any ideas on how to slow down and staying down on shots?
- Thread starter getsome01
- Start date
My advice works all the time. Slow down n stay down on the shot till the OB drops. :thumbup:
if you don't practice it, you'll never get it. I don't care what anyone says drills/practice is key.
You have to create a drill that is very easy, something you can pull off more times than not and with that you add things like chalking, the amount of practice strokes (back swing) and ...... the pause. I don't know what type of player you are or even your level so I can't comment on/add other things.
This is what worked for me and everyone else that i told so i have no doubt that it'll work for you
that's my take that's my advice........
You have to create a drill that is very easy, something you can pull off more times than not and with that you add things like chalking, the amount of practice strokes (back swing) and ...... the pause. I don't know what type of player you are or even your level so I can't comment on/add other things.
This is what worked for me and everyone else that i told so i have no doubt that it'll work for you
that's my take that's my advice........
I've always found that I do something better if I have a specific objective. Here's the one I developed to help me stay down.
My objective is to "take a snapshot" of the CB contacting the OB. I don't mean a general idea of the hit...I mean having a picture so exact and vivid that I can remember it 10 minutes later. It forces me to focus intently on the OB and stay down for at least 2 seconds while the image burns into my brain. The OB is usually well into the pocket before I get up.
Two additional benefits:
It helps me acheive "quiet eyes" in which my eyes are focused on a spot (the contact point on the OB) rather than flittering around the table.
I see exactly where the CB contacted the OB.
Try it with easy, straight-in shots first. It's not as easy as it sounds until you practice it.
My objective is to "take a snapshot" of the CB contacting the OB. I don't mean a general idea of the hit...I mean having a picture so exact and vivid that I can remember it 10 minutes later. It forces me to focus intently on the OB and stay down for at least 2 seconds while the image burns into my brain. The OB is usually well into the pocket before I get up.
Two additional benefits:
It helps me acheive "quiet eyes" in which my eyes are focused on a spot (the contact point on the OB) rather than flittering around the table.
I see exactly where the CB contacted the OB.
Try it with easy, straight-in shots first. It's not as easy as it sounds until you practice it.
Well said :thumbup:
A good player once told me to respect every shot. Guess that means take the same approach from the easiest to hardest shot. Same pre shot routine on every shot.
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Hear, hear!
(By the way, the above saying is NOT Here, here! I cringe every time I see it written that way.
[Shakespeare has been rolling over in his grave for some time]
Hear, hear! is the shortened version from, "Hear, all ye good people, hear what this brilliant and
eloquent speaker has to say!")
Consider yourself a little more knowledgeable today than yesterday.
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a good preshot routine will help you slow down your play from shot to shot....follow it every time with no exception.
to keep from jumping up, i always stay down until the cueball at least hits the object ball, because i use that to determine if i hit my aim point correctly, and also to help me zero in on my aiming points. If i know where i hit and how i missed, it goes into the mental computer to help me adjust the next time that shot comes up.
to keep from jumping up, i always stay down until the cueball at least hits the object ball, because i use that to determine if i hit my aim point correctly, and also to help me zero in on my aiming points. If i know where i hit and how i missed, it goes into the mental computer to help me adjust the next time that shot comes up.
The only way is to follow through at least 3-6" ; that is a guarantee to stay down, and go through OB, and by looking at OB last it will help you follow through..
But IMO, jump up, or speed up should not effect your pocketing; provided you take care of cue shaft squirt accurately.
Play for more money.
"Staying down"?
From the other responses, it seems there's some confusion in what "staying down" means.
Does it mean just not moving the bridge hand? Or not moving the head?
One can easily follow through - even a foot or two - and still have head movement. You can see this on most players' break shots.
Simply trying not to do it is not sufficient...you do NOT want to be thinking about it on every shot during a match.
And if you've had the habit of unwanted motion for a long time (like most players), it is NOT easy to eliminate. Many don't even believe they have head motion, until they see themselves on video, or have someone hold a cue just above their head while they're shooting.
When the habit is ingrained, the only way I've found to work well is to have the student began his/her warm-up routine by thinking about "posing" after every shot. Eventually, posing will be the norm and not the change. For some this method may achieve the goal quickly, for others it may take a dedicated, repeated effort during practice.
