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Pokermonster
19 Jan 10 18:04
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Date Joined: 14 Sep 04
| Topic/replies: 11,792 | Blogger: Pokermonster's blog
You often hear commentators declare a player needs to put topspin on the white to gain good position for the next ball.

And yet one cannot impart topspin to a cueball with a cue, such a feat is physically impossible. Does anyone disagree?
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Report lfc1971 December 10, 2012 9:53 PM GMT
possibly but i suspect topspin can be imparted on to a cue ball the same way as a golf ball
Report Angel Gabrial December 10, 2012 9:55 PM GMT
Anyway the draw shot in golf is not top spin, it is spin applied to the right hand side of the ball, the ball then alters into a forward momentum through the air.
Report Pokermonster December 10, 2012 9:55 PM GMT
Thank you for answering my question, LFC.

Naturally, I disagree with your suspicions.  In fact, I am certain that topspin (overspin) is impossible when actioned with a cuetip.
Report lfc1971 December 10, 2012 9:57 PM GMT
With respect Angel Gabriel i happen to play golf to quite a high standard and can play any of these shots without your explanation,
thankyou
Report Angel Gabrial December 10, 2012 9:58 PM GMT
For you to apply topspin in golf. A wide area of the face of the club must whip over the curve of the golf ball.

Imagine table tennis, you need to whip the bat around the ball. Something which is impossible in snooker.
Report lfc1971 December 10, 2012 9:59 PM GMT
i am rubbish at snooker however
Report Angel Gabrial December 10, 2012 10:01 PM GMT
With respect Angel Gabriel i happen to play golf to quite a high standard and can play any of these shots without your explanation,
thankyou


You should no that the draw shot is not initiated as top spin then. It is a right hand spin to transfer the ball right to left.
Report Clungehungry December 10, 2012 10:01 PM GMT
Well the good news is my hot lodger has asked me to teach her how to play to pool, so I shall quite willingly provide videos of detailed testing next week, live from Reardon's.
Report lfc1971 December 10, 2012 10:03 PM GMT
Angel Gabrial

when a golfer hits a draw it is not possible to get right to left spin without topspin
Report Pokermonster December 10, 2012 10:04 PM GMT
Here's an example of correct teaching technique, CL.

Report lfc1971 December 10, 2012 10:05 PM GMT
perfect technique PokermasterHappy
Report Angel Gabrial December 10, 2012 10:08 PM GMT
LFC

The golf ball is hit from the bottom of the ball upwards to give it elevation. No topspin is initiated at the moment of strike.

You can't impart topspin on a golf ball unless you top it. Hopefully this helps your game.Grin
Report lfc1971 December 10, 2012 10:11 PM GMT
Angel Gabrial

i am sorry but just a small ex. that may surpriseyou. To get backspin on a golf ball you hit down on it..to get topspin hit up
Report Angel Gabrial December 10, 2012 10:15 PM GMT
A top spin is done by hitting the spot that is slightly above the equator of the golf ball. But using a driver to hit that kind of shots have no benefits in trajectory or distance to your game.
Report Angel Gabrial December 10, 2012 10:17 PM GMT
I think perhaps what your talking about is getting the ball to "turn over".
This doesnt actually turn over nor does it have top spin.
Report lfc1971 December 10, 2012 10:20 PM GMT
A Golfer always has a distance advantage if he can hit the driver correctly with a slight draw,especially on good fairways because the ball will travel further on landing
Report lfc1971 December 10, 2012 10:22 PM GMT
This is even still the case now when modern technology has evened things out
Report Angel Gabrial December 10, 2012 10:22 PM GMT
Referring to a draw shot. Either left or right handed player will hit the ball from the inside out meaning the club travelling away from their bodies.
This creates a spin for a right hander that would be inclined to turn counter clockwise and make the ball travel from right to left. When you do this the axis of the spin of the ball will turn much like a frisbee does when you throw it. It falls off to one side. Or skipping a rock, much the same, it doesn't stay flat. The ball travels the same way but in no way does it actually become top spin, it just merely rotates so that the ball has less direct backspin when it lands so that it will roll much further when it hits the ground since the resistance and backspin has turned slightly.
Report lfc1971 December 10, 2012 10:25 PM GMT
Angel Gabrael

