Of course I exaggerated to a degree, as I wanted it to be easy to understand the general idea. I didn’t mean to sound biased either, as each and every stroke out there has its proper place in the game. If I only used the pendulum then some shots I encounter I would not be able to perform the shot as I decide too.
I use the pendulum stroke on the vast majority of shots, but don’t take my post as negative towards the Piston style stroke. I most definitely use the piston stroke, and on a regular basis too. For some shots it is a much more functional type of stroke. My best examples being the break shot and power follow shots. I do prefer the pendulum as my normal stroke but don’t view the Piston style stroke as wrong, incorrect or improper by any means. When I said that the piston was % wise more difficult, I misspoke...what I should have said was that % wise the stroke is more involved which doesn't make it necessarily more difficult to perform especially when we know the proper mechanics that make up each style of shot/stroke.
Take for example Scott Lee and the SPF instructors teach you to use the same bridge length for basically every shot, you always hold the cue in the same particular place. To a degree I fall in with this, as most shots I do use the same length bridge. But some shots call for either a longer bridge or a shorter one, its inherent in the game. So that idea has a limit to its functionality. If the CB is on the rail then of course my bridge is going to be shorter than normal, AND my grip hand will change placement as well as to maintain proper mechanics. If I keep my grip hand at the back of the cue then I wont be able to reach the table with my bridge hand, my wingspan stays the same as always I just adjust my body closer or farther away accordingly in relation to where its possible to place my bridge hand.
I know SPF/BCA don’t condone the punch style stroke, as it’s a bunt style stroke, theres more poke than stroke when using the punch. It is IMOP the best stroke out there for playing bank pool. Its more compact, and very precise. You would not catch me dead playing banks and using a true pendulum or piston stroke like we normally use in rotation style pool such as 9 ball.
Lol your exaggeration in regards to a high stance and its effect on the pendulums range makes a great point. Like all things there are limits to what can be done with certain techniques. Just like you see in the differing aiming systems, all the aiming systems out there have their own particular style or range of shot angle that the particular aiming system does the best with. As you know and I’m sure everyone will agree that the effectiveness of all the techniques we can use will only be beneficial when they are used in that techniques set range.
You’re very much correct that the higher you stand on the shot the more the pendulum stroke starts to exceed its limits. Stand very high and the finish point on the chest gets replaced with florescent bulbs. Stand high enough and you’ll be shooting DOWN on the CB every time with a pendulum stroke.
That said its obvious that the higher up you are on the shot the more effective the Piston Stroke. On the other end of the spectrum, the lower you are on the shot the more effective the pendulum stroke will be.
I understand what you mean. Tho I disagree with the idea of “attempting” to hold the upper arm stationary under normal stroking speeds. As is the thought that the light grip is un-natural. The grip strength has a direct effect on how the arm works. When you grip too tight, that’s when your going to “attempt” to keep the upper-arm stationary(and probably w/o success) Your looking at the separate components and judging them, you can’t judge something standing alone when it functions together with other things as a team. One thing causes this, the other effects that etc
The light grip BELONGS to the pendulum stroke. With a light grip there is no tension on the arm, so there is no need to FORCIBLY keep the elbow stationary. The absence of tension lets the forearm pivot at the hinge (elbow) and swing back/forth at this axis. If you swing too far back then the elbow will rise, if you are too high on the shot then the elbow will dip as the distance the grip hand has exceeded the practical range for the use of the pendulum.
Now here’s the really neat thing, if your using a piston stroke I’m positive that the grip will become firmer. With a very light grip the arm will not work together, the upper and lower arm will b/c detached in their motions. Just as is exhibited in the pendulum stroke. The firmer grip (this is an arbitrary measurment, I don’t know how much firmer it should be but grip pressure should be greater) will mechanically cause the upper and lower arm to work in TANDEM. The hand is connected to the forearm, and the forearm to the upperarm…the grip pressure is the glue that bonds the extra moving parts together.
