Can someone please critique my stroke?

pmata814

pmata814

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
I've been working on my stroke and I was hoping someone would be kind enough to look at some short videos and give me some tips and confirm if i'm headed in the right direction.

I purchased Randy & Scott Lee's video and also read quite a bit of literature including some of Capelle's books and Martin's Critical shots. Anyways here are the Vids:

Long Straigh-in Stop Shot
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yJMEFxQzRWM

Follow shot
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lJrZhGwX4Kw

Draw shot
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NVmerEeIWIs

I hope I did this right. I've never posted videos before.

A million thanks in advance!!

P.S.
I made 8/10 stop shots
9/10 draw shots
6/10 follow shots (don't know why struggle so much more with the follow, maybe because it's open bridge)

(I had posted this in the 'ask the instructor' forum but after posting it ocurred to me there is a lot more traffic here so I reposted. Hope it's ok.)
 
pmata814 said:
I've been working on my stroke and I was hoping someone would be kind enough to look at some short videos and give me some tips and confirm if i'm headed in the right direction.

I purchased Randy & Scott Lee's video and also read quite a bit of literature including some of Capelle's books and Martin's Critical shots. Anyways here are the Vids:

Long Straigh-in Stop Shot
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yJMEFxQzRWM

Follow shot
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lJrZhGwX4Kw

Draw shot
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NVmerEeIWIs

I hope I did this right. I've never posted videos before.

A million thanks in advance!!

P.S.
I made 8/10 stop shots
9/10 draw shots
6/10 follow shots (don't know why struggle so much more with the follow, maybe because it's open bridge)

(I had posted this in the 'ask the instructor' forum but after posting it ocurred to me there is a lot more traffic here so I reposted. Hope it's ok.)
Click to expand...

Your stroke is just fine,your doing everthing right.
Ray Martin
 
The only thing I can see is you tend to lift up slightly as you are following through. Other than that everything looks good. Keep it up.
 
For the most part all is pretty good, I would prefer to have a little slower transition from back swing to forward motion, you could slow the backswing down a little and add a pause, makes for a smoother transition. In keeping with that line of thinking, on the follow shot you missed it looked like you looked at the pocket just as you were stroking, hard to tell from the video angle. If you give yourself a little more time at the back it allows you to get your eyes off the cue ball and fixed on the object ball.
 
ghostball said:
Your stroke is just fine,your doing everthing right.
Ray Martin
Click to expand...

Thank you very much for your reply and forgive me for asking, but are you THE Ray Martin, as in the author? or just a coincidence? Not that I would value your opinion any less :thumbup:

Either way, I greatly appreciate you taking the time to see my vids and replying.
 
lukemindish said:
The only thing I can see is you tend to lift up slightly as you are following through. Other than that everything looks good. Keep it up.
Click to expand...

Slasher said:
For the most part all is pretty good, I would prefer to have a little slower transition from back swing to forward motion, you could slow the backswing down a little and add a pause, makes for a smoother transition. In keeping with that line of thinking, on the follow shot you missed it looked like you looked at the pocket just as you were stroking, hard to tell from the video angle. If you give yourself a little more time at the back it allows you to get your eyes off the cue ball and fixed on the object ball.
Click to expand...

Thank you so much for the replys. Luke: I'll try to work on that. Thanks!

Slasher: I've actually experimented with a pause at the end of the final backswing but I feel it really disrupts my rhythm. But you make a great point about it giving me more time to switch my eyes to the OB. Maybe I should train myself to make that pause? I'm going to keep working on that. Thanks again.
 
pmata814 said:
Thank you very much for your reply and forgive me for asking, but are you THE Ray Martin, as in the author? or just a coincidence? Not that I would value your opinion any less :thumbup:

Either way, I greatly appreciate you taking the time to see my vids and replying.
Click to expand...

pmata,

He is THE Ray Martin...:cool:

Best,
Mike
 
You're doing just fine.

I practice all those shots myself and one thing that dawned on me a while back was how much time I was wasting tracking down the cue ball. Now I know that it's not good to get going too fast but one thing that I have been doing for a while now is instead of tracking down the cue ball and returning it back to the starting place, I go ahead and shoot with an object ball. Takes a little getting used to but after that it really speeds up your practice time.

I realize a lot of guys don't like doing this for one reason or another. One reason would be they don't like scuffing up a nice set of balls. So I have practice balls for that.

Anyway, my thinking is - if I can double the number of balls I pocket during a practice session without actually hurrying myself up than that can only be a good thing.

Take it or leave.

As far as your stroke is concerned - I think you're looking pretty good.
 
pmata814 said:
Thank you so much for the replys. Luke: I'll try to work on that. Thanks!

Slasher: I've actually experimented with a pause at the end of the final backswing but I feel it really disrupts my rhythm. But you make a great point about it giving me more time to switch my eyes to the OB. Maybe I should train myself to make that pause? I'm going to keep working on that. Thanks again.
Click to expand...

