From what I've read the tip is only on the cue ball for a fraction of a second or what not so if I stroke straight thru the cue ball and then veer off is that a stroke issue? Or does it not even matter? For myself I feel that this really applies to my break only as I don't have a long follow thru with other shots.
Does it matter if your follow thru is straight?
- Thread starter Socopool79
- Start date
The fact that your follow thru is not straight has no effect on the cue ball. What it means is that your stroke prior to hitting the cue ball is not straight which does effect the english or contact point on the cue ball. It could also be the way you address the cue ball, you may believe you are lined up with the center of the cue ball but be off by a tip! Think of a swing set.
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I think it is easier to hit consistently where you want with a straight stroke. You have a better chance to make balls and get position if you hit the ball consistently.
Whether it matters to you depends on why you play the game and whether you want to improve. Many players are satisfied with their current level -- maybe running a whole rack once a week or so -- and simply have no motivation to improve. They like to play and are happy to play just as they are. It's up to each player whether he wants to put in some effort to get better and how much effort that will be.
I've had several students who had serious mechanical problems from having spent years grooving broken mechanics and they understood the mechanical issues but they were unwilling to spend any time or effort working on them. They were more interested in learning strategy or new ways to play position.
Well said.
I agree.
The value of a follow-through is that it informs you about what your stroke has been doing as it approaches contact with the cue ball. If you're follow-through is straight, your stroke almost has to be moving straight on the way to striking the CB. If you don't follow-through straightly (keeping in mind that there are exceptions to almost every rule), your tip may or may not be traveling to the cue ball in a straight line.
I think bowling (which I also taught) is a good analogy. The follow-through doesn't affect the path of the bowling ball either, yet you very rarely see a successful bowler who doesn't have a pronounced follow-through. I was taught that in both bowling and pool, you follow through in the direction of your target.
I also believe that a straight follow-through helps you develop the stroke you want to have when the tip meets the CB...or the bowling ball leaves your hand and meets the maple.
I agree.
The value of a follow-through is that it informs you about what your stroke has been doing as it approaches contact with the cue ball. If you're follow-through is straight, your stroke almost has to be moving straight on the way to striking the CB. If you don't follow-through straightly (keeping in mind that there are exceptions to almost every rule), your tip may or may not be traveling to the cue ball in a straight line.
I think bowling (which I also taught) is a good analogy. The follow-through doesn't affect the path of the bowling ball either, yet you very rarely see a successful bowler who doesn't have a pronounced follow-through. I was taught that in both bowling and pool, you follow through in the direction of your target.
I also believe that a straight follow-through helps you develop the stroke you want to have when the tip meets the CB...or the bowling ball leaves your hand and meets the maple.
I would like to add something here. I do Bert's mighty x drill most every day so the lines are worn into the cloth. It is easy to see where my follow through is finishing. It is straight for a couple inches past the CB, then veers left sharply. I have found that shortly after contract with the CB, I rotate my wrist counter clockwise just prior to my back hand hitting my chest at the end of the stroke. I'm working on it but it is very difficult. I'm guessing this is something I subconsciously do either not just my thumb or chest at impact of something...?
Is this what you are doing or do you have an arc in your stroke?
Is this what you are doing or do you have an arc in your stroke?
At the risk of getting flamed, and it's not like I haven't been before, I've noted that many pros stroke toward the pocket they're aiming for with a part of their extended follow-through. My understanding is this is not a coincidence as the pocket is always inside the cut angle of the shot (hint, hint).
Part of follow through?
Part of the follow through?
If you see the direction of the stroke changing during the follow through (which is by definition what the cue tip does after contact with the CB), you are seeing nothing more than a form of "body English" (a fruitless attempt to either add spin to the CB or steer the OB toward the intended pocket).
Part of the follow through?
If you see the direction of the stroke changing during the follow through (which is by definition what the cue tip does after contact with the CB), you are seeing nothing more than a form of "body English" (a fruitless attempt to either add spin to the CB or steer the OB toward the intended pocket).
Sorry to be unclear, I'm saying the followthrough is inside the aim line/towards the pocket first after contact and then comes back towards the aim/line straight.
If you want to validate that your stroke straightness at the time of tip/ball contact, use the no-hands drill.
1. Place a row of balls about 1/2 diamond from the short rail cushion. (The balls will be shot into the far corner pockets.)
