Are lefty pool players really that uncommon? What's so special about them?

I'm pretty close to being as true of an ambidextrous pool player as you can get.

With that said, I write right-handed. Do most everything in the world right-handed, except shoot pool, a gun or a bow....which I do left-handed, but I can aaaaaalmost perform just as well right-handed, whenever I switch over for the heck of it.

I shoot pool left-handed primarily. However, if a right-handed shot comes up, I don't think anything about it and I immediately switch over to a righty. In actuality, I visually see things better from the righty point of view, as I'm over the table, but I have tons more experience as a lefty player.

When I shoot left-handed in pool, I have to close my left eye and only use my right one. It's a messed up eye disorder that I have that causes me to see double, if my head is put in a certain angle.....which happens to occur when I'm hittin' 'em from the left side.

When I shoot right-handed in pool, I can keep both eyes open and see crystal clear.

I break left-handed.

I use a mechanical bridge as a righty.

I dart stroke as a righty.

I jump as a righty.

Now that I look at it.....maybe I am strange.

FWIW, my first 2-pack I ever put together was right-handed. It wasn't long after that where I did it left-handed.

I'm still stuck on a 2-pack as my career best. Lol. And yes, lefties have the smoothest strokes. ;)
 
Kadillac said:
Are lefty pool players really that uncommon? What's so special about them?
Click to expand...

Left-handed people are often noted for being extremely intelligent and creative, both of which are essential to pool.

PS: I also have fantastic hair.



.
 
Don't see or play many lefties at my main room of choice, but I can say that for some reason, female lefties are HOT.
 
Shoot Pool: Lefty
Shoot Righty while holding bridge in left hand.
Throw Baseballs/Darts/Bowling: Righty
Eat: Righty, but Lefty when eating steak, Righty holds the knife?
Writing: Righty
Pull Trigger: Lefty
Left eye dominant.

Artistically inclined: Yes
Moody: Very
Likes: 8ball breaks and Long walks on the beach.
Dislikes: Nits' and Wolf Tickets.

As a child playing on the family table I remember being able to play right or left. One day I couldn't. Every day after that the motor memory felt unnatural.

Hmmm, interesting. I jump Lefty, I'm going to try the dart jump stroke Righty.

Cheers.
 
I am curious about the eye dominance of the I-do-everything-on-one-side-except-deliver-projectiles crowd. Is your dominant eye on the same side as your throwing/stroking/trigger hand?
 
Slow Eddie said:
I am curious about the eye dominance of the I-do-everything-on-one-side-except-deliver-projectiles crowd. Is your dominant eye on the same side as your throwing/stroking/trigger hand?
Click to expand...


I see plenty of left eye dominant guys at the range shooting righty. And don't forget about Niels :)
 
Mike Sigel does everything in his life right handed, except pool he plays lefty, it is weird, but he plays excellent that way. I guess it's all in the mind of the person when he first wants to shoot, maybe he started thinking that he's right handed therefore he needs to put his right hand bridge over the table, for me there's no other explanation than this. but it works out for them, as for if it's different, better? or worst? I don't think so, it has no advantage or disadvantage whatsoever, I think either way is good as long as you get used to shooting that way.

But here's a question that I have, when you go out to shoot in a gunshot, do you use your right hand or left hand for the trigger, and do you put the shotgun on your left shoulder or right shoulder? I always wanted to ask this to Siegel.
 
Kadillac said:
I am right handed. I write, eat, throw, do everything right handed...except play pool and shoot a gun. I am a lefty shooter. I'm as awkward as a fish out of water if I try to shoot right handed. I don't know why I naturally shoot left handed. It's a weird deal. I have no idea why, but people always seem to be fascinated that I am a lefty shooter, like it's some special thing. What's the deal with the fascination? :rolleyes:
Click to expand...

Everyone knows that left-handed people are... sinister. :grin-devilish:
 
I never got it either. Someone will see me writing and suddenly jump up and say "OH HEY! You're a lefty! My aunt's a lefty too! Cool!"

There's like 30,000,000 lefties in the US alone. It's about as rare as red hair. Not sure why anyone would make a production out of it. Not sure why it's cool either, it's mostly a pain in the ass. Every check I write or form I fill in is smeared.
 
right handed lefty

Add me to the list of right handed people who shoot pool lefty. Looks like there are alot more of us out there than one might think.
 
Ghosst said:
Left-handed people are often noted for being extremely intelligent and creative, both of which are essential to pool.
.
Click to expand...

More specifically, the right side of the brain, which primarily controls the actions of the left side of the body, is known to house the " creative center" of the mind. The place where ideas and concepts are both created and realized.

I included the word " realized ", (which could just as easily have been the word "understood") because realization also involves, to a great extent, the ability to visualize, and the recognition of patterns, both of which are absolutely crucial in pool.

Left handed people are naturally more inclined to tap into those abilities, but by no means are they the only ones who can and do. There are specific things you can practice to help get your right brain involved.
 
I put a rifle on my left shoulder, and I pull the trigger with my left hand. Now, handguns are a different story. I can't even explain the goofy way I shoot a handgun. Ha! I also pull back on a bow with my left hand.

asbani said:
Mike Sigel does everything in his life right handed, except pool he plays lefty, it is weird, but he plays excellent that way. I guess it's all in the mind of the person when he first wants to shoot, maybe he started thinking that he's right handed therefore he needs to put his right hand bridge over the table, for me there's no other explanation than this. but it works out for them, as for if it's different, better? or worst? I don't think so, it has no advantage or disadvantage whatsoever, I think either way is good as long as you get used to shooting that way.

But here's a question that I have, when you go out to shoot in a gunshot, do you use your right hand or left hand for the trigger, and do you put the shotgun on your left shoulder or right shoulder? I always wanted to ask this to Siegel.
Click to expand...
 
I am left eye dominant. I throw with my right hand, though. I literally only shoot pool, a gun and a bow left handed.

Slow Eddie said:
I am curious about the eye dominance of the I-do-everything-on-one-side-except-deliver-projectiles crowd. Is your dominant eye on the same side as your throwing/stroking/trigger hand?
Click to expand...
 
sjm said:
Makes no sense at all. The best player of the last 35 years, Mike Sigel, shot lefty. The only fascinating thing about Mike was his skill.
Click to expand...

I think he was the only one that was actually right-handed, but played pool left handed.

I don't know of any others like that. There are quite a few good left handed pool players but I don't know any aside from Mike that are right-handed normally.
 
I am kinda ambidextrous, I can bat and golf equally lefty or righty, write lefty, kick righty but waterski and skateboard lefty or both, just prefer lefty. Pool and throw righty, I am a total putz if I try either lefty, go figure.:confused:
 
I take back my previous answer. I have been sitting here doing the "dominant eye test" over and over, and I don't think I have a dominant eye! Weird! Objects jump equally to the (opposite) sides no matter which eye I use.

asbani said:
Mike Sigel does everything in his life right handed, except pool he plays lefty, it is weird, but he plays excellent that way. I guess it's all in the mind of the person when he first wants to shoot, maybe he started thinking that he's right handed therefore he needs to put his right hand bridge over the table, for me there's no other explanation than this. but it works out for them, as for if it's different, better? or worst? I don't think so, it has no advantage or disadvantage whatsoever, I think either way is good as long as you get used to shooting that way.

But here's a question that I have, when you go out to shoot in a gunshot, do you use your right hand or left hand for the trigger, and do you put the shotgun on your left shoulder or right shoulder? I always wanted to ask this to Siegel.
Click to expand...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top