Advanced Hammer Style Pinning - "Stroke of the Samarii"

[CJ Wiley]

Think of the pressure points in your hand when you hit the nail...there's pressure from the handle against the pads at the base of your index finger and thumb, and pressure against the pinky and ring fingers...in opposite directions.

That torque you apply to the descending hammer is the same torque you put on the cue in your grip hand as it comes right up to the CB. An effect is a slight downward pressure of the shaft into your bridge hand as the cue comes forward. The snap (inperceptible to an observer, but you feel it in your hand) comes just before contact with the CB. It's a burst of acceleration.

The force of the acceleration of the snap is redirected from the downward vector on your bridge forward through the CB (since the cue can't go down, the real motion is forward at this point).

There's a benefit to this in keeping the cue straight in the "slot-groove" CJ describes, as there's some downward pressure on the bridge hand. This is what is meant by feeling the shot with both hands...the bridge just isn't a prop, it's a fulcrum that helps keep the track straight and redirects that downward torque forward through the CB.

I know it's not intuitive, but once it "clicks" for you (it took me quite a while), you'll see how much more touch you get and how there really is a lot more force available for you to draw or force follow with the CB. It's also easier to "pin" the CB with this technique (at least for me), but that's another topic....West Point 1987

I've been working on this technique quite a bit lately and, for me, it's one of the last pieces of the puzzle that gave my Game an edge in competition. I've had several emails about this technique and wanted to open a instructional discussion on the topic.

I really liked the description of WEST POINT 1987's experience using the HAMMER STOKE and would like to hear more about what other players are experiencing. This technique, when properly developed is an incredibly accurate way to stroke and can be applied to your existing stroke OR it can be learned in a strict systematic way.

This technique isn't so easy that you can learn it by yourself in a few hours. There's some training that goes into creating the right motion

My quickest success has been using a sword to teach the exact motion of the hand/wrist/fingers .... the problem with using your cue is the fact that you're anchored to doing it one way and it's very difficult to do it in a different manner.

Some conditioning is hard to overcome, it would be like driving on the opposite side of the road, you can do it, but it would be easier with a different car.....preferably one that had the steering wheel on the appropriate side.

In this case a person that has a trained eye watching your progress will help you stay on "the right side of the road (stroke)". Using the sword to enhance the muscle memory development I can teach this along with the TOI Technique in 12-15 hours...this may seem like a long time, but it will build a permanent foundation in your game and many players jump up two levels within 3 weeks. For testimonials about TOI and the Hammer Stroke go to www.cjwiley.com or email me at thegameistheteacher@gmail.com

The other key element is the alignment of the forearm to the cue, hand and shoulder, if this isn't done correctly it's going to affect your ability to release the wrist effectively. The actual game of pool is really pretty easy to understand, it's these fundamentals that must be correct to play at a high level consistently.

 

[One Pocket John]

I've been working on this technique quite a bit lately and, for me, it's one of the last pieces of the puzzle that gave my Game an edge in competition. I've had several emails about this technique and wanted to open a instructional discussion on the topic.

I really liked the description of WEST POINT 1987's experience using the HAMMER STOKE and would like to hear more about what other players are experiencing. This technique, when properly developed is an incredibly accurate way to stroke and can be applied to your existing stroke OR it can be learned in a strict systematic way.

This technique isn't so easy that you can learn it by yourself in a few hours. There's some training that goes into creating the right motion

My quickest success has been using a sword to teach the exact motion of the hand/wrist/fingers .... the problem with using your cue is the fact that you're anchored to doing it one way and it's very difficult to do it in a different manner.

Some conditioning is hard to overcome, it would be like driving on the opposite side of the road, you can do it, but it would be easier with a different car.....preferably one that had the steering wheel on the appropriate side.

