Help with "twisting" stroke.

Poolshootindon

Poolshootindon

Registered Pool Offender
Silver Member
A friend of mine let me use his 3rd Eye Stroke Trainer (I am constantly looking to improve my stoke) and I noticed that I was twisting my wrist quite a bit.

I am right handed and when I pull the cue back I twist the cue about 1/4 to 3/8 of an inch to the left. When I come through with the cue I am twisting the cue to the right and the cue ends up about the same distance to the right of vertical as it was on the left side.

For a total movement of 1/2 to 3/4 of and inch.

I have tried countless hand positions and stances and nothing seems to correct this flaw.

I am 63 and still love the game and play daily. I am hoping someone may have some insight that may help me correct this problem.

Thanks.. Don Iverson
 
Stroke alignment

if it is your stroke that has a left to right or right to left in it, then try adjusting your elbow position.

You are right handed and your cue is going left on the back swing and right on the follow through? If this is correct then more than likely your shooting elbow is slightly too far from your body, on the follow through your hand comes closer to you and your tip goes to the right (because your bridge hand is a pivot point).

You don't even have to be at a table to test this. You can put your cue together and do practice strokes over any table or surface - just lay something straight on the table and practice your stroke straight down the line. if you see the follow through causing your tip to go to the left, adjust your elbow slightly further from your body (right). And vice versa, if you see your tip going to the right on the follow through, adjust your elbow slightly closer to your body (left).
 
Poolshootindon said:
A friend of mine let me use his 3rd Eye Stroke Trainer (I am constantly looking to improve my stoke) and I noticed that I was twisting my wrist quite a bit.

I am right handed and when I pull the cue back I twist the cue about 1/4 to 3/8 of an inch to the left. When I come through with the cue I am twisting the cue to the right and the cue ends up about the same distance to the right of vertical as it was on the left side.

For a total movement of 1/2 to 3/4 of and inch.

I have tried countless hand positions and stances and nothing seems to correct this flaw.

I am 63 and still love the game and play daily. I am hoping someone may have some insight that may help me correct this problem.

Thanks.. Don Iverson
Click to expand...
Relax your grip hand. Try holding the cue lightly with only the thumb, index and middle fingers.
 
Send me a note--I've had this come up before with someone using the excellent Third Eye. I'll help you free of charge.
 
Don, you will have to retrain yourself to learn what it feels like to stroke straight. The cause of the problem may have been a poor alignment (stance) or an unconscious desire to steer the cue ball, or possibly a combination of both. Undoing a habit will take time.

The reason why you can't stop even though you are trying is because you aren't taking conscious control of your stroke. Take it slowly, one inch at a time if you have to and try to keep the knuckles of your grip hand in the same position all the way through the stroke process.

You should also check your stance to make sure your arm has sufficient room to pass through without hitting your body. A twisting habit often starts from twisting the cue to keep it away from the body, or to correct an improper alignment.

Retraining yourself out of a bad habit is not easy but it can be done with determination and perseverance.
 
I think I am on to something.

I was talking to a friend at the pool hall a few days ago about twisting the cue and that the 3rd eye trainer really showed me how much I twist the cue.

He asked if I had done the dominant eye test. I said yes, several times and he suggested I line up in my normal shooting stance.

Since I am right handed and have a left eye dominance he said my alignment was incorrect.

So I opened my stance and made sure that the left eye was centered on the cue.

What a difference it made. My stroke is much smoother and the tip falls on the middle of the cue ball naturally.

I have been retraining myself to make this feel normal and it has made a huge difference so far.

And the best part is that I have been striking the cue without unwanted spin.

Thanks to all who have made suggestions.

Don Iverson :D
 
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