Smooth transition at the end of the backswing!
brhawk said:
I have a question about my stroke, is it possible to come back to far on the back stroke. I am not happy with my finishes in tournaments mainly due to the lack of being consistent. I am working on my pre-shot routine and I have noticed that on my back swing is not the same every time.
This is one of those things that it would really be best to actually see your stroke before giving specific advice or comments. However, assuming that you're not gripping the cue too far back or forward, I would say in general that on your final backstroke you should bring the ferrule all the way back to your bridge. Now certainly, if you are bringing it back so far that the tip is inside your bridge you are coming back too far.
As far as the length of your backswing, that should be dictated by the length of your bridge. Although you, like all players, have a certain length of bridge that is your standard, it is necessary to alter the length of your bridge based on the requirements of your shot. You will shorten your bridge for more delicate short shots and lengthen your bridge to utilize a power stroke. Therefore, what I would strive for, rather than having the same length backswing, is to ensure that the final backswing is slow, smooth (and straight!), and that you have a smooth transition to your forward stroke. You may even want to incorporate a slight pause at the end of your backswing, like Buddy Hall and Allison Fisher.
Good luck!