In this case a person that has a trained eye watching your progress will help you stay on "the right side of the road (stroke)". Using the sword to enhance the muscle memory development I can teach this along with the TOI Technique in 12-15 hours...this may seem like a long time, but it will build a permanent foundation in your game and many players jump up two levels within 3 weeks. For testimonials about TOI and the Hammer Stroke go to www.cjwiley.com or email me at thegameistheteacher@gmail.com

The other key element is the alignment of the forearm to the cue, hand and shoulder, if this isn't done correctly it's going to affect your ability to release the wrist effectively. The actual game of pool is really pretty easy to understand, it's these fundamentals that must be correct to play at a high level consistently.

Thanks for posting CJ

I have been using the Hammer stroke since you first introduced it last November.
I work out with a tack hammer everyday. What I do is instead of striking the hammer down I push the hammer straight out ahead of me and then break the wrist down. The action is acceleration outwards.

I visualize that the OB is the nail and I push the tip of my cue out to the nail pushing the OB into the pocket.

Thanks for the mention of torque, that helps. And besides torque is what I use to open a beer. :smile:

Man, that was a very good explanation of the hammer stroke that WP1987 made. Thanks.

This whole thing is very hard to put into words. I have trouble, but WP seems to be very good at it.

Thanks again.

John

 

[CJ Wiley]

the hand MUST be used to generate power and accuracy.

There are many players and they all look slightly different. The one thing that's a common denominator is how the hand MUST be used to generate power and accuracy.

As I have pointed out there are three different ways of producing a good stroke as far as the wrist is concerned. This may not be something you want to incorporate, but from my experience it's "different stokes for different folks" and it's never a bad thing to find out if something "may work better.

In the process you may find out more about your own style and improve it in the process. Either way it's a win/win situation and it certainly won't hurt.

My uncocking action is a smooth transition that occurs much like the hammer motion. My arm moves at a slower, consistent speed then the wrist kicks in right before contact.

There is no "snapping motions" in my delivery, and I can produce enough power to draw the ball an impressive distance with just the wrist movement and very little arm speed at all.

 

[CJ Wiley]

What has been your biggest challenges so far?

Thanks for posting CJ

I have been using the Hammer stroke since you first introduced it last November.
I work out with a tack hammer everyday. What I do is instead of striking the hammer down I push the hammer straight out ahead of me and then break the wrist down. The action is acceleration outwards.

I visualize that the OB is the nail and I push the tip of my cue out to the nail pushing the OB into the pocket.

Thanks for the mention of torque, that helps. And besides torque is what I use to open a beer. :smile:

Man, that was a very good explanation of the hammer stroke that WP1987 made. Thanks.

This whole thing is very hard to put into words. I have trouble, but WP seems to be very good at it.

Thanks again.

John

What has been your biggest challenges so far in developing a better stroke?

The actual movement of the wrist/hand is very subtle, however to develop it I think you're on the right track. I used a hammer and am currently using a sword every other day (100 Reps per hand) to get back to my top level of {stoking} performance.

 

[One Pocket John]

What has been your biggest challenges so far in developing a better stroke?

My biggest challenge has been to not force the cue thru the QB. Once I started pushing the QB to push the OB my stroke really got better. This push to your end of stroke can only be done with an acceleration type movement of the cue. Kinda like pushing a car, you put your hands on the trunk and then begin pushing.

The second most beneficial advise has been the tennis grip. This allowed for my wrist to move up an down but prevented the sideways movement of the wrist.

The third and final challenge was to always keep my right shoulder, right elbow, grip hand and the tip of the cue all on the same line as the shot line.

The actual movement of the wrist/hand is very subtle, however to develop it I think you're on the right track. I used a hammer and am currently using a sword every other day (100 Reps per hand) to get back to my top level of {stoking} performance.

Thanks for asking. I have a table at home and practice all of the above everyday. I haven't played anyone, out in the field, for over three years. I just love to practice the fundamentals and feel, kicking and banking at home.

I am planning on returning to the field sometime early next year depending on my progress here at home.

Have a good day. :smile:

John

 

[CJ Wiley]

You'll be accurate and consistent which naturally leads to a healthy confidence.

Thanks for asking. I have a table at home and practice all of the above everyday. I haven't played anyone, out in the field, for over three years. I just love to practice the fundamentals and feel, kicking and banking at home.

I am planning on returning to the field sometime early next year depending on my progress here at home.

