Can a smooth stroke be taught? How?

whitewolf

whitewolf

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
I have an APA team member who has been playing for 2 years only and who is now an SL5 in 8 ball and in 9 ball.

He practices every day (hasn't reached the million balls yet LOL).

His grip is loose and he absolutely drills straight in shots, no matter how long. He shoots a little too hard most of the time.

But everyone, including me, has told him that his stroke looks too mechanical, not quite like Herman Munster, but you know what I mean.

I suggested that BCA instructors could give him a lesson, but he is not too excited with this presently.

So the only thing I could think of was for him to practice shooting softly and more softly, which would hopefully make his stroke accelerate more smoothly through the ball to get where he wanted to get.

So, (1) Do you think a smooth stroke can be taught?

and (2) If so, then how?

My friend is in Vegas now playing in the APA 9 balls team matches, so I told him I would be getting back to him next week.

Thanks in advance for your help.

WW
 
whitewolf said:
I have an APA team member who has been playing for 2 years only and who is now an SL5 in 8 ball and in 9 ball.

He practices every day (hasn't reached the million balls yet LOL).

His grip is loose and he absolutely drills straight in shots, no matter how long. He shoots a little too hard most of the time.

But everyone, including me, has told him that his stroke looks too mechanical, not quite like Herman Munster, but you know what I mean.

I suggested that BCA instructors could give him a lesson, but he is not too excited with this presently.

So the only thing I could think of was for him to practice shooting softly and more softly, which would hopefully make his stroke accelerate more smoothly through the ball to get where he wanted to get.

So, (1) Do you think a smooth stroke can be taught?

and (2) If so, then how?

My friend is in Vegas now playing in the APA 9 balls team matches, so I told him I would be getting back to him next week.

Thanks in advance for your help.

WW
Click to expand...

Yes, absolutely it can.
I would suggest one of Randy G's roving schools, but if he balks at a BCA instructor; he'd probably never consider a week of pool school.
 
just wondering, but how do you know his shortcomings in the game are due to his stroke being 'too mechanical'?
 
You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him drink!

Anyway try to get him to practice the half ball hit safety. This is when an object ball is near a rail and you hit slowly aiming slightly away from half of the object ball. If done correctly the cue ball and object ball will come back off the rail the same distance. If hitting the object ball on the right side, the object ball would block your opponent's shots to the left as it is blocking the cue ball.

Also do the following "Bank stroke practice" drills. You are just shooting one ball at the rail and getting it to come back into a pocket. And doing this at different angles. This is a really good speed/stroke fixer because different speeds will make the ball come off the rail at a different angle. And if you impart any english on the ball, you will not consistently pocket balls as it will change the direction it comes off the rail. The only thing which works consistently is hitting with the same speed, hitting cue ball on same spot, following through, and leaving the tip of your cue pointing at where you were aiming after hitting the ball.

If you hit the ball and fling your cue up in the air up to the right, it will put a right spin on the ball and change the direction. Or if not hitting the cue ball in the same spot consistently, the ball will go all over the place.

http://www.geocities.com/billybobnospam/basic_daily_practice.html
 
Motivating him to learn will be easier than teaching him.

Ask him for a $20 bill. Put it on the head spot. Tell him to put the cue ball atop the $20 and bank the cue ball off the foot rail. Tell him that when the cue ball stops on the bill he can have it back. If doesn't make it in 100 shots, the $20 is yours.

Now go have a couple of beers. I've seen this take 15 to 90 minutes.

My 15 year-old son can do it in three attempts these days.
 
I find that the easiest way to soften and smooth your stroke is to play straight pool. You don't want the cue running around the table, so everything has to flow pretty smoothly.
 
Dhakala said:
Motivating him to learn will be easier than teaching him.

Ask him for a $20 bill. Put it on the head spot. Tell him to put the cue ball atop the $20 and bank the cue ball off the foot rail. Tell him that when the cue ball stops on the bill he can have it back. If doesn't make it in 100 shots, the $20 is yours.

Now go have a couple of beers. I've seen this take 15 to 90 minutes.

My 15 year-old son can do it in three attempts these days.
Click to expand...


That is very good. I have friend I can use this with. Thank you
 
CaptainJR said:
That is very good. I have friend I can use this with. Thank you
Click to expand...

I almost forgot: occasionally, you'll get argument about whether the cue ball is stopped "on" the bill. Make it plain up front that if you can blow the bill out from "under" the ball, the ball is not "on" it.
 
This is what helped me more than anything else. Get a liquor bottle about
1L size, and have him stroke into the neck of the bottle. gently tapping the back of the bottle. If he doesn't slow down his stroke, he will shave off the edges of his tip.

This has the added benefit of giving you an absolutely straight stroke. Keep in mind, there is some elbow drop involved at the end of the stroke, so if you do not want to go this route, ignore what I said.

Russ
 
Dhakala said:
Motivating him to learn will be easier than teaching him.

Ask him for a $20 bill. Put it on the head spot. Tell him to put the cue ball atop the $20 and bank the cue ball off the foot rail. Tell him that when the cue ball stops on the bill he can have it back. If doesn't make it in 100 shots, the $20 is yours.

Now go have a couple of beers. I've seen this take 15 to 90 minutes.

My 15 year-old son can do it in three attempts these days.
Click to expand...