Actually surprisingly most right handers especially amateurs have the tendency to impart clockwise spin on the ball leading to a weak fade or slice. The exact opposite of what you suggest
Report Pokermonster December 10, 2012 10:25 PM GMT
I'll bid you both farewell.  Many thanks for your company this evening, gentlemen.
Report lfc1971 December 10, 2012 10:27 PM GMT
Thanks Pokermaster and Angel Gabral..goodnight from me to
Report Angel Gabrial December 10, 2012 10:33 PM GMT
Actually surprisingly most right handers especially amateurs have the tendency to impart clockwise spin on the ball leading to a weak fade or slice. The exact opposite of what you suggest

I was however only referring to a draw shot.

However referring to the unintended fade. A simple grip change can correct this. If the right hand V turns slightly over anti clockwise. This will encourage the swing away from an out to in swing, avoiding the fade.
Report Angel Gabrial December 10, 2012 10:33 PM GMT
Goodnight gentlemen.
Report collywobble December 10, 2012 10:45 PM GMT
All the things going on in the world:

Nurses commiting suicide.
Child Abuse
Trouble in Northern Ireland brewing again
The paucity of white dog poo on our streets and gardens...

And a thread about cueball topspin gets nearly 600 posts and counting.

The World's gone mad
Report lfc1971 December 11, 2012 8:16 PM GMT
Pokermaster

I have had a quick look at some of the posts here and it seems that nobody seems to understand what topspin means. Let me give an example.If i was to ask someone to roll a snooker ball down the table using a finger they would instinctively set the ball in motion by running their finger up and slightly over the back of the ball to get the ball moving.This means the finger stays in contact for a slightly longer time than if the ball is just tapped.This is similar to the technique a snooker player uses when applying topspin.When a skilled player applies topspin correctly the cue is in contact with the ball for a fraction of a second longer than for a normal shot.This has the effect of increasing the sweet spot the cue strikes leading to a truer and more pure and powerful contact.
This is what professional players do instinctively even if they do not know why
Report Angel Gabrial December 11, 2012 9:20 PM GMT
by running their finger up and slightly over the back of the ball to get the ball moving

How is this possible with the tip of the cue? think about it.Wink
Report lfc1971 December 11, 2012 9:59 PM GMT
Angel Gabrial please read carefully,i plainly stated that the cue is in contact with the ball for a fraction of a second longer than with a normal shot.This is all it takes.Incidentally it is perfectly easy to reproduce with the tip of the cue the same as a finger tip
Report lfc1971 December 11, 2012 10:01 PM GMT
i suggest you think of doing it in slow motion if this makes it easier for you
Report Angel Gabrial December 11, 2012 10:31 PM GMT
If you attempted this shot, the ferrel of the cue would be in contact with the cue ball causing a miscue.

I would rather debate this with someone who understands the mechanics of the sphere.

As you have stated `you are rubbish at snooker`. You must give away many a penalty while cursing your tip.
Report lfc1971 December 11, 2012 10:42 PM GMT
Angel Gabrial you seem to be deliberately misunderstanding.I have told you that when played correctly there is a greater sweet spot for the cue to hit therefore making when playing a powerful shot a miscue less likely.This is why professional players do it.
Report Angel Gabrial December 11, 2012 10:44 PM GMT
Laugh
Report lfc1971 December 11, 2012 10:45 PM GMT
It is a difficult technique but is not so for a professional
Report Angel Gabrial December 11, 2012 10:49 PM GMT
Lfc

Pokermonster was a professional snooker and pool player.

