How do you balance?

[Banks]

Every once in a while, there'd be an awkward shot that I'd miss and I never really felt comfortable. Even a slight change in balance can have a big impact on your performance.

How does that trick go? If you have one foot elevated above the other, it's hard to resist the pressure of somebody smaller's hands with your own hands, because the hips not being aligned causes a problem for strength. Something like that..

Anyways, while attending the Varner/Appleton clinic, Darren mentioned to one girl that she wasn't stable. So, lately, I've been paying much more attention to how I'm balanced on my feet when I'm down on the shot. It seems that even as long as I can recognize that I'm balancing more towards the back foot, I shoot better. I prefer to be 'forward weighted', but just having the feel of how I'm standing has been a benefit.

Does anybody else out there pay much attention to how they're balanced? Do you approach the 'setting' differently? Can this be used for assistance in specific shots?

 

[Snapshot9]

Balance

First off, I am old school ... lol You should try to keep 60% of your weight on the back foot, and 40% on your front foot. Imagine shooting with your cue from a standing rifle position, and just lower your cue down to shooting position, this always seemed to help me.

When leaning over the table, it is difficult to not lean forward and put weight on your front foot, but this makes your line of aim shooting over the shot, instead of through the shot. After getting down into a shooting position, just give a thought as to how your weight is distributed, and shift some more to your back foot if you find that too much weight is on your front foot.

 

[Woofresh]

One stable trick I learned is to use the side of the table to brace my left thigh (right handed) up against... It makes me feel very locked in... Can't set myself up like that for every shot though... But when I can, I do it

 

[CreeDo]

Dunno if there's a right answer here.
If someone tells you how they balance, and you feel weird copying them, will it really help your game?
Personally I can't make a ball if I feel weird.

Probably weight distribution has to do with your build.
Someone with a big belly will inevitably have more weight on his front foot than someone without,
and someone with no belly can't really tell them "don't put so much on your front foot".
A tall person probably can't stay bent low for a long time, it's tough on their back.
A person with short legs may need to lean forward more, and so on.

I would find a position that feels comfortable, then evaluate it. Does it seem unstable?
If so, try a tweak or two. Usually what feels most comfortable is also what balances most easily,
though there are exceptions (like making a good stable jump bridge may not feel comfy at first).

 

[Banks]

First off, I am old school ... lol You should try to keep 60% of your weight on the back foot, and 40% on your front foot. Imagine shooting with your cue from a standing rifle position, and just lower your cue down to shooting position, this always seemed to help me.

When leaning over the table, it is difficult to not lean forward and put weight on your front foot, but this makes your line of aim shooting over the shot, instead of through the shot. After getting down into a shooting position, just give a thought as to how your weight is distributed, and shift some more to your back foot if you find that too much weight is on your front foot.

Oddly, I tend to do better when I've got a little more weight on my front foot. Maybe I should spend a little time with both intentionally and see how they compare.

Dunno if there's a right answer here.
If someone tells you how they balance, and you feel weird copying them, will it really help your game?
Personally I can't make a ball if I feel weird.

Probably weight distribution has to do with your build.
Someone with a big belly will inevitably have more weight on his front foot than someone without,
and someone with no belly can't really tell them "don't put so much on your front foot".
A tall person probably can't stay bent low for a long time, it's tough on their back.
A person with short legs may need to lean forward more, and so on.

I would find a position that feels comfortable, then evaluate it. Does it seem unstable?
If so, try a tweak or two. Usually what feels most comfortable is also what balances most easily,
though there are exceptions (like making a good stable jump bridge may not feel comfy at first).

I don't always take the same stance, as I just approach the table and get down to business. I suppose my typical serious stance doesn't vary too much. What I did notice when paying more attention is that as long as I can tell where my weight is(and it's comfortable), then I shot a little better. There could be more reasons for that, but whatever it is I'm not going to complain.

 

[ENGLISH!]

[QUOTE=Woofresh;

Like Woofresh said,. I use the table when ever I can. You have to 'feel' balanced & steady. If you're wobbling or leaning, you don't have a good foundation & you will probably move during the stroke. Basically whenever I have to lean I'm leaning on the table.

Good Luck in finding your solution.

Regards,

 

[allanpsand]

First off, I am old school ... lol You should try to keep 60% of your weight on the back foot, and 40% on your front foot. Imagine shooting with your cue from a standing rifle position, and just lower your cue down to shooting position, this always seemed to help me.

When leaning over the table, it is difficult to not lean forward and put weight on your front foot, but this makes your line of aim shooting over the shot, instead of through the shot. After getting down into a shooting position, just give a thought as to how your weight is distributed, and shift some more to your back foot if you find that too much weight is on your front foot.

This is exactly right. With most weight on your back foot it is impossible to jump on the shot - and helps make sure you have an adequate follow through on the stroke.