Food for Thought

CTE is center cue ball system.

Center cue ball alignments for straight-in shots demand a grip hand hold that can move directly through the cue ball without left or right movement.

American players do not have an objective center cue ball system. Their grip/cue holding configurations intentionally allow for movement. For example, American players favor outside for cut shots. Their grip hand can easily move a smidge in the direction of the applied spin. ( This same gripping strategy is not conducive for moving straight through the cue ball center. )

This can be one reason that professionals avoid center cue ball alignments for cut shots.

CTE players that are naturally going to use more center cue ball must have a grip that can consistently move the cue in straight line, not just for straight-ins, but for all center cue ball cuts.

Every player should seek to find the hold or gripping strategy that is as deadly straight as possible for center cueing.

For those shots that are off-center, a different gripping configuration may be the ticket for more success with the various degrees of iffiness that are encountered when side is applied.

Do you ever wonder why straight-ins can be so challenging? Perhaps your hold for straight-ins is more suited for side spin. If that’s the case you should explore to find what hold moves your cue the straightest when aligned to center.

Every shot in CTE can be like a straight-in.