2. Get down on the shot as normal, but with the bridge hand off to the side so that you are guiding the stick follow through with only the back (stick) hand.
3. Make some practice strokes and when ready, shoot the the ball in.
4. If the ball rolls true vertical and straight to the pocket, your stroke is straight. A miss or ball rolling at an angle indicates a flaw in your stroke.
Hint - pay attention to the cue tip as you make your back and forth practice strokes.
1. Place a row of balls about 1/2 diamond from the short rail cushion. (The balls will be shot into the far corner pockets.)
2. Get down on the shot as normal, but with the bridge hand off to the side so that you are guiding the stick follow through with only the back (stick) hand.
3. Make some practice strokes and when ready, shoot the the ball in.
4. If the ball rolls true vertical and straight to the pocket, your stroke is straight. A miss or ball rolling at an angle indicates a flaw in your stroke.
Hint - pay attention to the cue tip as you make your back and forth practice strokes.
Many players are having trouble with the same issues and it's pivot/parallel shift..
Yes, we do that, it's no coincidence.
I've come a long way with my TOI Teaching knowledge the past few weeks. Many players are having trouble with the same issues and it's pivot/parallel shift related. In my next video
We figured out a way to explain the TOI Shift so it's easier to understand. Pool has such a small margin of error the cue ball targeting and stroke MUST be precise or all else is secondary......and the game becomes a series of unnecessary adjustments.
Yes, we do that, it's no coincidence.
I've come a long way with my TOI Teaching knowledge the past few weeks. Many players are having trouble with the same issues and it's pivot/parallel shift related. In my next video We figured out a way to explain the TOI Shift so it's easier to understand. Pool has such a small margin of error the cue ball targeting and stroke MUST be precise or all else is secondary......and the game becomes a series of unnecessary adjustments.
Yes, we do that, it's no coincidence.
We figured out a way to explain the TOI Shift so it's easier to understand. Pool has such a small margin of error the cue ball targeting and stroke MUST be precise or all else is secondary......and the game becomes a series of unnecessary adjustments.
Swerving your cue in and out? Seriously? What pros do that? I can understand a continuous swipe motion in one direction, but laterally swerving your stroke? I'm stumped.
Here's something interesting. Take a stroke e.g. center ball with regular center ball aim and practice strokes. On the final forward stroke, try to hit with the right side of the tip first.
What happens to the follow through on the stroke? What kind of spin is imparted to the cue ball?
What happens to the follow through on the stroke? What kind of spin is imparted to the cue ball?
The TIP is very important, and it must connect to the rest of the body
The TIP Alignment and Action is very important, and it must connect to the rest of the body, especially the feet (through a chain of reactions). At my highest playing level I actually hit the OB thinner using my feet to minutely move my upper body, which moves my cue, which moves my tip.....ever so slightly. I don't like to move my upper body independent of my foundation.
I believe anyone can make great advancements in their games, if they take a moment to really study the basic foundations, whether that's tennis, golf, pool or even business, the greatest advancements are made when doing "foundation work," and in pool this foundation is hitting the cue ball straight.
The feet are the physical foundation of the stroke, so everything is connected. When I know this is happening is when a small foot movement effects the pool cue's TIP....this is the ultimate connection and pretty east to achieve when the process is revealed. 'The Game is the Teacher' .com
The TIP Alignment and Action is very important, and it must connect to the rest of the body, especially the feet (through a chain of reactions). At my highest playing level I actually hit the OB thinner using my feet to minutely move my upper body, which moves my cue, which moves my tip.....ever so slightly. I don't like to move my upper body independent of my foundation.
I believe anyone can make great advancements in their games, if they take a moment to really study the basic foundations, whether that's tennis, golf, pool or even business, the greatest advancements are made when doing "foundation work," and in pool this foundation is hitting the cue ball straight.
The feet are the physical foundation of the stroke, so everything is connected. When I know this is happening is when a small foot movement effects the pool cue's TIP....this is the ultimate connection and pretty east to achieve when the process is revealed. 'The Game is the Teacher' .com
Pretty fun stuff! I do the same with english if I wish to--it sounds like a purist's nightmare to say "move from the feet with the stroke" but some can get away with it.
Body english is at:
http://billiards.about.com/od/specialtyshot1/a/BilliardsEnglish.htm
Body english is at:
http://billiards.about.com/od/specialtyshot1/a/BilliardsEnglish.htm