front foot in stance

Some instructors will say point the lead foot at the pocket, I know Ekkes does when implementing the SEE System to a player.

Pointing the toe outwards, to the left for a right handed player adds to stability in the stance. I think rather than pointing to the desired pocket its more important to align it relative to the shot line. By this I mean it could be outwards, inwards or parallel to the shot line. If you angle the feet, and entire body the same way to the shot line then that is what is going to give you maximum consistency and give you an understanding of why you miss certain shots.
 
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Donny Lutz said:
Tried to point my lead foot at the pocket behind me on a bank shot, and now I can't walk...
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Hahahaha :D


On the topic, it usually comes naturally for me to line my right foot and it's toes in the direction of the shot line. As I was a beginner player I naturally used the snooker stance, or something like it. Now I use snooker stance on 90% of the shots. Every once in a while I have to remind myself to point my right foot in the right direction, tho.

I feel like my accuracy is way better when I point my right foot on line with the shot.
 
AtLarge said:
Note that "towards the intended pocket" (post #1) and "a little more onto the shot line" (post #2) are often different directions.
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That is correct. I wonder how this works on a bank? I don't think I would be able to point toe to pocket in that situation.:D
(oops, I just saw someone beat me to it, prematuretypulation I suffer from)
 
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CJ Wiley said:
It's important to "set" the left side of the body relative to the "line of the shot" every time so both sides of your body (pool's a two sided game) are consistent day in, and day out. Distance from the cue ball is also important to make sure you're body is connected to the cue ball properly.

I recommend putting the left foot PARALLEL to the "line of the shot" so it's easy.

At the advanced levels you will actually use your left foot to favor one side of the pocket or the other. The feet are the foundation of the stroke, so it's important to move your feet to change your shot line slightly instead of interfering with your upper body angles. 'The Game is the Teacher'
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After I saw you describe this on your DVD, I realized my front foot, as I stepped in was at a forty five degree angle with the line of the shot. I have since turned it to point parallel to the shot line and it feels much more consistent with a true stroke straight out from my body.

Also by pointing the left foot parallel to the line of shot, it feels as though it would take work to stroke out of line, it can't just happen on accident. And yes, I favor one side of the pocket now so the left foot is key for that as well.
 
For me,

My back foot (right) is perpendicular to the shot line, and my front foot (left) is at a 30 degree angle through the shot line (with the heel to the left of the shot line, and the big toe to the right of the shot line --- again at a 30 degree angle), and this is comfortable for me.

I'm also quite versatile shooting right handed with my right foot forward ;)
 
Pidge said:
Some instructors will say point the lead foot at the pocket, I know Ekkes does when implementing the SEE System to a player.

Pointing the toe outwards, to the left for a right handed player adds to stability in the stance. I think rather than pointing to the desired pocket its more important to align it relative to the shot line. By this I mean it could be outwards, inwards or parallel to the shot line. If you angle the feet, and entire body the same way to the shot line then that is what is going to give you maximum consistency and give you an understanding of why you miss certain shots.
Click to expand...

That's impossible to point the toe at a pocket on many shots. An obvious example that demonstrates that is a bank or kick shot.

If I have a severe cut to the left, and I'm right handed, how can I possibly point my left foot towards that pocket?

I think the reference point HAS TO BE THE CUE BALL, not one of the 6 pockets whose position, relative to my left foot, varies on almost every shot...but prove us wrong.

Jeff Livingston
 
fastone371 said:
That is correct. I wonder how this works on a bank? I don't think I would be able to point toe to pocket in that situation.:D
(oops, I just saw someone beat me to it, prematuretypulation I suffer from)
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lol....I'm waaaaaaaaaaay behind the 8 ball on this one.....carry on.....:embarrassed2:


Jeff Livingston
 
thanks

This thread reminds me of a joke told by Dennis Taylor on his "cue the laughter" video.
Haha
 
chefjeff said:
That's impossible to point the toe at a pocket on many shots. An obvious example that demonstrates that is a bank or kick shot.

If I have a severe cut to the left, and I'm right handed, how can I possibly point my left foot towards that pocket?

I think the reference point HAS TO BE THE CUE BALL, not one of the 6 pockets whose position, relative to my left foot, varies on almost every shot...but prove us wrong.

Jeff Livingston
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I never said point towards the pocket, I said on some shots Ekkes would suggest pointing in the direction of the pocket to angle the body a certain way. And obviously only on a direct pot.

Pointing or angling your body to the line of the shot is the best way to go about aligning the same. The shot line doesn't change much its always straight...ish. All that varies is the direction the shot line goes in.
 
Pidge said:
I never said point towards the pocket, I said on some shots Ekkes would suggest pointing in the direction of the pocket to angle the body a certain way. And obviously only on a direct pot.

Pointing or angling your body to the line of the shot is the best way to go about aligning the same. The shot line doesn't change much its always straight...ish. All that varies is the direction the shot line goes in.
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That makes more sense, but it seems backwards. I'd think if cutting to the right, for example, you'd want to have your foot more towards the left of the cueball closer to the contact point which is on the left.

What am I missing?

Jeff Livingston
 
chefjeff said:
That makes more sense, but it seems backwards. I'd think if cutting to the right, for example, you'd want to have your foot more towards the left of the cueball closer to the contact point which is on the left.

What am I missing?

Jeff Livingston
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You understand that by shot line I mean line the CB takes, not the line the OB takes? Just need to clear that up.