Top spin in table tennis yes. Top spin in snooker no. You can not get over the cue ball with the tip. Anything else is just forward roll.
Report lfc1971 December 11, 2012 10:50 PM GMT
and although i say it is difficult it is also something every player even of average ability does instinctively even without knowing it
Report lfc1971 December 11, 2012 10:54 PM GMT
Angel Gabrael

Pokermaster may very well have been a very fine player...but i would say that at least 90% of professional players do not really understand this..it is done instinctively by them almost as soon as they started playing
Report Angel Gabrial December 11, 2012 11:04 PM GMT
Think of a car wheel spinning. Would you say that that shot you have described is capable of such an action?

However if you played the bananas/massey shot then you can gain a similar action but with side spin.
Report lfc1971 December 11, 2012 11:12 PM GMT
Angel Gabrial i will have to say goodnight,thanks for the feedback maybe we can continue again
Report lfc1971 December 11, 2012 11:15 PM GMT
Maybe just to say that it is possible that there is no such thing as backspin...just topspin applied to the underside of the ballWink
Report Angel Gabrial December 12, 2012 12:26 AM GMT
There is no reverse spin until the white ball gathers momentum spin off the object ball.Wink
Report lfc1971 December 12, 2012 7:00 AM GMT
Angel Gabrial you might as well say that their is no topspin until the white ball gathers momentum spin off the object ball.
You only use the term reverse spin because of where the player is standing. In truth of course the cue ball has no knowledge of where the player is standing.
Report lfc1971 December 12, 2012 7:11 AM GMT
There is one more important thing in relation to topspin. You might say that if the cue is in contact with the ball(albeit for only a fraction of a second)longer than a normal shot then is this not technically a push shot? The answer is no and for this reason.
With a push shot really the cue ball is moved..pushed..without it really spinning. But with a topspin shot the ball starts to spin,again for a fraction of a sec. before it moves.This is something that i am not sure even professional players are aware off.
Report Angel Gabrial December 12, 2012 7:37 AM GMT
But with a topspin shot the ball starts to spin,again for a fraction of a sec.

I think that you are mistaking `spin` for rotation. Just because the ball is rotating does not classify it in this sense as spin.
Report Angel Gabrial December 12, 2012 7:42 AM GMT
Angel Gabrial you might as well say that their is no topspin until the white ball gathers momentum spin off the object ball.

Incorrect as the object ball that the cue ball is colliding into acts as a barrier which would negate any topspin.

However with backspin. The object ball the cue ball is colliding into acts as an assistance for the reverse rotation of the cueball to `screw it back`
Report lfc1971 December 12, 2012 7:56 AM GMT
Angel Gabriel as i stated the cue ball has no knowledge of where the player is standing.Your answer seems determined not to even try to understand what i am saying
Report lfc1971 December 12, 2012 7:59 AM GMT
You say i mistake spin for rotation..it is you who are mistaken.As i said rotation means forward movement..spin means reduced forward movement
Report lfc1971 December 12, 2012 8:03 AM GMT
Hopefully can continue later tonight if poss.
Report Angel Gabrial December 12, 2012 8:38 AM GMT
.spin means reduced forward movement

Spin is a gathering of energy buy increased rotation creating an increased acceleration in trajectory.
Report Angel Gabrial December 12, 2012 8:56 AM GMT
But with a topspin shot the ball starts to spin,again for a fraction of a sec. before it moves.This is something that i am not sure even professional players are aware off.

Because it never does. Unless you cue down on the white ball with the butt of the cue in the air striking down with a touch of side. If applying right hand side, on striking the cue ball it start it`s journey being directed left before gathering `spin` momentum on the spot and then momentum being released into and acceleration to the right via a curve of trajectory.

Hence the banana shot. With a normal bridge hand no overspin of a forward direction can be generated.
Report Pokermonster December 12, 2012 4:44 PM GMT
Good afternoon, gentlemen.  Thank you for your continued interest.

LFC: First of all, many thanks indeed for taking the time to read all the way through my thread.  It is much appreciated, sir.  I'll address the comments you have made, above.

