Do you dip the cue on follow-through?

[vapoolplayer]

well everyone else is putting their two cents in and i'm feeling left out, so here's mine.

i think people are putting a little too much emphasize on this elbow dropping, tip dipping subject. some higher level players do it, some don't, and some do both. i can't speak for anyone else personally, but i have taken lessons from 3 different people. 2 have won major titles, one just a very good local player, and i still see one of them once a month who is still playing professionally and doing very well. point being, is that i have a "FLAW" in my stroke according to the "PURE" stroke praisers. my elbow is farther out from my body than my hand is, just slightly, but looking at myself on tape, its very easy to see. i haven't been playing very long, but i assume that i've always stroked this way. out of all three instructors, not one has even mentioned changing my stroke. on some shots my tip is touching, pointing, or close to the cloth. and on some shots, its no where near the cloth. i asked all 3 the first session of lessons i had with them "How does my stroke look?" all 3 said it was beautiful.
i said "even with my hand chicken winged like this?" their response was that it is the forward motion that matters and the result that you get after you shoot. like mr. purdy stated if you can stand on your head and still make balls, then stick with it.


if you are happy with your game, you're making the shots you're supposed to make, and you're attaining the position you want........then.........keep doing what you're doing.

if you're not happy with your game, you're not doing the above mentioned, then.......start thinking about change.........whether it be your stroke, your aim, or whatever. go see and instructor or instructorSSS, i say instructors because no two instructors are the same, someone might not explain things the way your brain needs them to be explained. if you look into it, you'll find that most higher level players actually had 2 or 3 coaches on their way to the top. everyone has a different outlook on the game. learn from them, and take bits and peices from different people, put them together with some of your own bits and peices to make your own game.

thanks, and may this thread die quickly...........lol

 

[mark tadd]

ok heres my two cent. i only read a few posts to many to read . just because some one says its should be done this way or that way, or stand this way or that way doesnt mean that it is good advice. everyone has different body configurations, long arms, short arms, tall , short, there are many factors in volved. the way i see it is if you aim exacly correct, and hit the cue ball in the exact spot that it should be hit (not where you think it should hit) you will never miss. i think we can all agree on that cause the follow through for the most part is natural. so that being said the problem is what you do just before you hit the cue ball. try this get in your stance put the tip of your cue tip a quarter inch away from the cue ball then breath normal and watch your cue stick move. also make any kind of movement and watch the cue tip move
which basicaly says that your problems are not only with follow through but what happens before the tip hits the cue ball . that means your not hitting the spot on the cue ball because of what is going on before delivery. also moving your bridge hand even a little will also keep you from being accurate .


continued on next thread

 

[mark tadd]

this should help those of you that didnt know this so you can be aware of it..
now whether the tip touches the cloth or not after delivery obviously has to do with dropping the arm and how far back someone holds the cue, and how tight there grip is and if they use all five fingers to play and does there cue stick touch there plam or are they useing just there fingers examples :efren fingers lose grip, buddy hall hand and fingers tighter grip. also if you hit low because of the slope downward and the roundness of the ball it will automaticaly go downward the how the cue is held from above examples will determine the out come of the tip. also people who tend to stand more erect will have there cue touching the felt alot. i figured alot of this out by many hours of trying different stance,grips,ways of addressing the cue ball ect. my advice to you aspiring young players is to do much expermenting till you find what works for your body type . but there are absolutes in pool and one of them is hitting the cue ball accurately and its up to you to make it so. hope this helps

 

[TATE]

this should help those of you that didnt know this so you can be aware of it..
now whether the tip touches the cloth or not after delivery obviously has to do with dropping the arm and how far back someone holds the cue, and how tight there grip is and if the use all five fingers to play and does there cue stick touch there plam or are they useing just there fingers examples :efren fingers lose grip, buddy hall hand and fingers tighter grip. also if you hit low because of the slope downward and the roundness of the ball i will automaticaly go downward the how the cue is held from above examples will determine the out come of the tip. also people who tend to stand more erect will have there cue touching the felt alot. i figured alot of this out by many hours of trying different stance,grips,ways of addressing the cue ball ect. my advice to you aspiring young players is to do much expermenting till you find what works for your body type . but there are absolutes in pool and one of them is hitting the cue ball accurately and its up to you to make it so. hope this helps

Mark,

That two part post is the best one you've made. Excellent.

It's like Jack Nicklaus used to say: "There are many different swings, but all the pro's pretty much look the same at impact".

Chris

 

[bluekckid]

During some matches on ESPN the commentators sometimes note that a player's proper follow-through leaves the cue pointing down almost touching the table (and I'm not referring only to draw shots). So, what's the deal? Does proper follow-through leave the cue at the same level as when it hit the CB or is there a dip of the cue?

Think of your stroke, like a second hand of a clock.once your in your stance. elbow at 90 degrees,if you contact the cue ball at 6 oclock thats when you cue is at in most level point,at 7 oclock the second hand is on the rise,8 oclock on the rise,9 oclock etc, 10 oclock etc. with the elevation of the second hand,i.e.the forarm,wrist,hand,on the rise, the front of your cue, is lowering in the front. not sure about the shoulder drop that maybe when there cue is at 6 oclock,or may in fact help the cue stay on a level plane longer to get the desired efect there looking for. thats my 2 cents worth.like some others said what ever works for you.hope this made some sence.HAPPY HITTIN

 

[FoRGotTeN]

very interesting way of relating. i see what you're talking about. hmm... but what about obstructions to force a different bridge length?

assuming i have a level cue for centre ball impact at a certain bridge length, i'll need to move in nearer to hit follow or draw. what if there's obstructing balls for the bridge?

a must try. keke.

 

[bluekckid]

very interesting way of relating. i see what you're talking about. hmm... but what about obstructions to force a different bridge length?

assuming i have a level cue for centre ball impact at a certain bridge length, i'll need to move in nearer to hit follow or draw. what if there's obstructing balls for the bridge?

a must try. keke.

I understand what your saying, your not always going to be in the optimun striking position,i just tryed to explane in theory why the tip may dip at the end of the stroke, if the ball is on the rail or your jacked up over a ball it may in fact effect this,but anytime your stick passes the 6 oclock position its on the rise whether your over a ball or on the rail.once the horizontal line is passed know matter what the degree of the stick the pendulum is going up.but the ball is already away.someone you might ask is Bob Jewett of billiards digest he gets into very technical things.or instructor in your area.heres something you might try,set up a draw shot, or follow shot,know obstructions, now get into your stance and address the ball,now that your ready move the cue ball over one cue ball to right or left and shoot threw the imaginary cue ball and see how far you tip passes you may in fact need to ajust your hand to get the maximum effect you desire. GOOD LUCK, HAPPY HITTIN.and GOOD NIGTH.PRACTICE,PRACTICE,PRACTICE