Definition of a Good Stroke

J

jesinspirment

Registered
Just to gather some opinions on what you think a good stroke is.

I have an opinion of my own, but just thinking if I'm too strict or hard to please.

What I feel is, a person with a good stroke, can NEVER miss a straight shot, regardless of distance. He can follow the cue ball into the pocket straight in regardless of distance, and can do the same for draw.

My reasoning is, for a straight shot, there is no aiming involved, and purely about your stroke. If you miss even one, it tells me that your stroke isn't consistently solid.

I just wonder if it's possible to be this perfect. Can the pros out there actually do it with 100% success, with absolute zero misses?
 
If the ball is pocketed as intended & whitey goes where intended, then it was a good stroke.

I'm sure you know what you're talking about is a good stroke...every time.

I think they call that perfection. I doubt anyone can do that but I am also sure that there are many that can come very close.

Regards,
 
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jesinspirment said:
Just to gather some opinions on what you think a good stroke is.

I have an opinion of my own, but just thinking if I'm too strict or hard to please.

What I feel is, a person with a good stroke, can NEVER miss a straight shot, regardless of distance. He can follow the cue ball into the pocket straight in regardless of distance, and can do the same for draw.

My reasoning is, for a straight shot, there is no aiming involved, and purely about your stroke. If you miss even one, it tells me that your stroke isn't consistently solid.

I just wonder if it's possible to be this perfect. Can the pros out there actually do it with 100% success, with absolute zero misses?
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First of all, I think you should take the word 'never' out of your vocabulary when talking about pool and pool players. We are human and we will make mistakes at the table.

There is aiming involved, even on a straight-in shot, otherwise you would be able to approach the table blindfolded and get down and shoot. We know we can't do that.

A good stroke is separate from a good sense of aim.

For me, a good stroke is represented by good timing --- just like a good golf swing or a good tennis swing, or a good baseball pitch, etc. It's all about timing.

But it still won't guarantee that you will pocket the ball. You still have to aim.
 
In School we define a good stroke as:
"The cue stick is accelerating forward in a straight line to our final Finish position."

A good stroke should be:
"Repeatable, Reliable, and Dependable."

Attach those values with good timing and some form of aiming system then you have a good stroke.

randyg
 
I too have been looking for what is meant by "a good stroke". We (students of the game) sometimes want to think of it as some kind of holy grail like object. In my quest for the holy grail I have found that it just doesn't exist in that form. It is truly as simple as RandyG and Fran describe.

For me two words are key...simple and repeatable.

Ken
 
I'll add one word to your description, Ken..."simple, accurate, and repeatable"! The ultimate truth, though, is that many pros have lots of eccentricities in their "accurate & repeatable" strokes (due to years of ingraining the same process). Most of us amateurs should try to endeavor to 'keep it simple'...KISS rules! LOL

Scott Lee
http://poolknowledge.com

Okie said:
I too have been looking for what is meant by "a good stroke". We (students of the game) sometimes want to think of it as some kind of holy grail like object. In my quest for the holy grail I have found that it just doesn't exist in that form. It is truly as simple as RandyG and Fran describe.

For me two words are key...simple and repeatable.

Ken
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randyg said:
In School we define a good stroke as:
"The cue stick is accelerating forward in a straight line to our final Finish position."

A good stroke should be:
"Repeatable, Reliable, and Dependable."

Attach those values with good timing and some form of aiming system then you have a good stroke.

randyg
Click to expand...
Randy, you’re the master of brevity. Of course nothing you've said here can be argued against. The problem I have is describing a good stroke in words. I can't find them. My point is, a person can move the cue in a straight line with a finish that is reliable repeatable and dependable but still punch the ball. I can hear you, that's why the word accelerate is in your description.

It took me years before it dawned on me what is meant by "stroke through the ball" I always had a decent follow through. Follow through alone doesn’t cut it. Maintaining acceleration past contact (grabbing for words) is key, at least for me to get the feel of the ball, which in turn increases control. Control being the end result of a good stroke. Of course as Fran said aim is another topic. Lord knows I got problems with pockets.

Even though neither is possible I tell people to try to push or extend the time the tip is in contact.