Have him gamble with him up against his own money? Brilliant!
 
whitewolf said:
I have an APA team member who has been playing for 2 years only and who is now an SL5 in 8 ball and in 9 ball.

He practices every day (hasn't reached the million balls yet LOL).

His grip is loose and he absolutely drills straight in shots, no matter how long. He shoots a little too hard most of the time.

But everyone, including me, has told him that his stroke looks too mechanical, not quite like Herman Munster, but you know what I mean.

I suggested that BCA instructors could give him a lesson, but he is not too excited with this presently.

So the only thing I could think of was for him to practice shooting softly and more softly, which would hopefully make his stroke accelerate more smoothly through the ball to get where he wanted to get.

So, (1) Do you think a smooth stroke can be taught?

and (2) If so, then how?

My friend is in Vegas now playing in the APA 9 balls team matches, so I told him I would be getting back to him next week.

Thanks in advance for your help.

WW
Click to expand...

So he's drilling them straight in...no matter how far. And you want to change this??? I think he needs to work on speed control, but if he's executing like that I wouldn't change a thing. I know lots of guys with real fancy, silky strokes who can't run 4 balls.
 
Smooth Stroke

Yes, absolutely it can.
I would suggest one of Randy G's roving schools, but if he balks at a BCA instructor; he'd probably never consider a week of pool school.
Click to expand...


I totally agreee, listen to the man!!!!!
 
I think this is a ditto from some.
A smooth stroke certainly can be taught but the student must want to learn. If you try to make him wrong he will never take your advice. One of the things about humans is that they are always right and want to prove others wrong. Therefore most people think their way is right or they'll say "I've tried that before and it didn't work for me, my way works." So the conversation needs to be in a way that he feels he found the problem on his own and seeks expert help on his own. Like was said before "You can lead a horse to water" So don't try to force him to drink. Show him why he needs to drink.
 
This thread goes along with others about golf and putting. i don't care how it gets there, as long as it gets there. You ever see ChiChi Rodriguez putt?:D

gerry
 
Russ Chewning said:
This is what helped me more than anything else. Get a liquor bottle about
1L size, and have him stroke into the neck of the bottle. gently tapping the back of the bottle. If he doesn't slow down his stroke, he will shave off the edges of his tip.

This has the added benefit of giving you an absolutely straight stroke. Keep in mind, there is some elbow drop involved at the end of the stroke, so if you do not want to go this route, ignore what I said.

Russ
Click to expand...

I use to practice stroking through a ring. I would stroke my whole ferrule through it. Then I would look ahead and keep stroking without looking at the ring. I suggested this to someone on here once and was scolded by other posters pretty hard that, that wouldn't straighten his stroke and that he needs an instructer. I don't know. It helped me out. If I was hitting the ring as I went through I just changed something untill....vualla. I wasn't hitting it and my stroke was straight as an arrow. I guess if you dont have any evaluation skills than maybe an instructer is needed but surely one can figure it out over time. IMHO there are way to many instructer trigger happy people on this forum.:)
Can't stroke straight- go see an instructer
Can't make a cut- go see an instructer
Can't get my speed down- you need an instructer dude:eek:
Can't tie my shoe- go get an instructer
 
Harvywallbanger said:
I use to practice stroking through a ring. I would stroke my whole ferrule through it. Then I would look ahead and keep stroking without looking at the ring. I suggested this to someone on here once and was scolded by other posters pretty hard that, that wouldn't straighten his stroke and that he needs an instructer. I don't know. It helped me out. If I was hitting the ring as I went through I just changed something untill....vualla. I wasn't hitting it and my stroke was straight as an arrow. I guess if you dont have any evaluation skills than maybe an instructer is needed but surely one can figure it out over time. IMHO there are way to many instructer trigger happy people on this forum.:)
Can't stroke straight- go see an instructer
Can't make a cut- go see an instructer
Can't get my speed down- you need an instructer dude:eek:
Can't tie my shoe- go get an instructer
Click to expand...
So we meet again. And now I understand where you stand.

Instructors can only help if someone wants it and the only thing they're good for is to speed up the learning curve. We all know more than we're able to execute but it's impossible to watch yourself and see the flaws in our game. So if someone doesn't want instruction and absolutely knows how it's done then set up a video camera and film yourself.

I guess I am trigger happy for instruction. There's 2 things I realize. I only know what I know and second most professionals in any sport have coaches even if they're the best in the world ie Tiger Woods.
 
skins said:
stoke is very over rated.... proof? two words: Allen Hopkins
Click to expand...

Hopkins has perfect mechanics and can do anything with the cueball he needs to. His backswing is typically short, no doubt, but he goes through the ball beautifully. He also has a strong and controlled break. So what's not to like?
 
well put! I've had the pleasure to watch Allen play quite a bit, and he plays the tightest, close position 14.1 patterns I've ever seen.

Gerry
 
Russ Chewning said:
This is what helped me more than anything else. Get a liquor bottle about
1L size, and have him stroke into the neck of the bottle. gently tapping the back of the bottle. If he doesn't slow down his stroke, he will shave off the edges of his tip.

This has the added benefit of giving you an absolutely straight stroke. Keep in mind, there is some elbow drop involved at the end of the stroke, so if you do not want to go this route, ignore what I said.

Russ
Click to expand...

What's wrong with a bit of elbow drop?? Certain shots require it.

Flex
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top