What drills are best to get that smooth stroke like Buddy Hall , or Chris Melling?
- Thread starter jimstone
- Start date
I would change 'hardest' to 'smartest'.
Not real sure about that. Known a few champion-level players that have a tough time spelling 'dog'.
I agree, you have to know 'what' to work on. My main gist is that talent is nice but i'll the worker bee everytime.I would have to agree that some players elevator does not go to the top floor.Not real sure about that. Known a few champion-level players that have a tough time spelling 'dog'.
What they have attained though is pool knowledge & know-how. That for sure can lead to champion status.
Setting aside all of the fundamentals you must have in place first, I've found the cue action to go wrong mostly on the pull back or the very first 1-2cm of the strike right after the pullback.
Try introduce 2 pauses. One at the CB and one at the end of your final pull back. Fraction of a second is fine. Then focus on deliberate slow pull backs and the first 1-2cm of the strike being nice and slow too.
This does a couple of things. It helps create consistent timing firstly and it also makes it easier to see a straight cue action. The final pause into the slow 1-2cm forward motion before the strike helps ensure you accelerate through the cue ball, especially on those delicate shots where you don't pull back that far.
Just practice this on straight in shots again and again. Over time you can make the shot harder, longer shots, draw, side etc.
This will feel weird AF at first if you're not used to it but you soon get used to it. Before you know it you'll be zipping that CB back on those straight ins with very little effort.
I can't stress enough though, dodgy fundamentals will ruin all of what I've just said. Herky jerky strokes usually develop because of bad fundamentals and therefore compensating to correct.
Try introduce 2 pauses. One at the CB and one at the end of your final pull back. Fraction of a second is fine. Then focus on deliberate slow pull backs and the first 1-2cm of the strike being nice and slow too.
This does a couple of things. It helps create consistent timing firstly and it also makes it easier to see a straight cue action. The final pause into the slow 1-2cm forward motion before the strike helps ensure you accelerate through the cue ball, especially on those delicate shots where you don't pull back that far.
Just practice this on straight in shots again and again. Over time you can make the shot harder, longer shots, draw, side etc.
This will feel weird AF at first if you're not used to it but you soon get used to it. Before you know it you'll be zipping that CB back on those straight ins with very little effort.
I can't stress enough though, dodgy fundamentals will ruin all of what I've just said. Herky jerky strokes usually develop because of bad fundamentals and therefore compensating to correct.
boogieman
It don't mean a thing if it ain't got that ping.
Good post.
A good stroke feels like the cue is almost floating vs. you manipulating it. It's hard to explain and easy to fall back into bad habits.
A good stroke isn't a "push shot" but it can feel like one, almost like the cue accelerates the ball instead of smacking it. Of course in actuality the contact time is milliseconds but a good stroke feels way different than just cracking the CB with your tip.
The cue does much of the work on a good stroke, your muscles/hand/wrist does most of the work on a less than ideal stroke. I mean, some guys can play a mean game just piss pounding balls and cracking them, but watch a good player closely and see how smooth their stroke looks.
I highly recommend anyone go to a place where pros play if you can find a tournament and just spectate. Watch them closely. I was at the Midwest Expo and saw Christina Tkach playing and it was the first time I saw why the pros are so good. I didn't know her from anyone as it was probably around 2018 or so and I was just getting back into pool. I just thought she was some good player from around the area. After figuring out who she was it made sense why everything looked so smooth.
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Mr. Joshua
Registered
Lag stroke a couple thousand times.
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problem there is you rarely use that 'lag stroke' action in actual play. i'd say just watch good players and do what they do. that's how i learned. monkey see/monkey do works. find a player whose action you like and just watch/copy it.
I cannot a imagine any drill that teaches you a smooth backstroke but I do acknowledge that imitating someone that
has a great stroke is easier than reading how to do it. Proper grip tension becomes critical, as well as bridge length.
In order to imitate, you must watch someone stroking the cue ball. Pay close attention to their stance, hand position
on the cue, back stroke speed, pause/transition, forward stroke speed and any application of English. Your eyes will
teach you what to emulate but not how. No book or article will teach you better than practicing what you’ve observed.
has a great stroke is easier than reading how to do it. Proper grip tension becomes critical, as well as bridge length.
In order to imitate, you must watch someone stroking the cue ball. Pay close attention to their stance, hand position
on the cue, back stroke speed, pause/transition, forward stroke speed and any application of English. Your eyes will
teach you what to emulate but not how. No book or article will teach you better than practicing what you’ve observed.