Can't masse?

Question

I just can't masse.I've played pool for 15-20 years and played leauges for 8 years. I taught myself to jump so I know that much. I just can't seem to get it. Help

Answer 1

It would be hard to say what you are doing wrong without actually seeing you do it, but the basics of masse is that you are putting low to extreme spin on the cue ball to make it curve.  Its all in your stroke.  You may be jabbing at the cue ball.  Also depending on the amount of masse you are trying to do, its not the easiest shot in the world to pull off.  Start small with lower elevation on the cue and be sure to follow threw with your stroke and work your way up.  Practice practice practice.  Good luck, and keep rackin em up!

Answer 2

First off, make sure you have a decent cue with a quality tip that has a good curvature (not flattened) and is properly groomed and chalked.  Next, you need to learn to do a simple curve shot to get started on the right path to developing the "feel" of the stroke.   Start with just a cue ball, elevate the butt of your cue about 30º and stroke at 5:00 or 7:00 (bottom side) with authority and without jabbing.  Use a shorter bridge and visualize your cue tip accelerating to the far surface of the cue ball...as if the front of the cue ball weren't there.   You need to accept the fact that there's no room for significant follow-through and that your cue tip may contact the cloth...because you MUST follow through.   Keep playing around with that using different degrees of elevation, english and force until you get the feel of the shot and how each of the variables affect the shot.    If you want to do the full U-turn kind of massé, you need to take all of this to the extreme.   It's a very tough and unpredictable shot but you'll be absolutely elated when you pull it off for the first time so don't give up.   You need to elevate your cue to almost vertical and you need to develop new bridging and gripping techniques just for massé shots.   You need to stroke with even more authority and you're going to hit the surface of the table with your cue tip.   Try sitting on the edge of the table and bracing your bridge against your hip.   Grip your cue farther forward or whatever it takes to have your elbow bent at about 90º (or a little less) and stroke with a motion like someone giving a "thumb down" signal.   Aim to hit the ball (while looking down on it) as close as you can to the near edge without miscuing...you need to get that ball spinning while relying on the squirt or pinching (like a watermelon seed) between the tip and table to propel it forward.   Visualize the tip of your cue accelerating to a point just above the cloth...the far surface of the ball.   Try it with center ball to start, then start adding some side.   Be aware that this is really harsh in the wear-and-tear department and that you run the risk of damaging your cue or the table.   If the table has cheap cloth on it, it's likely going to tear...quality cloth is way more durable.   And don't say "I can't massé" because that'll become a self-fulfilling prophecy.  Change to saying "I haven't yet learned to massé" or "I'm still learning to massé" and then set about to change that!

Answer 3

It is a tough thing to do

Answer 4

Masse-ing is difficult, whether it's a small curve along the length of a table, or a sharp curve where the cue ball goes out and back.  You have to hit it with an elevated cue, which can sometimes make your stroke feel awkward, but if you got the jump stroke down, you should be ok.  If you hit the cue ball with left english, it will squirt to the right and then curve to the left.  The harder you hit it, the more it will squirt.  The more spin you put on the ball (relative to the speed), the more pronounced the curve will be.  More elevation will help you put more spin on the ball at less speed.  Like the jump stroke, you can't be afraid to hit through the cue ball and hit the cloth.  This is why you should get the table owners permission before practicing these shots.  Also check out the links below for more instruction and videos.

Answer 5

If you are meaning swerve the ball, start off by playing bottom lets say left hand side on it. then raise the butt of the cue slightly more and slightly more.see what affect this has, do not try and wallop the ball thinking this going to produce more swerve, keep your shots soft like, lawn bowling the slower the ball travels the more it will swerve comparatively. jumping over a ball is a foul.(in English 8 ball)