Weight distribution - Johnny Archer

There's something called the four-stance theory in which a person's body type will affect their center of balance, they way they stand and even the part of the hand where they hold things. I'm a typical A1, which means my balance is well forward of center and have a stronger grip with my thumb and first two fingers, so for me, a forward stance and forefinger grip works well, but a B2 type player might be the exact opposite.

So I don't think there's no absolute right or wrong, but I do think that trying to adopt someone else's stance or style that goes against your body type may be detrimental in the long run.
 
Mirza,

My sincere apologies.

FYI nearly every time, that I want to type the word from, I type form.

Thank you for pointing out my mistakes. I will certainly make every attempt to get it right should the occasion arise in the future.

I guess I may be a bit of a dyslexic typists. I'm not a typist. I'm a few finger pecker.

Again, My Apologies. Please Forgive Me. And, Thanks Again for the Link.

Best Wishes,
Rick

Ha, ha! I do the same thing! And on the phone, my big fat texting finger can't seem to hit the "o" instead of the "i". Then I can't proof read the thing because of the tiny text box and my failing eyes, so I send out a lot of "if"s and "in"s instead of "of"s and "on"s. Then I read it after it posts and I remember Sister Vincencia's ruler against my knuckles for making spelling mistakes and I practically have a panic attack. Lol

FWIW I've been reading poor Mirza's name as "Mizra" since I joined up here. Yeah, it must be the lysdexia. Sure am glad he called you out about it instead of me.. :thumbup:

This is good! Now I know why I always type form instead of from. I always forget the r in stroke, too! Strange.

I didn't even catch Mirza's name being misspelled. :p None of these'll get caught with spell check. :)

As far as weight distribution, the back stance with a 70-30 distribution is tough to hold for long periods. In pool, moving the hips rearward as you get down on the shot keeps the lower back from picking up the weight shift. Instead of leaning forward into the shot, I move my hips back and lower down into the shot. If I need to move slightly forward, I reset and lower down, again.

With your hips further back, you keep your center of gravity over your legs and put less strain on your back and bridge arm. Another problem is eliminated by doing this, which is moving your head off of the shot line as you lean forward into the shot. You have to re-aim after you're down.

Best,
Mike
 
This is good! Now I know why I always type form instead of from. I always forget the r in stroke, too! Strange.

I didn't even catch Mirza's name being misspelled. :p None of these'll get caught with spell check. :)

As far as weight distribution, the back stance with a 70-30 distribution is tough to hold for long periods. In pool, moving the hips rearward as you get down on the shot keeps the lower back from picking up the weight shift. Instead of leaning forward into the shot, I move my hips back and lower down into the shot. If I need to move slightly forward, I reset and lower down, again.

With your hips further back, you keep your center of gravity over your legs and put less strain on your back and bridge arm. Another problem is eliminated by doing this, which is moving your head off of the shot line as you lean forward into the shot. You have to re-aim after you're down.

Best,
Mike

Hi Mike,

I've played quite a bit of sports & I consider my stance to be rather athletic. I don't know how the snooker guys can be comfortable with the back knee locked out.

I feel like I'm playing ball when I'm in my shooting position in that I get braced to deliver the hit even if it's just to roll the ball 6 inches.

The ball or should I say we can get us into some odd situations at times & I feel that we need to adapt our stance & utilize the table for support whenever we can.

Some one mentioned Archer putting his whole forearm on the table. I do that a lot when the situation allows it but I'm not really leaning on it. I also my have my thigh on the sideboards a lot of the time.

I guess my point is that while it would be nice to be able to have the same stance available for every shot that's just now how is at times.

That is why I feel one should develop a stroke the is not too dependant on a 'perfect' stance & set up. We're leaning to reach for the ball for one shot & then adjusting a bit differently because it is close to the rail for another shot.

One has to get accustomed to shooting well in all different situations that sort of requires or dictates certain types of 'stances'.

All that said, because I've played sports like baseball & QB'd some flag football & played tennis & golf, I'm shooting from my back foot. I would not say that I lean back onto it but my sense is that I've move just a bit forward so that my weight is on the inside of my back foot. That is when I'm not leaning on the table or shooting behind my back.:wink:

Sorry for the rant & talking about me & my so much but that seems the best way to paint the picture in words.

Best 2 You & All,
Rick

PS I don't even like it if my sock on my back foot is not just right...& I tie my shoes tight when I get serious.:wink:
 
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Rick,

I play 99% big table pool. I haven't used a bridge in...I can't remember. I have a cue extension or shoot left handed. True, there a quite a few shots that come up where you have to stretch a little to get into a good solid stance.

