Just a question on strokes, but a bit different than the others

RoryHunt

RoryHunt

The King of "so close."
Silver Member
I am new to pool, but I am getting better, and I am really working on my stroke, as many people on here say that is the most important thing. My question is, I see a lot of players that seem to have a stroke that moves up and down as it moves in and out. Is this normal, or something to attain, or is this something that is not good and these guys make it work?
 
Like SVB, Mika, Scott Frost etal? I suppose it works for them, probably because it keeps their stroke and muscles nice and loose, but I also think these are guys of exceptional talent. If you are moving all over like that you have to make some sort of course correction on the through stroke in order to hit the cue ball exactly where and on what line you want. To me that just complicates things. I think it best to keep things simple.
 
Just keep your elbow at about the same level throughout the stroke....SPF=randyg
 
...and swing the cue, with the arm ONLY from the elbow down...from your starting point (end of backswing) to where your grip hand swings against your chest (end of forward stroke). Keep a LOOSE grip while doing this.

Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com

randyg said:
Just keep your elbow at about the same level throughout the stroke....SPF=randyg
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My bad, I posted a response without realizing this was in the ATI forum. :eek: Sorry about that guys. :sorry: :o

Listen to these fellows cuz I don't know what's what. :wink:
 
DogsPlayingPool said:
My bad, I posted a response without realizing this was in the ATI forum. :eek: Sorry about that guys. :sorry: :o

Listen to these fellows cuz I don't know what's what. :wink:
Click to expand...

DPP,

You gave some very good advice. Maybe you ARE an instructor, and you just don't know it. :wink:

Roger
 
You want to keep your cue on the line of the shot, moving it from side to side, up and the down means that you need to bring it back on line before striking the the cue ball. If you pull it straight back, you only need to push the cue straight through.

I doubt any of the pros made a concious effort to develop a "wiggly" stroke, it's just a natural motion for them.

I would suggest studying Buddy Hall as mentioned earlier, as well as the snooker players such Ronnie O'Sullivan or Neil Robertson (two of the best strokes out there)

Ronnie's stroke (start at 3:06), the three consecutive centuries he had (whilst alternating hands for no real reason) almost made me quit altogether.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KmDPJDwcFDs&feature=related
 
Cameron Smith said:
You want to keep your cue on the line of the shot, moving it from side to side, up and the down means that you need to bring it back on line before striking the the cue ball.

If you pull it straight back, you only need to push the cue straight through.


I doubt any of the pros made a concious effort to develop a "wiggly" stroke, it's just a natural motion for them.

I would suggest studying Buddy Hall as mentioned earlier, as well as the snooker players such Ronnie O'Sullivan or Neil Robertson (two of the best strokes out there)

Ronnie's stroke (start at 3:06), the three consecutive centuries he had (whilst alternating hands for no real reason) almost made me quit altogether.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KmDPJDwcFDs&feature=related
Click to expand...


CAMERON: I agree that side to side could cause problems.

It's impossible to pull the cue straight back with out rising. Also we don't push the cue forward, we pull it forward, hopefully with just our Bicep muscle. On a good stroke the cue is moving up and down. That's why we have to know our "sweet spot"!!!!!! SPF=randyg
 
randyg said:
CAMERON: I agree that side to side could cause problems.

It's impossible to pull the cue straight back with out rising. Also we don't push the cue forward, we pull it forward, hopefully with just our Bicep muscle. On a good stroke the cue is moving up and down. That's why we have to know our "sweet spot"!!!!!! SPF=randyg
Click to expand...

I agree with this. I only meant that an exagerated or intentional raising of the cue would not be advisable. I often see new players trying to emulate the strokes of their favorite player, guys like Wu or Bustamante.
 
Cameron Smith said:
I agree with this. I only meant that an exagerated or intentional raising of the cue would not be advisable. I often see new players trying to emulate the strokes of their favorite player, guys like Wu or Bustamante.
Click to expand...

Got it. Good job. SPF=randyg
 
Thamks guys.

I went 2-1 in my first league game. I have another one tonight. I don't post here much, but i am constantly reading to try and pull some knowledge. I live in Eugene Oregon, and I don't think there are any instructors in my neck of the woods, so I use this board when seeking answers. thanks again.
 
www.cascadecuecollege.com Not very far from you, and Brad or Mark can do a great job of helping you! I will also be out in Oregon teaching, around Christmas.

Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com

RoryHunt said:
I went 2-1 in my first league game. I have another one tonight. I don't post here much, but i am constantly reading to try and pull some knowledge. I live in Eugene Oregon, and I don't think there are any instructors in my neck of the woods, so I use this board when seeking answers. thanks again.
Click to expand...
 