Have a good day. :smile:

John

My biggest challenge has been to not force the cue thru the QB. Once I started pushing the QB to push the OB my stroke really got better. This push to your end of stroke can only be done with an acceleration type movement of the cue. Kinda like pushing a car, you put your hands on the trunk and then begin pushing.

Yes, the important thing is for maximum acceleration to happen exactly at contact.....and I like the feeling of extending the tip through the cue ball....I believe our words "pushing" and "extending" probably describe the same experience.

The second most beneficial advise has been the tennis grip. This allowed for my wrist to move up an down but prevented the sideways movement of the wrist.

Yes, this is the reason isolating the wrist motion and experimenting with it is wise.

You've found your stroke's "Groove - Slot - Track".....that's essential to develop of feeling in your game that the cue ball's going straight FOR SURE....this, for me is a huge confidence builder, if my stroke "falls off the track" it leads to a mental "train wreck"

The third and final challenge was to always keep my right shoulder, right elbow, grip hand and the tip of the cue all on the same line as the shot line.

Very Good!!! This is the effective way to create a focused "Coil" in the stroke so it will release right down the "line of the shot" ......this creates a healthy type of tension in the stroke that will hold up under pressure...and it starts with getting things lined up.

I hear amateur players talk about being "relaxed" when they play and this may be fine when practicing or playing "for fun", but will fall apart under pressure.

It's better to have a natural tension and this comes from understanding how to create a "Coil" that extends from your shoulder/elbow/forearm/wrist/hand to the TIP .....ready to release down the "shot line". This maximizes touch/feedback and holds up under pressure - you'll be accurate and consistent which naturally leads to a healthy state of confidence when you decide to compete again.

 

[One Pocket John]

Thanks CJ for the replies and support.

I shoot this 30 to 60 times every morning before beginning my practice routine. This helped me to understand the stroke. I do it the length of the table rather than side to side. Been doing this for 3 months now.

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

The one thing I really focus on is what I am feeling in my grip hand. When I'm shooting well and really feeling the cue ball it feels like the QB is glued to my cue tip. I know that some folks say that the QB is only on the tip for .0001 of a sec but that's not what I'm feeling. I guess its because I'm trying to stay in contact with the QB for as long as possible.

You stated that maximum acceleration should occur at the QB. When I pull the cue back and begin the pushing of the cue forward to the cue ball its like it starts off slow and begins picking up speed until finally the QB is struck. The speed or force is dependent on how hard I want to push the OB into a pocket or rail.

Any way, thanks again. I hope that this thread will help others.

Later

John

 

[CJ Wiley]

build confidence in how precisely you are making contact.

Thanks CJ for the replies and support.

I shoot this 30 to 60 times every morning before beginning my practice routine. This helped me to understand the stroke. I do it the length of the table rather than side to side. Been doing this for 3 months now.

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

The one thing I really focus on is what I am feeling in my grip hand. When I'm shooting well and really feeling the cue ball it feels like the QB is glued to my cue tip. I know that some folks say that the QB is only on the tip for .0001 of a sec but that's not what I'm feeling. I guess its because I'm trying to stay in contact with the QB for as long as possible.

You stated that maximum acceleration should occur at the QB. When I pull the cue back and begin the pushing of the cue forward to the cue ball its like it starts off slow and begins picking up speed until finally the QB is struck. The speed or force is dependent on how hard I want to push the OB into a pocket or rail.

Any way, thanks again. I hope that this thread will help others.

Later

John

For those that are wanting to advance their TOI Game I recommend shooting 100 shots a day FROZEN TO THE RAIL.....set up all types of situations and shoot them all with a Touch of Inside [with the cue ball frozen to the rail]. This will teach you how important acceleration really is and build confidence in how precisely you are making contact.

After you shoot them off the rail for 10 minutes are so, freeze ALL the object balls to the rails and shoot ALL of them with a Touch of Inside.

Run them in rotation order and just freeze all the balls on the diamonds.....get creative and make yourself hit shots that you're not normally comfortable with.

This will take 30 minutes a day and will do wonders for your overall game.

