Anyone Have Success Using a Wrist Brace?

[ChrisinNC]

Why strive to maintain a “ cupped” wrist angle
When you can strive to have a neutral angle?

Like I’ve said, I haven’t been able to consistently hold the neutral wrist angle throughout the stroke. If a slightly cupped wrist angle for whatever reason works in accomplishing my goal of keeping a constant wrist/forearm angle through the entire stroke, why have to resort to the wrist brace? Others here have stated and I agree, the wrist brace prevents your wrist release, which to a degree is necessary on the follow through.

 

[bbb]

Like I’ve said, I haven’t been able to consistently hold the neutral wrist angle. If a slightly cupped wrist angle works, why have to resort to the wrist brace, which others have stated and I agree, prevents your up and down wrist release, which to a degree is necessary on the follow through.

do what you feel is best for you.....
i have stated my opinion and my own results
remember its a tool for "wrist memory "
not to play sets
although you would be surprised how well you can play without what you call
"your up and down wrist release, "
good luck with your game

 

[ChrisinNC]

do what you feel is best for you.....
i have stated my opinion and my own results
remember its a tool for "wrist memory "
not to play sets
although you would be surprised how well you can play without what you call
"your up and down wrist release, "
good luck with your game

Thanks, I’m sure I’ll be experimenting with the wrist brace. Bottom line is not giving up!

 

[ChrisinNC]

do what you feel is best for you.....
i have stated my opinion and my own results
remember its a tool for "wrist memory "
not to play sets
although you would be surprised how well you can play without what you call
"your up and down wrist release, "
good luck with your game

I tried on the wrist brace I ordered. Initial impressions just trying it on are it’s not likely to work. With it on, I can still twist the cue inwards in my fingers and by rotating my forearm clockwise, on the follow through. We’ll just have to give it a try and see.

 

[fan-tum]

I recently saw a video of my stroke from behind and I realized immediately I have a bad habit of twisting my wrist and cue butt inwards on the forestroke through the CB impact zone and follow through.

I’m thinking of ordering a wrist brace to try to prevent my wrist from turning either way through the follow through. My thoughts are to use it just during practice sessions, although there’s no reason I couldn’t use it all the time if it works.

Anyone have any thoughts on this or any experience having tried this to keep the wrist from twisting through the stroke? All opinions are welcomed - thanks.

Here's something that helped me yrs ago. A couple of seconds before shooting, start slowly rotating the cue in your stroke hand and continue on thru the stroke. I remember being surprised that it helped.

 

[bbb]

I tried on the wrist brace I ordered. Initial impressions just trying it on are it’s not likely to work. With it on, I can still twist the cue inwards in my fingers and by rotating my forearm clockwise, on the follow through. We’ll just have to give it a try and see.

Which one did you buy?

 

[ChrisinNC]

Which one did you buy?

The Brunswick shot repeater X, which I believe is the one you recommended. Like I said, I haven’t actually tried it out yet other than trying it on and swinging a cue with it for a few seconds, so it’s too soon for me to know whether it will help.

My small dog accidentally bit me (my fault) on my bridge hand a few days ago and it swelled up badly, so it will be a few more days until I can try it out.

 

[GoldCrown]

Playing las week... I miss a fairly easy straight shot. Person I'm playing suggests it's the REVO low deflection shaft.
It was a solid wrist twist. It's worse than ever. Moved up to Obsession level.

 

[WobblyStroke]

Why strive to maintain a “ cupped” wrist angle
When you can strive to have a neutral angle?

A neutral hang will work quite nicely if your stance and grip are compatible with it such that the same relationship between hand and forearm can be maintained throughout the stroke. As I mentioned in an earlier post, the more square your stance, the more the hand will want to turn over naturally so a dead hang doesn't quite jive with that setup.

The issue with a neutral hang in general is that it is kinda smack dab in the middle of your range of motion so it can float around on you leading to feelings of instability. This is why most players--even those that claim to have a loose hanging grip--often have some form of stability added to the wrist by some sort of rotation/flexion/extension.

A 'cupped' position works as a compensation for a wrist curler as it presets the finish position that the hand wants to turn over into. Because you have preset the curled position that the stroke wants to end up in, there is no need for any movement during the actual execution of the stroke.

 

[ceebee]

I recently saw a video of my stroke from behind and I realized immediately I have a bad habit of twisting my wrist and cue butt inwards on the forestroke through the CB impact zone and follow through.

I’m thinking of ordering a wrist brace to try to prevent my wrist from turning either way through the follow through. My thoughts are to use it just during practice sessions, although there’s no reason I couldn’t use it all the time if it works.

Anyone have any thoughts on this or any experience having tried this to keep the wrist from twisting through the stroke? All opinions are welcomed - thanks.

I went through that problem (defined as motorcycle delivery), about 20 years ago & ended up modifying a bowling glove Brace. The solution was to get the feeling of control on the contained wrist, but not to freeze the whole forearm/ wrist, so it could do its job. I ended with a flat back hand/wrist forearm & a flexible wrist /fingers to hold the cue. DONE DEAL ..!

