Here's my question- Shooting left and right

CMarshall

CMarshall

D player at best
Silver Member
I finally have my own table in my house! I can play, practice a lot and do drills, etc. I've been working on shooting both left and right handed. Is this something I should focus on or should I just concentrate on shooting my normal way?

I've never seen this discussed, so I wanted to bring it up. I'm normally right handed but I use my left almost as good in many situations. Like, when I played baseball, I could bat both left and right handed. Skateboarding, I could switch from goofy to regular very easily.

So, it's sort of natural for me. However, with playing pool, it's a bit more precise? So I'm having to work on it. it isn't just "natural" like the other sports...
 
I feel it is good to be able to play both ways...I hate using a bridge so I learned to shoot lefty. though there are still some shots that I reach for a rake (bridging over a ball left handed is tough)

When I was playing a lot I would warm up left handed for about 20 min at the beginning of each session and then switch and play normal...I'm not as proficient left handed but you'd be surprised at what practicing off handed15-20 min a day will do...

Edit: Didn't realize this was in the "ask the instructor" section...Im in no way shape or form a qualified instructor so dont take what i said as such...
 
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CMarshall said:
I finally have my own table in my house! I can play, practice a lot and do drills, etc. I've been working on shooting both left and right handed. Is this something I should focus on or should I just concentrate on shooting my normal way?

I've never seen this discussed, so I wanted to bring it up. I'm normally right handed but I use my left almost as good in many situations. Like, when I played baseball, I could bat both left and right handed. Skateboarding, I could switch from goofy to regular very easily.

So, it's sort of natural for me. However, with playing pool, it's a bit more precise? So I'm having to work on it. it isn't just "natural" like the other sports...
Click to expand...
Being able to play well with your other hand is a large advantage in many situations. You will still need to be able to play with mechanical bridge. The question then is whether you shoot better with your left hand or the bridge. That may depend on the shot.

Some top players are nearly ambidextrous. I remember at a tournament there was an after-hours match between Mike Sigel and Keith McCready. The spot was that they both played opposite-handed (right for Sigel, left for McCready). In that match they both played better than they had been playing in the tournament. Irving Crane, on the other hand, never shot left handed. The best example of an ambidextrous player these days is Ronnie O'Sullivan who runs hundreds with either hand on a 6x12 snooker table.
 
Thanks for the replays, guys! I was watching an old Wille Mosconi video and he switched effortlessly too. It was so natural and graceful that it wasn't even noticed. I noticed it. Now, don't get me wrong, I'm a "C" player at best. But like I said, now that I have my own table, I can play a lot more. So I hope to improve my game tremendously. Once again, thanks for your input!
 
Off handed

The mechanics are the same. Make sure you stay down and follow through.

The only thing I'd tell people to watch out for is head position. If you normally shoot with the cue slightly right of your chin (favoring your right eye), then when you switch hands the head position still needs to be the same.
 
Good for the body, too!

Bob Jewett said:
Being able to play well with your other hand is a large advantage in many situations. You will still need to be able to play with mechanical bridge. The question then is whether you shoot better with your left hand or the bridge. That may depend on the shot.

Some top players are nearly ambidextrous. I remember at a tournament there was an after-hours match between Mike Sigel and Keith McCready. The spot was that they both played opposite-handed (right for Sigel, left for McCready). In that match they both played better than they had been playing in the tournament. Irving Crane, on the other hand, never shot left handed. The best example of an ambidextrous player these days is Ronnie O'Sullivan who runs hundreds with either hand on a 6x12 snooker table.
Click to expand...

It's also a good idea because it helps avoid physical problems that can arise from using the muscles on one side of the body and not the other. This holds true for most all sports. I learned about it first as a bowler.

Being strictly right or left-handed also has an affect on how your mind sees things! Developing muscles and coordination on BOTH sides of the body produces balance and advances body/mind awareness in general.
 
I normally like to practice both hands against each other. Break shot included, you pretend that your right hand is one player and your left hand is the other one. When one misses, you shoot with the alternate hand. I can do most things (except write) with both my hands. Something I learned to do while learning to play handball with my left.
 
I always spend a certain amount of time shooting left handed when I am practicing. Like anything else, it's real difficult when first starting out. However stick with it and you'll be surprised at your progress. It really comes in handy at times.
 
Great idea and practice! I do it also, does´t come natural for me but practice makes better . However I do it in a "natural" pace = not to much, I rather see improvement than make it a must sort of speak. Step by step.

The hardest for me is the bridges on several shots, some come very easy but some feels like you have a big glove with no fingers on, It´s like a real workout:).

Chrippa
 
you need to utilize your mind in a different hemisphere than normal.

CMarshall said:
I finally have my own table in my house! I can play, practice a lot and do drills, etc. I've been working on shooting both left and right handed. Is this something I should focus on or should I just concentrate on shooting my normal way?

I've never seen this discussed, so I wanted to bring it up. I'm normally right handed but I use my left almost as good in many situations. Like, when I played baseball, I could bat both left and right handed. Skateboarding, I could switch from goofy to regular very easily.

So, it's sort of natural for me. However, with playing pool, it's a bit more precise? So I'm having to work on it. it isn't just "natural" like the other sports...
Click to expand...

To play "opposite handed" you need to utilize your mind in a different hemisphere than normal. I suggest doing this especially if you're having an "off day" and aren't "clicking". If nothing else it's just a relief when you start back playing your usual way, and takes much less effort (relatively speaking).
 
Not an instructor....

I bought the hammer guys book that the above poster is talking about.

The basic premise is that using your opposite hand actually grows more brain cells that in turn increase your eye-hand coordination on your dominate hand. I believe it. I've been reading other books unrelated to sports but about health, where they discuss neurogenesis.

I've had the hammer guys book for a while but haven't gone through it yet. It's a year commitment for sure.
 
I love all the replies! Thanks everyone! I'm going to continue practicing both ways. Maybe I'll grow more brain cells! Woot Woot!
 
A good player (has run 150+ in 14.1 with BOTH hands) told me that if you want to learn shooting opposite handed it's best to practice strictly using that hand for a month solid then switch back.
 
I'm not saying that it can't be done, but I think that some people are more genetically disposed for it than others.
 
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