deadgearplyr said:
Being a pupil of Buddy Hall, I have a couple of things you might be interested in knowing.
The pre-shot routine: Look at where you want to go and visualize that in your mind.
Step into the shot with your right side aligned
Hi, Could you explain this further? Those are nice tips from you thanks
Well I will try to be as simple as I can. I will assume that whoever is reading has runout knowledge (9-ball). Thinking three balls ahead, we always look at the next shot's correct angle, not just the ball, to get to the third shot away. When looking at the current shot,
1. Look at where you want the cue ball to go. (In doing that, you determine what english if any you want to use and maybe apply the clock system [look at where 12 o'clock takes you, then subtract or add from there] This is visualized and determined by an experienced player in just a few seconds.
2. By determining where you want to go, you have determined the contact point on the object ball. (When using different english, the contact point may slightly different especially with different shafts.) This is where you look when you step into the shot.
3. When you do step in, you will point your left foot toward the shot and put the back foot in line with the shot, keeping your stroking forearm true to the shot through the entire warm up and follow through. (Some players, especially players like Busti, use their wrist and Buddy advises against this.) Keep your hand gripped fully on the cue and stop completely before you fire. Your grip hand side of the body should be lined up with the shot. That means the elbow, right foot, right shoulder, hip, and forearm and dominant eye. When you do, come back without dipping the tip and go straight through to the contact point keeping the cue as level as possible. Your bridge has an enormous amount of influence on whether your stroke will be solid or not. Keep your hand flat on the table when at all possible. Use just as the least amount of force needed to get the job done. [Don't slam balls just to look like a bad ass.]
4. When you pull the trigger, you hit the entire shot with the correct english as accurately as humanly possible to come within an inch of your desired destination. (Inexperienced players poke, slap or lift through the ball as opposed to pushing straight through the shot. If you had to draw the ball three rails after shooting in the side pocket, you would imagine where the cue ball is going to end up and hit that shot as a whole as opposed to just making it in the side with a questionable amount of force. This is what gives you the smoothness you're looking for and also the accuracy you can't do without.
Anyways, I hope this helps. What I told you is something most any BCA instructor knows. What I can't give you is experience. I've been playing for almost 20 yrs, so I am at a somewhat high level where Buddy and I relate well to. I don't know your capability, but you apparently are searching for knowledge, and that is something we should never stop doing. I feel extremely fortunate to have such a deep well of wisdom and experience right there everyday. I finally feel like I have almost every doubt eliminated from my game and I have no where to go but the sky.
My cue maker told me once, that you will never be able to 'get there' unless you have someone who's been there tell you how, and I believe that. You can practice by yourself all day, everyday, but you've got to have some tips and little hints along the way from good players. Watch good players and don't just emulate them, find out why they do what they do. Never be afraid to seek more knowledge. Ask, seek, knock, and it shall be given to you. Good luck, my fellow AZB'r.:thumbup:
i DONT want to readjust my stroke every 10 years. Been there once, it was a pain in the **, but well worth it.
