Are there any thoughts on switching to a compact stroke just for 14.1 and keeping the lengthy (let it out) stroke for nine ball. If so, will this confuse the eye, hand, arm, brain connection and maybe leave you stuck somewhere in between? Anybody done this before?
Compact stroke just for 14.1?
- Thread starter DRINKDUFF
- Start date
FWIW, in my opinion the compact stroke with a defined pause at the CB is very important. Equally as important is to understand and avoid the possible side effects of a compact stroke which is dogging the shot and rolling the CB.
You have to trust the angles, and the hit on the cue ball. If you have to move the CB ahead slightly or stop it after one or two rotations, let the physics work and don't baby and roll the CB. That will only lead to dogging shots.
I hope I'm explaining myself correctly. I'm not saying shoot hard, rather avoid any urge to slow roll position when you can accomplish the same thing with a confident stroke and the proper cue tip placement.
You have to trust the angles, and the hit on the cue ball. If you have to move the CB ahead slightly or stop it after one or two rotations, let the physics work and don't baby and roll the CB. That will only lead to dogging shots.
I hope I'm explaining myself correctly. I'm not saying shoot hard, rather avoid any urge to slow roll position when you can accomplish the same thing with a confident stroke and the proper cue tip placement.
I'm not sure I understand what you are trying to say. It is important to learn to roll the ball. Never shoot harder than is required.
That said, considering that most shots are between soft and medium speeds, it's easier to control that speed with a shorter stroke. However the trap is to use the short stroke with all shots. It's tough to generate the same amount of power with a 2 inch stroke as with a 6-8 inch stroke.
I noticed that Allen Hopkins used and uses a compact stroke for all games. I'm wondering if I should try and use both techniques like a switch hitter in baseball or commit exclusively to one technique or the other for straight pool and nine ball. I have a lengthy smooth stroke and fear that trying both at the same time might land me somewhere in lala land with an unsound garble of half in half out with a huge mental mountain to climb. Maybe I'm over thinking this and should just hit the table but I wanted to see if anybody has done this and how it worked or did not work. I will take the time if this theory will pay off. Thanks for the input, it helps.
I tend to agree with Taut. What the shot requires is probably the best answer. For a good study on varying stroke length watch Thorsten play. There are shots when he barely moves the tip from the cueball and yet he puts a full stroke on others. The issue of accuracy does enter in. He seems to shorten his stroke length at times when pocketing is the emphasis where position is assured without the need to direct the CB.
Again, when to recognize the advantage of a shortened stroke is really part of building one's playing skill.
_Rick
I know I'm not explaining the way I want to, but here is a diagram of a common situation in straight pool. I believe a compact stroke will help you pocket the 14, however you need to stop for the correct angle on the 13 so that you can drift down with a good line on the 10 ball secondary break. ( please, my choice of shots is merely for explanation.
)I feel the tendency to soft roll the 14 in with a compact stroke can hurt you. However using a nice compact stroke but still cuing the ball in the center with a confident hit will result in not over rolling the cue ball out of line for the 13. Hope that's better.
I think you should use the stroke the shot requires. But I also think that what happens at 14.1 is that, when you're playing it well, you're moving the CB very little: sliding it over there a bit; using small variations of the stop shot; shooting with just a little draw or follow. So your stroke will be shorter for a lot of shots.
Of course, if your CB is going all over the place, then all bets are off
Lou Figueroa