Wobbling Again & Betmore's Power Stroke

Problem ...

Trying to fix this problem over the net is like trying to fix a computer problem over the telephone ... lol This is a problem that someone needs to watch you do to really spot what is wrong when you do it. It could be one of many things, but getting 8k worth of suggestions when only 100 bytes of fix is needed would be a futile exercise. If you are around pros, one of them can tell you right away what you are doing wrong, but whether they will or not is another matter. Some never will, because you might end up being a competitor somewhere down the road, and their tip could help you defeat them .... ROFL, but true to life.

Snapshot9 said:

If you are around pros, one of them can tell you right away what you are doing wrong, but whether they will or not is another matter. Some never will, because you might end up being a competitor somewhere down the road, and their tip could help you defeat them ....

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How true that is... I know someone whose game is equal to or better than Mike Davis's, and who could go pro if he really wanted to, who when asked this kind of question just shrugs and says something like, "Oh, that one costs money..."

I know others, one of whom is a full-fledged pro, who wonders how wise it is for him to show his students certain things, because he's sure those secrets will come back to haunt him in the future.

Blackjack himself has written elsewhere when you figure something out to tell nobody about it.

The beat goes on....

Flex

Flex said:

How true that is... I know someone whose game is equal to or better than Mike Davis's, and who could go pro if he really wanted to, who when asked this kind of question just shrugs and says something like, "Oh, that one costs money..."

I know others, one of whom is a full-fledged pro, who wonders how wise it is for him to show his students certain things, because he's sure those secrets will come back to haunt him in the future.

Blackjack himself has written elsewhere when you figure something out to tell nobody about it.

The beat goes on....

Flex

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Names, I need names.

I cannot believe Blackjack would say something like that. He seems to give away everything he knows. Or is he keeping the good stuff to himself and just putting the worthless stuff out on the web.

mnShooter said:

Names, I need names.

I cannot believe Blackjack would say something like that. He seems to give away everything he knows. Or is he keeping the good stuff to himself and just putting the worthless stuff out on the web.

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Blackjack is one of the best sources for good info around. But he did indeed say that. I'll try to find a link for it.

Flex

mnShooter said:

Names, I need names.

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Nopers... Sorry about that.

Flex

Well, though for every top-level player that doesn't offer advice it seems as if there are plenty who are all the more willing.

I remember practicing at Hollywood Billiards next to Max Eberle, and I was having problems with my break. He watched me the next few games, even though I hadn't asked him to or said much more to him than, "Hi," when I got there. Then he approached me on his own and offered some suggestions. This helped me concentrate on what he saw that I was doing wrong, and helped immediately on my next break.

As well, having been playing 14.1 with SJM here he offers a lot of advice you can't find in books -- especially when it comes to safety play.

The list goes on, and maybe I've just been lucky enough to meet enough knowledgeable guys who are nice enough to share their stuff but at least there are some good guys out there.

Flex said:

How true that is... I know someone whose game is equal to or better than Mike Davis's, and who could go pro if he really wanted to, who when asked this kind of question just shrugs and says something like, "Oh, that one costs money..."

I know others, one of whom is a full-fledged pro, who wonders how wise it is for him to show his students certain things, because he's sure those secrets will come back to haunt him in the future.

Blackjack himself has written elsewhere when you figure something out to tell nobody about it.

The beat goes on....

Flex

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StevenPWaldon said:

The list goes on, and maybe I've just been lucky enough to meet enough knowledgeable guys who are nice enough to share their stuff but at least there are some good guys out there.

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You're absolutely right about that. Besides the formal and some informal lessons I've taken, some pros and others have helped me with various aspects of my game, showed me things not found in the books, and so on. Some of it is absolutely priceless. And most of the time, the advice has come out of the generosity of their hearts, offered even though I didn't ask them. Things they saw in my stroke, or stance, or how I was hitting the balls, or how to shoot certain shots.

Whatever small amount of pool knowledge I have is spread around. I like nothing better than to see someone who will likely become way better than me, and who I'll have to face in tournaments, open their eyes wide when they receive a tip or an idea that resolves a problem they can't get a handle on. These fellows usually become friends, if they aren't already. I like it when they improve and give me fits at the table. The challenge is greater, and the satisfaction coming from playing better players and making their life miserable at the table isn't forgotten especially if I get the best of them in a tournament setting! Those are milestones for me, and encourage me all the more.

Flex <--- likes thinking outside the box

i aint no pro but ive learned a few tricks that work great for power draw. I normally shoot will all my fingers on the cue except my pinky......for a power draw i drop off my ring finger too and use just the first and middle, this seems to let my wrist break alot more (got this from the bustamante article on his break). I also will tuck in the ring finger of my bridge hand, which allows you to lower your bridge about a 1/2inch but keep it nice and level (randyg taught me that one). Then i will get my cue addressing the cueball where i want it, lock down with my bridgehand to hold the cue in place and slip my back hand back just a couple more inches, a couple of nice long practice strokes and then smoothly power thru the ball. That trick about moving my back hand back really works great on a stretch shot too. We have slow cloth on our tables in the poolroom, and i can have the cueball 2 feet off the headrail, the object ball a foot off the footrail straight in and draw the ball back to the headrail pretty easily.

DrCue'sProtege said:

"DCP,
As a reformed "ex-wobbler" myself, I can tell you what my problem was. If you are truly delivering a straight stroke with the wobble, then the wobble probably represents tension in the grip hand during the stroke, usually a subconscious effort to "guide" or "steer" the cue. The "power stroke" workout that I detailed in previous posts eliminated the wobble (it only took 2 months of concerted effort and 3000 shots - no lie, I've got the evaluation sheets to prove it). While the wobble occasionally re-surfaces during pressure situations, it is gone during practice and most games - my goal is complete banishment of the dreaded wobble.