Where have I gone astray?
 
tempo

you know it when you see it. I tend to get quick when i get uncomfortable. easly treated with drugs and alcohol.

bert
 
randyg said:
In School we define a good stroke as:
"The cue stick is accelerating forward in a straight line to our final Finish position."


randyg
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Wouldn't that be incorrect if your final finish position is after cb contact? Doesn't the stroke decelerate after cb contact?
 
FranCrimi said:
Wouldn't that be incorrect if your final finish position is after cb contact? Doesn't the stroke decelerate after cb contact?
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Well Fran, we can't finish before we hit the cb. Although I have seen some try to....:wink:

Certainly the cue stick has lost it's acceleration...somewhat. But the cue stick is still going to it's Finish position.

randyg
 
3kushn said:
Randy, you’re the master of brevity. Of course nothing you've said here can be argued against. The problem I have is describing a good stroke in words. I can't find them. My point is, a person can move the cue in a straight line with a finish that is reliable repeatable and dependable but still punch the ball. I can hear you, that's why the word accelerate is in your description.

It took me years before it dawned on me what is meant by "stroke through the ball" I always had a decent follow through. Follow through alone doesn’t cut it. Maintaining acceleration past contact (grabbing for words) is key, at least for me to get the feel of the ball, which in turn increases control. Control being the end result of a good stroke. Of course as Fran said aim is another topic. Lord knows I got problems with pockets.

Even though neither is possible I tell people to try to push or extend the time the tip is in contact.

Where have I gone astray?
Click to expand...

Try these 3 words.

SET-PAUSE-FINISH

randyg
 
Okie said:
I too have been looking for what is meant by "a good stroke". We (students of the game) sometimes want to think of it as some kind of holy grail like object. In my quest for the holy grail I have found that it just doesn't exist in that form. It is truly as simple as RandyG and Fran describe.

For me two words are key...simple and repeatable.

Ken
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It's there Ken.

I will show it to you.

Come on down and get certified as a P.B.I.A Instructor. You would be a great addition to our organization.

randyg
 
im not an instructor
BUT
a good stroke to me has this
1)straight
2)consistent under pressure
3)reproducible over and over and over....
but to get to the next level
the ability to do all the "power stroke" shots
the ability to move the cue ball anywhere from stop with no spin
to 18-27 feet
ON COMMAND
jmho
 
randyg said:
Well Fran, we can't finish before we hit the cb. Although I have seen some try to....:wink:

Certainly the cue stick has lost it's acceleration...somewhat. But the cue stick is still going to it's Finish position.

randyg
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OK. Got it. You made a mistake in your initial statement.
 
randyg said:
It's there Ken.

I will show it to you.

Come on down and get certified as a P.B.I.A Instructor. You would be a great addition to our organization.

randyg
Click to expand...

What I was trying to say was a good stroke is not as complex as it seems/feels at times. My main point of posting was to reinforce what you and Fran had stated.

Would I be certified or recognized? hehe

Sorry couldn't resist after the certification discussion that went down not so long ago. I believe I would be recognized at that point.

Ken
 
Okie said:
What I was trying to say was a good stroke is not as complex as it seems/feels at times. My main point of posting was to reinforce what you and Fran had stated.

Would I be certified or recognized? hehe

Sorry couldn't resist after the certification discussion that went down not so long ago. I believe I would be recognized at that point.

Ken
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Ken,

You're wrong.

You would be 'certified'.

You would be 'certified' as recognized.:wink:

Best to You,
 
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Okie said:
What I was trying to say was a good stroke is not as complex as it seems/feels at times. My main point of posting was to reinforce what you and Fran had stated.

Would I be certified or recognized? hehe

Sorry couldn't resist after the certification discussion that went down not so long ago. I believe I would be recognized at that point.

Ken
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You would probably be a "certified" Instructor.

randyg
 
It's seems the thread has been derailed by Mr. G's recruitment post.

So Mr. G, can you explain to us & all of the 'recognized' instructors how & why Ken would probably be certified as "certified". I assume, as we should 'never' do, that it might be because of his teaching background in golf, but golf is not pool. I did not read every word of the PBIA 'bylaws' but I don't recall a 'newbie' being able to bypass levels.

Sincerely,
 
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