Cue Power - What Factors Determine How Powerful Your Stroke Is??
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Yes, that certainly would make sense because the cue ball only cares about the mass and velocity. And if you’re a big guy that can actually get more mass into the stroke, you’re gonna have more momentum. If we’re talking about the break stroke, the most important thing is body mechanics and how you get mass involved in the collision with controlled velocity. And there isn’t just one style of body mechanics. There are a few styles, and we can talk about fast twitch or whatever but you know we can break the styles down to that long smooth acceleration that gets you up to velocity or that explosive stroke that gets you up to the velocity, but we have to talk about the mass as well. People who forget mass are forgetting about a significant part of the momentum and the transfer.
Because the numbers are difficult to quantify, the amounts of body mass added can’t easily be ciphered out. But it can be said that a small percentage of mass from the body is in the equation. And a bigger arm is gonna have a bigger amount added. I’m not saying it adds pounds… It adds maybe ounces. So we’re talking about taking a 17 to 20 ounce cue stick mass and adding some amount. So if two identical stick weights hitting at the same speed at contact, the one swung by the bigger arm will have more momentum at impact.
Yep. Biomechanics and motion optimization. Easier said than done.
harder only opens the rack more IF the head ball is hit flush. all the power in the world won't help shitty contact.
Solid mechanics. Let the cue do the work on most shots. When you add to that it looks like you have a bottomless well.
That's what Louie always said.
Cleveland_Rocks
Active member
It would be best to first define what "power" is. In effect, "power" is the speed that the cue ball is moving after impact with the cue of the player. So physical strength, timing of the stroke, quality of the stroke in regards to it being a center hit, and quality of the follow through would likely be the variables that would create cue ball speed. One could create extra power with body weight transfer, body strength, and elbow and wrist timing.
Why talk about just "power", without accuracy and consistency?
Why talk about just "power", without accuracy and consistency?
That's what Louie always said.
I'm blessed in that I actually must watch myself that I don't start to overpower shots bcuz of my height and body weight.
Long arm plus long bridge plus long follow thru plus body weight = a mess, if you're not careful.
Technique and mechanics are far more important, imo.Perhaps you can generate a bit more by holding further back on the cue or extend your bridge length, try elevating a bit on draw shots and Follow Thru!!!
If you're being hobbled by a pendulum, try dropping that elbow and see what happens.
the real thing everybody doesnt want to face is that almost all the players get no benefit from the break as they cant run out or play good enough safes to over come a better player.
everyone wants to break like little david did, or bustamante. its just that is part of what they made as a great player as they can capitalize on the break, as most pros and say 700 players can to some extent.
but they can make most long straight in shots which few in the pool room can make with regularity. that is much more important than any improvement in a break.
as in golf they say drive for show putt for dough and that is true.
everyone wants to break like little david did, or bustamante. its just that is part of what they made as a great player as they can capitalize on the break, as most pros and say 700 players can to some extent.
but they can make most long straight in shots which few in the pool room can make with regularity. that is much more important than any improvement in a break.
as in golf they say drive for show putt for dough and that is true.
Knowing "when" to play a safe is just as important as knowing "how" to play a safe.
for almost all a slightly lighter cue than you usually play with can be swung faster as your muscles are acclimated to a heavier one .
and velocity takes trump over anything else in transferring that energy to the cueball.
a heavier cue will add a small amount but most all will not be able to swing it at the speed needed to get more than the lighter weight cue. if you can then thats the better choice if your accuracy is the same.
you can learn from coefficient of restitution, but science has already shown cue speed is the answer.
and long stroke, standing up, lunging forward, only help if it makes your cue stick go faster.
and velocity takes trump over anything else in transferring that energy to the cueball.
a heavier cue will add a small amount but most all will not be able to swing it at the speed needed to get more than the lighter weight cue. if you can then thats the better choice if your accuracy is the same.
you can learn from coefficient of restitution, but science has already shown cue speed is the answer.
and long stroke, standing up, lunging forward, only help if it makes your cue stick go faster.
Magictrat007
Active member
Other than the break, I personally don’t think any player has any more Cue power than the other as long as you’re talking about able bodied men. I think some players look like they have Cue power because of their ability to deliver the Cue very accurately at a high speed. Not everyone can do that. Especially at a world class level. But as far as shots that people shoot while they’re actually playing the game, I think most everybody has the power just maybe not the accuracy.
Maybe for most shots, but not everyone can generate enough cue "power" to draw the ball 15+ diamonds or shoot the equivalent top shot.
-td
I don’t think body weight (not even arm or hand weight) adds to CB speed, because the flexible skin on your grip hand gives during the 1/1000th of a second impact, taking body/arm mass out of the equation.That's what Louie always said.
I'm blessed in that I actually must watch myself that I don't start to overpower shots bcuz of my height and body weight.
Long arm plus long bridge plus long follow thru plus body weight = a mess, if you're not careful.
Perhaps you can generate a bit more by holding further back on the cue or extend your bridge length, try elevating a bit on draw shots and Follow Thru!!!
If you're being hobbled by a pendulum, try dropping that elbow and see what happens.
Only the cue’s weight and speed (and, of course, tip hardness and point of impact) matter.
pj
chgo
Pool is deceptive. If you watch top players let their strokes out while practicing, you might come to the same conclusion that I have -- maximum capability plays a bigger role in the results than I once thought. It's not something that jumps out at you while watching pros complete routine shots that us mortals can replicate. You have to be looking for it. Amateurs are often pushing their cue power right up to their limit, while top pros are playing a much more comfortable game. SVB's cue power jumps out at you once you start focusing on it. When he is comfortable he can move the cue ball around, using his powerful stroke, better than anyone I've ever seen. He can be a few degrees from dead straight-in and he can easily power the cue ball wherever he needs it to go. How he does it, is a great question. The only part of the equation I'm sure of is - psychological freedom. Top players are so comfortable cueing around the miscue limit, that they're free to push the limits of their strokes, while most other players are not.
I call that headroom.
It's like pitching in baseball. The Fast Ball requires the co ordinated from the ground up delivery. The power in the timed uncoiling of the muscles that culminates at the Snap of the fingers.
"ON THE SNAP!" Was a common 9 ball ring game ....er uh cheer wish, uttered at the Snap of the fingers led by the ring finger. (For me) I noticed snooker players tapping the middle finger of the bridge hand as going through the aiming process.
You do have a process....Right?
Perhaps the middle finger for power and the ring finger for precision. And the children's game gets the pinky trigger for ...? Uh luck. Get those 3 working together provides more power to the punch.
The foundation and structure become more critical in long haul contests.
Well I studied at the 9 ball academy in Fife, The White Spot. Every Wednesday for 5 bucks a race to 3 bar box big ball, uh Bash ah thon. One balls were shattered.
I recall one player that consistently popped that big ball straight up on the break and even hitting the table lights.
Kinda like watching Randy Johnson pitch at +100.
Again, my Preach is precision before power. Again baseball analogy makes me think of Satchel Page.
Kinda like wanting to run before walk. Start with crawl. You know just like in Basic.
Survival
Use your phone to examine your form.
Well I was aiming to get the finish that Shaun Murphy holds until the balls stop. (Most times).
So off I go....but , but it's a fitness program.
No not "if it don't fit, I will throw one." Johnny.
Oh never mind.
Survival
Use your phone to examine your form.
Well I was aiming to get the finish that Shaun Murphy holds until the balls stop. (Most times).
So off I go....but , but it's a fitness program.
No not "if it don't fit, I will throw one." Johnny.
Oh never mind.