Yes, I can understand. I am able to get lower but the table sure looks different!! Also, not sure how long my back will hold out. But, it the advantage is there, I'll have to try it. If Bob Jewett can do it at 71, maybe I can.
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Advantage to get Lower on Cue Stick?
- Thread starter Bobkitty
- Start date
Yes, I can understand. I am able to get lower but the table sure looks different!! Also, not sure how long my back will hold out. But, it the advantage is there, I'll have to try it. If Bob Jewett can do it at 71, maybe I can.
I'm 71 too, and I have the same trouble - although I think my problem may be more about posture than age.
Have you tried bending your knees?
pj
chgo
goldeagle2134
Registered
" But, if we can get lower, is it an advantage?"
I think last nites final match at Turning Stone answers this question.
I think last nites final match at Turning Stone answers this question.
Wow, I can not get that low but I can get 4-5" off the cue. I'll try that for a while. I think as low as you can go is an advantage.
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Look at every single snooker player (which requires much more accuracy than pool), and 95% of the top pool pros. If there wasn't an advantage to not only being low, but literally having your chin on the cue, then you would see many more top players in snooker and pool standing up more in their position, since it doesn't take as much effort and you can see the shot better (which is why you aim while standing up).
There are several advantages to being low:
1) It's easy to move your eyes between the cue ball and object ball without moving your head, which is crucial since you shouldn't have any head movement once down on the shot.
2) It's easier to see the straight line from your shaft through the cue ball, through the object ball. Using your peripheral vision, you can easily notice if your shaft is not in a perfect straight line, and if that straight line is lined up with the cue ball and object ball.
3) Obviously it's better for making sure your tip placement on the cue ball is exactly where you intend it to be.
4) Contact points on the cue. Many pool players feel that if your chin is touching the cue, that could negatively affect the shot. On the contrary, snooker players usually have 4 contact points on the cue to help keep the cue straight, through the stroke. The shooting hand, bridge hand, chin, and chest. It's a way to make sure you are aligned straight and consistently every single shot, and that your cue stays on that straight line through the shot.
IMO, if you are going to choose fundamentals to emulate, you would look at snooker players. That game requires the best possible fundamentals. If you look at pool pros, you'll find successful pros with pretty much any possible stance or stroking technique, because the game just doesn't require the same level of precision. With that said, the very top and most consistent pros tend to have very solid fundamentals. Some may argue that pool requires more "power" and more movement of the cue ball. Well, snooker players have to play pin point position also, on a 12 foot table. And at the end of the day, shooting straight is really the only fundamental thing you need to be successful at pool.
A great example of a snooker player with great fundamentals, who moves the cue ball better than pretty much any pool player, is Stephen Lee.
The disadvantage to staying really low is you lose depth perception, so you are relying on how you aimed when you were standing up to get the correct line for the shot, then once down, you are focused on keeping that line and shooting straight. Another disadvantage may be that you don't feel like you have as much room to stroke and follow through as fully, but that isn't an issue if your stance is correct.
There are several advantages to being low:
1) It's easy to move your eyes between the cue ball and object ball without moving your head, which is crucial since you shouldn't have any head movement once down on the shot.
2) It's easier to see the straight line from your shaft through the cue ball, through the object ball. Using your peripheral vision, you can easily notice if your shaft is not in a perfect straight line, and if that straight line is lined up with the cue ball and object ball.
3) Obviously it's better for making sure your tip placement on the cue ball is exactly where you intend it to be.
4) Contact points on the cue. Many pool players feel that if your chin is touching the cue, that could negatively affect the shot. On the contrary, snooker players usually have 4 contact points on the cue to help keep the cue straight, through the stroke. The shooting hand, bridge hand, chin, and chest. It's a way to make sure you are aligned straight and consistently every single shot, and that your cue stays on that straight line through the shot.
IMO, if you are going to choose fundamentals to emulate, you would look at snooker players. That game requires the best possible fundamentals. If you look at pool pros, you'll find successful pros with pretty much any possible stance or stroking technique, because the game just doesn't require the same level of precision. With that said, the very top and most consistent pros tend to have very solid fundamentals. Some may argue that pool requires more "power" and more movement of the cue ball. Well, snooker players have to play pin point position also, on a 12 foot table. And at the end of the day, shooting straight is really the only fundamental thing you need to be successful at pool.
A great example of a snooker player with great fundamentals, who moves the cue ball better than pretty much any pool player, is Stephen Lee.
The disadvantage to staying really low is you lose depth perception, so you are relying on how you aimed when you were standing up to get the correct line for the shot, then once down, you are focused on keeping that line and shooting straight. Another disadvantage may be that you don't feel like you have as much room to stroke and follow through as fully, but that isn't an issue if your stance is correct.