For example, my heel of my right, back foot is always on the line of the shot through centre cue ball, my left lead foot is out and angled slightly outward from the line of the shot, rather than in front of me like a tradition pool stance. Its very square to the CBs travel and so are the hips and shoulders. So my left foot isn't really a lead leg at all, its neither in front or behind. The lead leg isn't as important in my stance as say where my right leg is as far as aligning my self, but it plays its part in some form or another so I like to keep it, or rather keep the line from heel to heel at the same angle relative to the line the CB will travel as much as I can purely for repetitiveness in my PSR.

I don't know if I've done a good job explaining this, as what normally sounds brilliant in my head rarely translates into written text! :)
 
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Pidge said:
You understand that by shot line I mean line the CB takes, not the line the OB takes? Just need to clear that up.

For example, my heel of my right, back foot is always on the line of the shot through centre cue ball, my left lead foot is out and angled slightly outward from the line of the shot, rather than in front of me like a tradition pool stance. Its very square to the CBs travel and so are the hips and shoulders. So my left foot isn't really a lead leg at all, its neither in front or behind. The lead leg isn't as important in my stance as say where my right leg is as far as aligning my self, but it plays its part in some form or another so I like to keep it, or rather keep the line from heel to heel at the same angle relative to the line the CB will travel as much as I can purely for repetitiveness in my PSR.

I don't know if I've done a good job explaining this, as what normally sounds brilliant in my head rarely translates into written text! :)
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Thanks for trying.

Btw, I had an Auntie Pidge, but that was just her nickname and she wasn't my aunt but my step grandmother. Never knew what it came from.

Jeff Livingston
 
Many times this will happen and the player is not even aware of it.

Stroking said:
anything special about pointing your big toe of front foot towards the intended pocket? Someone told me about it and I have noticed a few people doing since then.
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When in the preshot with your dominant eye in the correct position I teach to plant the back foot. By keeping your eyes right on the way down your stance and stroke will follow pretty naturally.

Sometimes the front foot will end up too inline with the shot and the back foot. this will cause a player to wobble right to left and not even know it. This makes it hard to keep the shot in line.

By turning the front foot out a little or towards the pocket you are actually widening your stance. Usually just a little bit, like turning the toe towards the pocket is enough but sometimes the front foot needs to be moved over an inch or even 2 to make sure you stay steady with the eyes and body..

This happens allot when a player is shooting over a ball or jacked up a little.

My opinion is it solidifies the stance allowing the player to hold the line of the shot.

In over 2,000 lessons in the last 5 years, I can't tell you how many players I had to move the whole foot over but usually pointing the toe will be enough.

Some players like me with bad knees would be crippled if they tried to point their toe at the shot.

Just like some of us would be a wreck if we tried to use a snooker stance.

Experiment while you are down on a shot and point your toe forward. Then do it and shift your whole foot over an inch.

Accomplishes the same thing. Feel how solid that makes your stance and really helps you stay steady with the sighting and aiming.

Good Luck......
 
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"check and balance" that keeps my stance/shot line calibrated correctly.

Cardigan Kid said:
After I saw you describe this on your DVD, I realized my front foot, as I stepped in was at a forty five degree angle with the line of the shot. I have since turned it to point parallel to the shot line and it feels much more consistent with a true stroke straight out from my body.

Also by pointing the left foot parallel to the line of shot, it feels as though it would take work to stroke out of line, it can't just happen on accident. And yes, I favor one side of the pocket now so the left foot is key for that as well.
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The left foot can act as a "sight" for you shot line.....sometimes I point my foot to favor the outside of the pocket, and align to the inside.....then use TOI to hit the center.

This is merely a "check and balance" that keeps my stance/shot line calibrated correctly.
 
Makes the stance more solid..........

boogeyman said:
Although I respect the techniques of others, I see absolutely no reason how orienting the foot (toes?) affects any shot.
I can see how golf necessitates paying "attention" to the lower extremities, namely the hips, legs, and by definition, the feet.
However, these elements are truly part and parcel of the moving golf shot. The only thing in pool that "moves" is the arm.

Why is there a need to "point" anything other one's cue—and eyes?
Comfort should be the only prerequisite for the feet and the rest of the "incidental" body.
Is this simply another shooting "secret?"
Oh brother (where art thou)!
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Basically what this does by pointing the toe out more or towards the target, it solidifies the stance.

You can do more by just moving your whole front foot over a little and forget pointing the toe.

I'm 61 and have some knee trouble like many players and pointing my toe straight is too hard on the inside of the knee.

The main thing is that it makes your stance more solid and keeps you from rocking back and forth a little.

No secret but many players don't know the real reason.

Make the stance more solid. That's it......
 
CJ Wiley said:
The left foot can act as a "sight" for you shot line.....sometimes I point my foot to favor the outside of the pocket, and align to the inside.....then use TOI to hit the center.

This is merely a "check and balance" that keeps my stance/shot line calibrated correctly.
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I've read the posts, watched the video, talked with some players and I still have NO CLUE WHAT ANY POCKET has to do with set up. How does one set up "to the pocket" when kicking, e.g.? Or cutting, for that matter. The ways of a shot are to hit the cueball at some target (object ball, rail spot on the wall, etc) , so how can anything but that target determine the set up?

I'm slow so forgive me for asking again. I'm in the middle of working on my left foot position and I know you guys are smart about such things, but I still don't get why one of the six pockets has crap to do with the set-up.

Jeff Livingston
 
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