Heavy Stick for Stroke Practice?

Angle Detective

Angle Detective

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Just a thought for grooving a stroke. I've seen heavy clubs used in golf for grooving a golf swing, so I wonder if it would work in pool. Maybe a hollow metal cue filled with sand?
I would think that the momentum created by a heavy cue would help with the feel of an in-line stroke and emphasize out-of-line deviations.

Jeff
 
I would recommend practicing stop shots at different lengths. Pay attention to where your tip stops and any sidespin on the cueball. Once you master that, work on draw/follow in a straight line at different lengths. You can also get a lot of feedback from stroking the cueball down table and back to the cuetip in your finish position. If the cueball ends up to the right or left, then you probably hit off-center. Placing a small sticky dot on the ferrule will also let you know if you are rotating the cue in your stroke. Most shots are missed by a bad stroke and improper setup rather than aim. As for swinging a heavier cue, I wouldn't. Work on building up your legs and abdominals to give you a better foundation. Simply squatting your own body weight can do wonders for your stance and stamina.
 
Big C said:
I would recommend practicing stop shots at different lengths. Pay attention to where your tip stops and any sidespin on the cueball. Once you master that, work on draw/follow in a straight line at different lengths. You can also get a lot of feedback from stroking the cueball down table and back to the cuetip in your finish position. If the cueball ends up to the right or left, then you probably hit off-center. Placing a small sticky dot on the ferrule will also let you know if you are rotating the cue in your stroke. Most shots are missed by a bad stroke and improper setup rather than aim. As for swinging a heavier cue, I wouldn't. Work on building up your legs and abdominals to give you a better foundation. Simply squatting your own body weight can do wonders for your stance and stamina.
Click to expand...

Some good suggestions here. Just to clarify my point, the reason for the heavy stick isn't to build strength. The extra weight would only be for its momentum as a guide for feel.

Starting in small back and forth increments and working up to a fuller stroke, I visualize it taking over as a pendulum. You're sort of going along for the ride. If you've ever peddled a spin bike, it's the same effect. The heavy wheel creates momentum.

Jeff
 
The reason they put weights on baseball bats and then take them off is to help increase the power of the hit when stepping up to the plate.

With pool, that would be detrimental, methinks. A good stroke is, more often, a subtle stroke - not one that you suddenly get a bit more power off of because you trained your arm with a heavier cue.
 
ScottW said:
The reason they put weights on baseball bats and then take them off is to help increase the power of the hit when stepping up to the plate.

With pool, that would be detrimental, methinks. A good stroke is, more often, a subtle stroke - not one that you suddenly get a bit more power off of because you trained your arm with a heavier cue.
Click to expand...

i agree with you
 
It's not about strength training. The extra burden would be borne by the shoulder area not the lower arm. The extra weight would just help with momentum, actually taking the lower arm with it through the stroke. I think.

Jeff
 
bluepepper said:
It's not about strength training. The extra burden would be borne by the shoulder area not the lower arm. The extra weight would just help with momentum, actually taking the lower arm with it through the stroke. I think.

Jeff
Click to expand...

i agree with some of the other posters regarding the heavy bat is used to help build speed.

you might have some minimal benefit from what practicing with a heavy cue.....but i think it would actually be opposite. If you are relying on the heavier cue to "help momentum".....then whats going to happen when you do switch back to your lighter playing cue? I would think your follow thru would be worse than b4 cuz you wont have the weight to help you. I think youd be better served to just get good solid stroke with follow thru built into your muscle memory.
 
Actually, the reverse is true. Generally, we all need slower strokes, not stronger ones. If you can control a 17 oz cue, you'll stroke like a wizard with a 19oz. Going from a 22 oz, however, to a 19 will have you stroking as if you as sawing wood.

You might want to try a heavier cue ball, though. That will do the same thing, only in a much more effective manner.

Regards,
tim
 
Pool is entirely about muscle memory and most great pool players rely heavily on their positioning rather than their pocketing. I guess I can say I've been "blessed" with poor eye sight so I can attest to the fact that even though I am nearly blind without contact lenses, I can still play fairly well without them. If I were using a cue that was several ounces heavier than my normal playing cue, I'd be completely lost.
 
Wouldn't using a heavy cue to practice breaking work?

Since breaking is about getting as much snap into the stroke as possible, a heavier cue might help you develop that. Then when you are breaking with your normal break cue, the increased/improved snap/speed on the stroke might be more evident.
 
Jude Rosenstock said:
Pool is entirely about muscle memory and most great pool players rely heavily on their positioning rather than their pocketing. I guess I can say I've been "blessed" with poor eye sight so I can attest to the fact that even though I am nearly blind without contact lenses, I can still play fairly well without them. If I were using a cue that was several ounces heavier than my normal playing cue, I'd be completely lost.
Click to expand...

Following the idea that if you get great shape, you don't have tough shots, this makes sense. However, watching buddy hall or the prince of pool shoot, I was always amazed at how many difficult shots they made look easy. Me thinks that the pro's do both. Which is why blind farts like you and I can't pick up a house cue and run 100. :cool:

tim
 
I'm with the group that thinks it's probably not a good idea. You have to know how you shoot with your cue. Practicing with a heavier cue would just create problems with your speed control when you go back to your regular cue. We play the way we practice. If you learn one thing in practice, but change conditions when playing, you put yourself at a disadvantage.
Consistancy, consistancy, consistancy...

Steve
 
This is why every good teacher tells you, Find a stick you like and stick with it, Whether its heavy or superlight, doesnt matter, all that matters is that you are confortable with the weight and feel, position then becomes automatic.. Ive played with guy's that wouldnt even change thier tip, with the fear it would change the way they play positioinal routes..

When you get a New cue, what are you trying to adjust to? the speeds nessasary to play position.. some cues will hit differnt, some may have deflection issues, the hard part is adjusting to the speed of the shots...I feel I can play with anything, and I have proved this, but some cues are harder to adjust to than others, I like cues that apply spin to the cue ball with less effort, 19, 19.5oz seems to be optimum for me, to light and I shoot HARDER..to heavy and I overrun my position most times...So even If I switch cues, I try to always stay with the same weight, its always easier to adjust, and Im useualy playing at speed in a few hours.. change the weight, and it may take me 3 weeks..

SPINDOKTOR
 
stikapos said:
Following the idea that if you get great shape, you don't have tough shots, this makes sense. However, watching buddy hall or the prince of pool shoot, I was always amazed at how many difficult shots they made look easy. Me thinks that the pro's do both. Which is why blind farts like you and I can't pick up a house cue and run 100. :cool:

tim
Click to expand...


Who says I can't run 100? I think I can run 100. I have a good eye doctor!
 
Jude Rosenstock said:
Who says I can't run 100? I think I can run 100. I have a good eye doctor!
Click to expand...

Well, tell me who he is an we'll both go. Oh wait. I have the attention span of a gnat. Hmmmm. Doctor, doctor.....

Jude, if you go 100, we'll all celebrate! Seriously!

tim
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top