Grip position question

Roger Illinois

Roger Illinois

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
I have returned to play after a nearly 20 year retirement.
I thought that I could regain my old game, NOT YET.

I have noticed that I now grip the cue about 12" behind the balance point.
Do I need a longer cue, heavier cue (I now play with a 17-18 oz.).

Please give me your feedback and suggestions.
 
Hi Roger, welcome back.

You asked,I'll start.

The balance point of your cue has nothing to do with where you hold your cue.

To be absolutely in tune with your bio-mechanics you should:

"When your cue tip is resting at the cue ball your back hand (grip hand) should be directly below your elbow.

That means that people of different heights & arm lengths will hold their cue in different places."



Don't struggle too long. Maybe you could check and see when Scott Lee is in your area and you can get a days tune-up.

SPF=randyg
 
Roger...The idea promoted by Mosconi, that you're supposed to hold your cue just behind the balance point is WAY outdated...just like the outdated information that your bridge should be 6-8" and you're supposed to followthrough 4-6". All of these things are basic to the individual. I'm just a PM or phone call away, to help you "get back" that game you're looking for!

Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com

randyg said:
Don't struggle too long. Maybe you could check and see when Scott Lee is in your area and you can get a days tune-up.

SPF=randyg
Click to expand...
 
Interesting that this has come up these last couple of days. I've been struggling for the last 3-4 months, after making reasonably good progress for a beginner. I've tried to adjust several things that seemed out of whack, with little success.

Just this past weekend, my best buddy (who is also my primary teacher) was watching me, and at one point came out of the chair to take my cue away from me. He was checking the balance point, and then had me move my grip back further on the cue. Sure seems like the old-school description you folks are referencing here in this thread. (Which would be in character for my buddy, certainly.)

The interesting part is that I immediately began getting MUCH better action on the cue ball. Draw was significantly easier, as well as bottom left/right. With far less effort, which should lead to better control. Right? :p

I haven't had a lot of time to really work with the new (and probably original) position, (one that may very well have changed over the past few months) but when I get back to playing I'm gonna combine that position with Randy's instruction on where my grip-hand is in regards to my elbow. Hopefully it'll be a win-win for position all around, with both you folks and my buddies help!

(And hopefully I'll be back on the right track, with better all around results, too!)

Good stuff, guys. Thanks a bunch!
 
Holding your cue, where your hand falls directly under your elbow (when the tip is touching the CB), allows you to strike the CB very accurately...as it is the only time the cue is (or has to be) level, in a pendulum swing. As Randy said, missing where you think you're aiming, by even 1mm can cause a missed shot, missed position, or both. The correct place to hold your cue is based on the build of the player...whether that place is in front of, behind, or equal to the balance point of the cue.

Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com

justadub said:
Interesting that this has come up these last couple of days. I've been struggling for the last 3-4 months, after making reasonably good progress for a beginner. I've tried to adjust several things that seemed out of whack, with little success.

Just this past weekend, my best buddy (who is also my primary teacher) was watching me, and at one point came out of the chair to take my cue away from me. He was checking the balance point, and then had me move my grip back further on the cue. Sure seems like the old-school description you folks are referencing here in this thread. (Which would be in character for my buddy, certainly.)

The interesting part is that I immediately began getting MUCH better action on the cue ball. Draw was significantly easier, as well as bottom left/right. With far less effort, which should lead to better control. Right? :p

I haven't had a lot of time to really work with the new (and probably original) position, (one that may very well have changed over the past few months) but when I get back to playing I'm gonna combine that position with Randy's instruction on where my grip-hand is in regards to my elbow. Hopefully it'll be a win-win for position all around, with both you folks and my buddies help!

(And hopefully I'll be back on the right track, with better all around results, too!)

Good stuff, guys. Thanks a bunch!
Click to expand...
 
I stopped and hit a few tonight, not enough time to really practice, but enough to size things up. Turns out you guys and my buddy are both right, for me at least. The point on the cue where he suggested I grip it does leave my hand pretty much below my elbow. Neat, how that works out.

Given that I have a few months of bad habits to un-learn, I will have a bit of a learning curve ahead. But I do see how much more action I get on the cue ball, with the same or less effort. It's pretty amazing how easily I can get some draw on the ball now, versus having to really work at it and hit much harder than necessary the old way I was gripping the cue. Every shot requiring english is much easier to accomplish. Now I not only have to learn how to control it better, I have to guard against trying to apply english too often, when it probably isn't necessary. Good problem to have, if I gotta have problems! :p

I'm quite excited to get back to learning my game, all over again!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top