Elbow - What to do with it?

Cornerman

Cornerman

Cue Author...Sometimes
Silver Member
I've been an "elbow off the bed" player for such a long time, but as I get older, my elbow can't hold itself still anymore. It shakes on many shots. But, if I put my elbow down, it seems I have to put my entire body in a different position than then position I've played in for over 30 years now.

I don't know if I'm asking for opinion, guidance, confirmation, or feedback. What I do know is that I'm getting older and since the World Cup for the USA is done, I ain't got much to talk about.

Freddie <~~~ SES - Shaky Elbow Syndrome
 
Is this your bridge arm? I can't imagine playing with my elbow not on the table (provided I have the space and am not on a rail, etc.).
 
Cornerman said:
I've been an "elbow off the bed" player for such a long time, but as I get older, my elbow can't hold itself still anymore. It shakes on many shots. But, if I put my elbow down, it seems I have to put my entire body in a different position than then position I've played in for over 30 years now.

I don't know if I'm asking for opinion, guidance, confirmation, or feedback. What I do know is that I'm getting older and since the World Cup for the USA is done, I ain't got much to talk about.

Freddie <~~~ SES - Shaky Elbow Syndrome
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Freddie:

Not sure what your stance looks like, but I'm assuming it's the standard Lance Perkins-template pool stance, with your feet cocked 45-degrees to the shot line?

If that's the case, have you tried altering your stance so that either A.) you depend less on your bridge hand to provide that "third leg of the tripod," or B.) you depend more on your bridge hand to provide that third leg of the tripod? (Again, not sure about your stance, so I'm covering both instances.)

Some folks bridge-hand elbows get shaky when there's too much weight on it (i.e. they are leaning too far forward, and there's stress involved). Other times, if the bridge hand is just "alight" on the table, there's not enough weight on it to firm it up, and the elbow just kinda "does what it wants."

Then again -- and apologies for the personalized nature of the question -- do you know if you have a history of benign familial tremors in your family? (Sometimes the onset of these doesn't occur until later in life.)

Just some thoughts,
-Sean <-- uses snooker stance, and the square-on orientation provides just enough weight on bridge hand to keep steady
 
Not trying to be funny but have you ever given thought to something similar to one of those arm contraptions like Earl uses? It looks like it might help support the weight and stabilize the shaking a bit.
 
Cornerman said:
I've been an "elbow off the bed" player for such a long time, but as I get older, my elbow can't hold itself still anymore. It shakes on many shots. But, if I put my elbow down, it seems I have to put my entire body in a different position than then position I've played in for over 30 years now.

I don't know if I'm asking for opinion, guidance, confirmation, or feedback. What I do know is that I'm getting older and since the World Cup for the USA is done, I ain't got much to talk about.

Freddie <~~~ SES - Shaky Elbow Syndrome
Click to expand...

Site the shot 100% before you go down, once down back swing and shoot, this will minimize time for your elbow and shaking will not effect the shot, practice your stance until you perfect it, take your eye off the OB the second your shaft hit your bridge, trust your stroke.
 
branpureza said:
Not trying to be funny but have you ever given thought to something similar to one of those arm contraptions like Earl uses? It looks like it might help support the weight and stabilize the shaking a bit.
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When Earl said he uses some of these things because he's getting older, I totally get it.


sleinen said:
Then again -- and apologies for the personalized nature of the question -- do you know if you have a history of benign familial tremors in your family? (Sometimes the onset of these doesn't occur until later in life.)
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It's very possible that my joints (which started bothering me when I hit 30) are the culprit. And that is definitely hereditary.

Freddie <~~~ oiling up the quad cane
 
SakuJack said:
Is this your bridge arm? I can't imagine playing with my elbow not on the table (provided I have the space and am not on a rail, etc.).
Click to expand...

Knowing what I know now, if I could start again, I would start with my bridge elbow down on the table.
 
Do you play with a locked elbow, bent elbow or something in the middle? With my elbow bent I can't help but rest it on the table with the way I stand, with it locked its really hard to make it touch the table. It may be slightly too much weight on the bridge hand, kind of like when you really have to bridge over a ball your bridge hand shakes. I'm assuming your stance is fairly upright based on putting your elbow on the baize makes you alter your stance? If you are used to an upright stance, and elbow off the table the only two options you have to alter the shakes that I know of are alter your stance so you can get the elbow planted, or drastically shift your weight balance more onto your back leg and have the bridge just barely resting on the felt. The latter can cause problems with the back leg...in particular the knee if used for a long time.
 
