DRAW STROKE: Dropping your elbow or not.

[CJ Wiley]

some other posts written by other players

Yes, here's some other posts written by other players that may clear things up for you.

I'm doing the stroke, but at a lesser level than CJ, if that makes sense. It's not my natural way of stroking, so I'm taking it in bite size pieces.

The first thing I learned to do is cock/lock my wrist. This technique is individual because of the grip each one of us has. It made sense to me to limit any unknown and unnecessary movements in my motion. Locking the wrist takes away the urge to steer a shot for me. I now know I was aiming correctly, but letting my eyes second guess my stroke at the last instant. Slight movements made some shots go off line. Visual schizo stroke.

Try locking the wrist for a few hours. It will feel restrictive and mechanical at first. Eventually you will find your fingers start to come into play in the stroke and your sense of touch will start to come back. I found I can still get all kinds of spin after practicing it for a while. My draw shots are more accurate and controllable. I can really cinch long shots and find distance isn't as much of a factor. Just the angle.

Then, I started and am still working on the idea of finishing the stroke opposite of everything I ever knew. What's the risk? Or more correctly, am I playing on the Mosconi Cup Team?

I'll take what works, and put it in my tool box. The mental part of what CJ has presented in this and other threads is very strong. It pisses me off after all these years playing with lots of pros, I learn more from somebody who doesn't even know me than all of them put together! I even went on the road with some of them and risked my a$$ and my bankroll.

Best,
Mike

Quote:
Originally Posted by sfleinen View Post
Jeff:

Like CJ said, you might be taking the "don't use the biceps" thing a little too literally. You will flex at the elbow, but it's a passive flex -- no power behind it. Basically, your biceps are "allowing the elbow to bend." All the power of the cue moving forward comes from you flexing your wrist downwards, as if you're trying to "swat" your bridge hand with the cue, except the cue is already in contact with your bridge hand.

Try it -- pre-cock your wrist (radial deviation -- towards your thumb) at the "Set" position, and then push your wrist downwards (ulnar deviation -- towards the pinkie) to press the cue downwards onto your bridge hand. Also, allow your biceps to "let" the arm bend at the elbow, thus allowing the cue to move forward. It doesn't make sense until you try it, but once you do this correctly the first time, you'll "get it." Push the wrist downwards onto your bridge hand, and "let" the cue move forward over your bridge hand.

Hope this helps!
-Sean

 

[CJ Wiley]

- It's difficult to explain these techniques without different points of view

The main thing I was told by Omaha John when I was developing my game in my teenage years is to do "Triceps Push Ups" to develop the ability to accelerate the cue (which gives your game power and precision). John used to do these type of "push ups" every day when were traveling (he also ran 5 miles every morning)......I would never recommend regular push ups, but when you do them facing up they seem to target the ideal "pool muscle".

Here's another post that explains more about the type of stroke I'm referring to (in other player's descriptions too) - It's difficult to explain these techniques in writing, so it's great to hear several "points of view". . . . . . . .

Quote:
Originally Posted by Hawk View Post
Quote:
Originally Posted by measureman View Post
This is all getting a bit over thought. It's just a simple flick of the hand forward as you contact the cue ball.Maybe 2 inches or less. Very little forward motion. I have been doing it for over 50 years and I don't even think about it. It just comes naturally.
Just a short forward flick. Pretty simple.

This is the description I found most helpful in the "wrist" thread. Once you are aware of it you spot different players using it.
The problem with this description is, "what is a 'forward' flick and what is a 'backward' flick?" Are we talking "forward" as in related the wrist -- i.e. flicking the wrist forward towards the pinkie in an ulnar deviation move? Or are we talking "forward" as in relation to the cue -- flicking the wrist in the same direction that the cue is traveling (radial deviation)?

If you watch the great breakdown of Shane's stroke by "DeadStick," you'll see that Shane uses the latter -- he flicks his wrist in the same direction that the cue is traveling, or, he "radially deviates."

But what CJ is describing, is flicking your wrist in the OPPOSITE direction -- flicking your wrist towards the hand's pinkie (ulnar deviation), which PRESSES THE CUE DOWN upon your bridge hand (you'll actually feel the increased pressure upon your bridge hand -- that's why it's important that your hands be clean and dry). The result is that the cue travels forward automatically. The biceps muscle of the grip-hand's arm is "just along for the ride." -Sean