Getting your body out of the way

M

Macint0sh

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
I'm working on devoloping an efficient stroke and I feel that I'm making progress. I'm considering my options conserning getting formal instruction, but since that would include a bit of travelling as well as some pretty stiff expenses, I'm working on my own for the time being.

Anyway, lately I've been working on getting down on the line of the shot correctly. The thing is that I feel that alot of the time get my left leg (I'm a southpaw) gets in the way of the shot, meaning that for the cue to go along a straight line it would have to go through my hip/leg.

I've tried a few ways of getting down on the shot, (stand square to the shot then shift your body ala jimmy reid, anchor your front leg then step back and swing down etc.), but I haven't found them to really work for me.

Any pointers on getting your body out of the way would be great.
 
I had this problem for a long time, here are a few suggestions that worked for me. Look closely at your stance and where your feet are relative to the line of the shot, a good guideline is to have you rear (right for you) toe on the line of the shot and you left toe a little to the left of the shot. You can then turn your lower body out of the way of the shot while keeping your shoulders near your ears.

Another thing to look at is where you are holding the cue. Try holding the cue literally away from your body, then setting up around it. This is what helped me, after practicing holding the cue forward and away from my body I got plenty of room to stroke.

The guideline I use now to "remind" me of good alignment is to stand up and literally hold the cue as though I am going to speak into it like a microphone, then setting up around it. I was too used to holding the cue and my elbow near my body, and although this sounds goofy its helped me bring my game up quite a bit. Not saying it'll work for you but just sharing.
 
stroke/stance/alignment...

I sent you a PM!
Zim
Macint0sh said:
I'm working on devoloping an efficient stroke and I feel that I'm making progress. I'm considering my options conserning getting formal instruction, but since that would include a bit of travelling as well as some pretty stiff expenses, I'm working on my own for the time being.

Anyway, lately I've been working on getting down on the line of the shot correctly. The thing is that I feel that alot of the time get my left leg (I'm a southpaw) gets in the way of the shot, meaning that for the cue to go along a straight line it would have to go through my hip/leg.

I've tried a few ways of getting down on the shot, (stand square to the shot then shift your body ala jimmy reid, anchor your front leg then step back and swing down etc.), but I haven't found them to really work for me.

Any pointers on getting your body out of the way would be great.
Click to expand...
 
Get your left toe set up under the butt of the cue and then stand far enough back from the cb that you can extend your right arm fully straight out. This turns the upper body out of the way and at the end of the shot your left hand will end up at you chest....instead of your lower rib. The left hand will grasp the cue at the back of the wrap, maybe off the wrap. I was shown this at my last lesson; I have made it habit and it works great for me. I'm much better alinged.

It helps me to stand in back of the cb to aim while standing up, standing perpendicular to the shot and move around so that my chin is on the shot line. After I've seen the angle and the ghost ball then move into the shot keeping the chin alinged as I place my feet. After you get down on the shot and get alinged stop and look where the butt of the cue is and if necessary shit your back foot so that the toe is under the butt. After you do this a few times and become accustomed to moving into the shot in your own way you'll be able to move your feet into postion properly every time and it will make a big difference.

I hope this is clear. Feel free to ask if you want more claification. It's this process that I"ve been working on for the last month since my most recent lesson.
 
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and if necessary shit your back foot so that the toe is under the butt.
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Sounds like you've mastered the mental and physical game, now you just have to work on the gastrointestinal game :D .
 
Anytime Macintosh! After putting my tips into your practice routine a few times, let us know what differences you notice in your game!

Thanks,
Zim
 
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