Does Being Tall Offer Advantages in Pool?

[sudocrushms]

Can anybody else think of additional advantages or disadvantages concerning being tall or short in pool (other than what is already covered in the video)?

One I should have included was: It is easier for tall people to reach over the side of the table with more reach.

Do you have issues with other tables, walls, setee tables, etc when you're near the rails? Obviously cue length and stroke are part, but depending on your stance i could see that interfering with your feet more.

 

[maha]

first of all bill doesnt count. sure he is tall but he was always a top athlete. so none of that shit bothers him. and he could play super too.

and fats when younger got down a lot more on his shots. what you see on tv he was way over his prime . when young he could play with most all of them. and certainly bank as good as anyone in the world at the time. and mosconi got down more when he was young.

as far as the bridge i hardly ever use it. just shoot opposite handed or one handed. if your stroke is straight you dont need a second hand on the cue and with hardly any practice you can transition to opposite handed and play 80 percent of you speed.

 

[Island Drive]

Appendages being longer tend to get you in trouble when pulling away from the shot, more than the 30'' ers.
Nick Varner has Long arms.

 

[maha]

yea his arms are like a gorillas.

 

[Island Drive]

… and their credibility, based on fact checking. For example, see:

Shaw said.... at the beginning of the video.... When I get down, I look at the object ball.

That's Not what I do.
My pre shot routine walk up/waggle to the shot, has already created my shot line to the obj. ball.
So.....
Walking up, I walk up to my ''cueing''.... allowing it to swing straight thru my cb, then I look up and back and obj. ball last.

bm

 

[Mensabum]

To quote Bob Lilly (I think). "It ain't the size of the dog in the fight. It's the size of the fight in the dog. "
Our boy wonder athlete that ended up playing pro football with uh the Packers, was 6'1" and 215 ish. He did everything athletic well the first try. Well except Bull Riding. The little monkey built guys were the bull riders.
His mass and longer levers made it too difficult.
In pool I surmise that longer levers and greater mass can deliver the most power. Mike Massey is my contender for any power shot contest. Efren still gets my vote for cueball precision.

I like to see a power shot contest!!
Place a meter on the back of a pocket and let er rip!!

Is there a 'standard' height for tables? The Diamond tables seem to be lower than the Rasson at my local. Noticeably, but not drastically.

That's a good question for the good Dr or perhaps Bob or PJ.

 

[Mensabum]

Many of pool's greatest players were small men, like the Filipinos. Most of them 5'4 to 5'6. Mosconi was maybe 5'7, Caras about 5'8 are two who come to mind as well. In fact many very short men were excellent pool players. Boston Shorty and Junior Goff were each probably 5'2 or thereabouts. Ginky was maybe 5'5. And then there's one of the all time greats Jose Parica, barely over 5' tall. Alex at 5'3 is another all time great. Santos was another super short Filipino who played top speed. I'm sure there are others who don't come to mind right now.

I found out that being only 5'7 was no hindrance to me at pool, unlike the other sports (Basketball and Tennis) that I loved. With the playing surface right at 30" high, it was easy to get down on the balls. Never had any back pain or other discomfort. There is a reason that Filipinos are so adept at using the bridge, and lack of height and reach made that imperative.

As far as tall players are concerned there were many. Jim Rempe was the best I ever saw. He got down on the balls really good. Take a look at one of his videos sometimes. Dave Bollman at 6'6 was a top speed player and tournament champion. Our own Island Drive was a high speed shortstop who snuck up on many good players. He is a good 6'6". Lucky for me I knew about him ahead of time when he came into Yankee Doodles looking for the house pro who was playing everybody.

It's hard for the tall players to stay in the shadows, so to speak. Everybody remembers that big guy who cleaned the place out last month.

 

[Mensabum]

Being taller does give some reach capabilities, but their is also being too tall. Most of the being too tall would have to deal with physcial issues like maybe bending the knees or just bending trying to reach table height. I'm 5' 10" maybe if i was about 6' i would think the height would be perfect. There is some shots i think i would like to reach just a bit more.

Definitely have to bend the knees. I look like I'm squatting when down low on a crucial shot.

 

[dr_dave]

That's a good question for the good Dr or perhaps Bob or PJ.

I already answered this earlier in the thread:

The WPA Equipment Specs show:

between 29 1⁄4 inches [74.295 cm] and 31 inches [78.74 cm]​

 

[Mensabum]

But even with “developed core/trunk and legs,” can’t fatigue still be an issue, especially with long sets or long tournament days. Also, longevity might be more of an issue, especially if physical issues develop. When there are more forces on all parts of the body (especially the back and neck), it is more of a challenge to stay issue-free.

That's why we all took mother's little helper.

 

[Mensabum]

In honor of this thread, I will execute my morning fitness routine (about an hour) to shooting standing up right. Well left vs right .... Right?
So step 2 perhaps.
Step one is set up to shoot one handed (always Jacked up). Then step is stabilize the structure further with the tri pod base. Well stand ing is a bi pod....right?
As an under size lineman in high-school football, I was required to employ a 4 point stance. A technique that had me getting under the larger opponent and moving his weight with my largest muscles in the legs. Through balance control became easy. Well after practice practice practice.
Each of us has different strengths and or abilities. Different strengths can make for a stronger team. I welcome neighbor that's of different culture. I look for the strengths and weaknesses in a new opponent.
Oh well back to the upright stance. Willie did pretty good with it.

My dad was forced to stand up straight while playing after taking a bullet to the hip while in service to our great nation.
As I age, I'm finding myself examining the potential +s & -s of shooting upright. He still had the stroke, but his alignment had changed. I use my bridge hand to help take some of the pressure off my back by bending the knees and locking my arm b4 shooting and I don't stay down long. I'm 6"4'.

 

[Mensabum]

I was gonna say Minisota Fats. You beat me to it. Cheers

You misspelled that G man.
It's Mini Soda Fats.

 

[Mensabum]

I don't remember, may well be. They were considered the Cadillac of pool tables back then.

Imo, rails were too skinny for straight pool. Nice tables otherwise.

 

[jay helfert]

It's hard for the tall players to stay in the shadows, so to speak. Everybody remembers that big guy who cleaned the place out last month.

They never forgot Keith or Parica either!

 

[skor]

Does it matters?
I mean, if being short is better, a tall person can’t be shorter and vice versa.
And I’m sure that there are pros and cons to either way.
For me being 6ft and being a big guy with some back issues it’s hard to get down on the shot but on the other hand I have a better reach and don’t need the bridge or extension that much.
In one club that I play at, the tables are a bit taller, makes it easier to get down on the shot but harder to reach. If I had to choose, I prefer reach over getting my chin on the cue.