I have often thought about the role the wrist plays in the stroke. It seems to be the primary difference in a pendulum stroke and a piston stroke. The wrist seems to be what takes the dip out and drives the stick level to be a piston stroke.
Watching hours of pros play has not really answered the question for me. The grip can disguise the action so much it is hard to tell. Players and instructors alike who have the cue laying in a cradle with all their fingers make it hard to judge how much wrist action is involved. Players who favor two or three fingers clearly seem to have more wrist action.
CJ uses a lot of wrist action for power and he plays a power game. Tor teaches a pendulum stroke with a lighter grip but also teaches a "compact stroke", especially for bar tables. It is more of a punch stroke. He even refers to it as a punch stroke at times. Even the long bridges of the pros can sometimes be a simple punch stroke. They just don't take the stick back very far.
What I am saying is, do players really use their forearms (primarily) or is the feel and action and power coming from the wrist? Even the break seems to get more power from the wrist than the large muscles. It seems to be like putting in golf. Some pros use a locked still arm swing and others are very hands and all about the wrist.
Any commentary on this would be helpful, of course from instructor
s but if you are a good player and have crossed this bridge I respect that tool. I am trying to improve my speed control and struggling between using my arm or wrist as the primary control.
Watching hours of pros play has not really answered the question for me. The grip can disguise the action so much it is hard to tell. Players and instructors alike who have the cue laying in a cradle with all their fingers make it hard to judge how much wrist action is involved. Players who favor two or three fingers clearly seem to have more wrist action.
CJ uses a lot of wrist action for power and he plays a power game. Tor teaches a pendulum stroke with a lighter grip but also teaches a "compact stroke", especially for bar tables. It is more of a punch stroke. He even refers to it as a punch stroke at times. Even the long bridges of the pros can sometimes be a simple punch stroke. They just don't take the stick back very far.
What I am saying is, do players really use their forearms (primarily) or is the feel and action and power coming from the wrist? Even the break seems to get more power from the wrist than the large muscles. It seems to be like putting in golf. Some pros use a locked still arm swing and others are very hands and all about the wrist.
Any commentary on this would be helpful, of course from instructor
s but if you are a good player and have crossed this bridge I respect that tool. I am trying to improve my speed control and struggling between using my arm or wrist as the primary control.