Does the cue strike a cue ball horizontally?

Answer 1

No. There are almost no opportunities for the average person to have the cue contact the cue ball on the horizontal in a game of pocket billiards or pool. In nearly all shots, the butt of the cue must be raised slightly. And for most shots, cue ball control becomes an important part of the shot, requiring that contact be made off center as well, very often below or above center and not horizontally.