The Great Experiment Begins

I learned to play left handed in high school. The thing that was the hardest for me was getting my bridge comfortable and stable. Once I got that down, I got to be pretty good playing lefty.

Yep, the bridge is the hardest part....and then keeping the head level and the proper eye in its proper place.


Jeff Livingston
 
Quite a while ago I posted my thoughts on why pool isn't more popular to the masses. In that post I made reference to how difficult this game we play really is. How time consuming it is to learn. In that post I suggested thinking of how we would feel playing with our other hand, then add to that being in an unfamiliar environment for the first time.

Not a pleasant experience. So unfortunately by its own definition pool is its own worse enemy. :frown:

Over the years I've practiced with my opposite arm, being only 5' 6" and easily belly hooked on lots of shots I needed at least some measure of comfort left handed.

I enjoy straight pool and 1 pkt. It's easier to make the majority of those shots opposite handed than it is in rotation games because more times than not, the next shot is nearby and you don't have to go nuts with position and english.

My buddy says I'm the best in the world with a bridge, LOL, I tell him that's cause my feet are attached to my knees so I hadda learn. :thumbup:
 
Jay you're on the right track! :)
I think it's awesome you're still working on your game.
It's an incredibly useful tool to have once you get decent at it,

I see shots and position get ruined every day by people using the bridge where it wasn't necessary.
And it's not that they are so terrible with the bridge, it's just a flat out worse way to hit a ball...
your cue is jacked up you can't see the shot the usual way. It's like shooting treetopped.

Trust me, it doesn't take long to get proficient. Think of how long it took
to go from zero to decent with your right hand. It won't take even 1/10th of that with your left.
 
practicing left handed

this subject reminds me of myself when I was a high school kid, having played pool for a couple years, thinking I was pretty hot stuff at the table......I walked into the pool room one day watching this guy banging the balls around the table, missing a lot....So naturally I ask him to play a few games for 5 bucks a game, and you know the result.....he was just practicing shooting with his opposite hand and switched over to his natural side and kicked my ass..............lol
 
I had a shoulder replaced in 2001 (and of course it was my bridge arm) so I started playing left handed during the recovery time since I couldn't get down on the cue. I am very thankful for being forced to play off handed because now I play pretty strong left handed. (about the 7 ball under right handed).

I remember when I was about 16 I was practicing with Paul Turner and he was playing left handed (which he played very strong) and a guy come in the pool room wanting to play so Paul said he would play. The guy said you play too good for me so Paul said I tell you what I will do....I will play you right handed! :eek: That was some of the funniest sh1t I have ever seen. That guy was scratching his head the whole time while Paul ran out. I learned a good thing that day....and I have never forgot it.
 
"Mean Dean" was always staking him, which made the match even more "meaningful".

I had a shoulder replaced in 2001 (and of course it was my bridge arm) so I started playing left handed during the recovery time since I couldn't get down on the cue. I am very thankful for being forced to play off handed because now I play pretty strong left handed. (about the 7 ball under right handed).

I remember when I was about 16 I was practicing with Paul Turner and he was playing left handed (which he played very strong) and a guy come in the pool room wanting to play so Paul said he would play. The guy said you play too good for me so Paul said I tell you what I will do....I will play you right handed! :eek: That was some of the funniest sh1t I have ever seen. That guy was scratching his head the whole time while Paul ran out. I learned a good thing that day....and I have never forgot it.

Paul Turner was a really good "opposite handed" player. We played many times in Atlanta back in the mid 80s. "Mean Dean" was always staking him, which made the match even more "meaningful". ;)

Eugene Browning was another one of the better players around that area, I'm sure you knew him as well.

The best "opposite handed players" were Keith McCready, Wade Crane, and Buddy Hall.....they played about the "7 Ball" under their regular games.
 
Paul Turner was a really good "opposite handed" player. We played many times in Atlanta back in the mid 80s. "Mean Dean" was always staking him, which made the match even more "meaningful". ;)

Eugene Browning was another one of the better players around that area, I'm sure you knew him as well.

The best "opposite handed players" were Keith McCready, Wade Crane, and Buddy Hall.....they played about the "7 Ball" under their regular games.

Mean Dean ha ha thats one name for him! Yes Eugene was another good player. Dean is the uncle of a good friend of mine.
 
Paul Turner was a really good "opposite handed" player. We played many times in Atlanta back in the mid 80s. "Mean Dean" was always staking him, which made the match even more "meaningful". ;)

Eugene Browning was another one of the better players around that area, I'm sure you knew him as well.

The best "opposite handed players" were Keith McCready, Wade Crane, and Buddy Hall.....they played about the "7 Ball" under their regular games.

I've sat in the chair while Danny Harriman ran 100+ opposite handed against me.
 
this is very interesting and I, too, will give it some table time.

Jay, another thing you can do to build new brain cells is when you're getting yourself ready for each new day, comb your hair with your opposi...., err, nevermind. :p:D

but seriously, folks, imagonna try to do better with my south paw.

Jay, who would you say was the best opposite hand player you've ever run across?

Cecil Tugwell?

best,
brian kc

Cecil was forced to learn how to play left handed and he became very good at it, but still not as good as his right handed speed. Keith is probably the best I ever saw switching hands. He was a run-out player left handed as well. Maybe the seven ball under his right handed speed. Keith might go somewhere and only play left handed for days. Then when the games dried up he would offer to switch hands. ;)
 
A goal for you Jay

I remember on a John Schmidt Accu-Stats (112 Ball run w/player review) DVD John was talking about learning straight pool from Bobby Hunter. He said the first time he played with Bobby that Bobby ran 40 balls left handed in straight pool.

So there you have it buddy...a goal for all your hard work and practice.

Wedge
 
I remember on a John Schmidt Accu-Stats (112 Ball run w/player review) DVD John was talking about learning straight pool from Bobby Hunter. He said the first time he played with Bobby that Bobby ran 40 balls left handed in straight pool.

So there you have it buddy...a goal for all your hard work and practice.

Wedge

40! Heck, right now I'd like to run 4. :D
 
I've sat in the chair while Danny Harriman ran 100+ opposite handed against me.

Wow that's crazy. Very impressive. I know this is tangential, but since we're talking about great players who are great players with the opposite hand I was always blown away by the fact that I heard that Sergio Garcia is a scratch or better golfer left handed.
 
Okay I'll lower the bar just for you

40! Heck, right now I'd like to run 4. :D

16 Balls in straight pool. Set up a break shot...run 14 and make another break shot (Not set up) and one additional ball after that. You got to have a goal bro!!! I bet you can do it!!! I even found a store for you to help!

Wedge

I wonder if your fans on AZ think you can...I am sure we will hear in the coming posts!!!
 

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Are you playing entire racks with the opposite hand or only setting up shots you would shoot in a match with the opposite hand?
 
Are you playing entire racks with the opposite hand or only setting up shots you would shoot in a match with the opposite hand?

I am playing exclusively left handed for 30 minutes at a time. I just throw balls on the table and shoot any shot I can reach. I haven't got to the point where I'm trying to run balls in order yet.
 
Simply not true

I've sat in the chair while Danny Harriman ran 100+ opposite handed against me.

Sorry man but your mistaken, i have never run a hundred left handed - in practice or competition. Don't really know how you could get confused on that cause I never even competed with anyone lefty in Straight Pool. But since were telling fish stories I have run 56 in practice and i do hit em' decent lefty. I can make almost any shot southpaw' but I am in trouble with the power shots lefty' as my left arm is no where near as strong as the right arm. So remember sjb tell the truth - it will help you to not be full of it and you will evolve into a better player because of it.
 
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