When I played pool I never used a break cue, I found that leaving the cue ball near the centre dot gave me more opportunities to pot a ball should one go in off the break. So instead of a hard top spin shot I'd centre mass the shot to bounce the ball back off the racked balls just a bit. I would scratch too many times off the break with a hard blast but controlling the cue ball left me in a better position for the next ball with about a half of a full hard shot........
I break with medium hard strokes. Depending on how I’m doing I break from either 1 cue ball to the right of the centre line or 1 cue ball distance from the right rail. This usually gets me one or two balls pocketed. But with the shorter cue it’s been a struggle.
Up until I got the free break/jump cue I used a house cue to break so as not to flatten my cue tip. Rarely didn’t sink a ball on break.
Who knew, women were right, 4” shorter does make a difference.
I'd like to get back at it, its been a long time since I've racked the balls but I like you would have difficulty with eye sight. I never wore glasses when I had a table, it might be awkward trying to focus on the long shots and I'm sure I'd completely whiff a few right past the ball I'm looking at without touching it let alone pot it.
Yep. Done it a few times. But then I’ve done it without the glasses too.
From one end to the other is too blurry to be dead on. Across table is fine without glasses.
So far long shots are still hard with the glasses. I’m either sort of looking over them or I get a weird fish eye effect. Part of the problem is getting down low on the table to see flat and then get my neck/head to be level and on line. On a good day with little pain and no stiffness all is good but most days for real long shots I’m not low enough or my heads cocked on a slight angle. Yesterday the weed and my old running shoes made a huge difference along with the glasses. Everything jelled together.
Turns out my new Sketchers slip on shoes are crap for me. No support. So after wearing them since March I got pain in the ball of my foot, Achilles tendon, and knee on my left leg. Switch back to my old sneakers for a few days and most pains went away or are muted and fading. So now I need better shoes with arch support.
If you still want to try long shots without making changes just walk to the other end and look back to the cue ball. Once you are sure what to do and where to strike go back, see your line, bring the cue down to shoot. Once you’re down you should be in line and able to make the shot without much adjustment. But honestly this was the first time I’ve been able to wear glasses and play. Usually I go without. I only took them off for two shots because of the fish eye effect I mentioned.
I hope you can find a reasonably close place to play. It was hard here to find a good spot and NONE have great tables. Few look after the felt/cloth like they should. The one or two places that do look after the tables are the most worn. My daughters area North of you had almost new tables in great condition according to my son. He regretted not bringing his cue. Maybe you’ll find a bar like that?
