Body Alignment

SpiderWebComm

SpiderWebComm

HelpImBeingOppressed
Silver Member
I'd like to read about how people approach their shot and how they align their bodies to the shot. Do you do this by feel or do you take a more mechanical approach? How do you know where to place your feet? How does your body alignment approach fit into your pre-shot routine (if you have one)?

Here's my body alignment system:
bodyalignment.jpg


When I'm looking at the shot, the very first thing I do is to identify the center-to-edge line (CTEL). For about 90% of the traditional shots (thin cuts or thicker cuts), my back in-step is positioned as illustrated above. I see a rectangle from each edge of the CB towards my body. Therefore, my in-step is on one corner of this rectangle or the other. The only exception would be for EXTREME cuts. For those, I'd pull my in-step more to the inside so either my heel or my big toe is on the inside of the CB rectangle (depending on the direction of the shot).

Obviously, this position is my baseline for my pre-pivot position. Nevertheless, I don't think using the CTEL as a baseline is "CTE/Pivot-aimer" specific. I think anyone can use the CTEL to align his/her body accurately and in a repeatable fashion.

Let's hear how you align your body from shot to shot.

Dave
 
I walk into the shot after looking at what line my cue needs to be on, my body does the rest on its own.
 
SUPERSTAR said:
Look at the shot...walk into it, bend over and shoot.
Not all that complicated.
Click to expand...

I used to do exactly what you just wrote. What I found was I had slight variations in my setup that would slightly affect other things. Although it's probably impossible, my purpose for using the CTEL is to setup exact on every shot. I don't want to worry about the size of my steps while stepping in, distance to the CB, etc.

Some people have amazing visual acuity and can replicate their alignment process with their eyes and cue. I've tried, and I can't (not repeatable, anyways). I know you can play well, so you must be a visual guy.

I don't think accurate alignment is as easy as "just step into the shot" randomly. However, I expected to see that as the majority of the posts in the thread. After all --- as I said earlier--- that's what I did for at least 10 years.
 
SpiderWebComm said:
I used to do exactly what you just wrote. What I found was I had slight variations in my setup that would slightly affect other things. Although it's probably impossible, my purpose for using the CTEL is to setup exact on every shot. I don't want to worry about the size of my steps while stepping in, distance to the CB, etc.

Some people have amazing visual acuity and can replicate their alignment process with their eyes and cue. I've tried, and I can't (not repeatable, anyways). I know you can play well, so you must be a visual guy.

I don't think accurate alignment is as easy as "just step into the shot" randomly. However, I expected to see that as the majority of the posts in the thread. After all --- as I said earlier--- that's what I did for at least 10 years.
Click to expand...

It's just how i remember learning after watching Jimmy Reid's "No Time for Negative" Stepping into the shot IS the shot and the aiming. Stroking the cue is the execution of that aiming.

SO, consistency comes with bright lighting conditions and practice, (i will miss all sorts of stuff on a dark table), but i never actually think about distance, or where my feet are, or how many steps i take, i just know if i am out of line or not simply because it "feels" uncomfortable.
 
Always by feel. Of course, if you've seen me play, you'd wonder how I make three in row.


But sometimes, when I'm playing well, I like to do a full ballerina warmup in between shots. I used to wear a tutu when in dead stroke, but people said I was only doing it for the sharking effect and for attention. I guess I'll just stick to using the "airplane flying" in between shots. I don't want to offend anyone.
 
SpiderWebComm said:
I'd like to read about how people approach their shot and how they align their bodies to the shot. Do you do this by feel or do you take a more mechanical approach? How do you know where to place your feet? How does your body alignment approach fit into your pre-shot routine (if you have one)?

Here's my body alignment system:
bodyalignment.jpg


When I'm looking at the shot, the very first thing I do is to identify the center-to-edge line (CTEL). For about 90% of the traditional shots (thin cuts or thicker cuts), my back in-step is positioned as illustrated above. I see a rectangle from each edge of the CB towards my body. Therefore, my in-step is on one corner of this rectangle or the other. The only exception would be for EXTREME cuts. For those, I'd pull my in-step more to the inside so either my heel or my big toe is on the inside of the CB rectangle (depending on the direction of the shot).

Obviously, this position is my baseline for my pre-pivot position. Nevertheless, I don't think using the CTEL as a baseline is "CTE/Pivot-aimer" specific. I think anyone can use the CTEL to align his/her body accurately and in a repeatable fashion.

Let's hear how you align your body from shot to shot.

Dave
Click to expand...

Nice post dave, we almost had a similar approach except my right foot is more at 90 degrees.

Keep posting these stuffs, it serves as verifier for all CTE users.
 
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