How much of a role does wrist action factor into a proper stroke?

[edd]

Last week I was drawing the ball quite well, by concentrating on a shorter backswing, with good acceleration and an emphasis on snapping my wrist through the stroke. Is this considered a good technique?

 

[scottjen26]

As someone who has tried to "force" or control the wrist snap in various sports in the past, I can tell you that in my opinion and experience it is much better to develop a stroke or swing where the wrist snap, if any, happens automatically and naturally. Much more consistent that way, don't have to rely on your timing being perfect every time you play. Think of a golf swing, you setup everything so that the wrist snap happens naturally at the proper place in the swing, would be very difficult to try to control that in the few milliseconds you have before impact.

Keeping your grip loose and your wrist in a natural position will enable your wrist to add power to the shot naturally, and I believe the shorter backswing will help promote a good accelerating stroke.
Scott

 

[Andrew Manning]

As someone who has tried to "force" or control the wrist snap in various sports in the past, I can tell you that in my opinion and experience it is much better to develop a stroke or swing where the wrist snap, if any, happens automatically and naturally. Much more consistent that way, don't have to rely on your timing being perfect every time you play. Think of a golf swing, you setup everything so that the wrist snap happens naturally at the proper place in the swing, would be very difficult to try to control that in the few milliseconds you have before impact.

Keeping your grip loose and your wrist in a natural position will enable your wrist to add power to the shot naturally, and I believe the shorter backswing will help promote a good accelerating stroke.
Scott

Good post. A loose wrist, pivoted the right direction so that the wrist can bend in line with the shot, will automatically add a little late acceleration to the cue on hard shots, which will result in more cue speed at the moment of contact (the relevant part). An intentional wrist movement is more likely to decrease accuracy and control than it is to provide any real benefit. Keep a relaxed grip and follow through to your natural finish, and let the wrist do what it naturally does.

-Andrew