exercise for stroke?

[metallicarokerx]

well i can play really damn good when my stroke is straight.. i have come to find out the reason i only play good at times is because i cant keep it straight... do you guys know any excercises other than stroking through a bottle.. it goes off the straight line when i go through its not like in my practice stroke or anything so the bottle doesnt really work because i need somthing 10-12 inches to go through.. thanks for the help guys

 

[Russ Chewning]

well i can play really damn good when my stroke is straight.. i have come to find out the reason i only play good at times is because i cant keep it straight... do you guys know any excercises other than stroking through a bottle.. it goes off the straight line when i go through its not like in my practice stroke or anything so the bottle doesnt really work because i need somthing 10-12 inches to go through.. thanks for the help guys

Get a big liquor bottle. Also, get some lessons to make sure your stance and alignment is proper. You can stroke into a bottle all day long and do well, and if your stance is jacked, as soon as the bottle goes away, so does the straightness.

Russ

 

[TommyT]

well i can play really damn good when my stroke is straight.. i have come to find out the reason i only play good at times is because i cant keep it straight... do you guys know any excercises other than stroking through a bottle.. it goes off the straight line when i go through its not like in my practice stroke or anything so the bottle doesnt really work because i need somthing 10-12 inches to go through.. thanks for the help guys

Try doing pushups till your arms give out. Then try to shoot some straight in shots. When your strength comes back your stroke will be much better.

TommyT

 

[Russ Chewning]

Try doing pushups till your arms give out. Then try to shoot some straight in shots. When your strength comes back your stroke will be much better.

TommyT

?????????????

This will do absolutely nothing if his stance is off...

Russ

 

[PKM]

Joe Tucker's 3rd eye trainer.

 

[tpdtom]

?????????????

This will do absolutely nothing if his stance is off...

Russ

Ditto, and megadittos to that ! Your entire stance, right foot(if you're right handed), chin, and cue need to be all on the same plane. There's a lot more, but the best thing is to be analyzed by a certified BCA instructor. Practice can only bring you to the level that's achievable within the framework of your fundamentals. I really wish someone had told me this 30 years ago, but all we had was Mosconi's little book. In the meantime, you can get Jerry Briesath's DVD that he made for the BCA, "How to play pool right" . It'll be the best $25 bucks you ever spent...Tom
http://poollessons.com/videos.html

 

[Scottster]

well i can play really damn good when my stroke is straight.. i have come to find out the reason i only play good at times is because i cant keep it straight... do you guys know any excercises other than stroking through a bottle.. it goes off the straight line when i go through its not like in my practice stroke or anything so the bottle doesnt really work because i need somthing 10-12 inches to go through.. thanks for the help guys

Here's a solid suggestion. Start with 2 shots.

Place the cueball on the footspot (where you rack the balls).

For the first shot, line up a straight in shot with one of the corners at the head of the table, about 3 feet from the cue ball (or 2nd diamond up the long rail) and hit centerball.


Now go back and get ready to address the cueball. Before you do, find the balance point of your cue and hold it in your right hand (if you are right handed) and hold the cue in your arm and relax. You will notice the cue tip will naturally start to turn counter clockwise (towards your body)when it comes to rest pointing wherever it is pointing, that is your natural body alignment.

Now you want move your feet until the cue (still resting at your side) falls in line with the shot. Once this happens move your right hand back to the proper area on the cue to execute the shot. Get down on the ball, reaffirm your line of sight, find where you want to strike the cue ball. Take 3 practice swings, looking at where you are going to strike the cue ball each time. Stop look at the object ball, start your slow backswing, make a slight pause at the end of your backswing begin your forward swing accelerating straight through the cueball and hold your position until the ball is pocketed and the cueball stops moving. Then look at your cue tip position in correlation to the spot on the table. Your cue tip should be straight through the center of the spot stopping four to six inches past the spot if you were lined up and executed the shot correctly.

For the second shot place the CB on the spot, and the OB one diamond from the pocket on the short rail, and one diamond up the long rail from the pocket and hit high center on the CB. Again the cue tip should be straight through the center of the spot about four to six inches past the spot.

Hope this helps

 

[JimS]

Get lessons.

 

[ceebee]

At your age, I would suggest getting some lessons. Try to find a BCA Instructor, who is close to your home. The Instructor can become your Coach as you grow to become a very good player.

You can learn to play Pocket Billiards the easy way, with a good instructor or you can try to do it the hard way & learn what you can over the next 20 years, if you learn it at all.

Good Luck in your quest...

 

[catscradle]

well i can play really damn good when my stroke is straight.. i have come to find out the reason i only play good at times is because i cant keep it straight... do you guys know any excercises other than stroking through a bottle.. it goes off the straight line when i go through its not like in my practice stroke or anything so the bottle doesnt really work because i need somthing 10-12 inches to go through.. thanks for the help guys

I'd try to get hooked up with Randy G's Pool School if it swings through your way and you can afford it. Or Scott Lee if he comes your way independently. If not, try to find a GOOD local instructor. I wouldn't rely too heavily on BCA certified, there are a lot of good instructors that aren't certified and a lot of poor ones who are. You can find a good instructor in either category or a bad one in either category. You may have to go through a few to find one that meshes with your personality, but that is part of what defines a good instructor for you.
Study accu-stats tapes of Buddy Hall who I think has an absolutely beautiful stroke.
Other than that I found the "Stroke Trainer" helped me, until a somewhat arthritic elbow made it problematic doing all those reps. It is kind of pricey, but I wouldn't be surprised if somebody on this forum has one in the basement with an inch of dust on it they would let go cheap.

 

[acedotcom]

I lay a yard stick on the table and practice stroking along its edge, being careful to stay on line for the entire length of the stroke. Slow your stroke down and exaggerate the length of it. With repetition, you will incorporate these motions into your regular stroke.

 

[rayjay]

After each shot, get into the habit of checking where your cue tip is...you'll see whether it's going to the right or left or up. This also helps you to stay down on the shot. Also, when you feel your stroke is off while playing, line up on the rail where it meets the cloth, and take some strokes on top of that line and watch your cue, and straighten out the stroke 7-8 times. I also agree with all the above recommendations for lessons, it really helps to have someone competent to analyze your stance and stroke mechanics...you may be doing something weird with your shoulder, forearm, grip, etc.

 

[pbat2751]

I'd try to get hooked up with Randy G's Pool School if it swings through your way and you can afford it. Or Scott Lee if he comes your way independently. If not, try to find a GOOD local instructor. I wouldn't rely too heavily on BCA certified, there are a lot of good instructors that aren't certified and a lot of poor ones who are. You can find a good instructor in either category or a bad one in either category. You may have to go through a few to find one that meshes with your personality, but that is part of what defines a good instructor for you.
Study accu-stats tapes of Buddy Hall who I think has an absolutely beautiful stroke.
Other than that I found the "Stroke Trainer" helped me, until a somewhat arthritic elbow made it problematic doing all those reps. It is kind of pricey, but I wouldn't be surprised if somebody on this forum has one in the basement with an inch of dust on it they would let go cheap.

Really?????

How cheap?

 

[PROG8R]

Get married. That will get you in stroke in a hurry!!

 

[catscradle]

Really?????

How cheap?

You know me PBat, I never sell anything even if it isn't used anymore. But for you and only for you, you can borrow it indefinitely.

 

[pbat2751]

You know me PBat, I never sell anything even if it isn't used anymore. But for you and only for you, you can borrow it indefinitely.

LOL.... I'll have to take you up on that.