 

[middleofnowhere]

I recently saw a video of my stroke from behind and I realized immediately I have a bad habit of twisting my wrist and cue butt inwards on the forestroke through the CB impact zone and follow through.

I’m thinking of ordering a wrist brace to try to prevent my wrist from turning either way through the follow through. My thoughts are to use it just during practice sessions, although there’s no reason I couldn’t use it all the time if it works.

Anyone have any thoughts on this or any experience having tried this to keep the wrist from twisting through the stroke? All opinions are welcomed - thanks.

I'm going to tell you a short story for what it's worth. Back in the mid '70s I know a guy who used to come in the pool room pretty much every day. He wasn't that bad a player but he wasn't that good a player either. He love the play and gambled a bit.

One day I forget how it happened he breaks his left wrist on his stroking arm. And it's in a cast and he can't play. Long story short he's trying to play even though he probably shouldn't. He's just hitting balls very gently just rolling them around the table not really playing with anybody.

I have a feeling you already know where this is going. When the cast comes off he starts playing a lot more seriously and this guy is not the same player anymore. Whatever was wrong with his game was now fixed. It wasn't long and I'm not kidding he was one of the best players in the area. I just throw that out there for what it's worth.

 

[WobblyStroke]

I'm going to tell you a short story for what it's worth. Back in the mid '70s I know a guy who used to come in the pool room pretty much every day. He wasn't that bad a player but he wasn't that good a player either. He love the play and gambled a bit.

One day I forget how it happened he breaks his left wrist on his stroking arm. And it's in a cast and he can't play. Long story short he's trying to play even though he probably shouldn't. He's just hitting balls very gently just rolling them around the table not really playing with anybody.

I have a feeling you already know where this is going. When the cast comes off he starts playing a lot more seriously and this guy is not the same player anymore. Whatever was wrong with his game was now fixed. It wasn't long and I'm not kidding he was one of the best players in the area. I just throw that out there for what it's worth.

Pain is a powerful teacher.
Probably as much as the stability of the cast 'training' his wrist and forcing him into a setup suitable for a wrist forced into a given alignment, if this guy was playing with a cast, he was surely playing with a sore/tender wrist once it came off. Any extra action in the wrist would give him the type of negative feedback scientists working on lab rats lean on for learning--instant pain. Doesn't take long to run from pain and figure out how to at least minimize it. I mean, missing shots kinda 'hurts' but actual physical pain will refine your technique in a hurry.

 

[ChrisinNC]

A 'cupped' position works as a compensation for a wrist curler as it presets the finish position that the hand wants to turn over into. Because you have preset the curled position that the stroke wants to end up in, there is no need for any movement during the actual execution of the stroke.

This is some of the best advice and the best explanation I’ve heard here regarding wrist angles through the stroke, and it seems to be working very nicely for me - thanks

 

[GoldCrown]

What part of the brain as you are forward stroking to hit the cue says MAKE SURE YOU TWIST YOUR WRIST.
I had plenty of easy outs and did The Chubby Checker for an embarrassing miss several times

 

[ceebee]

Yes, I used a wrist brace one summer (see earlier post) & my motorcycle Grip went away. I had heard a similar story, about a damaged wrist, from one of our best players... He went from a 5 speed to a top 9 speed over the course of one summer, just by using a limited cast...

 

[GoldCrown]

Considering having the wrist fused or titanium rod inserted. 

 

[Tennesseejoe]

I doubt that a wrist brace would be your best solution. Video reviews of conscious efforts to correct stroke mechanic flaws is the way to go IMO.

I have found that, once identified, frequent video taping your stroke during play from the proper lens perspective --- in your case a video set up that reveals your wrist positions during the stroke- will help you to faster correct the flaw, if desired.

It will take some time, of course, however by constantly actually viewing your corrections; and consciously keeping your wrist straight and frequently viewing the progress , will truly help you make improvement strides through constant feedback and your resulting adjustment as needed .

No changes like this are easy, some take longer than others, but seeing the flaws and then seeing how you can adjust may help you more than attempting to force a wrist in a particular position with a brace.

I would guess that 95%+ of video instruction does not explore the hind view. This is where you can identify most of the irregular movement...and where you can make the most improvement.

 

[WobblyStroke]

I would guess that 95%+ of video instruction does not explore the hind view. This is where you can identify most of the irregular movement...and where you can make the most improvement.

That's an odd guess bud. It's not like it is a secret that you get the best look at grips/wrists from behind. Whenever I do a stroke analysis for someone, the view from behind is often most revealing. Surely more than 5% have stumbled onto this lol.

 

[ChrisinNC]

I would guess that 95%+ of video instruction does not explore the hind view. This is where you can identify most of the irregular movement...and where you can make the most improvement.

I’ve been using one for the last year all the time, including tournament play. It has helped my game, I don’t really care what people say. If anyone asks, I tell them I had a wrist injury.

 

[Tennesseejoe]

That's an odd guess bud. It's not like it is a secret that you get the best look at grips/wrists from behind. Whenever I do a stroke analysis for someone, the view from behind is often most revealing. Surely more than 5% have stumbled onto this lol.

Yes, I agree, we are both guessing...LOL