Play Well, The Game is the Teacher

 

[CJ Wiley]

How's your progress, John, anything special to share?

Thanks for asking. I have a table at home and practice all of the above everyday. I haven't played anyone, out in the field, for over three years. I just love to practice the fundamentals and feel, kicking and banking at home.

I am planning on returning to the field sometime early next year depending on my progress here at home.

Have a good day. :smile:

John

How's your progress, John, anything special to share with us?

 

[One Pocket John]

How's your progress, John, anything special to share with us?

Thanks for asking. Progress is going very well.

I have something to share that may be of interest to some.

All the tests that I have taken have indicated that I am right eye dominant (right handed).
Thru experimentation I believe that this may not be true.

Standing behind the shot line, keeping both eyes open to establish that line. I close my right eye and the shot looks straight in, no way to miss. Closing the left eye the cue ball looks as though its not inline with the shot and is off to the left of the shot line.

I have noticed that my cue is now coming more from the center of my body.

More later, have to go.

John :smile:

 

[Scott Lee]

John...It's not "some folks" saying that. It was proven beyond the shadow of a doubt, using physics and super high speed photography (see Jacksonville Project). You can "feel" whatever you like, but you can't change physics. The tip is on the CB for 1/1000th of a second (.0002 seconds with a soft tip, according to Bob Jewett), and once the CB leaves the tip NOTHING can affect the outcome.

Scott Lee
http://poolknowledge.com

I know that some folks say that the QB is only on the tip for .0001 of a sec but that's not what I'm feeling. I guess its because I'm trying to stay in contact with the QB for as long as possible.

John

 

[(((Satori)))]

John...It's not "some folks" saying that. It was proven beyond the shadow of a doubt, using physics and super high speed photography (see Jacksonville Project). You can "feel" whatever you like, but you can't change physics. The tip is on the CB for 1/1000th of a second (.0002 seconds with a soft tip, according to Bob Jewett), and once the CB leaves the tip NOTHING can affect the outcome.

Scott Lee
http://poolknowledge.com

Does this mean that if the cue is traveling at the same certain speed when striking the cue ball on two shots with the same contact point and the same angel... the reaction of the cueball will be the same on both shots even if one stroke was a jab stroke and the other was an accelerated stroke that stroked smoothly through the cueball?

In other words it is only the moment of contact that matters?

 

[scottjen26]

I can answer that - yes! Have had numerous discussions with people about this in pool, golf, tennis, etc., and unless I'm proven wrong by high speed footage I stick to my answer.

The balls in these sports (or others) are governed by pure physics - speed at contact, angle of approach, tip/club/racquet orientation, etc. Even more so since all involve short contact times between the striking force and the object itself.

So specifically in pool, you can use a "jab" stroke, or an "upstroke", or a "dead" stroke, and none of that is going to make a bit of difference in how the ball reacts. In other words, at the moment of contact, the net result is the tip still hitting the cue ball at x mph and x angle (up/down or left right) with these specialty strokes, and the same thing can be achieved using a normal stroke.

One caveat to this - using some of these strokes may allow some people to achieve or repeat certain effects more easily. For instance, if you use an "upstroke" maybe it helps you put more follow on the ball than shooting normally, or maybe you accelerate more when doing so. Or maybe when you use a short bridge you also introduce more elevation into the shot and it helps move the cue ball differently. That doesn't mean you couldn't learn to do it more "normally", or that someone else couldn't achieve the same effect as you with a more conventional stroke.

I don't disagree that there may be different description for the different strokes in pool or billiards - a punch stroke, spin stroke, etc. - but those are just different ways to describe a certain speed/spin/angle that's being used in the stroke. It's my belief that nothing special you do with your wrist or stroke can affect the ball during the 1/1000th of a second of contact.
Scott

 

[scottjen26]

My biggest challenge has been to not force the cue thru the QB. Once I started pushing the QB to push the OB my stroke really got better. This push to your end of stroke can only be done with an acceleration type movement of the cue. Kinda like pushing a car, you put your hands on the trunk and then begin pushing.

