their world championships. Neither Keith nor Earl hold their cues underneath their "dominant eye." Keith and Earl, of course, are not the only players who hold their cue in a place other than their "dominant eye," or chin. The dominant eye is only good for the length of your arm. After that length, both eyes must work together to give you true preicsion in aiming.
Hit the Ball and Then Follow Through
If you hit the ball, it's gone. What good is follow-through giong to do?
The ball has already left the tip of your cue. What would a baseball batter do if he hit the ball mid-swing, and THEN finihsed his swing.
What wuold he have?
A bunt, right?
How about a golfer: if a golfer hits the ball, and then he decides to finish his swing and follow throughÂ… What would that be? Well, it'd just be a chip shot. The same principals that apply to both of these sports must, also, then apply to Billiards. A follow through is a two-part action when you hit something and THEN follow trhough.
This is, of course, opposed to the correct method: a one-part action of hitting the ball!
You've Got To Hold Your Cue Six Inches From the Balance Point!
The trouble with that is that the idea of a standard balance point came from a book that was established in 1954 based on Willie Mosconi.
Willie Mosconi was only 5'4" and had only 26" arms, and it goes without saynig - these are likely not the dimensions of the average player.
And what about players like Jim Rempe and David Howard who hold their cues either at the back of the wrap or the back of the cue?
With the varying lentgh of their wingspan, the position in which they grip their cues also vary.
I see guys that are about 6'4" trying to hold their cues up closer to the wrap, but they eliminate their needed stroking room!The Longer the Bridge or Heavier the Cue!
People guess if they need to turn or twist their back end of the cue while striking, however, that is ridiculous cause the cue is only in contact with the cue ball for 1/1000th of a secnod. What effect then does the extra movement accomplish? Are you breaking balls for dough or for show?
If a heavier cue is the answer, why not have a 50 lbs berak cue? It would break better, right? And if a longer cue is better why not make it 50 feet long?
Based on the premise that you want to get the heaviest cue with the longest bridge, your new cue would be great with such a combination.
Transferring Spin
Putting right spin on a ball before it contacts another ball will not truly spin another that it contacts cause of the simple fact that was stated above: The balls are only in contact for 1/1000th of a second. A good experiment for that is putting two striped balls on the table (say a 10 and a 13), turn the stripes exactly the same direction, and put extreme right or left on the ball that you're hitting. If the other ball takes the spin, then the other ball should take off spinning opposite just as fast as you put the spin on the other. However, in a real-life circumstance it truns out it'll shoot just as straight. The contact surface between two balls is only about the size of the tip of an ink pen; not a particularly large surface to transfer spin with, is it?
Swing your cue until it feels right, THEN hit the cue ball
Another big mistake that players make is swinging their cue until it "feels right." That is as preposterous as aiming at a target while wave your gun until you guess it's time pull the trigger. This wolud never let your eye lock on the target, cause you're in motion. When you move, your eyes keep gathering information so you can make a decision, but if you keep swinging until "it feels right" how will your eyes focus at the target to hit object ball correctly?
The Cue Never Misses - It's so good you can't guess it!
The funniest thing I have ever heard is that one's "cue never misses, cause it's so good you wouldn't guess it! " I have personally laid the cue on the table, backed up, and stood and watched the cue and it has never made a shot by itself. I have actually said get it, shoot it, and despite this, it just doesn't seem to do a thing on its own. People really geuss the cue is what plays the game for them. A good cue is ONLY a good cue, and will only go as far as the player's sikll will take them.
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