Although you put up a well-reasoned argument, it is a mistake to assume that a cuetip stays in contact with the cueball fractionally longer than a centre ball strike.  Please do not take this as a criticism of your scientific knowledge, I understand that you are debating from a purely theoretical standpoint whereas I, on the other hand, enjoy the tremendous advantage of ultra high-speed camera equipment, my own pool room in which to practice, and many years of study to iron out my own many and frequent errors of judgement.

In fact, if anything, a cuetip remains in contact with the cueball for slightly less time when striking above centre (though I should stress we are talking miniscule margins here).  This is because the tip significantly compresses upon impact (as does the white itself to a lesser extent) and as this compression reduces the further one travels above the white's centre of mass, so does the cuetip's contact duration with the cueball.

On the subject of push shots, they only tend to occur when the cueball is touching an object ball and the cueist fails to play away, thus moving the colour.  This is actually permissable in American pool by the way.  Nearly all other instances erroneously labled push shots are, in fact, double-hit fouls.  I am aware of this for two reasons: one, the geeky camera stuff mentioned above; and two, the cueball's subsequent deflection path is the smoking gun if one knows how to analyse such things.

One last point.  Not that it matters much, but although Angel Gabrial is correct in nearly everything he has written on the thread, he flatters me when he wrote pool professional and snooker professional.  It was just pool.  I was a features writer for many snooker magazines, but never a professional player.

Many thanks again for your contributions.
Report lfc1971 December 12, 2012 6:41 PM GMT
Good evening Pokermaster,and thankyou for your very entertaining thread

If i may address the point of the amount of time the cue tip is in contact with the ball for for normal verses topspin shots i agree when you say that the tip compresses on contact. And of course it seem logical that this compression is fractionally longer for a
centre strike. However it may seem counter-intuitive but the reality is different for this reason..

Certainly if both the centre and above centre shots were played in the same way what you say would be true.However the 2 shots are not played in the same way and it is the action used by a skilled snooker player when playing topspin that means that the cue tip is in contact for a fraction of a second longer

The subject of push shots is not really material to the question and was just an aside in my general explanation
Report Pokermonster December 12, 2012 6:49 PM GMT
Good evening, LFC.

The two strokes are played in the same way, sir, the only difference being a player raises his bridge accordingly.  Your belief that a professional somehow rides up and over the cueball (however slight) is an erroneous one.  Such an action would, as Angel Gabrial pointed out earlier, invariably cause a miscue.
Report lfc1971 December 12, 2012 6:57 PM GMT
I am sorry but you may as well say that a miscue is liable when playing a shot with backspin..as indeed it is for a poor player. However we are not talking about a poorly played shot but a well played one
Report Pokermonster December 12, 2012 7:01 PM GMT
A backspin shot is a very different animal regards potential miscues, LFC, for the obvious reason that more of the cueball's mass is above the contact point.  This fact makes miscues far less likely.
Report Angel Gabrial December 12, 2012 7:05 PM GMT
Evening Gents

lfc

Backspin is not generated by hitting the cueball alone. Hitting the cue ball near the bottom creates only reverse roll.
The backspin is generated on contact with the object ball. On hitting the cue ball alone at the bottom only creates the drag shot.
Report lfc1971 December 12, 2012 7:05 PM GMT
possibly so,but as i am sure you know there is the real possibility of the ball jumping up and leaving the table!! Likewise with topspin the possibility of slipping off the cue ball.This is not really relevant
Report lfc1971 December 12, 2012 7:08 PM GMT
Angel Gabrael good evening

What happens to the cue ball hitting anything else in the universe is immaterial
Report Angel Gabrial December 12, 2012 7:15 PM GMT
Without hitting an object ball not energy is transferred into spin.

