Think my stroke angles in a bit... can it be fixed without going back to square 1?

CreeDo

CreeDo

Fargo Rating 597
Silver Member
Even when I'm try to swing perfectly straight, with minimal arm movement,
I think my stick hooks inward so that it's crossing my body a little.

I get away with it, between having a short bridge and easy pockets... but still.
It's real obvious on my break, where I aim to cut the 1 ball with a half ball hit,
and finish by hitting it square in the face.

If I actually have a banana stroke after playing for over 15 years,
can I straighten it or should I just accept it and work with it?
I've reached maybe a B level with it but I suspect I may not
go much further if I don't fix it.

But how? It feels uncomfortable and unnatural to try to tuck in my elbow more,
or stand more sideways relative to the shot. Do I just fight that weird
feeling and keep at it?
 
CreeDo said:
Even when I'm try to swing perfectly straight, with minimal arm movement,
I think my stick hooks inward so that it's crossing my body a little.

I get away with it, between having a short bridge and easy pockets... but still.
It's real obvious on my break, where I aim to cut the 1 ball with a half ball hit,
and finish by hitting it square in the face.

If I actually have a banana stroke after playing for over 15 years,
can I straighten it or should I just accept it and work with it?
I've reached maybe a B level with it but I suspect I may not
go much further if I don't fix it.

But how? It feels uncomfortable and unnatural to try to tuck in my elbow more,
or stand more sideways relative to the shot. Do I just fight that weird
feeling and keep at it?
Click to expand...

Is it your arm or wrist/grip?
 
You are probably starting off under your chin and ending up under your dominant eye. Most pros just start under that eye.
 
CreeDo said:
Even when I'm try to swing perfectly straight, with minimal arm movement,
I think my stick hooks inward so that it's crossing my body a little.

I get away with it, between having a short bridge and easy pockets... but still.
It's real obvious on my break, where I aim to cut the 1 ball with a half ball hit,
and finish by hitting it square in the face.

If I actually have a banana stroke after playing for over 15 years,
can I straighten it or should I just accept it and work with it?
I've reached maybe a B level with it but I suspect I may not
go much further if I don't fix it.

But how? It feels uncomfortable and unnatural to try to tuck in my elbow more,
or stand more sideways relative to the shot. Do I just fight that weird
feeling and keep at it?
Click to expand...



Could be a tighter grip that turns slightly on the forward movement.

randyg
 
i think id start over, fiddle with it until you are getting a straight stroke, and then shoot about 2000 balls (just shooting the object balls into corner pockets and evaluating your stroke) in over a week or 2 until it starts to be ingrained. Good mechanics is going to make it easier to improve your game, not having to worry with "am i hitting the cueball where i want"
 
A check that I employ when I'm breaking in a rotational game is to focus on where my cue is pointing when I finish the stroke.

It should be pointing directly in the direction of your aim point... howbeit with your tip on/near the cloth and with the butt of the cue raised accordingly.

Focus your attention on achieving the finish I described and your stroke will "self-adjust".
 
randyg said:
Well that's not true.
randyg
Click to expand...

What, do you teach people to not shoot under their dominant eye or something? Watch Manny Chau. Same problem. His shaft starts under his chin and ends up under his eye. Very difficult to get great doing that.

I did say most, not all.
 
I would get a mirror and look at yourself stroke. Everything should be in line. Or get a friend to hold your elbow in line and get used to the feeling of doing it right once. If it feels wrong,, your doing it right, Remember how can it be fixed if it feels exactly the same way as doing it wrong? One caveat, once you fix your stroke to be straight, ( by the way you must stay down and follow through on every shot, until the ball disappears, what your body will do with just having this principle in mind will correct some things.) you may have trouble aiming, then that leads to giving up, and your back in the same spot you started, Once the stroke adjusts into the right position, you must master...control your aim to match this new correct mechanic, good luck dude.
 
I had (and still do) the same problem. I got a chance to play Alex Pagulayan (it was a lot more watching than playing) and noticed that even though he bridges very far from the cue ball, he uses an extremely short backswing to get an accurate hit. I realized that I was probably swinging back too far and therefore not hitting the cue ball where I was aiming. I feel like I give up a little power using that style, but the accuracy more than makes up for it.
 
