Comparison of two strokes

N

nrhoades

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
I've made progress with re-working my stance. I am exploring the two following stances:

Stance 1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xJ2NfIS6Vh0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kyNlf27v6Bk

Stance 2
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y383S6pSvoY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GvKUDCxfRLI

My comments:

Stance 1:
More of a traditional snooker stance. I am completely square to the table, and the aim line is centered at my belly button. Since I made the video I've been pointing my right foot directly down the line of aim instead of slightly outward (this is correct way to do it). By doing this my weight shift is completely locked down the aim line which is a good thing. There are the traditional four points of contact (hand,chest,chin,bridge). The stroking hand is stopped by the torso and follow-through is not as big. I'm gripping the cue loosely, though snooker players grip more firmly. I do not know if I should grip more firmly or loosely in this position when playing pool.

Stance 2:
A modified snooker stance. Instead of lining up with my belly button, I line up with my right foot. I then step to the side with my left, but keep my hips locked and turned to the right. My right leg stays straight. By stepping out, my torso is no longer in the way of my stroking arm and follow through is larger. My stroking arm is stopped by my upper arm instead of the torso. However, my forward weight shift is now at a diagonal, which worries me if I fatigue; the sideways shift will throw the cueball off line.

So far I am trying to decide between a diminished follow through (possible loss of power, though maybe not) and locking my weight shift down the aim line. I feel the latter is more important.

Also wondering why snooker players grip tighter and if I should if I am square.

What do you think?
 
nrhoades said:
I've made progress with re-working my stance. I am exploring the two following stances:

Stance 1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xJ2NfIS6Vh0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kyNlf27v6Bk

Stance 2
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y383S6pSvoY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GvKUDCxfRLI

My comments:

Stance 1:
More of a traditional snooker stance. I am completely square to the table, and the aim line is centered at my belly button. Since I made the video I've been pointing my right foot directly down the line of aim instead of slightly outward (this is correct way to do it). By doing this my weight shift is completely locked down the aim line which is a good thing. There are the traditional four points of contact (hand,chest,chin,bridge). The stroking hand is stopped by the torso and follow-through is not as big. I'm gripping the cue loosely, though snooker players grip more firmly. I do not know if I should grip more firmly or loosely in this position when playing pool.

Stance 2:
A modified snooker stance. Instead of lining up with my belly button, I line up with my right foot. I then step to the side with my left, but keep my hips locked and turned to the right. My right leg stays straight. By stepping out, my torso is no longer in the way of my stroking arm and follow through is larger. My stroking arm is stopped by my upper arm instead of the torso. However, my forward weight shift is now at a diagonal, which worries me if I fatigue; the sideways shift will throw the cueball off line.

So far I am trying to decide between a diminished follow through (possible loss of power, though maybe not) and locking my weight shift down the aim line. I feel the latter is more important.

Also wondering why snooker players grip tighter and if I should if I am square.

What do you think?
Click to expand...
in the first stance looks like you move while you are doing pratice stroke. No need to do that.
The lenght of the follow through is not important, you can have a 5 inch and a 20 inch follow trough, more lenght doesn't mean more power. Make sure you accelerate trough the cueball and don't poke the cb.
The snooker stance 1 is correct, the second stance is different. In the snooker stance you must have you right foot in the line of the shot, the secon stance you posted is more a pool stance but with only your chin on the cue.
As far as the grip the snooker coaches teach to not hold the cue too loose, I noticed in the second stance you actually hold the cue too loosely and this increases side cue movement.
 
First your grips to tight now its too loose. Lol. Your stroke looks good. I would suggest doing whatever feels the most comfortable to you and not worry about how it looks.
 
I'd like you to try an experiment. Go back to stance#1 and...

1. Step into the shot (not stand in front of the CB and bend down into position). This helps you place your right foot more accurately (on sight line) and allows your eyes to more accurately focus on the target.

2. Place your left foot a bit wider than you are now (try one or two foot widths). This adds stability & helps clear your body from the cue without resorting to the pool player side-saddle stance (which is where your stance#2 is heading).

3. Allow your left hip to fall (rotate). This will help rotate your shoulders, which are a little too square right now. Most snooker players have their left should near their jaw or ear.

You will see each of the above in the very first shot Stephen takes in this vid:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J1ALhmPunbs
 
I was asking myself this very question about a year ago, deciding between a traditional snooker stance or both-knees bent pool stance, and I went with a modified snooker stance like in the second video.

I couldn't trust the consistency of bending both knees especially after fatigue, and i couldn't get the action i wanted on the cb with the traditional snooker stance. Also, i like the loose grip, unlike traditional snooker players, i find that with a tighter grip, the webbing between my thumb and index finger gets in the way of my pendulum stroke and i ended up dropping my elbow on the back swing in an attempt to minimize vertical movement of the cue
 
Interesting videos....

I think that if made a video while you were shooting an actual shot it might give you much more information then just practice strokes.

The grip you are trying to use would look much different in the act of shooting a ball.

Just a thought.

Dud
 
If you are lacking power in the snooker stance, it is probably because one or more of these problems exist: 1) your shoulders are too square to the table, 2) your stance is too narrow, 3) your hips are too level, or 4) your bridge hand is too centered.

How to fix each: 1) rotate your shoulders (bridge arm shoulder downward) & put your bridge arm shoulder near(er) your ear/jaw, 2) push your bent leg directly sideways (not forward) leaving your straight leg in place, 3) let your bent leg hip fall "down & in"...your straight leg side can't move because it's perched on a straight leg, 4) push your bridge further right for righties and left for lefties.

Why this works. They are all tied together really. Pushing your bent leg out allows room for your cue action & hip turn...which allows your shoulders to rotate comfortably, which allows you to place your bridge arm shoulder near your ear/jaw, which is reinforced by bridging further to the side.

Hope you find some benefit from my little experiment. BTW, just watch Hendry in the vid I posted above & you will see everything I just suggested.
 
Last edited:
They're still working for me. Maybe they were down for a period, but does youtube ever go down?
 
Nobody can tell you what stance to use. Your best bet is to hit a lot of balls, tens of thousands, and your stance will take care of itself.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top