can't play without elbow drop!

JoeyInCali said:
The pump stroke I see is their practice stroke. On the last stroke, I see slow pull and smooth follow.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TH3u5KbyXOc
Davenport has the smoothest follow I saw in person outside of Hall and Souquet.

Interesting video.

At about 3:19 in it, Davenport shoots with that beautiful, smooth stroke, and drops his elbow about 5 inches, from what I could tell.

I find it instructive to watch the way top players do things. In one of Kim's shots, he shoots and twitches his closed bridge hand while the shot goes off, and ends with the tip of the cue going up, apparently putting a specific kind of english to pot the ball and get shape for the next one, which he did just fine.

There's so much to be learned by watching these top pros.

While I certainly respect the instructors who post here and who I know personally, it's always useful, IMHO, to observe how top players actually do things that go against the nostrums of some.

Flex
 
Flex said:
Interesting video.

At about 3:19 in it, Davenport shoots with that beautiful, smooth stroke, and drops his elbow about 5 inches, from what I could tell.

I find it instructive to watch the way top players do things. In one of Kim's shots, he shoots and twitches his closed bridge hand while the shot goes off, and ends with the tip of the cue going up, apparently putting a specific kind of english to pot the ball and get shape for the next one, which he did just fine.

There's so much to be learned by watching these top pros.

While I certainly respect the instructors who post here and who I know personally, it's always useful, IMHO, to observe how top players actually do things that go against the nostrums of some.

Flex
I heard Buddy Hall stole your stroke.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xsHAG8YrXG8
Close your eyes when Keith shoots.
 
JoeyInCali said:
I heard Buddy Hall stole your stroke.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xsHAG8YrXG8
Close your eyes when Keith shoots.

I sure wish I could play like Buddy...

At 32:57 Buddy shoots a long kick shot with top left and does his cue go up at the end or what?

At 35:23 Buddy shoots a medium speed shot with follow and drops his elbow about 5 inches. He makes the shot.

At 38:02, Buddy shoots a relatively soft shot potting the 9 and his elbow drops 3 inches or so.

Looks like he has the elbow drop basically incorporated into his style, at least from what I can tell in this match.
 
mullyman said:
Personally, I would think that your follow through should be as long as it is natural for *you*. I wouldn't put much thought into specific 6 inches or 10 inches etc... A good follow through, in my opinion, should go as far as it can naturally go. If you stop it short or push it longer than you are using muscles that you shouldn't be using while stroking your cue.
MULLY

ding, ding, ding, ding, ding, ding,ding!!!!!:thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:

Good Answer!!!!

Steve
 
Mr. T says.................

f_mrtm_0a29562.jpg


You drop your elbow and I'll start dropping my elbow. I pity the fool. Yeah.


Credits:

We'd like to thank azb for sponsoring mr. t's appearance.
 
SpiderWebComm said:
f_mrtm_0a29562.jpg


You drop your elbow and I'll start dropping my elbow. I pity the fool. Yeah.


Credits:

We'd like to thank azb for sponsoring mr. t's appearance.

In this video of yours, http://www.poolvids.com/view/52/throwing-your-cue/

at 3:38 you really drop your elbow when demonstrating the throwing the cue technique; at other times in the video you don't. Hmmm....:scratchhead: :scratchhead:

In this other video of yours, http://www.poolvids.com/view/62/bridge-pivot-vs-body-pivot/ at 1:58 when you demonstrate the cue pivoting technique, you drop your elbow big time.... Sheesh.

Can't figger this out.

Flex
 
Flex said:
In this video of yours, http://www.poolvids.com/view/52/throwing-your-cue/

at 3:38 you really drop your elbow when demonstrating the throwing the cue technique; at other times in the video you don't. Hmmm....:scratchhead: :scratchhead:

In this other video of yours, http://www.poolvids.com/view/62/bridge-pivot-vs-body-pivot/ at 1:58 when you demonstrate the cue pivoting technique, you drop your elbow big time.... Sheesh.

Can't figger this out.

