Dropping my Shoulder?

RackGirl

RackGirl

Registered
I hope this doesn't sound too stupid but somebody pointed this out to me.

Is my shooting arm supposed to be at 90 degrees at the moment I strike the cue ball? I feel like I am lining up properly but I think I am striking the cue ball too late in my follow through (basically some time after my arm is past the 90 degree point) and that my shoulder is dropping which is causing my aim to be off at times.

When I go down to take a shot, my cue is about 6 inches back from the cue ball (and then I take my practice strokes). This person told me that when I go down on my shot, my cue should start out right up against the cue ball so that my arm is at 90 degrees (and then I should take my practice strokes).

Am I making this into too much and being a headcase or is this a huge error in my game?
 
Setup up with your tip no closer than a quarter of an inch to the cueball. If I read your post correctly, you are setting up the tip 6 inches from the cueball? If so that is way to far.

Your forearm should be at 90 degrees in relation to the floor at that point. when you swing through on your final stroke, you should impact the ball at around 90 degrees from the floor (where you started)

It is alot like golf, if you have ever seen them on TV they address the ball (set the club) right up to the ball, not six inches away from it.

Post a video of your stroke from the side so we can see your arm, hand, and cuetip postion.

If you can't post a video, find a instructor in your area. They should be able to work on this with you.



RackGirl said:
I hope this doesn't sound too stupid but somebody pointed this out to me.

Is my shooting arm supposed to be at 90 degrees at the moment I strike the cue ball? I feel like I am lining up properly but I think I am striking the cue ball too late in my follow through (basically some time after my arm is past the 90 degree point) and that my shoulder is dropping which is causing my aim to be off at times.

When I go down to take a shot, my cue is about 6 inches back from the cue ball (and then I take my practice strokes). This person told me that when I go down on my shot, my cue should start out right up against the cue ball so that my arm is at 90 degrees (and then I should take my practice strokes).

Am I making this into too much and being a headcase or is this a huge error in my game?
Click to expand...
 
Thanks Tony. That is helpful.

A pro that I was playing in a match actually pointed it out to me after our match.

Is there a video on You Tube or a DVD that you could recommend regarding just addressing the ball and addressing the table? I've seen people who have learned from the Monk (I believe) and they walk up to the table with their cue upright and then they point their cue straight down at the cue ball. It sort of looks like they are "walking into their shot" if that makes any sense.

I never thought I'd be going backwards on such a huge fundamental like this but this is where I am at and this is where my biggest problem is. I miss too many easy shots and I am sure this is why.

I have been playing for years addressing the ball incorrectly - I cannot believe how hard it is to break old (bad) habits but I want to get better and my biggest problem has always been my aim and lack thereof - I am always missing easy shots that I shouldn't be.
 
There is a guy here locally who addresses the ball about 3 - 4 inches behind and stays there until his final stroke, but he holds the cue several inches further back as well so that upon impact everything is roughly at 90 degrees. He's a pretty decent player, but still not something I would recommend, lot of space there to navigate to make sure you hit the cue ball where you intend. Never did ask him how he learned that.

A girl I'm working with now does this as well but she's only about an inch or slightly more back, she said she was always afraid of tapping the cue ball during her practice strokes, must have had an issue with that when she was learning. Her back hand was 3 or 4 inches further back than it should have been , now it's also an inch or two further back so at impact she's actually in a good position.

As she has more time to practice she can work on addressing the cue ball closer and then adjusting her back hand accordingly, but for now that small change has helped and she's already working on enough other things where too much at once just gets confusing. If you have the practice time to work on moving closer to the cue ball at address, within 1/4 - 1/2 inch, it would benefit you in the long run even though it will feel weird at first.

Scott
 
Thanks Scott. I'll definitely give it a shot. That is going to take some getting used to but I am guessing in the long run it will definitely help my aiming abilities and my entire game overall.

I would like to have the best fundamentals I possibly can so if it means going backwards in my game for a little while until I get used to it, then it's worth it.
 
RackGirl said:
I hope this doesn't sound too stupid but somebody pointed this out to me.

Is my shooting arm supposed to be at 90 degrees at the moment I strike the cue ball? I feel like I am lining up properly but I think I am striking the cue ball too late in my follow through (basically some time after my arm is past the 90 degree point) and that my shoulder is dropping which is causing my aim to be off at times.

When I go down to take a shot, my cue is about 6 inches back from the cue ball (and then I take my practice strokes). This person told me that when I go down on my shot, my cue should start out right up against the cue ball so that my arm is at 90 degrees (and then I should take my practice strokes).

Am I making this into too much and being a headcase or is this a huge error in my game?
Click to expand...


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qbmNcYH52eo
try this, it is fast, but very accurate.
Mark
 
Last edited:
I just watched the videos, Tony. That was really helpful and if I didn't feel like a head case before this post, well I do now! I have not been properly lining up for YEARS!!! ARRRRRGH!!! Back to the drawing board.
 
Last edited:
RackGirl...Get a copy of our instructional video, Play Better Pool, Vol. 1, Mastering the Basics. It will not only show you how to set up properly, but also detail what an excellent stroke process is, and how to build your own. The video is available on most pool store websites, as well as on amazon.com.

Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top