Help With Foot Positioning During Stance

Kris_b1104

Kris_b1104

House Pro in my own home.
Silver Member
I've seen a lot of people on the forum mention how crucial foot position is in pool, but they have never gone in depth as to why or how. What is the most basic way for proper foot position? I seem to catch myself doing it differently sometimes and I want to improve it so that I do the SAME thing every time and be consistent.

I'm left-handed so I use my right hand to hold the bridge and left hand to hold the butt of the cue, is my right foot supposed to be straight and parallel to my cue on the line of the shot? And what about my left foot? I want to create a consistent position but I don't want to do the wrong thing and not sure if I already am doing the wrong thing.

Also I tend to flex my right leg at a slight angle and try to keep my left leg straight.

Any help would be appreciated.

And please don't refer me to an instructor. Thank you for your help.
 
A lot of instruction says your front foot (your right) is parallel to the shot line but offset to the right. Your left foot should have the toes perpendicular to the shot line and touching it.

Back leg straight helps with stability.

Kris_b1104 said:
I've seen a lot of people on the forum mention how crucial foot position is in pool, but they have never gone in depth as to why or how. What is the most basic way for proper foot position? I seem to catch myself doing it differently sometimes and I want to improve it so that I do the SAME thing every time and be consistent.

I'm left-handed so I use my right hand to hold the bridge and left hand to hold the butt of the cue, is my right foot supposed to be straight and parallel to my cue on the line of the shot? And what about my left foot? I want to create a consistent position but I don't want to do the wrong thing and not sure if I already am doing the wrong thing.

Also I tend to flex my right leg at a slight angle and try to keep my left leg straight.

Any help would be appreciated.

And please don't refer me to an instructor. Thank you for your help.
Click to expand...
 
Kris_b1104 said:
I've seen a lot of people on the forum mention how crucial foot position is in pool, but they have never gone in depth as to why or how. What is the most basic way for proper foot position? I seem to catch myself doing it differently sometimes and I want to improve it so that I do the SAME thing every time and be consistent.

I'm left-handed so I use my right hand to hold the bridge and left hand to hold the butt of the cue, is my right foot supposed to be straight and parallel to my cue on the line of the shot? And what about my left foot? I want to create a consistent position but I don't want to do the wrong thing and not sure if I already am doing the wrong thing.

Also I tend to flex my right leg at a slight angle and try to keep my left leg straight.

Any help would be appreciated.

And please don't refer me to an instructor. Thank you for your help.
Click to expand...


I would advise the SEE system for foot placement . Very good information. I like using the CTE approach on spiderwebbcom home page. It's as repetitive as you can get.
 
Kris_b1104 said:
I've seen a lot of people on the forum mention how crucial foot position is in pool, but they have never gone in depth as to why or how. What is the most basic way for proper foot position? I seem to catch myself doing it differently sometimes and I want to improve it so that I do the SAME thing every time and be consistent.

I'm left-handed so I use my right hand to hold the bridge and left hand to hold the butt of the cue, is my right foot supposed to be straight and parallel to my cue on the line of the shot? And what about my left foot? I want to create a consistent position but I don't want to do the wrong thing and not sure if I already am doing the wrong thing.

Also I tend to flex my right leg at a slight angle and try to keep my left leg straight.

Any help would be appreciated.

And please don't refer me to an instructor. Thank you for your help.
Click to expand...
FYI, useful stance advice, including feet placement suggestions and video demonstrations, can be found on the stance advice resource page.

Enjoy,
Dave
 
Kris where do you live?

I wrote an article aiming with your feet. Also i explain how to use the bridge properly, and where your feet should be etc...
 
lee brett said:
Kris where do you live?

I wrote an article aiming with your feet. Also i explain how to use the bridge properly, and where your feet should be etc...
Click to expand...

I live in Queens, New York.

Also thanks to everyone for their input.
 
Don't even bother over thinking it. A stable, solid stance is all you want.
 
This is closer to the truth. The real truth is that there is no one correct stance for everyone. We are all built differently, think differently, perceive differently and learn differently. Find a way to stand that is comfortable, balanced, a tripod (some weight on your bridge hand), and free range movement of your cuestick, according to how your arm works with your body. It doesn't matter how your legs are bent or straight, as long as the other variables are met. Some people stand with the cue closer to their body...others stand with it farther away. Experiment and find out what works best for you. Once yoiu figure out how you like to stand at the table, work on coming down centered over the shot line, as you move to get into your stance.