Flex

I dont think anyone truly has a perfect still elbow. Whenever I drop my elbow, it's after contact - the cb is already on it's way. I also think what you're trying to do with the shot affects it as well. If my elbow drops when throwing the cue, it's mostly because I'm tucking my hand up to my chest after the cue is on it's way. That pivot video is a terrible example. My hand was going for a ride when I was doing that - it's not how I play.

edit:
There's a big difference between your elbow dropping an inch or two from the momentum of your swing after contact is made and "collapsing" your elbow during follow-through. That's what I consider dropping your elbow.

Everything I learned from pool, I learned from Mr. T.
 
Last edited:
Flex said:
Interesting video.

At about 3:19 in it, Davenport shoots with that beautiful, smooth stroke, and drops his elbow about 5 inches, from what I could tell.


Flex
The irony here is he doesn't stay down on the shot, making it look like a lot of elbow drop. IMHO elbow drop is a natural part of follow through. I tried shooting with no elbow drop. Guess what happens? I whack my chin every time. LOLz. Forget everything and just make sure you stroke your cue straight and true.
 
Johnnyz86 said:
so i've been trying to rework a lot of my fundamentals. my stance, pre-shot routine, only using the bicep, pause before final stroke, etc. helped out (although not at first) but the one thing i cannot change and get working better even after months is elbow drop.

i feel like it takes away from me trying to have a perfect follow through which messes up my shot. i can't do long stop shots at all compared to just concentrating on the follow through.

any advice?

the reason i want to do this is because i feel like it would help my consistancy. all it has done for months is make me consistantly worse! and i've stuck with it and lost matches too!

Louie Roberts had a little elbow drop. Most would agree it's better not to have it but there are a few who make it work.
 
Craig Fales said:
The irony here is he doesn't stay down on the shot, making it look like a lot of elbow drop. IMHO elbow drop is a natural part of follow through. I tried shooting with no elbow drop. Guess what happens? I whack my chin every time. LOLz. Forget everything and just make sure you stroke your cue straight and true.

But if you whack your chin the SAME WAY every time, you're good to go ;-)

That particular shot by Davenport is not a good example because he's worried about the stick getting out of the way of the cueball coming off the rail, imo.
 
SpiderWebComm said:
I dont think anyone truly has a perfect still elbow. Whenever I drop my elbow, it's after contact - the cb is already on it's way. I also think what you're trying to do with the shot affects it as well. If my elbow drops when throwing the cue, it's mostly because I'm tucking my hand up to my chest after the cue is on it's way. That pivot video is a terrible example. My hand was going for a ride when I was doing that - it's not how I play.

edit:
There's a big difference between your elbow dropping an inch or two from the momentum of your swing after contact is made and "collapsing" your elbow during follow-through. That's what I consider dropping your elbow.

Everything I learned from pool, I learned from Mr. T.

I think your first statement about nobody having a perfect still elbow is spot on.

And I also agree with your comment about a slight elbow drop and the collapsing you talk about.

Even so, if it comes naturally and works consistently for someone, why fix what ain't broke?

Flex
 
Craig Fales said:
The irony here is he doesn't stay down on the shot, making it look like a lot of elbow drop. IMHO elbow drop is a natural part of follow through. I tried shooting with no elbow drop. Guess what happens? I whack my chin every time. LOLz. Forget everything and just make sure you stroke your cue straight and true.

I think that should be the cardinal rule...
 
mikepage said:
But if you whack your chin the SAME WAY every time, you're good to go ;-)

That particular shot by Davenport is not a good example because he's worried about the stick getting out of the way of the cueball coming off the rail, imo.

Whacking isn't a good thing. It might cause flinching, or worse, fear of the stroke :eek:

For whatever reason, I just like to pound the balls into the pockets.

Actually, Bob Henning in "The Advanced Pro Book" recommends taking a full stroke whenever possible as it builds confidence.

Plus, there's a certain satisfaction to be had from positively drilling a ball into the heart of the pocket. To do that in a way that sets off those little pleasure receptors in the brain might just require that incredible feel from hitting the cue ball smack dab in the middle and scorching the cloth as the 9 ball rockets home.

Gotta say I enjoy it.

Flex
 
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