Imagine a backspin shot at golf. The club need to strike under the ball with a lofted club such as a sand wedge. In snooker the cue does not go under the ball.
Report lfc1971 December 12, 2012 7:19 PM GMT
Angel Gabrial

I may seem a little offhand but i am not going to answer that point again
Report lfc1971 December 12, 2012 7:22 PM GMT
ok let me just say again..to create backspin on a golf ball you hit down on it...the opposite of what you assume!
Report Angel Gabrial December 12, 2012 7:31 PM GMT
ok let me just say again..to create backspin on a golf ball you hit down on it...the opposite of what you assume!Happy

Now i know you are on the wind up.

Did i say that you hit up the golf ball up to create back spin? This would be the opposite.

So do you believe that similarly in snooker you have to hit down on the cueball to create spin?
Report Angel Gabrial December 12, 2012 7:33 PM GMT
Also creating spin on a golfball means the ball leaving the earth and spinning through the air.

This shot would be problematic on the green baize.
Report lfc1971 December 12, 2012 7:35 PM GMT
Angel Gabrael

Inever at any point mentioned hitting the golf ball up..mearly hitting slightly down with the golf club.

Much as one does with a snooker cue
Report lfc1971 December 12, 2012 7:39 PM GMT
Certainly on ocasions when i have played snooker the cue ball has to my amazement left the green baise

and occassionally the table itself!!
Report PokerDane December 12, 2012 7:43 PM GMT
I'm not surprised.
Report lfc1971 December 12, 2012 7:44 PM GMT
Happy
Report Pokermonster December 12, 2012 7:50 PM GMT
Most centre ball shots or lower, if struck at anything above a moderate pace, leave the bed of the table.
Report lfc1971 December 12, 2012 7:55 PM GMT
Pokermaster i have to go for this evening,and thanks again,
...try and keep Angel Gabrael away from golf please
Report Pokermonster December 12, 2012 7:59 PM GMT
Good night, LFC.

Thank you for your continued interest in the thread.
Report Clungehungry December 12, 2012 8:03 PM GMT
It's not EXACTLY relevant but I'd like you all to know that I once flipped a coin to decided who broke and it landed, from some height, on it's edge.
Report Angel Gabrial December 12, 2012 8:14 PM GMT
LFC

To gain back spin the lofted golf club goes under the golf ball as i explained.

Not sure why you think the club just comes down on the ball without going under it. Why would you deny follow through. Anyway here it is simplified for you.

http://www.videojug.com/film/golf-how-to-get-backspin
Report Angel Gabrial December 12, 2012 8:19 PM GMT
Clunge

When you flipped the coin did it must have had forward spin? when it landed did it collide with any objects or come to a standstill touching your shoe?
Report Clungehungry December 12, 2012 8:20 PM GMT
I can think of many reasons to deny follow through.

Sat in some chocolate cake is the plausible explanation I can come up with though. There was a great video a few years back of some bloke in white chino's who'd clearly properly shat himself, and two blokes were pursuing him with a camera. "Mate, you've shat yourself!"

"No, someone else did, I sat in it, that part I accept", was his somewhat unlikely explanation.
Report Clungehungry December 12, 2012 8:22 PM GMT
It landed on the table. The coin that is. Not the follow through.
Report Angel Gabrial December 12, 2012 8:23 PM GMT
Pokermonster

I am sure that you could have made it at snooker.

Interesting spherical observations being shared. It`s all good.
Report Angel Gabrial December 12, 2012 8:36 PM GMT
Clunge

We are EMailing this thread to Rishi Persad for the discussion of the fallacy of topspin being highlighted by the snooker authorities.

However your tale of the chino guy following through and unintentionally potting the brown could be the talking point for John Parrot.
Report Pokermonster December 13, 2012 1:23 AM GMT
On its edge resting against a cushion I presume you mean, CH, not standing upright in the middle of the table?
Report Clungehungry December 13, 2012 1:50 AM GMT
No PM, on the table. Not near a cushion. It was a pound coin, which makes it slightly less weird bit I was still...whoah!
Report Pokermonster December 15, 2012 3:15 PM GMT
You would have burned at the stake as a witch for stuff like that four-hundred years ago.
Report Pokermonster April 20, 2013 12:03 AM BST
The 2013 world championship starts today.  I predict very few topspin shots, if any.
Report i_agree_with_nick April 20, 2013 12:10 AM BST
Hopefully Hendry's been working on his punditry. Lot of room for improvement based on what I saw a few months ago, imo
Report i_agree_with_nick April 20, 2013 12:13 AM BST
For me, they've let him do too much too soon.

