Mosconin stance
- Thread starter PoolBoy1
- Start date
He is most definitely a more upright player. As far as the 90 degree arm, it does look like his arm is bent at 90 degrees between the upper and lower arm, or close to it. I think the important thing as far as angle goes is that your arm hangs straight down at ball address for a pendulum stroke to maintain a level cue as much as possible.
A lot of the old school straight pool players were a little more upright and held the cue forward of perpendicular. They weren't moving the ball any further than necessary. Seemed like the closer they were to their work, the shorter the bridge, yet they always seemed to choke up on the grip a little... Don't think Willie used a slip stroke, at least not the pronounced one Cisero Murphy used...maybe just a touch of slip (TOS)? 
If you are asking what I think you are asking:
( "perpendicular to cue and shooting arm not in preferred 90 degree angle of today")
could you perhaps clarify what that means?
Mosconi's advice was your forearm should be perpendicular to the bed of the table
at the end of your BACKSTROKE, which results in it being well forward of
perpendicular when you hit the cueball.
Slipstroke?
The other guy in your picture had one of the sweetest slipstrokes ever. Mosconi,
however, did not play with a slipstroke, tho lots of people who should know better
want to think he did.
If you do a search about Willie and slipstroke you will find enough vigerous
discussion to keep you reading for a day or two.
Dale
Understanding how to utilize the cue's balance point is critical
Mosconi's technical attribute was how he positions his hand forward towards the balance point of his cue. Understanding how to utilize the cue's balance point is critical to playing at the upper levels of competition.
The cue is designed perfectly to transfer energy from the hand to the tip, which, in turn, allows the player to move the cue-ball effortlessly.....if the body's working synergistically with the cue, this is "the difference that makes the difference".
Fine tuning the stroking mechanics has advantages as far as the Kinesiology of his stroke.....which translates to accuracy and precision in his position play and shot-making ability.
Many players can improve 10-20% just by improving what they're doing in their stroke, stance and wrist motion. These things are not natural to the human body and must be learned, practiced and utilized on a consistent basis to master.
Mosconi's technical attribute was how he positions his hand forward towards the balance point of his cue. Understanding how to utilize the cue's balance point is critical to playing at the upper levels of competition.
The cue is designed perfectly to transfer energy from the hand to the tip, which, in turn, allows the player to move the cue-ball effortlessly.....if the body's working synergistically with the cue, this is "the difference that makes the difference".
Fine tuning the stroking mechanics has advantages as far as the Kinesiology of his stroke.....which translates to accuracy and precision in his position play and shot-making ability.
Many players can improve 10-20% just by improving what they're doing in their stroke, stance and wrist motion. These things are not natural to the human body and must be learned, practiced and utilized on a consistent basis to master.
I played Mosconi a straight pool exhibition in 1964 and it was a while ago but I do not remember him using a slip stroke.
I sand bagged it so he would look good :grin:
An upright stance helps when playing straight pool. Most of the game is played on half the table with the balls close together. It's easier to see the little paths to slip the cue ball through when need if you are more upright. And easier to see what angle is needed on each shot .
I sand bagged it so he would look good :grin:
An upright stance helps when playing straight pool. Most of the game is played on half the table with the balls close together. It's easier to see the little paths to slip the cue ball through when need if you are more upright. And easier to see what angle is needed on each shot .
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I agree, and yes, I did see Mosconi play back in the 1960s. He didn't use a slip stroke on every shot, not even on most shots. And it was nowhere near as much hand movement as Jimmy Moore's slip stroke.
https://vimeo.com/4957545
One of the better videos featuring Mosconi. He did use a slip stroke on some shots. As for his stance, see for yourself. It appears he didn't bend his knees much which probably works better for a man of his short stature.
One of the better videos featuring Mosconi. He did use a slip stroke on some shots. As for his stance, see for yourself. It appears he didn't bend his knees much which probably works better for a man of his short stature.
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I don't compare my fundamentals to legends like him. He has a God given ability I don't have. Lol willie hoppe played side arm... Ain't no one teaching that to a new player ! Lol
What I find interesting, is his feet are semi-pidgeon toed, very similar to Greenleafs foot work....not even close to a snooker stance.
GoldenFlash
Banned
I played him also.