Yes, the important thing is for maximum acceleration to happen exactly at contact.....and I like the feeling of extending the tip through the cue ball....I believe our words "pushing" and "extending" probably describe the same experience.

Saw this and identified with it. As a high school and collegiate tennis player, I can relate to the grip ideas and similarly to hitting through the ball and not at it. In pool as well, I completely concur with the push concept.

I retooled my game for the better over the past few months - fixed a few nagging flaws, tweaked my preshot routine, upped my focus, etc. - and my mantra when playing now is "push". Once everything is analyzed while standing, I get down into my stance, take my warm up strokes, pause, and from there my goal is to just stroke/push through the cue ball smoothly with the amount of force needed to achieve the desired results and position, no more. I frequently work on certain difficult shots where power/spin is needed, and my goal is to see how much spin I can get on the ball with the least amount of perceived force. It's amazing how every once in a while the ball just takes off and I feel like I barely hit it. That's the feeling I want to emulate in a game and under pressure as well, as with anything practice makes perfect.

Scott

 

[One Pocket John]

Saw this and identified with it. As a high school and collegiate tennis player, I can relate to the grip ideas and similarly to hitting through the ball and not at it. In pool as well, I completely concur with the push concept.

I retooled my game for the better over the past few months - fixed a few nagging flaws, tweaked my preshot routine, upped my focus, etc. - and my mantra when playing now is "push". Once everything is analyzed while standing, I get down into my stance, take my warm up strokes, pause, and from there my goal is to just stroke/push through the cue ball smoothly with the amount of force needed to achieve the desired results and position, no more. I frequently work on certain difficult shots where power/spin is needed, and my goal is to see how much spin I can get on the ball with the least amount of perceived force. It's amazing how every once in a while the ball just takes off and I feel like I barely hit it. That's the feeling I want to emulate in a game and under pressure as well, as with anything practice makes perfect.

Scott

As stated above in another post the cue tip is only in contact with the QB for 1/1000 sec. that may be but my grip hand is telling me something completely different. Its like the QB is stuck on the end of my cue. That's what I feel. I feel the cue going thru the cue ball to the other side.

Nice post Scott.

John

 

[ps611846]

I can answer that - yes! Have had numerous discussions with people about this in pool, golf, tennis, etc., and unless I'm proven wrong by high speed footage I stick to my answer.

The balls in these sports (or others) are governed by pure physics - speed at contact, angle of approach, tip/club/racquet orientation, etc. Even more so since all involve short contact times between the striking force and the object itself.

So specifically in pool, you can use a "jab" stroke, or an "upstroke", or a "dead" stroke, and none of that is going to make a bit of difference in how the ball reacts. In other words, at the moment of contact, the net result is the tip still hitting the cue ball at x mph and x angle (up/down or left right) with these specialty strokes, and the same thing can be achieved using a normal stroke.

One caveat to this - using some of these strokes may allow some people to achieve or repeat certain effects more easily. For instance, if you use an "upstroke" maybe it helps you put more follow on the ball than shooting normally, or maybe you accelerate more when doing so. Or maybe when you use a short bridge you also introduce more elevation into the shot and it helps move the cue ball differently. That doesn't mean you couldn't learn to do it more "normally", or that someone else couldn't achieve the same effect as you with a more conventional stroke.

I don't disagree that there may be different description for the different strokes in pool or billiards - a punch stroke, spin stroke, etc. - but those are just different ways to describe a certain speed/spin/angle that's being used in the stroke. It's my belief that nothing special you do with your wrist or stroke can affect the ball during the 1/1000th of a second of contact.
Scott

Hello Scott,

I have to disagree with you. Some guys play this game in a completeley different way. Their wrist and shoulder can make a huge difference.............

Panagiotis

 

[CJ Wiley]

There's "earth shattering" discoveries you can make in your own game

As stated above in another post the cue tip is only in contact with the QB for 1/1000 sec. that may be but my grip hand is telling me something completely different. Its like the QB is stuck on the end of my cue. That's what I feel. I feel the cue going thru the cue ball to the other side.

Nice post Scott.

