could be . . .
Siz,
I definitely won't disagree with you about what is best for you. The variations in each individual's stroke makes major differences. In reality there are dozens, maybe hundreds of strokes and then we call them a very few things. I think most "J" strokers actually start the "J" a little before cue ball contact and it compensates for the natural tendency to tighten the grip a little at contact. I don't distinguish between "J" strokers after contact and pure pendulum users but I do consider "J" strokers that start the "J" before contact to be using a separate stroke.
As both JoeW and I have pointed out long ago in this thread our bodies do prep for the next action before one is complete so perhaps even the "J" stroke after contact should be considered different from the pure pendulum but I'm trying to keep stroke variations grouped into somewhat cohesive larger groupings. Dropping the elbow at the end of the backswing to extend it isn't a pure pendulum either but in theory the elbow returns to the same place so there is no change in the elbow position at cue ball contact.
The slip stroke may offer the best slow speed velocity control of all strokes properly executed. It is quite possible to move from "set position" addressing the cue ball to several practice strokes to adjust speed to a final "practice stroke" with zero variation other than letting your hand slide back a little on the backswing to hit the cue ball with exactly the same stroke as your other practice strokes.
The cold weather has my rheumatiz acting up but I plan to work on a variety of stroke changes when I get back to the hall. Everything from Neil's perfect pendulum without worrying about compensations to keep the cue tip moving level on the backswing to more time spent with the slip stroke. The slip stroke is amazingly accurate compared to my too soft grip and a pendulum. With more practice to not change my stroke on the final forward stroke to hit the cue ball I think it might be the ideal stroke for me. I'm revisiting my pump stroke too though. I've just really decided that I need to work on speed control and figure whichever stroke works best for that is the one I will keep. All strokes seem to do a pretty good job pocketing balls.
Hu(cold weather is relative, it's 50 degrees and very damp here. My friends in the frozen north have little sympathy for my weather complaints!)
Interesting.
Now you mention it, when I am pinning my elbow I don't think I ever use a 'pure' pendulum stroke (if such a thing really exists) for slow speed shots; it is always a more J-type stroke. In common with others, I find that anticipating a linear follow through is helpful for speed control, especially at slow speeds.
But whether pendulum or J shaped, I am pretty sure that my speed control is better than when I use my regular piston type stroke.
Siz,
I definitely won't disagree with you about what is best for you. The variations in each individual's stroke makes major differences. In reality there are dozens, maybe hundreds of strokes and then we call them a very few things. I think most "J" strokers actually start the "J" a little before cue ball contact and it compensates for the natural tendency to tighten the grip a little at contact. I don't distinguish between "J" strokers after contact and pure pendulum users but I do consider "J" strokers that start the "J" before contact to be using a separate stroke.
As both JoeW and I have pointed out long ago in this thread our bodies do prep for the next action before one is complete so perhaps even the "J" stroke after contact should be considered different from the pure pendulum but I'm trying to keep stroke variations grouped into somewhat cohesive larger groupings. Dropping the elbow at the end of the backswing to extend it isn't a pure pendulum either but in theory the elbow returns to the same place so there is no change in the elbow position at cue ball contact.
The slip stroke may offer the best slow speed velocity control of all strokes properly executed. It is quite possible to move from "set position" addressing the cue ball to several practice strokes to adjust speed to a final "practice stroke" with zero variation other than letting your hand slide back a little on the backswing to hit the cue ball with exactly the same stroke as your other practice strokes.
The cold weather has my rheumatiz acting up but I plan to work on a variety of stroke changes when I get back to the hall. Everything from Neil's perfect pendulum without worrying about compensations to keep the cue tip moving level on the backswing to more time spent with the slip stroke. The slip stroke is amazingly accurate compared to my too soft grip and a pendulum. With more practice to not change my stroke on the final forward stroke to hit the cue ball I think it might be the ideal stroke for me. I'm revisiting my pump stroke too though. I've just really decided that I need to work on speed control and figure whichever stroke works best for that is the one I will keep. All strokes seem to do a pretty good job pocketing balls.
Hu(cold weather is relative, it's 50 degrees and very damp here. My friends in the frozen north have little sympathy for my weather complaints!)