Dropping the elbow about 3 inches .

Correct Neil.

And for the 3rd time, just make the cue doesn't deviate to the left or right.

When dropping before contact, the tip will have a tendency to move upwards and not hit the intended spot on the CB.

Obviously this can be avoided with proper technique and timing, but I'm not convinced of it's benefit even if executed properly.
 
Correct Neil.

And for the 3rd time, just make the cue doesn't deviate to the left or right.

When dropping before contact, the tip will have a tendency to move upwards and not hit the intended spot on the CB.

Obviously this can be avoided with proper technique and timing, but I'm not convinced of it's benefit even if executed properly.
The cue can deviate left or right, up or down as long as its after contact. Mark Selby used to have a wrist turn in his stroke, but always after the CB was struck. He curled his wrist inwards, which meant the tip went right after contact. He still had one of the truest strokes I've seen.

If you don't want any movement after contact, don't just focus on left or right. Make sure you stop the up and down movement also. A persons stroke represents how their backstroke was performed, so if you pull straight back nice and slow, you will cue through the CB nice and straight.
 
My recommendation is that if you have any reservations about it, definitely don't try it, because you will most likely give up too early and not do the justice to the process.

It's okay guys --- you can live without it.
 
Why do you get so defensive if someone questions what you're putting out there?

The thing I like about guys like Scott Lee and RandyG is even though I don't always agree with what they say, at least they take the time to answer questions and not hide behind vague responses. In your defense, you've helped me out a lot in the past. It's just on this particular topic (elbow drop before contact), you haven't done anything except say how I'm limiting myself without actually providing any proof on why your method is superior.

I'm not asking for a lesson or for you to give away your secrets. What I would like is examples, whether through video or diagram, of shots (that would actually be attempted in-game) that can only be accomplished by dropping the elbow before contact.
 
In Mark Wilson's book, he refers to "catastrophic elbow drop", which I took as a mika or Mike Davis stroke. Where if you a are beginning and you try to emulate that you will not be as efficient.

I emailed him about the topic....

I wrote:
One ultimate question I have is on pro grade follow. you advocate the tip pointing downwards on your stroke, but when shooting pro grade follow I have always finished my tip parallel with the aiming point of high cue ball. Is the tip pointing towards the table true for all shots? Or when aiming high should I follow straight through to gain the most follow?

On power draw or power follow shots, many pros with exceptional fundamentals (niels feijen, shane) have a slight elbow drop because of where the tip follow needs to go. And I remember you writing don't copy the pros exactly because you could pick up bad habits that take hours to overcome.

Here was Mr. Wilson's reply:

As the elbow remains stationary the grip hand moves into your shoulder area on all strokes. Shoot some shots and just before the backswing close your eyes and feel for the elbow still and grip hand landing, then open your eyes and observe the tip.


After hours of practice and more players, the slight elbow drop is somewhat natural of you are using a long bridge length, like souquet does. But if in short distances, like straight pool scenario, their elbow will be exactly still with the follow through being not as extreme.
 
I think since Kim Davenport and Buddy Hall trained on stroking through a coca cola or plastic bottle, they incorporated the elbow drop to hit the end of those bottles.
 
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