The Pause

GideonF said:
When I took a lesson with Scott Lee many years ago, he told me that his review of pro players showed that there was always a pause on the backstroke, even if it was momentary or extremely short.

I see a lot of amateur players that have a jerky transition between the backstroke and the stroke itself, especially on shots where they have to hit the ball hard, and I think the pause is very helpful to counteract that. Do you not see players with that jerky transition? If so, what do you recommend?
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Same, had a very similar discussion with him when I took a lesson. I'm not always great at executing it but when I'm playing my best there is a brief pause at the back of my stroke and it really seems to help me deliver the cue to the CB consistently. But I struggle with getting pokey at times and when I do the results are not good.
 
Black-Balled said:
Wouldn't there have to be a "pause" for anything to change direction? ...
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In a pendulum, the duration of no motion at the top of the swing is zero seconds. I don't consider that to be a pause. I think a pause requires at least some time of no motion. During such a pause, there's no motion and no stroke force on the stick.
 
What might feel like an over exaggerated pause to the player, is almost invisible to anyone that’s watching them. Just like what’s taught with the golf swing and putting. Back, pause, thru.
It’s the ‘and’ in peanut butter and jelly that Samm diep teaches.
 
Pro baseball pitchers, exemplify the wind up (like you pulling the cue back) then the pitch.
Throwing the ball over the plate, or throwing the cue tip into whitey are the same motion.
 
DrCue'sProtege said:
Yet we have or have had alot of instructors (SPF) that teach the Pause as gospel.

Set
Pause
Finish

Of the all time greats the only one that I can recall that actually had a definitive pause was Buddy Hall.

And a change of directions is not a pause.

To each their own, like alot of things.
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Sigel has one.


Earl too.


And of course probably 99 percent of current top pros.
 
easy-e said:
I don't know why, but your post made me think about what the "stroke" actually is... It can be considered just the forward motion of the cue. I think the pause is just a way to settle yourself before you stroke the ball.
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Well, the group of instructors that like to call it SPF (set,pause,finish) believe that it prevents that quick jerk in the stroke that often happens in the transition to players early in their learning of the game and even to some pro players on shots in big moments.

Me? I like to keep the cue moving, more fluid. Kind of like golfers that utilize the waggle. For me it’s about the rhythm and timing of my stroke which is critical in controlling the cue ball, to each their own.
 
I try and have a nice fluid stroke with the same speed on every waggle and on the final forward have what input is required. If there's a pause it'd be miniscule that I'm aware of.
 
Matt_24 said:
Is the "pause" necessary in shot execution to be a good player?

Pause at the cue ball?

Or, Pause when the cue ball is pulled back into your bridge (before transitioning through the cue ball) - ala Buddy Hall?

I've seen some phenomenal players who had zero pause. They may slow down their practice strokes as they pin point their cue ball target, but never completely pause.

Just stirring up some discussion.
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IMHO a pause at the cue ball before one starts the back swing, is the "best practice". A pause at the conclusion of the back stroke is optional but not a bad practice. Whether there is a pause at the end of the back swing matters less than, whether a player has a controlled backswing.

A controlled backswing is described pretty well in Mark Wilson's accu stats video..."Ladies and Gentleman", spoken in a controlled way is about the time length of a decent pool stroke, according to Mark Wilson. I don't disagree.

Personally, I have found the adoption of a controlled backswing very helpful.

kollegedave
 
A pause at the end of final backstroke( maybe 2 warm up strokes) is essential for me to lock eyes on the OB contact point.
I think that every person’s mental make up dictates when they are most locked on their aim - you find that for yourself and incorporate that moment into the stroke mechanics that work best for you.
I have no ability to lock on aim without some sort of pause before moving cue to cue ball.
 
Chopdoc said:
As usual on important matters, I asked The Crazy Redhead.

She said the rhythm of the stroke is vital. She knows nothing about a pause but said that could cause her mind to wander and lose focus at a critical moment.

On the other hand some have said it is important to pause and address the ball.

As I have asserted in these forums in the past I just sort of poke at the white ball and see what happens.

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🤣🤣
 
Frosty said:
It seems to be revered by a large number of instructors such as Mark Wilson from your area.

Personally I would consider it a hindrance. To me a truly beautiful stroke is fluid, it just flows naturally, a pause is an interruption of that. I think it might be right for some mid level players that tend to get “too quick” in their transition, a common cause of misses in that level of player.
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'Ladies and gentleman'.
Couldn't get it to work for myself. But I can't make 2 in a row so expectations were low.😉
 
mikemosconi said:
A pause at the end of final backstroke( maybe 2 warm up strokes) is essential for me to lock eyes on the OB contact point.
I think that every person’s mental make up dictates when they are most locked on their aim - you find that for yourself and incorporate that moment into the stroke mechanics that work best for you.
I have no ability to lock on aim without some sort of pause before moving cue to cue ball.
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I have my aim locked B4 dropping.
 
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