Mosconi played a half table game...straight pool. That stance works fine in that game, in my opinion
He didn't have those long cuts like the Scott Frosts of today are faced with and certainly not like the British snooker players or the Filipinos.
He didn't have to bend over and "draw a bead" like they do.
And he didn't have to drive that cue ball around the table like modern 9 ball players have to do...so he just tippy toed around the half table....while wiping the floor with the opponent.
I played him once in the early 60's when a Brunswick bowling alley was adding pool tables to the place and he was here for an exhibition. We played straight pool to 50 points with a bet for a Coca-Cola.
I won the toss and he made a lousy break, leaving me a dead one in the stack. I drilled it and ran 7, then tried to play "safe".
He too found a dead one and blew the remaining balls wide open and proceeded to run 50 and out while I sat on the bar stool like a little mouse.
He was surly, grouchy, whining constantly about everything in sight, talking constantly on my few little shots (he went into orbit when I gave it back to him on a shot and said....."don't dog it, you're the big wheel")
I did not like him.
His mechanics were like a machine and he stayed in that half upright stance while beating me like a drum.....I never had a prayer.
That's my only contact with Mosconi.
He was a helluva player, though.
Mosconi played a half table game...straight pool. That stance works fine in that game, in my opinion
He didn't have those long cuts like the Scott Frosts of today are faced with and certainly not like the British snooker players or the Filipinos.
He didn't have to bend over and "draw a bead" like they do.
And he didn't have to drive that cue ball around the table like modern 9 ball players have to do...so he just tippy toed around the half table....while wiping the floor with the opponent.
I played him once in the early 60's when a Brunswick bowling alley was adding pool tables to the place and he was here for an exhibition. We played straight pool to 50 points with a bet for a Coca-Cola.
I won the toss and he made a lousy break, leaving me a dead one in the stack. I drilled it and ran 7, then tried to play "safe".
He too found a dead one and blew the remaining balls wide open and proceeded to run 50 and out while I sat on the bar stool like a little mouse.
He was surly, grouchy, whining constantly about everything in sight, talking constantly on my few little shots (he went into orbit when I gave it back to him on a shot and said....."don't dog it, you're the big wheel")
I did not like him.
His mechanics were like a machine and he stayed in that half upright stance while beating me like a drum.....I never had a prayer.
That's my only contact with Mosconi.
He was a helluva player, though.
You related to the Dude's that built the Leaning Tower of Pisa?
The problem with this video is that it was taken 30 years and two strokes/heart attacks past his prime.
There are not many videos of him playing in his prime.
I know for myself my stance has changed a bit more upright in 30 years, because I have grown wider instead of taller.
There are not many videos of him playing in his prime.
I know for myself my stance has changed a bit more upright in 30 years, because I have grown wider instead of taller.
Fine story. I envy you big time.
True words. Today the Sport is producing clones but some clones suffer because their natural ability would work better. However if a never have played player, it would take a hell of a lot longer finding a decent skill level then would several lessons from a Pro. I would imagine Mosconi was clumsy at one point early into pool before he established repidity.
rooming with a player for ONE tournament would you pick Mosconi or Strickland?
Willie made an appearance at the pool room I was co-owner in called Champs in Dallas. He was losing his mental falcuties at the time so I tried not to notice his "grumpiness"......after all, pool is enough to drive anyone insane.
So, GoldenFlash, if you {only} had a choice between being friends and rooming with a player for ONE tournament would you pick Mosconi or Strickland?
Willie made an appearance at the pool room I was co-owner in called Champs in Dallas. He was losing his mental falcuties at the time so I tried not to notice his "grumpiness"......after all, pool is enough to drive anyone insane.
So, GoldenFlash, if you {only} had a choice between being friends and rooming with a player for ONE tournament would you pick Mosconi or Strickland?
Willie made an appearance at the pool room I was co-owner in called Champs in Dallas. He was losing his mental falcuties at the time so I tried not to notice his "grumpiness"......after all, pool is enough to drive anyone insane.
So, GoldenFlash, if you {only} had a choice between being friends and rooming with a player for ONE tournament would you pick Mosconi or Strickland?
I would take Strickland just for the entertainment value.
You can see him use a slip stroke on the ball he shoots up table when there are four balls left in the first rack.