Scott Lee
http://poolknowledge.com

thefonz said:
Don't even bother over thinking it. A stable, solid stance is all you want.
Click to expand...
 
Scott is so correct......

Scott Lee said:
This is closer to the truth. The real truth is that there is no one correct stance for everyone. We are all built differently, think differently, perceive differently and learn differently. Find a way to stand that is comfortable, balanced, a tripod (some weight on your bridge hand), and free range movement of your cuestick, according to how your arm works with your body. It doesn't matter how your legs are bent or straight, as long as the other variables are met. Some people stand with the cue closer to their body...others stand with it farther away. Experiment and find out what works best for you. Once yoiu figure out how you like to stand at the table, work on coming down centered over the shot line, as you move to get into your stance.

Scott Lee
http://poolknowledge.com
Click to expand...

We are all built different. Some fat, some skinny. 7' tall or 4'.

How can you tell a person that one stance is the right way. Their feet might not even work that way.

I teach a person where the dominant eye has to be. Coming down on the shot in this manner will naturally get the feet in a good position for the players body type.

Once down in their most natural position and only then can you tweak the stance a little.

The main thing is to be steady. There are so many different stances for different types of shots also.

Monkey see, monkey do, is not always the best teacher. So many players rely on this for their info and it really holds the game back.

Best thing is to spend some money on a good instructor and get some help. The stance is not rocket science but if you don't know you don't know and it's hard to just get there naturally without the help;):).

Good call Scott......
 
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Play a little "jack up" pool and see where your stroking arm and feet want to be. It may not work for everyone but most will find the optimal angle of the stroking arm in relationship to stance. Everything revolves around the stroking arm, especially foot placement. :thumbup:
 
thefonz said:
Don't even bother over thinking it. A stable, solid stance is all you want.
Click to expand...

Probably the best advise right here. But would like to add do what feels comfortable to you & the only place you don't want to put your foot is in your mouth.
 
Kris_b1104 said:
I've seen a lot of people on the forum mention how crucial foot position is in pool, but they have never gone in depth as to why or how. What is the most basic way for proper foot position? I seem to catch myself doing it differently sometimes and I want to improve it so that I do the SAME thing every time and be consistent.

I'm left-handed so I use my right hand to hold the bridge and left hand to hold the butt of the cue, is my right foot supposed to be straight and parallel to my cue on the line of the shot? And what about my left foot? I want to create a consistent position but I don't want to do the wrong thing and not sure if I already am doing the wrong thing.

Also I tend to flex my right leg at a slight angle and try to keep my left leg straight.

Any help would be appreciated.

And please don't refer me to an instructor. Thank you for your help.
Click to expand...

Foot position is incredibly important. I'm in Queens, too. PM me if you would like a pool lesson.
 
FranCrimi said:
Foot position is incredibly important. I'm in Queens, too. PM me if you would like a pool lesson.
Click to expand...

Doesn't happen often, but I agree with Fran more so than Scott this time. While Scott is right in that we are each different, and will have slightly different stances, there are certain things one should do to ensure the maximum of consistency when shooting.

I believe that what one should be looking for in the stance is clearance of the stroking arm, you want it to be able to move freely without hitting the body except the chest at the end of the stroke. You want the cue under the shoulder and the elbow. Having the cue, the shoulder, and the elbow in a straight line is the easiest way to ensure your stroke will be straight.

Now, to do that lineup, your feet will have to be in a certain spot. May be a little different between different people, but generaly the same. Once you find out where your feet have to be, you should strive to have them in the same position every time you can. That will enable you to do the same thing over and over, which is consistency.

Yes, some shots require you to stretch out, or sometimes even get in an awkward position. The key here with the feet is to place them again to where when you are in position your shoulder and elbow are in line as much as possible.

A lot of people want to knock aiming systems, but alignment is another benefit of using them. To see the "lines" properly when using an aiming system, your feet will tend to be in the same place everytime.

Now, to the alignment of the shoulder and elbow, some may find it almost impossible to do without getting in a very strange stance. Try just shifting your butt to the left for a right hander, and to the left for a left hander. It will get things in line better. It may feel a little awkward at first. That is because you aren't used to it. You will get used to it rather quickly though and it will feel perfectly natural.

