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  In
many places this web site has talked about methods of achieving
consistency and alsothe many things which can contribute to
a lack of consistency.
This section deals with a problem related to consistency and
a subject which has even led to some players giving up the
game altogether…Side-Spin.
Obtaining poor results when attempting to pot balls can happen
in two ways when side is used. One is intentional side-spin
and the other is side spin which is unintentional. Intentional
side-spin is used by almost every player in the game even
though very few understand the various implications which
are involved through its use.
  After
all, how many players, having seen the top stars on television
using side to play certain shots, can't wait to try out those
shots themselves?
In most cases this only halts their progress because even
those players who can devote a lot of time at the practice
table find it very hard to understand SIDE and its implications.
So what price the ordinary club player who might only play
two or three times a week?
As
a starting point, I believe that the term 'side spin' should
be used more often, rather than just 'side'. Players would
then begin to realise that there is so much difference between
the white
ball rolling forward with momentum only, compared to a white
ball which is spinning sideways on its way to the object ball.
  In
the first instance, the white ball, having been struck in
the centre, will move in a straightline to the point of aim
on theobject ball. In the second instance there is no way
that this can happen.
Aball struck to the right of centre will immediately move
to the left of that straight line. Once this is understood
it should now make sense that the harder the ball is struck,
the more it will be forced offline. This however, is only
the start of the learning process.
Further
things to take into consideration are; ·
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How much side spin is being applied as you strike
the white just left (or right) of centre, or alternatively
on the extreme edge of the white ball? ·
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What is the distance between the white and the object
ball? ·
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How hard has the shot been played? ·
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What kind of cloth is on the snooker table? Different
cloths mean the white will act with a different throw off.
Having accepted that the cue ball (white) will move offline
when it is first struck, it has to be recognised that the
white will start to come back on line at some point and then,
if there is enough distance between the white and the object
ball, it will start to veer off the line in the opposite direction.
Clearly you will now be starting to recognise how complicated
the whole business of applying side-spin can be. It is a very
difficult subject to try and explain thoroughly and even more
difficult to put into practice on the table.
The
Frank Callan Suite - 8 Collinson Street - Ribbleton - Preston
- PR1 5EY
t.
+ 44 (01772) 702211 - f. 44 (01772) 793700
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