Good players who do not look very good, while at the pool table, but still consistently run out.

Nobody has perfect mechanics. In fact I don't believe there is any such thing in reality.

Stange stance, strange stroke, strange shot choice, strange strategy.

Sure, if teaching or learning the fundamentals are important. Same with a coach fixing a problem in an advanced champion player. The coach is an advanced player. They know the ideal fundamentals, demonstrate them, and teach them.

I think this is part of what makes it all interesting, similar to other sports.

Champion golfers, tennis players, pitchers, quarterbacks, and more have quirks. Sometimes the quirks of a pro become a standard method.

In the end, no matter what, each is an individual player and there will be individual variations. Sometimes we think someone reaches excellence in spite of the quirks. I think sometimes we have to consider they achieved it because of those quirks.

Learn and train the best you can at the fundamentals, but play your own game. Be you.
 
Flash… Not a sign
Always getting shape… that’s a sign
Know what to look for.
No mistakes… that’s exciting to see!
 
straightline said:
I learned a ton about spinning the ball from guys with crappy form; this by way of shutting up while they strung racks. :ROFLMAO:

That side stroke should be taught. It moves as straight as any pendulum. You get an oblique ish aim but you might miss less. lol...
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That alone is enough to make me want to block you lol go shoot a gun side arm and see how that works out for you. No way that should be taught. 😂
 
Chopdoc said:
Nobody has perfect mechanics. In fact I don't believe there is any such thing in reality.

Stange stance, strange stroke, strange shot choice, strange strategy.

Sure, if teaching or learning the fundamentals are important. Same with a coach fixing a problem in an advanced champion player. The coach is an advanced player. They know the ideal fundamentals, demonstrate them, and teach them.

I think this is part of what makes it all interesting, similar to other sports.

Champion golfers, tennis players, pitchers, quarterbacks, and more have quirks. Sometimes the quirks of a pro become a standard method.

In the end, no matter what, each is an individual player and there will be individual variations. Sometimes we think someone reaches excellence in spite of the quirks. I think sometimes we have to consider they achieved it because of those quirks.

Learn and train the best you can at the fundamentals, but play your own game. Be you.
Click to expand...
I wouldn’t disagree..everyone is a little different but there are some basics that amateurs should stick with. Again comparing yourself to what a pro does is just silly. Not everyone is gifted enough to be a champion no matter how hard they work.
 
The biggest example of what the OP asked...IMHO is Allen Hopkins. Visually atrocious..but his results were Hall of fame.

I can't watch old tapes of him for more than 5 minutes.
 
krelldog said:
The biggest example of what the OP asked...IMHO is Allen Hopkins. Visually atrocious..but his results were Hall of fame.

I can't watch old tapes of him for more than 5 minutes.
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His 'Short piston' stroke was very effective/accurate! Plus I don't think he used much 'Sidespin', so it appeared he hit shots a little harder than most.
 
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Patrick Johnson said:
Without the side stroke your upper arm is vertical, so the cue only moves up and down (no sideways movement). With the side stroke your upper arm is not vertical, so the cue moves up and down and sideways.

pj
chgo
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Obviously the sidewinder can't be articulated as a pendulum and it does require full arm articulation BUT, done well, it just goes very straight.
 
trob said:
That alone is enough to make me want to block you lol go shoot a gun side arm and see how that works out for you. No way that should be taught. 😂
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Here's that gun fallacy again. Gun - remain motionless, squeeze trigger. The analogy should be club or some other swung weapon.
But seriously, AFAIC, Keith Mcready acquitted that side arm by a landslide.
 
straightline said:
Obviously the sidewinder can't be articulated as a pendulum and it does require full arm articulation BUT, done well, it just goes very straight.
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Like a piston stroke at an angle… I guess that’s geometrically plausible, if a little physiologically challenging. However they do it, Keith and other notable chicken wingers make it work.

pj
chgo
 
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heater451 said:
Do you happen to know the reasoning why he did so?
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My understanding is that he is still using a pendulum stroke but the swing is from the shoulder and the elbow is locked. If you can do that, it's just a longer pendulum, and power could be easier.
 
straightline said:
That side stroke should be taught. It moves as straight as any pendulum.
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Straighter, since it has to be restricted to a one dimensional line (a slanted piston stroke). A pendulum is simpler, only restricted to a vertical plane with vertical accuracy at contact ensured by careful setup and a fixed elbow.

pj
chgo
 
Patrick Johnson said:
Straighter, since it has to be restricted to a one dimensional line (a slanted piston stroke). A pendulum is simpler, only restricted to a vertical plane with vertical accuracy at contact ensured by careful setup and a fixed elbow.

pj
chgo
Click to expand...
Yeah straighter - linearuh. It can exceed the reliability of the basic pendulum stroke due to the continuous feedback built in though. Depends on the player's narcissist development. lol.
 
Part of a players stroke has to do with some of their physical traits, a player who is 6'3" is USUALLY going to have longer arms than a player who is 5'9", speed of stroke can't be taught, that to is something you are born with, these are not excuses but things that a player needs to recognize about themselves in order to maximize their strengths and minimize their weaknesses, in the end if you are stringing rack after rack together and competing with the best players in the world then you are doing what is right for you, if your not there yet don't be scared to try something new, I have a long way to go but working with a PBIA instructor has taught me things I doubt I would have figured out on my own and shaved years off of my learning curve, I love this sport and respect every player that plays at a high level, they are doing what works for them.😉
 
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