Earl Strickland Cue Angle

HawaiianEye

HawaiianEye

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
I've been watching Earl playing quite a bit online and I've noticed that the angle of his cue is usually anything but "level".

It seems that he is always "coming down" into the cue ball instead of being level and coming at it from table level...even when he is far away from the rail. I think it is because he uses a lot of spin and swerve to get around the table, but he also uses it to "kill" the cue ball as needed.

He can sure generate a LOT of movement on the cue ball with what seems to be very little effort on his part. I'm sure his perfect timing has a lot to do with it.
 
Also

I have also noticed exactly what you have described. It seems like a lot of the American ( men ) have their own unique style like Hopkins, McCready, Earl etc. the one thing they all seem to have in common is they are world beaters. The Europeans seem to have a more traditional stroke.
 
HawaiianEye said:
I've been watching Earl playing quite a bit online and I've noticed that the angle of his cue is usually anything but "level".

It seems that he is always "coming down" into the cue ball instead of being level and coming at it from table level...even when he is far away from the rail. I think it is because he uses a lot of spin and swerve to get around the table, but he also uses it to "kill" the cue ball as needed.

He can sure generate a LOT of movement on the cue ball with what seems to be very little effort on his part. I'm sure his perfect timing has a lot to do with it.
Click to expand...

He likes pinning the CB just like CJ taught him
 
Amazing stroke

Earl has an amazing stroke. It is fun to watch the power he has. I wish I could copy it.
 
It sounds simple..,

HawaiianEye said:
I've been watching Earl playing quite a bit online and I've noticed that the angle of his cue is usually anything but "level".

It seems that he is always "coming down" into the cue ball instead of being level and coming at it from table level...even when he is far away from the rail. I think it is because he uses a lot of spin and swerve to get around the table, but he also uses it to "kill" the cue ball as needed.
.
Click to expand...

A level cue sounds simple, but its not so simple to execute. There are some shots that it might matter on, it doesn't seem to matter on most?
 
HawaiianEye said:
I've been watching Earl playing quite a bit online and I've noticed that the angle of his cue is usually anything but "level".

It seems that he is always "coming down" into the cue ball instead of being level and coming at it from table level...even when he is far away from the rail. I think it is because he uses a lot of spin and swerve to get around the table, but he also uses it to "kill" the cue ball as needed.

He can sure generate a LOT of movement on the cue ball with what seems to be very little effort on his part. I'm sure his perfect timing has a lot to do with it.
Click to expand...

"Earl Strickland Warming Up" on YouTube
Earl Strickland Warming Up: https://youtu.be/6FL5N-j-87o

I could watch that guy practice for hours. Amazing stroke.Amazing action on the cue ball.
His timing with the elbow drop even though he is aiming low and stroking high through the cue ball is not of this earth.
 
franko said:
I have also noticed exactly what you have described. It seems like a lot of the American ( men ) have their own unique style like Hopkins, McCready, Earl etc. the one thing they all seem to have in common is they are world beaters. The Europeans seem to have a more traditional stroke.
Click to expand...

Like Oliver Ortmann ? Honestly, regardless of how someone addressed the CB, studying a particular stroke and thinking it is more or less correct than another, is useless because it works for them has nothing to do if it will work for the next guy. There are certainly mainstream guidelines to expand on, but I don't think it can be found in anyones particular style.

Everyone is different. We see different, we think different, stand different and play different. I do believe that for that split fraction of a second the cue tip meets the CB, there is a specific way to get it there accurately. I just think it's both mentally and physically different for all of us.
 
Loved watching him practice and put on a show, a few shots from his exhibition earlier this year at our place

16786817369_079077414c_b.jpg
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Earl Strickland Machine Gun Shot by Shrives, on Flickr[/IMG]


Earl Strickland Down On The 4 by Shrives, on Flickr


Earl Strickland Trick Shot by Shrives, on Flickr
 
HawaiianEye said:
I've been watching Earl playing quite a bit online and I've noticed that the angle of his cue is usually anything but "level".

It seems that he is always "coming down" into the cue ball instead of being level and coming at it from table level...even when he is far away from the rail. I think it is because he uses a lot of spin and swerve to get around the table, but he also uses it to "kill" the cue ball as needed.

He can sure generate a LOT of movement on the cue ball with what seems to be very little effort on his part. I'm sure his perfect timing has a lot to do with it.
Click to expand...

I've noticed the same thing. Earl seems to go in the direction of the shot..... Which translates to a lot of top/forward roll and running English
 
Mark Wilson has said Earl is the master of the elevated cue.

Elevating the cue allows you to stun the cue ball sideways, farther than if you were to shoot with a level cue.
 
King T said:
A level cue sounds simple, but its not so simple to execute. There are some shots that it might matter on, it doesn't seem to matter on most?
Click to expand...
It matters on any shot with sidespin, intended or not, because it increases swerve.

pj
chgo
 
DAVE_M said:
With a 70" 25+oz cue, you need a wacky stroke.
Click to expand...

His cue is nowhere near that heavy. Without the extension in the butt I think it is 64". I have held and shot balls with that cue. It is surprisingly light. Probably weighs no more then 18.5 or so. Maybe with the extension closer to 20 or 21.

KMRUNOUT
 
At the right elevation and with the right stroke the swerve can help offset the effects of deflection and throw.

It's not hard once you get a feel for it and I use it for a number of shots, but to able to use it all the time like Earl is pretty insane.
 
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