> All this talk about light,loose grips has me wondering,has EVERYONE considered what effects a slightly firmer grip and stroking thru the cue ball with a deliberate hand action has?
Imagine it this way,if you hold a toothbrush with a loose,floppy grip,you don't have a lot of "feel" or control,a slightly firmer grip allows you to feel each individual tooth.
CJ Wiley and Buddy Hall are the 2 best examples I can come up with. Buddy himself has said many times his swing isn't a loose throwing motion,more of an elongated "push",driving the cue thru the ball to get the desired effects as opposed to throwing the cue thru the ball.
I did it this way exclusively for years,now I combine the 2 methods,using a lighter grip when speed is paramount,while still using the "driving" method when punching the cue ball sideways with center ball,and firm my grip up when shooting off the rails and for breaking.
I've even lightened my normal grip pressure up some,but the cue still doesn't completely leave my hand. When using the deliberate action I'm describing,I line the shot up like normal,and closely monitor the distance between my bridge and the cue ball. I drive the tip thru the cue ball to a spot on the cloth the same distance BEHIND the cue ball,with the speed the right side of my brain tells me will get the desired effect.
Example. My normal bridge length is 7-8",unless the shot says otherwise. I find a spot close to the same distance past the cue ball on the cloth while sighting the shot before I take my stance,and drive the tip to that spot. This eliminates short-stroking for me at least.
I'm not arguing with the loose grip crowd,there are certainly several negative effects of using a firmer grip,possible "steering",overhitting,etc. I'm just advocating at least personal experimentation with it before discarding it.
I am a firm believer that the "flamboyant" circular strokes that are so common now are indeed the influence of the Filipino players,notably excluding Jose Parica,his stroke seems to be a little closer to the traditional method than Efren,Busta,etc.
Players have always looked to those better than them for methods to get better results,and always will. I have no problem with that.
On the other hand,there are an ever-increasing number of young-ish players that do it just because it looks "cool",or think it will intimidate their opponent. Anyone intimidated by another players style should never leave the house.
I'm not claiming to be 100% right on my theories,this is just what I have come up with on my own. Tommy D.
Imagine it this way,if you hold a toothbrush with a loose,floppy grip,you don't have a lot of "feel" or control,a slightly firmer grip allows you to feel each individual tooth.
CJ Wiley and Buddy Hall are the 2 best examples I can come up with. Buddy himself has said many times his swing isn't a loose throwing motion,more of an elongated "push",driving the cue thru the ball to get the desired effects as opposed to throwing the cue thru the ball.
I did it this way exclusively for years,now I combine the 2 methods,using a lighter grip when speed is paramount,while still using the "driving" method when punching the cue ball sideways with center ball,and firm my grip up when shooting off the rails and for breaking.
I've even lightened my normal grip pressure up some,but the cue still doesn't completely leave my hand. When using the deliberate action I'm describing,I line the shot up like normal,and closely monitor the distance between my bridge and the cue ball. I drive the tip thru the cue ball to a spot on the cloth the same distance BEHIND the cue ball,with the speed the right side of my brain tells me will get the desired effect.
Example. My normal bridge length is 7-8",unless the shot says otherwise. I find a spot close to the same distance past the cue ball on the cloth while sighting the shot before I take my stance,and drive the tip to that spot. This eliminates short-stroking for me at least.
I'm not arguing with the loose grip crowd,there are certainly several negative effects of using a firmer grip,possible "steering",overhitting,etc. I'm just advocating at least personal experimentation with it before discarding it.
I am a firm believer that the "flamboyant" circular strokes that are so common now are indeed the influence of the Filipino players,notably excluding Jose Parica,his stroke seems to be a little closer to the traditional method than Efren,Busta,etc.
Players have always looked to those better than them for methods to get better results,and always will. I have no problem with that.
On the other hand,there are an ever-increasing number of young-ish players that do it just because it looks "cool",or think it will intimidate their opponent. Anyone intimidated by another players style should never leave the house.
I'm not claiming to be 100% right on my theories,this is just what I have come up with on my own. Tommy D.
