Balance Point and Hand Position
- Thread starter Wolven
- Start date
I find that the higher I stand up on a shot (chin up off the cue more) the closer my grip hand ends up to the balance point, lately I have been using more of a snooker head position with my chin on the cue and my hands have moved farther apart(grip hand almost at the end of my cue) to facilitate the proper body position and stroke motion.
Bern
Bern
I have recently switched from
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to
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and started to hold the cue just behind the balance point. I find this new way is working for me a lot better than holding the cue far back. I still get down over the cue low.
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to
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and started to hold the cue just behind the balance point. I find this new way is working for me a lot better than holding the cue far back. I still get down over the cue low.
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Wolven said:
Just so you know, the balance point of the cue has ZERO to do with the correct place to grip the cue (at least for an accurate, repeatable stroke). The 60 yr old adage of "find the balance point of the cue, and move two hands back" (found in Mosconi's book) is total b.s., unless you're 5'3", with short arms, like Mosconi.
Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com
I don't have a favorite, the balance point on the cue is where it is. I've never specified any cuemaker as to where I wanted it. I don't play that well
The balance point on my Dishaw is about 1 inch above the wrap, or a bit less.
I generally hold the cue 6-8 inches from the balance point. Someone told me a long, long, {ugh, I'm old} long time ago, that it depends on the shot. I personally think I hold the cue closer to the balance when playing Straight pool.
The balance point on my Dishaw is about 1 inch above the wrap, or a bit less.
I generally hold the cue 6-8 inches from the balance point. Someone told me a long, long, {ugh, I'm old} long time ago, that it depends on the shot. I personally think I hold the cue closer to the balance when playing Straight pool.
Scott Lee said:
FWIW -
Body type does effect grip hand placement, Willie was short of arm
compared to most men today, but, he was a LOT taller than 5' 3"
more like 5' 7' - 5' 8"<taller than Parica, about the ht of E Reyes>
Willie actually recomended 3 to 6 inches behind the Bal point.
IMHO this had more do do with his stance and stroke/style
than his height. Unlike so many players today who have their arm
perpendicular at the end of the forward stroke
<when they make contact with the CB>
Willie had his right arm 'perpendicular' at the end of his backstroke,
sometimes it is even a bit forward of that. Additionaly, Wilie usually stood much higher than today's players do.
Other things being equal, the longer your arms, and the lower you hold
your head - the farther back on the cue your shooting hand will be.
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For me, I vary somewhat depending on the cue wt/bal/length etc.
My feeling is if you take your normal stance - the cue will tell you
where to hold it
Dale
I have no clue why Mosconi wrote what he wrote.
But from watching him on tape, he had a slipstroke.
He would hold the cue past perpendicular ( his forearm) then he slid his hand back then shot.
But from watching him on tape, he had a slipstroke.
He would hold the cue past perpendicular ( his forearm) then he slid his hand back then shot.
Wolven said:
18" Richard Black
17 1/2" Harvey Martin
A tip on grip diameter...hold your gripping hand out and let the thumb and index finger position find their *natural* position. That measurement should determine whether you're better off with a thin or thick butt. Most do better with a thin butt diameter.
Where one grips the cue has a lot to do with their stroke. A slipstroke player will often grip at or just behind the BP. Also, most 14-1, eight ball and one pocket players will grip the ball forward, as apposed to natural short rack players who often grip from the rear of the butt.
I don't think so
What tape is that?
I haven't reviewed anything from the 'Lengends' matches, but,
rest assured - Willie did not use a slipstroke - certainly not while he
played in the style like his competive career.
Even in the 1984 instructional tape, decades after his playing days,
he still shot with that hand-forward style and he does not
slide it back before shooting.
I'm not quite ready to bet my life that he never, ever slid has hand back
on even one single pool shot, but I saw him play in person<exhibitions>
on 4 different occasions, never saw a slipstroke, and believe me, I was
looking, prolly WAY too hard.
FWIW - the tape also documents bad news for those who propose
you should never move your upper arm.
Dale
JoeyInCali said:
What tape is that?
I haven't reviewed anything from the 'Lengends' matches, but,
rest assured - Willie did not use a slipstroke - certainly not while he
played in the style like his competive career.
Even in the 1984 instructional tape, decades after his playing days,
he still shot with that hand-forward style and he does not
slide it back before shooting.
I'm not quite ready to bet my life that he never, ever slid has hand back
on even one single pool shot, but I saw him play in person<exhibitions>
on 4 different occasions, never saw a slipstroke, and believe me, I was
looking, prolly WAY too hard.
FWIW - the tape also documents bad news for those who propose
you should never move your upper arm.
Dale
Scott and Doomcue are both dead on. Where you grip your cue is a matter of your personal physical stature. If you change your bridge distance, you must change your grip position by the same amount. I don't think I have ever checked where the balance point is on my cue. If your grip hand is directly below your elbow when you make contact with the cue ball, you are gripping it in the right place.
Steve
Steve
Thanks everyone for input.
A couple of comments.
I believe that balance point does have a lot to do with the feel of the cue. All cues have a sweet spot and feel better if you hold it there. Normally the hand will travel and you will tend to grip in a different spot depending on the shot, how much you have to stretch etc.
I have 3 cues with balance points 17, 18, 19 inches. The 17 inch balance point feels better than the one with 18, to me anyway. The one with 19inch is a break cue so it doesn’t count.
When addressing the ball with tip 1 cm away if your hand is not directly below elbow but forward it is still a very valid way of shooting.
Thanks
A couple of comments.
I believe that balance point does have a lot to do with the feel of the cue. All cues have a sweet spot and feel better if you hold it there. Normally the hand will travel and you will tend to grip in a different spot depending on the shot, how much you have to stretch etc.
I have 3 cues with balance points 17, 18, 19 inches. The 17 inch balance point feels better than the one with 18, to me anyway. The one with 19inch is a break cue so it doesn’t count.
When addressing the ball with tip 1 cm away if your hand is not directly below elbow but forward it is still a very valid way of shooting.
Thanks
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Balance point has nothing to do with where the grip hand goes. I like the balance point 1 to 3 inches ahead of the wrap, I find this keeps the weight between the hands and doesn't mess up my balance over the shot.
Generally, your forearm should be nearly perpendicular to the cue at contact. This gives you room to move through the stroke without throwing you off balance, enabling you to be still. Small variations are made to grip position, i.e. forward some for delicate shots, back alittle for power. good luck.
Generally, your forearm should be nearly perpendicular to the cue at contact. This gives you room to move through the stroke without throwing you off balance, enabling you to be still. Small variations are made to grip position, i.e. forward some for delicate shots, back alittle for power. good luck.
pdcue said:
Not the one-and-only place...but for the vast majority...it is the best place. I'm not going to say that the style of Mosconi or Lasiter is wrong...but can only wonder if a small change might have made them even better than they were.
Steve