That happens alot with people trying to add a pause, it does not have to be a "waiting for a #9 bus" kind of pause just enough to smooth out the transition. Mine is very short BTW.

heres two examples

Short
http://youtu.be/_MuILFqP2e0

Long
http://youtu.be/MAszIEdIlSk
 
Last edited:
observations on stroke.

It looks ok. Try to lower your elbow (stroking arm). Keep your head down and do not move your body at all until the cue ball comes to a complete rest. In the videos it appears that you are "jumping up" or breaking form before the shot is executed. This can be habit forming and will not benefit your game in anyway. Set yourself, aim, stroke, aim, stroke, shoot, (don't move until the cue ball is at rest -repeat.
Good luck,
Crazysnake
 
pmata814 said:
I've been working on my stroke and I was hoping someone would be kind enough to look at some short videos and give me some tips and confirm if i'm headed in the right direction.

I purchased Randy & Scott Lee's video and also read quite a bit of literature including some of Capelle's books and Martin's Critical shots. Anyways here are the Vids:

Long Straigh-in Stop Shot
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yJMEFxQzRWM

Follow shot
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lJrZhGwX4Kw

Draw shot
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NVmerEeIWIs

I hope I did this right. I've never posted videos before.

A million thanks in advance!!

P.S.
I made 8/10 stop shots
9/10 draw shots
6/10 follow shots (don't know why struggle so much more with the follow, maybe because it's open bridge)

(I had posted this in the 'ask the instructor' forum but after posting it ocurred to me there is a lot more traffic here so I reposted. Hope it's ok.)
Click to expand...


you look very good imo

arm 90 degrees to the floor, very good feet position, holding the cue well. grip could maybe stand for a little more in your fingers to promote a more wristy swinging motion which in turn help your striking, stroking motion

a couple of things I should add, on the follow shots your butt should be lowered somewhat imo. you had the same stick angle as your draw shots but I think you should try and lower the butt, which would make it easier to strike the top of ball

:wink: when your budget permits, regardless of space restrictions, maybe get a better 9 ft table and ditch the red cloth :)

nice of Ray Martin to comment as well. you bought his book, he acknowledged. in my opinion though he is a player before an author

overall you do look like you're on your way to better pool. you're on the right track

all of the above is only my opinion

Billy
 
I would really like to give a huge thanks to everyone for taking the time to view my videos and offer suggestions. I'm extremely happy to know I'm heading in the right direction and I look forward to start trying some of the suggestions.

Also, it was super cool to have Ray Martin comment on my stroke! :D thank you! And for the record, I LOVE your book.

Sent from my BlackBerry 9780 using Tapatalk
 
pmata814 said:
Thank you very much for your reply and forgive me for asking, but are you THE Ray Martin, as in the author? or just a coincidence? Not that I would value your opinion any less :thumbup:

Either way, I greatly appreciate you taking the time to see my vids and replying.
Click to expand...

Yes i am the same Ray Martin that wrote the book 99 critical shots in pool.
Ray Martin
 
billy said:
you look very good imo

arm 90 degrees to the floor, very good feet position, holding the cue well. grip could maybe stand for a little more in your fingers to promote a more wristy swinging motion which in turn help your striking, stroking motion

a couple of things I should add, on the follow shots your butt should be lowered somewhat imo. you had the same stick angle as your draw shots but I think you should try and lower the butt, which would make it easier to strike the top of ball

:wink: when your budget permits, regardless of space restrictions, maybe get a better 9 ft table and ditch the red cloth :)

nice of Ray Martin to comment as well. you bought his book, he acknowledged. in my opinion though he is a player before an author

overall you do look like you're on your way to better pool. you're on the right track

all of the above is only my opinion

Billy
Click to expand...

I agree that your cue's butt could be lowered a bit more to have a more level stroke. Otherwise, you are on your way.

Have a great journey!
 
you seem way too stiff when you approach the shot. and you look like you're poking or jabbing at the ball more than stroking the shot
 
Other than the very good advice that is already offered, I would humbly suggest a bit longer backswing, both in terms of time and length...
This could be achieved by moving your grip just a bit towards the joint.
It could provide more smoothness to the final stroke...
 
few ideas

1) you grip the cue with a closed hand, loosen your fingers. 2nd knuckle from the fingertip is at the bottom of the cue, 4th and 5th fingers aren't even closed.
2) try to level the cue stick whenever possible, when shooting downward on long shots you create masse on CB and throw on OB
3) loosen your wrist. Not seeing your wrist snap at all. you need a fluid wrist motion to get all you can out of your stroke.

You seem pretty tall and have a wide span between your hands on the cue. consider going to a 59 or 60 inch cue, I play 59 and it makes a big difference for me.

Your stance is good and you seem to get down and stay down. Whether that holds up after 10 hours of play, who knows.

So much to learn in this game. You only get better by turning weaknessesinto strengths. Enjoy the journey.
 
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