Evolution of pool stances

[spliced]

I was watching the Cisero murphy vs. Lassiter match and began to notice their stances. Both of the players were very upright, heads a foot or two above the cue. More like 3 cushion players stand. It seems like all the older players shot this way (Mosconi, Caras, Greenleaf, Crane), many with great results. If you check out the legendary stars of pocket billiards, they all shoot this way.

As time went on, it seems, players began to get lower and lower over the cue, much more like a snooker player, with the chin right over the cue.

so...

Why did this change occur? It seems to me that the pendulum swing requires the player be as low as possible. The older players had swings that are more of a double fulcrum. I find it very difficult to play standing so upright. But the worlds highest run was accomplished with such a stance.

The older players stance also allowed them to use a shorter cue, and hold the cue much closer to the balance point. When Mosconi talks about holding a cue near the balance point in his book, i think it's because he is talking about the upright stance. Such advice makes no sense with the snooker stance. With the lower stance, the back arm has to move back along the handle, requiring some players (like me) to hold the cue at the very rear, in order to achieve a proper pendulum stroke. This stance may be responsible for the evolution of longer cues.

Just wondering everyones opinion on the subject. How would you describe your stance. Does one offer an advantage over the other?
Just food for thought.

 

[poolpro]

I think you made some good points and observations.


As far as advantages. I feel that when using a higher stance, you can see the table as a whole a lot better as far a layout, angles, and patterns.

By going lower, you will gain accuracy which is ideal for say a long cut thin cut shot.

I feel that is what the tradeoff is, and a lot of people will find the exact balance that works for them.


I will get much lower on shots that require maximum accuracy, and maybe stand a bit higher for a simpler shot where I am spinning the cueball off three rails around the table.

So it seems obvious that snooker players will have a very low stance for accuracy ( small balls an pockets) and 3C players will stand higher to see the whole table better and the overall shot and cueball path is more important than a super accurate hit on the ball.

A lot of pool players stances will be some where in between these two extremes.

just my take

 

[Bob Jewett]

This article shows some earlier stances: http://www.sfbilliards.com/articles/2004-03.pdf

Some of it is tradition, but I think there is also something to the idea of seeing the whole table from a higher position.

I think that a pendulum stroke is no harder from a higher stance, but the upper arm will be in a different position, and the grip hand may be more forward on the stick.

 

[Gerry]

for the longest time I have been switching back n forth between the snooker style and the old skool 14.1 style, and now I have learned to blend them.

For standard cut shots I stand upright....because I can feel the total shot and see the whole table.

For long tough "straight ins" or shots with less than maybe 10 deg. cut I get my chin down on the cue because I can see the ball and pocket relationship.

NOW!....I'm still working on "back cuts"....I have the most trouble when I'm down on the shot, and can't see the pocket.......anyone have any suggestions?

thanx, G.

 

[kingwang]

Hey I have a question. Why do almost all new players always shoot upright? I always thought that down right on the cue was the right way to play.

 

[Skeezicks]

I'm still working on "back cuts"....I have the most trouble when I'm down on the shot, and can't see the pocket.......anyone have any suggestions?

the more erect stance
IMO

 

[vagabond]

I was watching the Cisero murphy vs. Lassiter match and began to notice their stances.

Just wondering everyones opinion on the subject. How would you describe your stance. Does one offer an advantage over the other?
Just food for thought.

It then raises a question:Is the stance that important in potting the balls?


Highest records in straight pool were made with semi upright stance.with low lying stance johny Archer ran 15 games in a row in toledo,ohio against Bustamonti.Both schools of thought have produced greatest players on planet earth.
My STANCE on this ISSUE is : Stance should be physically and mentally comfortable to the person shooting the Ball but not to the 'know it all ' railbirds.