That inherent tension is what links the moving parts of the arm and lets the arm know “hey we have a job to do, now follow along” When the grip is very light when implementing the pendulum then the hand does not send the signal for the upperarm to be included in the task at hand. This is the language of the hand, the hand is what does the talking….the arm only receives this info and uses it accordingly, the arm does not initiate the movements the grip hand is the initiator and supreme overlord of the stroke.
As an example how the body works and its parts effect movements lets use a baseball bat swing to contrast/compare to.
When the bat is gripped too hard (all too often) it reduces feeling in the hands, and adds tension to the forearm. What happens when the player swings is the upper arm ends up following the hands out and away from the body. This causes the wrists to snap and elbows to turn in two phases. The result is reduced bat speed, loss of control of the swing and can eventually cause tennis elbow. The proper way to swing a bat is to hold it lightly(a proper bat grip is nearly identical to a gold club grip, with the exception of the straight thumbs but you do line up your knuckles that are in the middle of your fingers, you don’t like up your punching knuckles), just firm enough so it don’t fall out your hands when you swing. The lack of tension will help your rear elbow stay tucked close to your body. As the players hips turn during the swing the close body elbows give you much needed control of the swing. The close body elbow also magnifies the snap of the wrist, as the hips turn the hands move toward the pitcher and then the elbows hinge SPRINGS OPEN and causes the wrists to snap simultaneously. The whole time adding power, bat speed and control to your swing. The path of the hands resembles the letter J not an ellipse.
So when swinging a bat the rear arm (that’s the one that does the work) only has the forearm and hand initiating the motion, the upper arm doesn’t come into play on a proper swing the hips turn and the elbows open causing the wrists to snap and turn over and the rear elbow stays tucked close to the body throughout the entire swing.
No stroke is a natural movement, a natural movement is walking. Every stroke that you use you must learn how to do it and commit it to muscle memory where upon it becomes 2nd nature, but still not natural. The strokes are un-natural motions separate, but when the components are put together they work in a mechanically natural way. The equation is abnormal, the product true to the bodys inner workings. What is natural is how the different components of the various strokes work together to produce the desired physical outcome. The components of each stroke are engineered to work with your bodys mechanics(if you stay within range)….IMOP that shows it’s a natural OUTCOME. If it didn’t fit mechanically we would not be able to play the game very well. That would be more along the lines of holding a bat cross handed, that would be un-natural, as it would oppose and greatly be in conflict with the turnover of the wrists and development of the swing.
When we walk the arms are loose and act the way they do b/c of conservation of momentum. The arms are basically straight and the whole arm swings together in one smooth motion. People generally don’t bend the elbow and swing the forearm up at the elbow joint when walking, as that causes a loss of perpetual momentul and looses the energy to vertical lift. Proper running from is the exact same motion, only the shoulder does work causing the upper arm to move back and forth. The elbow is bent close to 90º but the angle of the elbow does not open and close. The forearm stays locked and as the shoulder moves the upper arm back and forth the forearm does NOTHING except hold its position, its only job is to promote PERPETUAL MOTION and decrease vertical motion.
Now that I’m on running I’m going to tell you all something that I’ve always believed everyone should know. YOU RUN WRONG! There’s good news tho, its not your fault by any means. It’s the shoes that you wear that are the problem. Nike Shocks, Mizuno waves etc…all that thick padding in the heel, Its good tho right? WRONG! You don’t run heel to toe, that makes your knee lock out on impact which is why so many weekend fitness buffs all got knees that are beat to hell.
That fat soft padding on the heel is a gimmick and that’s all. When you run and jog the initial impact with the ground shoud occur at the midfoot, Its called a Mid-Foot strike. When you strike with the Mid-Foot the knee will have a slight bend to it. Which will let the leg perform like the shock absorber it is. When you strike heel first, even with all those air packs and shocks your jarring your knees, your also expending more energy to get less work. If you don’t believe it then try running heel to toe barefooted on the road for a 100yds and see how you like it. Then do it again barefoot with a midfoot strike….AHHHH that feels much better J Now you too can run like Gump, and save the only knees ya got.
Ok my brain is mush lol, I think i might have a stroke
Grey Ghost