The feet are the foundation of everything else, so they are very important. Yes, one can shoot with one foot on top of the other, or one foot off the floor. But, you will gain the most consistency with a consistent foot placement.
 
If you work with a player you have to be able to *offer* more than just one solution. Some humans need a bit more help for what they have to look first- and how to *go on step by step*.
It s a big difference to teach someone just kind of natural stance (natural/anatomical stroke direction) or for example a VERY RIGID stance like in snooker for example.
Both can be right and both can be wrong-it just depends on the individual. Height, Weight, type of stroke, is he extremly left-eye dominant or right, and so on.

And here the expirience of a really good instructor can help 100 %.
You just have to find her (or him). ;)
 
Try this: put the toes of your left foot touching the shot line, and your right foot parallel to the shot line, eyes and chin centered on the shot line, keep your head still on the stroke. KISS.
:thumbup:
 
rayjay said:
Try this: put the toes of your left foot touching the shot line, and your right foot parallel to the shot line, eyes and chin centered on the shot line, keep your head still on the stroke. KISS.
:thumbup:
Click to expand...

Ah, I agree after reading the OP's post. He's left handed so this makes sense.. LOL
 
I absolutely hate my stance...puts a little much pressure I think on my knees, however when I try to do a more spread out fashioned stance with straightening my arms a bit more it is uncomfortable and absolutely affects my stroke. Yikes....As Bob Jewett told me awhile back (being nice of course) if I would fix my stance I could be an A player lol.
 
Neil said:
Doesn't happen often, but I agree with Fran more so than Scott this time. While Scott is right in that we are each different, and will have slightly different stances, there are certain things one should do to ensure the maximum of consistency when shooting.

I believe that what one should be looking for in the stance is clearance of the stroking arm, you want it to be able to move freely without hitting the body except the chest at the end of the stroke. You want the cue under the shoulder and the elbow. Having the cue, the shoulder, and the elbow in a straight line is the easiest way to ensure your stroke will be straight.

Now, to do that lineup, your feet will have to be in a certain spot. May be a little different between different people, but generaly the same. Once you find out where your feet have to be, you should strive to have them in the same position every time you can. That will enable you to do the same thing over and over, which is consistency.

Yes, some shots require you to stretch out, or sometimes even get in an awkward position. The key here with the feet is to place them again to where when you are in position your shoulder and elbow are in line as much as possible.

A lot of people want to knock aiming systems, but alignment is another benefit of using them. To see the "lines" properly when using an aiming system, your feet will tend to be in the same place everytime.

Now, to the alignment of the shoulder and elbow, some may find it almost impossible to do without getting in a very strange stance. Try just shifting your butt to the left for a right hander, and to the left for a left hander. It will get things in line better. It may feel a little awkward at first. That is because you aren't used to it. You will get used to it rather quickly though and it will feel perfectly natural.

The feet are the foundation of everything else, so they are very important. Yes, one can shoot with one foot on top of the other, or one foot off the floor. But, you will gain the most consistency with a consistent foot placement.
Click to expand...

If I were the OP after reading your back-handed compliment, I'd never contact me for a lesson ---- And that would be too bad because I could really help them.

But that's you, Neil ---- never bothering to think before you write. So, if you want to talk about knowledge, let's talk about your lack of it which easily shown by your own poor playing skills, which you have demonstrated so well by posting a video of yourself shooting the same shot over and over and over......

So you don't agree with me much? I'd say that's to my credit.

Now if you want to keep throwing back-handed compliments at me, go for it, but you will not like the result.
 
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FranCrimi said:
If I were the OP after reading your back-handed compliment, I'd never contact me for a lesson ---- And that would be too bad because I could really help them.

But that's you, Neil ---- never bothering to think before you write. So, if you want to talk about knowledge, let's talk about your lack of it which easily shown by your own poor playing skills, which you have demonstrated so well by posting a video of yourself shooting the same shot over and over and over......

So you don't agree with me much? I'd say that's to my credit.

Now if you want to keep throwing back-handed compliments at me, go for it, but you will not like the result.
Click to expand...

I have no dog in this fight but will say that written word is often misinterpreted.

The way I read Neil's post was in no way a swipe at either Scott, nor Fran. Of course only Neil knows what his intentions were but it certainly did not come across the same to me? YMMV
 
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