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RoryHunt said:
I see a lot of players that seem to have a stroke that moves up and down as it moves in and out. Is this normal, or something to attain, or is this something that is not good and these guys make it work?
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I think I know what you're talking about. I go to a lot of collegiate tournaments and a lot of A players do that. I even do it sometimes. Anyway, whenever I'm playing with a very loose grip, it feels more natural sometimes. I wouldn't try to mimic anything like this though. Most players do things like that because it's more comfortable, or it's a habit that they've developed. There isn't any reason to add something like this to your stroke. This is my opinion on breaking as well. I don't try to add anything that I see from other players. I just do what feels natural for me as a player.
 
:Matt: said:
I think I know what you're talking about. I go to a lot of collegiate tournaments and a lot of A players do that. I even do it sometimes. Anyway, whenever I'm playing with a very loose grip, it feels more natural sometimes. I wouldn't try to mimic anything like this though. Most players do things like that because it's more comfortable, or it's a habit that they've developed. There isn't any reason to add something like this to your stroke. This is my opinion on breaking as well. I don't try to add anything that I see from other players. I just do what feels natural for me as a player.
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a loose grip is a good thing... it is something you are doing RIGHT.. you should cultivate it... do it all the time... and the harder you want to hit the ball... or more correctly the faster you want to stroke your cue the MORE important a loose grip becomes..

I get 1-2 inches of SLIDE as my cue moves through my grip hand...

especially on fast shots like the break or a power draw..

much more accurate gripping loosely ..
 
When starting out............

RoryHunt said:
I am new to pool, but I am getting better, and I am really working on my stroke, as many people on here say that is the most important thing. My question is, I see a lot of players that seem to have a stroke that moves up and down as it moves in and out. Is this normal, or something to attain, or is this something that is not good and these guys make it work?
Click to expand...


I personally have really wavy warm up strokes, honestly it's a mirror of Busty's. I've played that way since I was a kid and it only occurred to me some odd years ago that I do it because it loosens up everything from my grip, wrist and arm so that I can deliver a nice easy stroke on my final swing through. Everyone has different warm up strokes before finally pulling the trigger. Just watch Busty, Efren Shane, etc. One thing you better pay attention to though is that they have a pause before the final swing through to make sure they hit the correct area on the cue ball they are aiming for. So get in your shot line, address teh cue ball and where you want to make contact, then do your warm up strokes in whatever manner gets you relaxed, just as long as it doesnt put you out of line when you fire away.
 
Slide-Which direction and when?

softshot said:
a loose grip is a good thing... it is something you are doing RIGHT.. you should cultivate it... do it all the time... and the harder you want to hit the ball... or more correctly the faster you want to stroke your cue the MORE important a loose grip becomes..

I get 1-2 inches of SLIDE as my cue moves through my grip hand...especially on fast shots like the break or a power draw..

much more accurate gripping loosely ..
Click to expand...


Help me visualize this please. The cue slides because it is moving faster than your hand as the stroke moves forward? How does this happen? When does this happen?

Do you let go of the cue as/or just before your hand stops or deccelarates so that it slides forward of it's own momentum? Are you tossing the cue with an underhand wrist flip or is the wrist neutral and the slide comes from the forward pendulum stroke pace only?

Does the slide occur before/at/after cb contact? Timing must be tough.

Is this a 'slip stroke'?

Thanks for your help

3railkick
 
3RAILKICK said:
Help me visualize this please. The cue slides because it is moving faster than your hand as the stroke moves forward? How does this happen? When does this happen?

Do you let go of the cue as/or just before your hand stops or deccelarates so that it slides forward of it's own momentum? Are you tossing the cue with an underhand wrist flip or is the wrist neutral and the slide comes from the forward pendulum stroke pace only?

Does the slide occur before/at/after cb contact? Timing must be tough.

Is this a 'slip stroke'?

Thanks for your help

3railkick
Click to expand...

the cue slides because my hand reaches my finish position and stops..

the cue maintains its own momentum because my grip does not actively try to stop it..

I allow the taper of the butt to bring the cue to a stop.

here is a video I posted a while back .. you can kinda see the slide in the first section .. but you get a better look at it in the third section starting at 4:30


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=igLFXaMUCaQ


my grip does not change at any point during my stroke

wrist is neutral

I don't "time" it.. it just happens... I get clean contact with the CB every time..
some players fight the momentum of the cue and that can cause unpredictable changes in accuracy..
 
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