Another alignment key position not discussed much?

dquarasr

dquarasr

Registered
I have been putting my game back together after having f-ed it up royally (let's just call the "f" "fiddle"). Those of you who have helped me and been DMing with me know of what I speak.

I have tried to return to my previously found perfect alignment - for me - and have mostly succeeded. I have a certain place I need to place my back foot, step in with my front foot, and come down on the shot line with my head on the shot line.

OK, mostly all good. But only *sometimes*. Some sessions it does not come naturally, and it feels forced to get in alignment. I could not explain it. I seemed to have been doing everything the same. Or was I? Needless to say, these sessions I struggle to get comfortable and it may be many dozens of minutes before I feel comfortable at the table.

So, what is going on?

Today I noticed that a lot of what I had been struggling with had to do not with left-right alignment (with respect to the shot line),, but fore-aft. I have not come across much discussion about foot placement and distance to the optimal place to address the CB.

I had noticed that, inexplicably (before today), sometimes my bridge length seemed way too long. Like 15". When I adjusted back to 10" or so, it still didn't feel right because my feet were in a certain position so I would move my torso forward.

It was only when I stepped in closer to the CB that things felt "right" again. Bridge length naturally fell to 8". Elbow and shoulder positions felt right. Accuracy improved.

I believe that stepping in too far back requires an unnatural longer waist bend to get down on the shot, thereby messing up the natural shoulder-elbow-head alignment. When I step in with my feet closer to the CB, things simply feel better.

Comments related to not only left-right but fore-aft foot placement welcome.
 
@WobblyStroke and @bbb :

With my pea brain and its inability to remember anything, I wouldn’t be surprised if we have previously discussed this. If so, chalk it up to the crazy old guy who can’t remember $h1+.

If not, well, then, hallelujah, I have made another discovery on my long journey to respectability. Lol
 
dquarasr said:
I have been putting my game back together after having f-ed it up royally (let's just call the "f" "fiddle"). Those of you who have helped me and been DMing with me know of what I speak.

I have tried to return to my previously found perfect alignment - for me - and have mostly succeeded. I have a certain place I need to place my back foot, step in with my front foot, and come down on the shot line with my head on the shot line.

OK, mostly all good. But only *sometimes*. Some sessions it does not come naturally, and it feels forced to get in alignment. I could not explain it. I seemed to have been doing everything the same. Or was I? Needless to say, these sessions I struggle to get comfortable and it may be many dozens of minutes before I feel comfortable at the table.

So, what is going on?

Today I noticed that a lot of what I had been struggling with had to do not with left-right alignment (with respect to the shot line),, but fore-aft. I have not come across much discussion about foot placement and distance to the optimal place to address the CB.

I had noticed that, inexplicably (before today), sometimes my bridge length seemed way too long. Like 15". When I adjusted back to 10" or so, it still didn't feel right because my feet were in a certain position so I would move my torso forward.

It was only when I stepped in closer to the CB that things felt "right" again. Bridge length naturally fell to 8". Elbow and shoulder positions felt right. Accuracy improved.

I believe that stepping in too far back requires an unnatural longer waist bend to get down on the shot, thereby messing up the natural shoulder-elbow-head alignment. When I step in with my feet closer to the CB, things simply feel better.

Comments related to not only left-right but fore-aft foot placement welcome.
Click to expand...

The great majority of instructors advocate stepping into the shot, but as you have discovered, variability in this process can be troublesome. As has been noted, the table prevents stepping in on many shots.

An alternative approach is to set your feet while aligning upright (focusing more on alignment than foot position), and then drop into the shot line with your feet stationary. I believe CJ Wiley teaches this.

Not saying it is for you, but it can work for some.
 
dquarasr said:
I have been putting my game back together after having f-ed it up royally (let's just call the "f" "fiddle"). Those of you who have helped me and been DMing with me know of what I speak.

I have tried to return to my previously found perfect alignment - for me - and have mostly succeeded. I have a certain place I need to place my back foot, step in with my front foot, and come down on the shot line with my head on the shot line.

OK, mostly all good. But only *sometimes*. Some sessions it does not come naturally, and it feels forced to get in alignment. I could not explain it. I seemed to have been doing everything the same. Or was I? Needless to say, these sessions I struggle to get comfortable and it may be many dozens of minutes before I feel comfortable at the table.

So, what is going on?

Today I noticed that a lot of what I had been struggling with had to do not with left-right alignment (with respect to the shot line),, but fore-aft. I have not come across much discussion about foot placement and distance to the optimal place to address the CB.

I had noticed that, inexplicably (before today), sometimes my bridge length seemed way too long. Like 15". When I adjusted back to 10" or so, it still didn't feel right because my feet were in a certain position so I would move my torso forward.

It was only when I stepped in closer to the CB that things felt "right" again. Bridge length naturally fell to 8". Elbow and shoulder positions felt right. Accuracy improved.

I believe that stepping in too far back requires an unnatural longer waist bend to get down on the shot, thereby messing up the natural shoulder-elbow-head alignment. When I step in with my feet closer to the CB, things simply feel better.

Comments related to not only left-right but fore-aft foot placement welcome.
Click to expand...
If you are even a few inches off in the foot-to-CB distance, it can have a significant effect on your stroke timing. One effective drill is to place a piece of chalk parallel to the optimal position for your bridge hand loop (or cue tip or etc., depending on the focus of the drill). Then from standing erect, assume the stance, over and again, until you are "in the pocket," pun intended.
 
dquarasr said:
I have been putting my game back together after having f-ed it up royally (let's just call the "f" "fiddle"). Those of you who have helped me and been DMing with me know of what I speak.

I have tried to return to my previously found perfect alignment - for me - and have mostly succeeded. I have a certain place I need to place my back foot, step in with my front foot, and come down on the shot line with my head on the shot line.

OK, mostly all good. But only *sometimes*. Some sessions it does not come naturally, and it feels forced to get in alignment. I could not explain it. I seemed to have been doing everything the same. Or was I? Needless to say, these sessions I struggle to get comfortable and it may be many dozens of minutes before I feel comfortable at the table.

So, what is going on?

Today I noticed that a lot of what I had been struggling with had to do not with left-right alignment (with respect to the shot line),, but fore-aft. I have not come across much discussion about foot placement and distance to the optimal place to address the CB.

I had noticed that, inexplicably (before today), sometimes my bridge length seemed way too long. Like 15". When I adjusted back to 10" or so, it still didn't feel right because my feet were in a certain position so I would move my torso forward.

It was only when I stepped in closer to the CB that things felt "right" again. Bridge length naturally fell to 8". Elbow and shoulder positions felt right. Accuracy improved.

I believe that stepping in too far back requires an unnatural longer waist bend to get down on the shot, thereby messing up the natural shoulder-elbow-head alignment. When I step in with my feet closer to the CB, things simply feel better.

Comments related to not only left-right but fore-aft foot placement welcome.
Click to expand...
Starboard to port?
I shoot left foot forward, as I am right handed.
 
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