John

Because of the short time you have contact with a tennis ball, golf ball, or pool ball you must use something to gage your different responses.....something that gives better/longer/stronger feedback.

The way you do this in all three games is to gauge your FOLLOW THROUGH to what reaction you want......watch Tiger Woods doing practice strokes and you can see that the way he follows through effects the ball flight......if he wants a high, shot from right to left, he follows through high, right to left, if he wants a low shot from left to right, he follows through low, from left to right. Pool follows some of the same principles to gauge after contact reactions.

In tennis, for top spin you follow through from low to high and for a underspin (slice) you follow through from high to low....same for right/left and left/right....it's gauged by the follow through.

There's "earth shattering" discoveries you can make in your own game by understanding what I'm describing......like anything, it takes practice and experimentation to master in the best case scenario and just plain fun in the worst. 'The Game is Your Teacher'

 

[scottjen26]

CJ,

You are exactly right, this is how we "feel" that our stick/club/etc. is in contact longer than it is. That visualization of the path is what allows us to repeat a certain angle, speed, or spin that we are trying to put on the ball. If you really think about it, or any other sport for instance, it's quite amazing what we can achieve.

I tell the story of almost killing my friend in college... not really... He was across the room, maybe 15' away, and dared me to throw a grape and hit his open mouth. Without thinking, I grabbed a grape and whipped it at him - yep, straight into his mouth and down hit throat. Had I aimed for too long and tried, I may have gotten close but it might have taken a few tries. But my subconscious took over and it just happened. Basketball players leap over a defender, constantly shooting from various distances and initial heights and angles, yet their brain is quickly determining what launch angle, speed, and spin is needed to hit the basket and feeding the info to their muscles etc. Similar in pool, tennis, golf, etc.

So to John's point, we can feel like we are in contact longer, I know I've had that feeling in all the sports mentioned, but high speed video proves it's a small moment in time. But our rationalization of that moment allows us to feel like we have more control within that split second to change the outcome of the shot.

To ps..., you can do whatever you want with your wrist, shoulder, etc., but all that matters is angle, speed, spin, etc. at moment of contact. As I said, a person may feel that they are affecting something with a certain type of technique, and it may help them achieve a certain combination of effects more consistently, just like a golfer thinks about a high follow through for a lob shot or a low follow through for a knock down shot. But the high or low follow through, or a snap of the wrist, is not in and of itself responsible for anything that happens at the moment of contact, it's that feeling again that John mentioned that allows us to differentiate various types of approaches and shots in our minds.
Scott

 

[Sloppy Pockets]

.... You can "feel" whatever you like, but you can't change physics. The tip is on the CB for 1/1000th of a second (.0002 seconds with a soft tip, according to Bob Jewett) ....

Just curious, Scott, if this is true for jump and masse shots as well? Seems the ball gets trapped between the tip and the cloth on those, right? The reason why I ask is that I definitely seem to get a lot easier draw on the ball when I am jacked up a bit. Is it possible that the way I am stroking the ball is causing it to get pinned between the tip and cloth, increasing the duration of the contact?

One thing that always confuses me is why everybody seems to think that a .001 sec contact duration is no different from a .002 sec contact duration. I understand that we are talking about an impulse here, with a hard tip having a shorter duration but a higher peak force than a soft tip, but will what the player feels in his hand if the contact lasts twice as long be the same as he feels during a shorter duration? Maybe this is responsible for the John's perception of his tip being "glued" to the ball.

Your thoughts if you don't mind.

 

[CJ Wiley]

you automatically start reaching for things and your sense of feeling/touch amplifies

The trick isn't to try to get the cue ball on the tip longer, it's to amplify your sense of touch so it seems that way. The best way to increase touch is to decrease the visual sense, and auditory sense - this, in effect raises the other sense's sensitivity levels.

Imagine when the lights suddenly go out how you automatically start reaching for things and your sense of feeling/touch amplifies in your hands/fingers.

It's the same if you lose your hearing, your sight will suddenly increase and you will be more aware visually.....this can be controlled within your pre shot routine if done correctly.