So a after doing a quick google image search of SVB, Shaw, Skyler and a few others, it seems they get to different elevations at different times. I tried to key in on photos where they seem to be addressing the ball before striking the cueball. Some shots, their chin looks to be resting on the cue, in just as many other pics their chin seems to be 10 inches or so above the cue.
It doesn't seem as if it is a given that their chin gets down to their cue on every shot...certainly not as much as say in archery where the string is drawn back to the exact location on the face/mouth every time...
Maybe they don't worry about how low they are getting and just worry about getting comfortable over the shot?
It doesn't seem as if it is a given that their chin gets down to their cue on every shot...certainly not as much as say in archery where the string is drawn back to the exact location on the face/mouth every time...
Maybe they don't worry about how low they are getting and just worry about getting comfortable over the shot?
None of those players ever shoot with their chins 10" off the cue. You may be seeing pictures of the break, or of them getting into stance or watching the balls roll before standing all the way up.
Watch video of the top players. There are a few exceptions (Deuel, Biado, Kiamco come to mind), but 90% of them have their chins either touching the cue or within 2 inches, every single shot.
Kathy Keegan
Registered
I'm giggling.
I must cheat. I use the 4 contact points listed above, plus a major advantage....
Boobs.
Contact point 5. I run the cue along side a certain frontal protuberance.
Of course, some opponents are blinded by cleavage.
I must cheat. I use the 4 contact points listed above, plus a major advantage....
Boobs.
Contact point 5. I run the cue along side a certain frontal protuberance.
Of course, some opponents are blinded by cleavage.
I'm giggling.
I must cheat. I use the 4 contact points listed above, plus a major advantage....
Boobs.
Contact point 5. I run the cue along side a certain frontal protuberance.
Of course, some opponents are blinded by cleavage.
I have been known to instruct lower level ladies to stop trying to go around these, but to put them to use them as guide.
They all already knew about the cleavage trick.
The snooker cue they use have a 9-10mm tip. Using a closed bridge with these is hard to do.
I experimented with this last evening for about an hour. I usually have my chin about 2 to 4 inches from the cue. Playing around with my stance and stroke, on some draw shots I was scooping the cue sending it airborne. Been playing around with the pause at the backswing too. Everytime I'm at the table lately I'm not comfortable for some reason. Mostly likely from a lack of table time. I have no real goals with pool at this point, but I'm going to dedicate whatever table time I get at the table to master this. https://youtu.be/hTwXV6jTU9E
I probably have less then 10 hours of table time since the last I posted, been to busy with work. I'm always open to tips on improving and put an honest effort into it. At this point if I ever get a second wind with pool, I'll have to gamble with someone that plants their chin on their cue to convince me other wise. lol
I hit some about 3 weeks ago, not perfect, but I'm not going to be playing in world championships or anything. On some of my shots here, especially the 5 ball I had some tip steer that needs work, but I'm not hitting them enough to work on it at this time. https://youtu.be/l80kS4RxKDo
I hit some about 3 weeks ago, not perfect, but I'm not going to be playing in world championships or anything. On some of my shots here, especially the 5 ball I had some tip steer that needs work, but I'm not hitting them enough to work on it at this time. https://youtu.be/l80kS4RxKDo
You want to reconsider your offer since a lot of the top pool players have their chins on or within an inch of the cue stick.
I thought about that "after" I posted also. lol
It was more of a tongue in cheek comment.
Not everyone's eyes work the same.
Some people have better "perception" with some stances than they do with others.
I have a better perception when I'm a little above the cue than I do when I'm right down on top of it.
There is no real "right" or "wrong" way. You do what works best for "you".
Some people have better "perception" with some stances than they do with others.
I have a better perception when I'm a little above the cue than I do when I'm right down on top of it.
There is no real "right" or "wrong" way. You do what works best for "you".
If your real low to cue and fall.....you will not have as far to fall before hitting the table/floor.
Agreed. I will say there is probably a "point of no return" area where your head will be too far away from the cue to play effectively, but I think a range of chin-on to about 6" is fine, depending on your perception. A baseball swing is a more mechanically demanding action than a cue stroke, and one requiring even more precise spatial perception, and hitters can have a variety of head locations.
Also "fundamental" is to keep the cue in between your eyes, but players like Niels and Earl position their cue under their dominant eye, with Niels being somewhat extreme per "textbook." I've seen Niels have the cue nearly off his chin at times. And Niels is the one of the straightest shooters there is.
I think it's pretty widely accepted that the most effective position for the cue is at the player's "vision center" - i.e., wherever the player gets the most "true" picture of his shot alignment. This is very often (usually?) more toward the player's dominant eye than exactly centered under both. Directly under the dominant eye is often the correct "vision center" position for the cue.
I also think it's objectively more accurate to have your eye(s) as close as possible vertically to the cue, like a rifle as somebody else said. A player may not be able to take advantage of that for one reason or another, but they're missing out on an advantage.
pj
chgo
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