I work out at least a few days a week and work in construction 5-6 days a week. I don't feel the fatigue as fast as probably a couch potato might. Years ago I used to get aches and pains from long sessions. Since then, I've reworked my stance several times and may work on it again in the future.

Our bodies change as we age. We lose muscle tone and strength in our legs, back, neck and arms. We stand taller to compensate and lean on the table to keep our balance. I'm about 50-50 balance right now. If I get heavier than my 220 lbs. now, I might have to start leaning forward to balance out a bigger butt. Or I might have to lean back to offset a bigger gut. :grin-square:

Either way, the point is, for me to be about 50-50 weight distribution. Less back strain and my hips and core take most of the work, rather than my legs.

Best,
Mike
 
If you have sciatica issues, slightly bending both legs will also counter the forward bend a little, and requires less lean back. I played with a bent-kneed stance for awhile, as did Allison Fisher. I don't know what made her change away from it, but for me, it was difficult to control the amount of knee bend. I found myself bending more and more to the point where I was actually shooting 'up' at the cue ball. But if you keep that in mind, I think it's worth looking into if you have leg or back issues.

The sciatica only flares up on occasion, and it was trying to adopt the snooker stance too quickly and without proper instruction that led me to drop it.

During my lesson with you made the comment that I rubbed the cue against my side and asked me if I did it on purpose. Well, I never did answer you, but the real reason is that since I wear my prosperity rather prominently around my mid-section, the cue just naturally rubs there.

Someone I know from AZB told me that if I adopted a snooker stance it would automatically allow the cue to clear my side and my arm to swing freely. This seemed to be the case when I tried it, so now I had even more reason to continue with it. That is, until the pain started.

Everything I feel is wrong with my game always seem to come down to stance and stroke issues, but I find these things are very hard to change over the long haul. Little by little, the old bad habits creep back in. Very frustrating.

Mostly, though, it is chronic lower back pain that sidelines me. That old sacroiliac area and the supporting muscles can hurt so bad I can barely breathe at times. If I could figure out a stance that just allowed me to play for four hours a day, I really feel I might get somewhere.
 
Rick,

I play 99% big table pool. I haven't used a bridge in...I can't remember. I have a cue extension or shoot left handed. True, there a quite a few shots that come up where you have to stretch a little to get into a good solid stance.

I work out at least a few days a week and work in construction 5-6 days a week. I don't feel the fatigue as fast as probably a couch potato might. Years ago I used to get aches and pains from long sessions. Since then, I've reworked my stance several times and may work on it again in the future.

Our bodies change as we age. We lose muscle tone and strength in our legs, back, neck and arms. We stand taller to compensate and lean on the table to keep our balance. I'm about 50-50 balance right now. If I get heavier than my 220 lbs. now, I might have to start leaning forward to balance out a bigger butt. Or I might have to lean back to offset a bigger gut. :grin-square:

Either way, the point is, for me to be about 50-50 weight distribution. Less back strain and my hips and core take most of the work, rather than my legs.

Best,
Mike

Mike,

I'm 61, 5'9" & at my highest weight ever at 215. Oh, by the way, Thanks for the chuckle.

The funny thing is when I was a Sr. in high school a weighed 135# & I did the same things around & on the table then as I do now.

I'm just starting to find a couple of positions more difficult to get into & can't stay in them for as long & I have started noticing that I am starting to move a bit during the stroke.

I need to start walking/jogging as my blood pressure is a bit high.

I'm blaming it on a menopausal Wife & my first Grandson whose 16 months old & all boy. He scares me to death at times. He's just like his Daddy.

My weight distribution for a normal shot is probably 45 on the front & 55 on the back & I would not be surprised if it shifted to 50/50 if when I hold a follow through. I'm just a bit on the inside of my back foot from which to deliver the cue.

I know that might sound strange but it's the same way normally when I putt in golf. That bit of open stance just seem to make the weight sit on the inside of that back foot.

Maybe it's a baseball thing or a tennis thing or pushing off to throw a football. I don't know why. Probably only my subconscious knows why.

We're all different, even though we are of the same species.

Best 2 Ya,
Rick
 
Sloppy,

I teach adults martial arts. Some have weight issues and struggle with pain in the lower back. I usually recommend stretching, especially in the torso at the hips. The sciatic runs down through there and can cause all kinds of back and knee problems. A few minutes a day may help quite a bit. I stretch every day.

