Does Being Tall Offer Advantages in Pool?

dr_dave

dr_dave

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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!
 
6’8” here and there is no question getting down on the ball requires more effort. Longer levers, balance points and center of gravity make it a little tougher for sure. Agreed on the ability to reach longer shots. The thing that I really took away from this video was your mechanical bridge technique! Gonna practice that tonight!

Thanks DD!


Oh and I am gonna use the tall excuse for my defeats from now on😁
 
TheGrandWazoo said:
6’8” here and there is no question getting down on the ball requires more effort. Longer levers, balance points and center of gravity make it a little tougher for sure. Agreed on the ability to reach longer shots. The thing that I really took away from this video was your mechanical bridge technique! Gonna practice that tonight!

Thanks DD!


Oh and I am gonna use the tall excuse for my defeats from now on😁
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I hope you like the mechanical bridge technique. I love it. It honestly feels no different than my normal stroke.
 
iusedtoberich said:
It’s bad on the back and body. Filipino is the perfect height for pool.
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Alex is 5'3". Efren was 5'8" in his prime. We all shrink with age.

I think 5'8" to 5'10" is the optimal height for pool, but that's just my opinion.

I certainly wish pool tables were higher. When the table height was determined a long time ago, the average human population height was shorter than it is today.
 
From my experience most snooker tables in the states sit pretty high up.

While all the carom tables I play on sit pretty low. Probably because the majority of carom players in the US are Asian.
 
Conventional wisdom says that being tall is a disadvantage and that being short doesn't necessarily slow you down. After all, Pagulayan and Varner were both short but may well be counted as top ten players of all time. Alex won the Bigfoot 10ball on the 10-footer and is also very good at snooker. That said, Irving Crane thought that being tall gave him an edge on the 10-footers which were the norm in the early part of his career, but felt it made little difference on the 9-footer.

Island Drive on this forum is, I believe, 6'6" and I look forward to hearing his slant on things. Of the current crop of pros, Ruslan Chinakhov is the only really tall player I can think of that can beat the stars of the game more than occasionally.
 
To quote Bob Lilly (I think). "It ain't the size of the dog in the fight. It's the size of the fight in the dog. "
Our boy wonder athlete that ended up playing pro football with uh the Packers, was 6'1" and 215 ish. He did everything athletic well the first try. Well except Bull Riding. The little monkey built guys were the bull riders. 🤷‍♂️
His mass and longer levers made it too difficult.
In pool I surmise that longer levers and greater mass can deliver the most power. Mike Massey is my contender for any power shot contest. Efren still gets my vote for cueball precision.
 
Being 6’5” I would add that certain angles and especially in straight pool my height gives me an almost bird eye view of the rack. It is easier to view the whole rack and all the angles without going around the table and viewing if a ball passes or if the position play path is available.

I can also reach mid-table jump shots and shoot over obstructing balls better and more comfortably. But it’s difficult to get my chin near a level cue.

Disadvantages are back and leg problems, air travel seating and hitting my head in door frames to list a few. And being the one that is asked to change light bulbs or whatever is near the ceiling vertically-limited people can’t reach.
 
My midget story; we had a friendly Scotch Doubles ring game with partners decided by ratings with 1&6 against 2&5 and 3&4. I got the midget! And we made money! 🤷‍♂️. It was such an upside down world striving to leave him On the Rail. On his tip toes he could just reach the back of the rack on 8 foot table.
He shot so well from the rail that I knew I needed to work on that part of My game. 🤷‍♂️
 
sjm said:
Conventional wisdom says that being tall is a disadvantage and that being short doesn't necessarily slow you down. After all, Pagulayan and Varner were both short but may well be counted as top ten players of all time. Alex won the Bigfoot 10ball on the 10-footer and is also very good at snooker. That said, Irving Crane thought that being tall gave him an edge on the 10-footers which were the norm in the early part of his career, but felt it made little difference on the 9-footer.

Island Drive on this forum is, I believe, 6'6" and I look forward to hearing his slant on things. Of the current crop of pros, Ruslan Chinakhov is the only really tall player I can think of that can beat the stars of the game more than occasionally.
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I was able to visit with Bill last spring at a tourney, I am 6'2" and was looking up while talking.
Bill has not shrunk with age, but I sure have.
 
Being tall effect pool? I read Wilt had a 6ft GinaCue.
 

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Cuebuddy said:
I was able to visit with Bill last spring at a tourney, I am 6'2" and was looking up while talking.
Bill has not shrunk with age, but I sure have.
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He's got a big wingspan too...lol The advantage I see for a tall guy like him is he literally covers all the table.... Its impressive to watch him on a 9ft. I think it might hurt him on a BB. See what he says
 
dr_dave said:
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!
Click to expand...
Without watching your video, I must say yes it does, but has disadvantages as well.
 
dr_dave said:
Alex is 5'3". Efren was 5'8" in his prime. We all shrink with age.

I think 5'8" to 5'10" is the optimal height for pool, but that's just my opinion.

I certainly wish pool tables were higher. When the table height was determined a long time ago, the average human population height was shorter than it is today.
Click to expand...
Our local hall jacked up a couple of 9 footers for the tall guys. I love em!!
Coulda kissed the owner!!😂 Saves my back Sooo much!!
 
gregcantrall said:
To quote Bob Lilly (I think). "It ain't the size of the dog in the fight. It's the size of the fight in the dog. "
Our boy wonder athlete that ended up playing pro football with uh the Packers, was 6'1" and 215 ish. He did everything athletic well the first try. Well except Bull Riding. The little monkey built guys were the bull riders. 🤷‍♂️
His mass and longer levers made it too difficult.
In pool I surmise that longer levers and greater mass can deliver the most power. Mike Massey is my contender for any power shot contest. Efren still gets my vote for cueball precision.
Click to expand...
I like to see a power shot contest!!
Place a meter on the back of a pocket and let er rip!!
 
dr_dave said:
I certainly wish pool tables were higher. When the table height was determined a long time ago, the average human population height was shorter than it is today.
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Amen to that! Here in Florida I still play on Gandy tables regularly and they must be at least an inch lower than Diamonds and GCs. I do feel I miss more long shots on them when I'm tired.
 
I want to give teachers little lesson about mechanical bridge.

I noticed Sam have same same flaw at mechanical bridge that 90% of pool players and many snooker players too have.. It kinda prevents to have power on stroke or if put power there is gonna be so much movement that shot is pretty much doomed to fail!
Cue comes too close to chin and player need "dodge" incoming butt of cue. Turning legs and torso another way should help to be able to do full backswing with mechanical bridge so it stops before reaching chin and no movement comes to stroke..

Here is good video to learn bridge play. I time stamp it to stance section.
 
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