Does Being Tall Offer Advantages in Pool?

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My extreme upright that was how I practiced with my left arm in a sling. The practice built a strength as I just made the shot first try. Gotta quit ahead if I hit 2 in a row I would get a big head. 😉 I prefer lucky to good. Efren always replied, "I got lucky". 🤷‍♂️
 
Watching one of my college friends play was excruciating. He was 6'10 and it seemed he could barely reach the table (also hit his head on the lights constantly). The cue was like a toothpick in his hands.
I think being 5'10 to 6'1-2 would be ideal for reach while still being able to lock into the table for support. I wouldn't call being short a disadvantage though. If you have a good cueball reach is less of an issue and with modern cue extensions I VERY rarely use the bridge.

Personally would rather be short than tall.
I can always grab a stool, but never need to worry about hitting my head. :ROFLMAO:
 
Same shot different extremes.
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After the 10 second picture pause, I executed the shot. The upright pocketed the ball. The chin on missed the pocket. 🤔
 
With Fats shooting this way.... it allowed him to see/read/interpret others actions during shot execution, taking facial reads on everyone to figure out who's gonna gamble some and who's the weakest in the room.
 
for most people
I strive to perform better than Most People. 🤷‍♂️
The numbers experts will most likely confirm that numbers don't lie. They can however miss lead. "There are lies, damn lies and statistics. " is a favorite quote.
Deciphering the numbers is critical.
I strive to follow a scientific method. My experience with the morning comparison of stances has provided a result that was a 😲 surprise. Now I must analyze my results and see if I can learn. Never to old to learn. I am 73.97826 years old. 😉 well approximately.
Perhaps it's my age and height and weight that are variables that lead to one method over the other. 🤷‍♂️ Sometimes I think I know only to learn.
First shot is of the most value in my analysis process. Well? In pocket billiards it can be your only shot. 🤷‍♂️
I am not selling my methods, just present them as evidence. As with all evidence, you must consider the source. 🤷‍♂️ If you wanna see my best, just call me a Liar. 😉
 
FYI, I did not invent this technique. I think the first person I saw do it was Ronnie Alcano, but I have also seen snooker players do it. Regardless, it is a very useful technique.
The Filipinos have many innovative ways of using the bridge. Never ceases to amaze me.
 
The issue is not height per se, but where the body center of mass (gravity) is relative to the bending pivot point, typically where the lumbar spine joins the pelvis. Someone who is tall, muscular and lean will have a high torque exerted on the lower back and pelvis, as their COG may be in the chest, creating a long torque arm. Someone who is of the same height, but more of a lard ass, will have the same length torque arm, but their center of gravity may be around the pelvis, comparatively lessening the torque on the pelvis when bending. It is one of the very few situations where suboptimal conditioning may be an advantage. Pass the doughnuts, please.

Women have lower centers of gravity, which may be beneficial when playing pool.

If you look at the fit male pros with the V shaped bodies, observe how they shift weight to their bridge-hand forearms whenever possible, providing more support for their high centers of gravity and reducing low back stress (while improving stability).

What can be done for the player having low back stress issues?:
1. Bend the knees a little, releasing the pull on the pelvis from below
2. Try to get your center of gravity over, or at least near to the line between your ankles
3. Use a supportive bridge hand/arm when possible
4. Minimize the time spent down on the shot

All of these have their downside, but if you want to minimize low back stress, it is the kind of thing that needs to be done.
Very good. Jim Rempe had all this down pat. Check out his stance sometime.
 
i noticed vietnamese player hoang has a really good rake game. and he's neither short nor tall. probably the most boring shot to practice, but a really good weapon to have.

if i get a home pool table i will raise it slightly like iusedtoberich showed in his table thread. i have back problems.
Better yet, learn to shoot with either hand. Players like Buddy, Sigel and Keith could switch hands and you would never notice.
 
Perhaps standing taller is a reasonable close to topic detour. Perhaps the eye pattern standing tall is a contributing factor. 🤷‍♂️
How does that song go? "Short people got no bodys"
One last off topic observation came watching the latest snooker event with close observation of the eye patterns of the competitors. Well the ones at the top get the most air time. 🤷‍♂️
My conclusion is that the cueball at impact gives the best cueball control. Potting the object ball is an element of cueball control. Not the only important factor though.
As for the numbers and calculations as to which is more popular.....well what is more effective is certainly a factor. What's best for a short fat person may not be best for the tall bean pole person.
My one handed practice definitely favors cueball at impact. Willie Hoppe getting only one ball for a month could be a factor in him saying look at whitey when you are hitting it.
Greatest of all time should carry a multiplier when comparing numbers with "most players".
 
That might work the best for you, but this is certainly not the case for most people,
Well the situation or task that I was illustrating is Unusual. It could favor one method over the other. The best way to sort it out is give it a scientific method experiment and see what works best For You. don't pre judge. Try it, you might like it. 🤷‍♂️
 
Better yet, learn to shoot with either hand. Players like Buddy, Sigel and Keith could switch hands and you would never notice.

yes, this is the route i chose, because i found the rake boring to practice. i could run a rack opposite handed (not including the break). but if i were a pro i would 100% practice the rake, and that recent match with him beating filler showed why. there are places where you can't reach with either hand
 
Okay gotta brag (and I have not been drinking)(uh yet 😉).
Cole turned me down on a well, they story's a repeat butt.
We were burning one in the van at close. I got chatty and bragged on my left handed victories. Coles roll eyes question was, "how good Do you play Left handed?" And my reply was, "as good as You." Just matter of fact presentation. 🤷‍♂️ His eyes widened and he asked, "how much money you got on you? You know the cleaner will let us back in." My answer was around200. He thought and smiled and didn't wanna do that. 🤷‍♂️
 
FYI, I just posted a new video with Samm Diep that discusses and demonstrates advantages and disadvantages of being tall or short in pool. Check it out:


Contents:
0:00 - Intro
0:13 - Stance Comfort
1:48 - Reach
---- 1:51 - long shots
---- 3:40 - mechanical bridge
---- 4:50 - jump shot
5:07 - Bridging
6:21 - Stroke Length
7:29 - More Info

As always, I look forward to your feedback, comments, questions, complaints, and requests.

Enjoy!

Can anybody else think of additional advantages or disadvantages concerning being tall or short in pool (other than what is already covered in the video)?

One I should have included was: It is easier for tall people to reach over the side of the table with more reach.
 
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