He's ok passing comment as an assistant commentator and not too bad with Hazel and SD/JP/KD in the studio but terrible doing the one-to-one interviews
Report Pokermonster April 20, 2013 12:19 AM BST
Bring back Sir Clive Everton I say.
Report i_agree_with_nick April 20, 2013 12:21 AM BST
Can't fault him on his knowledge but needs to work on his delivery and persona, imo
Report Pokermonster May 2, 2013 7:34 PM BST
Just bumping a few threads I wanted to save from the upgrade.  My apologies for cluttering the forum.
Report Pokermonster March 11, 2014 7:14 PM GMT
Not long until this year's World Championships.  I won't be here during the tournament so just making my annual thread bump a bit early.

Good evening.
Report Pokermonster April 21, 2015 8:06 PM BST
No topspin shots as yet this year.
Report Pokermonster April 21, 2015 8:08 PM BST
There are a few 'blasts from the past' on this thread, I wonder if some still post under different names?
Report Mikael D'Haguenet April 21, 2015 9:41 PM BST
None that I can see. Plain
Report Howdi April 21, 2015 10:11 PM BST
GrinLEGENDARY THREAD
Report Pokermonster November 18, 2017 11:07 PM GMT
I wonder if V4 Vendetta (AKA Goring) ever made it to his country retreat to try out my topspin test? :)
Report Pokermonster November 18, 2017 11:14 PM GMT
It's a shame the forum seems so quiet lately, I recall fielding questions and insults nineteen to the dozen back in the day! :)
Report Torquemada November 19, 2017 12:32 AM GMT
A thread about snooker gets 700 replies and 10000 views! WTF? LaughLaughLaughLaughLaugh

PM - You're a legend in your own lunchtime! LaughLaughLaughLaughLaugh
Report FatherMaguire November 19, 2017 12:54 AM GMT
Agreed, always interesting posts - as an aside, they need to sort the world championship tickets out - theyve allowed touts to hoover them up, and every session is over £100 - need to introduce a purchaser present policy, cos the touts are cleaning up at the expense of proper fans (like m)
Report Pokermonster January 14, 2019 2:02 PM GMT
Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. :)

Munch Man's legendary golf ball thread has inspired me to resurrect this old chestnut.

No topspin shots seen at the Masters as yet.
Report Baphornet January 14, 2019 2:56 PM GMT
excellent Mr P, i shall have a gander later. No doubt the banana shot has been discussed?
Report Pokermonster January 14, 2019 3:43 PM GMT
Yes indeed, Mr B. Many, many times in fact. :)

The first ten pages or so are quite an entertaining read, then we got a little sidetracked once or twice. My favourite part was where a fellow cut and pasted MY words on to an American science forum, waited for their members' responses, and then cut and pasted THEM back on here trying to disprove my arguments. What he didn't realise, alas, was that I was also a member on that forum as well. :)

Best wishes, sir.
Report Baphornet January 14, 2019 3:55 PM GMT
haha excellent when a plan comes to fruition

and the same to you Mr P
Report Pokermonster January 15, 2019 4:19 PM GMT
Another example just now of a great snooker player exposing a surprising lack of knowledge about physical aspects of the game.

When aiming to pocket an object ball which is tight on the rail it is very poor advice to advocate striking colour and cushion at the same time. It is eminently advantageous to hit the cushion first.
Report David Fishwick Minibus Sales September 10, 2019 9:38 PM BST
at last, video evidence of how it's done:

https://tinyurl.com/y5o8njuo
Report jed.davison September 10, 2019 10:07 PM BST
Unquestionably the best thread ever
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