Incidentally, the pro's that I hang around freak out when they see the wobble - as if it might rub off on them - they hate to even watch someone else do it."
==========================================================

.... just wondering if Mr. Williebetmore can enlighten me on what his "Power Stroke Workout" might be, and if it could help correct my Wobbling/Veering to the left problem?

DCP

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Here is a copy of my post in response to Cuetechasaurus' power stroke question. It is not MY Power Stroke Workout; it is Mark Wilson's brainchild. Remember that it is not the shooting of the shots that will guarantee your progress; it is the DILIGENT and HONEST evaluation of each and every shot (and a conscious effort to give your BEST stroke each time) that will get you where you want to be. This is about building a stroke, NOT about making shots.

The power stroke will magnify any inaccuracies in your stroke and setup. The stroke drills (from Mark Wilson) that I am using require the grading of each and every stroke in 7 areas:

1. Care with aim and setup
2. Full and complete practice swings
3. Slow and straight backswing (same on practice swings and actual stroke), with smooth transfer (no jerkiness) from backswing to actual stroke.
4. No body motion before, during, or after stroke
5. No elbow collapse
6. Perfectly straight tip follow through (and low because of the no elbow collapse).
7. Light, uniform grip pressure throughout stroke

Shoot 10 shots with extreme follow, 10 with center ball, and 10 with extreme draw:

#1 - Put the cue ball on the foot spot, object ball one diamond from the far corner pocket, one diamond away from the long rail. Shoot 10 times with power stroke (inaccuracies in the stroke will be magnified, and easier to find and correct with the power stroke), maximum top spin. After each shot, grade yourself on each of these 7 areas (A=needs attention, S=skillful). Have an extra row on your evaluation sheet for a P=perfect if the ball goes in.

#2 - Again with cue ball on foot spot, put object ball 2 diamonds from far corner, and 1 ball width from the long rail. Shoot with power stun (cue ball should come straight across table at least 1 1/2 table widths on a 9 footer). Shoot 10 times and grade yourself as above

#3 - Last shot is with cue ball on foot spot, object ball straight in and 2 diamonds from the far corner. Shoot 10 shots with power draw, as low as possible, drawing the cue ball back to the foot rail if you can. Grade as above. After these 30 shots have been taken and graded - TAKE A BREAK (you deserve it, you will be tired if you are concentrating properly) and do it again later in the day. I think you will see results quicker than trying to run racks of 9-ball.

I have a copy of the scoring sheet I use to grade each shot - I will search the forum to find it, and I will tack a link on to the bottom of this post. Since August I have done approximately 3000 "power shots" in this drill, and I am still improving my stroke. Good luck.

P.S. - Here's the thread, look at post #9 for a copy of the scoring sheet.

http://www.azbilliards.com/vbulletin...t=power+stroke

P.P.S. - Remember, that even though you are shooting with power, you are using the same light grip and smooth swing that you do on the "one-handed" drill - THAT is what will get rid of the dreaded wobbles.

Williebetmore said:

P.S. - Here's the thread, look at post #9 for a copy of the scoring sheet.

http://www.azbilliards.com/vbulletin...t=power+stroke

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Unfortunately, that link doesn't work. Do you by any chance have one that does?

Williebetmore said:

P.S. - Here's the thread, look at post #9 for a copy of the scoring sheet.

http://www.azbilliards.com/vbulletin...t=power+stroke

P.P.S. - Remember, that even though you are shooting with power, you are using the same light grip and smooth swing that you do on the "one-handed" drill - THAT is what will get rid of the dreaded wobbles.

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Willie,
The link is not working.

Tracy

Flex said:

Unfortunately, that link doesn't work. Do you by any chance have one that does?

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Flex,
Dangit, the link USED to work. I don't have the scoresheet with me, I'll try to remember to post it when I get home (might be a couple of days before I'm home).

Williebetmore said:

Flex,
Dangit, the link USED to work. I don't have the scoresheet with me, I'll try to remember to post it when I get home (might be a couple of days before I'm home).

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Thanks so much. Your posts are much appreciated

Williebetmore said:

(might be a couple of days before I'm home).

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Aha!! So.... you're "on the road" huh?

Flex said:

Aha!! So.... you're "on the road" huh?

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Interesting I was fortunate enough to get an advance copy of a follow-up interview Alfred E. Newman did with Willie’s anonymous pro coach. The pro indicated Willie does indeed take “road trips” I think the interview in it’s entirety is due out in the September issue.


Alfred E. Newman: So you don’t see a future in billiards for Willie?

Anonymous Pro: Oh no, on the contrary at the next tournament when we are doing a challenge the pros to raise money for the Billiard Education Foundation we are going to dress him up like an organ grinder monkey and send him around with a tin cup collecting donations. When I talk to Willie about this I tell him we are “going on the road”. He thinks it’s an old hustle called “two brothers and a monkey”

Flex said:

Aha!! So.... you're "on the road" huh?

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Flex,
I WISH I was on the road. I'm just at work - have to stay sometimes 2 or 3 or 4 days at a time.

If someone could e-mail breakup with a link to an on-line dictionary, he will be able to look up the definition of "work"; it's something with which he is not familiar. After his disastrous "Grizzly Bear Petting Zoo" venture failed miserably, he is left playing checkers in the day room.