Cornerman said:
I've been an "elbow off the bed" player for such a long time, but as I get older, my elbow can't hold itself still anymore. It shakes on many shots. But, if I put my elbow down, it seems I have to put my entire body in a different position than then position I've played in for over 30 years now.

I don't know if I'm asking for opinion, guidance, confirmation, or feedback. What I do know is that I'm getting older and since the World Cup for the USA is done, I ain't got much to talk about.

Freddie <~~~ SES - Shaky Elbow Syndrome
Click to expand...

Could it be possible that you were off-balance and out of alignment for 30 years and are just starting to feel the consequences of that now? Could you have made alignment compensations without realizing it?

There should be very little weight on your bridge arm, off or on the table.

I'm thinking that with a stance correction you won't need to make any more compensations.

Hard to tell, of course without seeing you in person.

Just wanted to add after the fact: If you do feel you have to put your arm down, if you're not bending it you will probably have to move both feet to the left (if you're right-handed). This will cause you to lean more to the right, taking the additional weight off of your left side, thus re-balancing you over the cue. Just focus on getting your head correctly positioned over the cue after you make the stance adjustment.
 
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It seems odd, but I've never thought about it.

I think I generally have my elbow on the table, except on shots where I'm really stretched out (or, of course, on/near the rail).
 
i have both knee's bent and weight pretty evenly distributed front to back...people with back leg straight might have more weight forward than i do, im not sure....but i do know there isnt any strain on my bridge arm...just the pressure i put downward on my bridge hand...maybe you just have too much of your weight forward.
 
sfleinen said:
... Lance Perkins ...
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I never heard him referred to as other than Lanson.

As for the OP.... The vast majority of snooker professionals plant their bridge elbow firmly on the table. That clearly gives more stability and usually more comfort than the straight-locked-arm style. It also is often impossible on a pool table due to the clutter of balls on the smaller surface interfering with planting your elbow.

It also forces your head to be lower (usually) which is harder on a pool table because the playing surface is lower than a snooker table. At snooker you want the much lower head position.

As I get older, I wish they would raise the height of pool tables.
 
Bob Jewett said:
I never heard him referred to as other than Lanson.

As for the OP.... The vast majority of snooker professionals plant their bridge elbow firmly on the table. That clearly gives more stability and usually more comfort than the straight-locked-arm style. It also is often impossible on a pool table due to the clutter of balls on the smaller surface interfering with planting your elbow.

It also forces your head to be lower (usually) which is harder on a pool table because the playing surface is lower than a snooker table. At snooker you want the much lower head position.

As I get older, I wish they would raise the height of pool tables.
Click to expand...

On occasion in Billiards Digest, and Pool and Billiards magazines, I do see Lanson Perkins referred to as simply "Lance Perkins" -- such as here:

http://bmsi.ru/doc/7c2dbce0-1f4b-4395-88db-5f0773f6dbae/html

Additionally, I've even seen Dr. Perkins referred to as "Lansing Perkins" as shown here:

http://carombil.wordpress.com/2013/08/30/welker-cochran-his-story/

(Whoever created that website needs to be shot -- that JoeyA-blue background and white/gray text is really hard on the eyes.)


Anyways, I agree with the notion of the table height related to how low one gets on the cue. I've known a few snooker players (who play on a pool table for their first couple of times) make that observation of how "low" pool tables are in relation to snooker tables.

-Sean
 
Freddie,

I wouldn't change anything about your game. Your best bet is to strengthen the legs. You're putting strain on the upper body and arms and it's changing your stance. Bad habits will be just around the corner as you try and compensate for your changed stances and head position.

I suggest a light work out, some weights and a little cardio. I lift 3-4 days a week and do cardio a couple of days. I'm probably older than you are. You'll see most of these problems go away in a few months. Send me your PayPal info for my consulting fees. :smile:

meme-doyoueven-terminator.jpg

Best,
Mike
 
Bob Jewett said:
I never heard him referred to as other than Lanson.

As for the OP.... The vast majority of snooker professionals plant their bridge elbow firmly on the table. That clearly gives more stability and usually more comfort than the straight-locked-arm style. It also is often impossible on a pool table due to the clutter of balls on the smaller surface interfering with planting your elbow.

It also forces your head to be lower (usually) which is harder on a pool table because the playing surface is lower than a snooker table. At snooker you want the much lower head position.

As I get older, I wish they would raise the height of pool tables.
Click to expand...

lol bob, im 6'1, ive thought many times, man i wish the table was about 3 or 4 inches higher ;)
 
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