One other little trick I began to use many years ago (especially in high-pressure situations) is to take an additional stroke AFTER you strike the cue ball. If you keep your head still for the extra stroke, it almost HAS to be still for the business stroke.
The easiest way to tell an amateur (even a high level amateur) from a top pro is head motion during the business stroke. With few exceptions you just don't see head motion among world class players.
From the other responses, it seems there's some confusion in what "staying down" means.
Does it mean just not moving the bridge hand? Or not moving the head?
One can easily follow through - even a foot or two - and still have head movement. You can see this on most players' break shots.
Simply trying not to do it is not sufficient...you do NOT want to be thinking about it on every shot during a match.
And if you've had the habit of unwanted motion for a long time (like most players), it is NOT easy to eliminate. Many don't even believe they have head motion, until they see themselves on video, or have someone hold a cue just above their head while they're shooting.
When the habit is ingrained, the only way I've found to work well is to have the student began his/her warm-up routine by thinking about "posing" after every shot. Eventually, posing will be the norm and not the change. For some this method may achieve the goal quickly, for others it may take a dedicated, repeated effort during practice.
One other little trick I began to use many years ago (especially in high-pressure situations) is to take an additional stroke AFTER you strike the cue ball. If you keep your head still for the extra stroke, it almost HAS to be still for the business stroke.
The easiest way to tell an amateur (even a high level amateur) from a top pro is head motion during the business stroke. With few exceptions you just don't see head motion among world class players.
Real nice post Donny!
I especially like the idea of staying down and taking an additional stroke after striking the ball. I used to be a bit of a creeper. That's what I call the players that sort of creep up on every shot. I've gotten rid of that bad habit for the most part but it took a long time. Your two simple -- but yet very insightful tips would have made it easier for me to eliminate this from my game a long time ago. I'm going to try that extra stroke idea while practicing just to reinforce the principle of staying down.
These are the sorts of tips that brought me to AZ in the first place. Thanks for sharing.
I may have read the other posts wrong, but I wouldn't take another stroke after your shot.
Take your shot, watch the cue ball, and don't get up until the cb stops rolling. In practice, it's also good to hit a few shots and stop on your follow through. You can examine your stance, alignment, elbow drop, cueing hand, and bridge hand. Whatever else you notice.
Just focusing on the freeze frame after your stroke can help a lot
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Take your shot, watch the cue ball, and don't get up until the cb stops rolling. In practice, it's also good to hit a few shots and stop on your follow through. You can examine your stance, alignment, elbow drop, cueing hand, and bridge hand. Whatever else you notice.
Just focusing on the freeze frame after your stroke can help a lot
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Single best slow-down trick I ever read was in Mark Wilson's book.
Make your backswing slo-o-o-o-o-o-w.
Most players, even if they're working on improving their stroke,
don't understand the importance of the backswing.
It might seem like the forward swing is the only one that matters,
but the backswing is tied to the forward swing. It decides how straight
the forward swing is, and whether it's rushed or not.
Plus doing the backswing calmly makes you just feel more calm and controlled.
You won't have the urge to jump up or rush after you do a slow backswing.
Someone recently posted a clip of Mark Wilson winning the first Mosconi Cup,
and you can see he practices what he preaches.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SPQ9qou1FQ0&t=120
Also watch videos of Buddy Hall or Niels Feijen. Very rare to see them jump up.
Make your backswing slo-o-o-o-o-o-w.
Most players, even if they're working on improving their stroke,
don't understand the importance of the backswing.
It might seem like the forward swing is the only one that matters,
but the backswing is tied to the forward swing. It decides how straight
the forward swing is, and whether it's rushed or not.
Plus doing the backswing calmly makes you just feel more calm and controlled.
You won't have the urge to jump up or rush after you do a slow backswing.
Someone recently posted a clip of Mark Wilson winning the first Mosconi Cup,
and you can see he practices what he preaches.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SPQ9qou1FQ0&t=120
Also watch videos of Buddy Hall or Niels Feijen. Very rare to see them jump up.
Sometimes bad habits are engrained so deeply that a player just cant stop on their own. Mostly, I've seen this with APA 5's and 6's who have shot that way for many years(and somehow pretty well, too). I have had success by holding my hand over a players head while they shoot. Once they get the feeling of rising up and hitting something, staying down becomes easier.