Stretching is a form of exercise and is more than just loosening up. It's moving the muscles in the opposite direction rather than contracting them. It strengthens the muscles and gives support to joints, like the hip area.

Just a thought. GL with the battle!

Best,
Mike
 
Sloppy,

I teach adults martial arts. Some have weight issues and struggle with pain in the lower back. I usually recommend stretching, especially in the torso at the hips. The sciatic runs down through there and can cause all kinds of back and knee problems. A few minutes a day may help quite a bit. I stretch every day.

Stretching is a form of exercise and is more than just loosening up. It's moving the muscles in the opposite direction rather than contracting them. It strengthens the muscles and gives support to joints, like the hip area.

Just a thought. GL with the battle!

Best,
Mike

Mike,

What do you recommend for a ruptured L5S1 disc that has not had surgery?

B,
Rick
 
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Mike,

What do you recommend for a rupture L5S1 disc that has not had surgery?

B,
Rick

Hi Rick,

Like Mike I stretch and train every day because of, I like it, I had pain since I was a small boy. Mowing for me is a must.

There is many ways to train but one thing that most can do very easily is Yin Yoga.
Very easy (not all positions of course) and gentle.
A problem like yours I would suggest (probably the opposite against what you think or feel that is good) to lay flat on the floor, face down and gentle get the hands under your shoulders and lift up letting the belly rest on the floor. Arch the back - I can probably find vids on youtube for you. After lying so for a while, - just breathing, no power - just let it "fall" in to place then you lay down for a short while and then arch in the other direction and stay there. Knees under your belly and drop forward.

I know many small tips and tricks to feel and get better so if you want just shoot me a PM and we can go from there, goes for anyone of course.

You have a big asset Rick, you enjoyed sports and been doing them for your hole life I understand and knows what it takes.

It takes patience and endurance though. My understanding of the body however makes the training very fun and enjoyable. It is what it is and it´s my body and my responsibility.
I have been "outcounted" by many doctors etc but "I have it know" :-).

Take care

Chrippa
 
Rick,

do this search on google
yin yoga poses sphinx
yin yoga poses child

If you try them, do it mildly and gentle. No "guy" thing here, be nice against the body, don´t push it just let it happen. You will learn to know when to push it a bit and how to push it after some training.

Have fun

Chrippa
 
Mike,

What do you recommend for a rupture L5S1 disc that has not had surgery?

B,
Rick

Specific treatment like that is above my pay grade. I deal more with training and getting things working better. In my travels I've learned through experience some of what it takes to achieve better overall physical core strength and mobility.

A lot of chronic aches and pains can be lessened or eliminated by light exercise programs to strengthen muscles that support the joints and increase their range of motion. Some back troubles can be eliminated by strengthening core abdominal muscles. A disc rupture is more than something a workout regimen can fix and it may be harmed by certain exercises. I'd seek out professional advice and find out the physical limitations involved with it before trying to fix it myself.

Best,
Mike
 
Thanks Christian & Mike.

Christian, I will PM you.

I opted to not have surgery as I read that it can 'heal' on it's own with rest & that is what I did, well sort of.

Anyway, it's 'okay' & I don't really have any limitations, but I'm in some discomfort & I do pay if I do some things or overdue some others.

I'm not taking anything pain related for it ever, but we have a two head vibrating heat message unit that my Wife rather often 'uses' on me. No 'dirty' jokes, please.

Best 2 You Guys & All,
Rick

PS Even you Sloppy, I was & am sincere.
 
Thanks Christian & Mike.

Christian, I will PM you.

I opted to not have surgery as I read that it can 'heal' on it's own with rest & that is what I did, well sort of.

Anyway, it's 'okay' & I don't really have any limitations, but I'm in some discomfort & I do pay if I do some things or overdue some others.

I'm not taking anything pain related for it ever, but we have a two head vibrating heat message unit that my Wife rather often 'uses' on me. No 'dirty' jokes, please.

Best 2 You Guys & All,
Rick

PS Even you Sloppy, I was & am sincere.


Hmmm, no dirty jokes you say... I have to figure one out:p.

Thanks to you Rick, PM sent back. I wish you a great day, evening has come in Sweden so I´m just relaxing before a walk with the dog.

Regards

Christian
 
Mike,

What do you recommend for a ruptured L5S1 disc that has not had surgery?

B,
Rick
Advice: Get the surgery. I had a ruptured l5s1 and NOTHING helped it. The moment I got the surgery... I was cured.

My only mistake was trying the homeopathic non-surgical crap for so long. If you have sciatica... chop the chunk off that's compressing the nerve and move on with life.
 
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