do you grip the cue b4 you get into stance or after?

scottycoyote

scottycoyote

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
i have noticed that alot of players will adjust their backhand once they get down in their stance, either by physically moving the backhand around to where they are comfortable or using a type of slip-stroke as they do their warmups until it gets comfortable. I have always gotten my grip on the stick while i was up and studying the shot, then i would slide down into my stance and my bridgehand up to the cue. Last night i had a shot i had to stretch for, i ended up holding the cue in place with my bridgehand, then i repositioned my backhand. I ended up getting unbelieveable draw on the shot, so i started messing around with that method of setup. How do most of you shoot, gripping prior to moving into your stance or after you get down, do you think it even matters? The only problem i have with moving my griphand once im down is Im scared my forearm wont be straight up and down, the way i do it now it pretty much always is.
 
It's quite common for some people to change thier grip once they're down in thier stance. Some people choke up on the cue and take a couple of practice strokes, then slip thier hand back on the cue when they're about to stroke thier shot.
 
Usually when I walk around the table I am placing my grip preparing for the next shot. For different bridge lengths and different shots I move my grip forward and back accordingly. Also I try to get a feel on how tight I want me grip to be at impact, or if there is any particular movement that I am trying to execute.
 
Scott,
It probably doesn't matter a whole lot either way as long as you have it in the right place when you are in set. Personally, when I'm down on my shot, I hope I'm well past the thinking stage...including thinking about where my grip hand is. Somehow, it seems to find it's way to the right spot naturally.
Steve
 
good point steve, its probably a bad idea if i have to think about it, you know me, always trying to tweak my game lol. Hey did you get my email? If not i was hoping you could send me those extra pages you showed me at bg's on SAM
thanks
 
I line up the shot, get down into it and then adjust my grip hand. I have to do this to get my hand in a place that will balance the cue and have my forearm perpendicular near the contact point. Most of the time it is only a few inches and it also depends on the distance I am reaching over the table.
 
i never noticed what i did, until this thread then i went downstairs to see, and i always hold my hand in the same place standing up on the shot and when i get down into my stance my grip hand is always in the same spot, except for on shots where i have to reach then i move my hand back a little more depending on the shot. But i always try to keep my hand six inches behind the balance point of the cue.
 
scottycoyote said:
i have noticed that alot of players will adjust their backhand once they get down in their stance, either by physically moving the backhand around to where they are comfortable or using a type of slip-stroke as they do their warmups until it gets comfortable.
Click to expand...

Good observation :)

My "train of thought" is to have balance of body (the foundation) [per shot], then balance of stroke (the action).

Get your stance (foundation) set, then adjust the balance of your stick for your desired stroke. The shot may require draw, follow, left, right, or any combination of the four [including center].

Most are doing the adjusting to guage stroke length allowed for the shot to get the desired result. Hence; why the folks have a "slip-stroke" after addressing the shot.

Also, you'll sometimes see that tactic as a "slow down", to accomplish one of a few things:

1) Get over nerves
2) Slow/speed the game down/up, trying to get your opponent off balance
3) Invision the shot after contact of cue to OB
4) Find a rhythm
5) Figuring out how to get the phone number of the girl that... never mind
5a) Looking for crap on the table that may screw up thier next shot
 
grip/stance...

A few years ago I was visiting Amsterdam Billiards and was lucky enough to catch the house pro who gave me some tips. The main thing I remember was a lesson on a very similar subject. Basically, he said You are not important. Your stick is what is important. You are just the delivery mechanism for the stick. If your stance is not straight.. then your cue will not move straight. Don't get into your stance and try and force your cue to move where you are. Instead, try placing your cue down so that it's aligned with the shot.. then get into your stance where your cue is. (Then adjust your grip accordingly). If you've ever watched Ralf you can easily see him adjusting his grip when he is down over the shot. Basically, there are only 3 elements to a shot: 1, where your cue tip strikes the cue ball. 2, where the cue ball contacts the object ball. 3, at what speed. So, if your cue is aligned to the cue ball and you are aligned to your cue stick.. all you have to worry about is the speed. Which is easy because you already know the speeds of your strokes.. soft, med, hard. (cuz you do lots of drills to practice them!) you can't miss! Less of course your brain gets in the way. But that's a whole different story.
 
scottycoyote said:
good point steve, its probably a bad idea if i have to think about it, you know me, always trying to tweak my game lol. Hey did you get my email? If not i was hoping you could send me those extra pages you showed me at bg's on SAM
thanks
Click to expand...

Scott,
I have tried, but seem to be having some problems with my e-mail working from the computer where I store those documents. I will hopefully get that straightened out and get it to you.
Steve
 
scottycoyote said:
i have noticed that alot of players will adjust their backhand once they get down in their stance, either by physically moving the backhand around to where they are comfortable or using a type of slip-stroke as they do their warmups until it gets comfortable. I have always gotten my grip on the stick while i was up and studying the shot, then i would slide down into my stance and my bridgehand up to the cue. Last night i had a shot i had to stretch for, i ended up holding the cue in place with my bridgehand, then i repositioned my backhand. I ended up getting unbelieveable draw on the shot, so i started messing around with that method of setup. How do most of you shoot, gripping prior to moving into your stance or after you get down, do you think it even matters? The only problem i have with moving my griphand once im down is Im scared my forearm wont be straight up and down, the way i do it now it pretty much always is.
Click to expand...


The length between your grip hand and bridge hand can change depending on the shot. I believe there are "sweet" spots though, that after a while your grip hand should go automatically during your set up of a given shot.

I can't remember who, but there are/were a few good players that practiced/played with a rubber band around the butt of the cue...They would move it to different spots on the grip depending on the shot...My guess is that they are "training" themselves or creating muscle memory to put thier grip hand in the proper place for a particular shot...
 
I personally do not make my FINAL Grip adjustment until I have started my Practice Strokes.

Wrong, or Right it is one of my Final adjustment before I pull the Trigger. for the Shot that hopefully is successful.
 
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