Black-Balled said:
could it be that you are smoking too much crack?
Click to expand...

What is this, an intervention?
GET OFF MY BACK DAD I GOT IT UNDER CONTROL

Can I borrow $20?

Others: I'm encouraged to see it's possible. I think it has to do with my, er, build.
Or wrist, something. I dunno. I'll get it video'd. I've tried turning sideways more and it feels
extremely awkward. I'm worried that even if I make myself hit a bunch of balls that way
it will feel weird forever. I can't hit balls if I feel weird. I can barely hit balls feeling normal :P
 
DoubleD said:
I went back to square 1. I think it was the most beneficial thing I have ever done for my game.
Click to expand...
that's the only proper way IMO.
CreeDo, expect a decline first, as does always happen when messing with fundamentals, but then you will go above your current level. It's "one step back, two (or even three) steps forward" process. So be ready but don't let fear stop you from doing that.
 
Can you play left handed? Seriously, hold the cue with your thumb and forefinger ONLY. through the entire stroke.
 
CreeDo said:
Even when I'm try to swing perfectly straight, with minimal arm movement,
I think my stick hooks inward so that it's crossing my body a little.

I get away with it, between having a short bridge and easy pockets... but still.
It's real obvious on my break, where I aim to cut the 1 ball with a half ball hit,
and finish by hitting it square in the face.

If I actually have a banana stroke after playing for over 15 years,
can I straighten it or should I just accept it and work with it?
I've reached maybe a B level with it but I suspect I may not
go much further if I don't fix it.

But how? It feels uncomfortable and unnatural to try to tuck in my elbow more,
or stand more sideways relative to the shot. Do I just fight that weird
feeling and keep at it?
Click to expand...

in your case you have to change to very tight hard butt grip (no loose wrist) and use your muscles not cue weight, you will be amazed by the accuracy. Must follow through.
 
When my stroke turns inward, it's for one of two reasons. My alignment is off and my subconscious is correcting for the wrong setup or my shoulder is not locked into position.

Incorrect alignment, for me, comes from not getting my head/eyes in the correct position. The shot looks good, but I'm lined up a hair off. My brain compensates by cross stroking and putting spin on the cue ball to try to auto-correct. I don't find out it's going to happen until I follow through on the stroke. Double checking my visual alignment and head position makes this go away.

The second reason is my shoulder coming out and around on the shot. My elbow usually follows and my cue stick dives inward. It shows up when I firm the cue ball. A hard draw shot or break and trying to get that little extra on the rock.

When my shoulder moves out of alignment and pushes forward, it causes my elbow to pop out. My stroke turns into a circular motion and I can even miscue. I get rid of this by making sure my shoulder is just along for the ride and only supporting my upper arm. As long as it stays put, my elbow doesn't chicken wing.

Best,
Mike
 
Sounds like you may be guilty of using excessive spin. So much, that your cue wants to naturally stray from center.

I vote for Joe Tuckers 3rd eye. Dollar for dollar, I have found it to be the best pool aid on the market. Let the eye train your mind and body to lock on center ball. All you have to do is use it, its self correcting. Use it long enough, and your cue will naturally stray back to center as opposed to the side. Soon after, and for a short time.....you might find yourself hitting center naturally, even when you want spin.
 
CreeDo said:
Even when I'm try to swing perfectly straight, with minimal arm movement,
I think my stick hooks inward so that it's crossing my body a little.

I get away with it, between having a short bridge and easy pockets... but still.
It's real obvious on my break, where I aim to cut the 1 ball with a half ball hit,
and finish by hitting it square in the face.

If I actually have a banana stroke after playing for over 15 years,
can I straighten it or should I just accept it and work with it?
I've reached maybe a B level with it but I suspect I may not
go much further if I don't fix it.

But how? It feels uncomfortable and unnatural to try to tuck in my elbow more,
or stand more sideways relative to the shot. Do I just fight that weird
feeling and keep at it?
Click to expand...

Probably just on your break stroke from tension in the upper arm.

Maybe what you really need to do is relax more on the break shot. Don't force the cue, let it swing, make a smooth transition and use more movement, less force.
 
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