how the @$!% do I get my stroke in line

Egg McDogit

Egg McDogit

street player
Silver Member
I've been playing pool pretty seriously for the last few years with a really crooked stroke. Up until recently, I felt that it really doesn't matter how crooked your stroke is as long as you stroke the ball. But I'm starting to realize how untrue this is...especially when hitting balls softer or under pressure. And it also has a great effect on your overall precision, beyond just pocketing balls.

The line my stroking arm makes is about 20 degrees off-line in respect with my stick (inwards towards my body)...meaning that I stroke the ball really crooked but my stick goes straight (kind of) because my wrist bends/twists and my upper/lower arm and shoulder all move to accomodate it.

I've tried everything I can think of to try to get it in line, but for the life of me I can't figure it out. I've spent weeks working on this - and am wondering if anyone has had the same problem and managed to fix it somehow. I don't know if it's my build or what.

I've decided that if I can't get my stroke in line then I have to stop playing pool seriously. I'm not trying to be overly dramatic, but I know how I am and I think it's going to turn into something very unhealthy and self-destructive otherwise. I've been pretty down about it because I really love pool...but at the same time I can't just "play for fun"...I need to feel like I'm getting somewhere with it. I'm sure some people can understand that feeling.

Please don't respond if you're just going to say 'shooting straight isn't that important.
 
Egg McDogit said:
I've been playing pool pretty seriously for the last few years with a really crooked stroke. Up until recently, I felt that it really doesn't matter how crooked your stroke is as long as you stroke the ball. But I'm starting to realize how untrue this is...especially when hitting balls softer or under pressure. And it also has a great effect on your overall precision, beyond just pocketing balls.

The line my stroking arm makes is about 20 degrees off-line in respect with my stick (inwards towards my body)...meaning that I stroke the ball really crooked but my stick goes straight (kind of) because my wrist bends/twists and my upper/lower arm and shoulder all move to accomodate it.

I've tried everything I can think of to try to get it in line, but for the life of me I can't figure it out. I've spent weeks working on this - and am wondering if anyone has had the same problem and managed to fix it somehow. I don't know if it's my build or what.

I've decided that if I can't get my stroke in line then I have to stop playing pool seriously. I'm not trying to be overly dramatic, but I know how I am and I think it's going to turn into something very unhealthy and self-destructive otherwise. I've been pretty down about it because I really love pool...but at the same time I can't just "play for fun"...I need to feel like I'm getting somewhere with it. I'm sure some people can understand that feeling.

Please don't respond if you're just going to say 'shooting straight isn't that important.
Click to expand...

I applaud your desire to change. My teammate has the same problem, he learned how to play pool when his arm was in a cast and his stroke hasn't been straight since I met him. He can play really well in tournaments but he can also miss easy shots in competition. I try to be supportive hoping he will want to change, but he shoots way off when he tries.

Here is my idea that I'm hoping he will accept:

I bought a piston cue that you line up for a shot and pull a trigger lightly and it pistons the front of the cue out and hits the ball. I use this myself to train my aim on centerball hits (it acts way to different on english shots). I think this will allow him to work on his aim separately from his stroke.

Then, I would have him wrap his forearm in ACE bandage keeping it straight. You want to stroke a lot of shots from the elbow down and using several different strokes (hard, soft, draw, follow, stun, etc). It is repetition.

Be aware that your game will get much worse for a few months but once you get used to it you should be able to pass your current play ability.

Finally, remember that Tiger has changed his swing 2 or 3 times much to the chagrin of the "experts". Tiger knew what he wanted and took the time to make it happen. Tiger knew that a great athlete with a mediocre swing has limits. A great athlete with a textbook swing that he trusts and has confidence in is a great golfer. The same with pool. A guy with a feel for the game can handicap himself with a crooked stroke. Straighten the stroke out and watch out.

Stick to it and force it to work. Good luck
 
Perhaps it is your body/head/feet alignment and NOT your stroke. This cannot be diagnosed over the internet, but if you get with an instructor that know the difference it could save you a lot of trouble. Stroke mechanics are different for every player, so is body alignment, balance, etc. There is also the case where you could be twisting the cue by having the wrong grip.

Usually I have my students remove their thumb completely from the grip and try stroking with just the 3 fingers (ring, middle, forefinger) - in the thumb's absence you will see some wonderful action applied to the cue ball. This is because we have muscles that connect the thumb, wrist and forearm... the major muscle is called the Flexor Pollicis Longis- which is also connected to other tendons in the wrist and the forearm.

extrinsic3.gif


In this diagram you can see the deep muscles and tendons that you would use to perform your stroke. As you can clearly see, the Flexor Pollicis Longis moves in a different direction than the other muscles. Try eliminating your thumb from the grip for a few shots and see what happens. Afterwards, gently return your thumb loosely back into the grip. I think you will be surprised at the difference.
 
I think a straight stroke is the single most important factor in one's mechanics. Right up there with it is alignment. Go and buy Joe Tuckers 3rd Eye stroke training device. It's about 20$, sold on the marketplace here. Use it everyday for a few days and you will be amazed at how straight you will start stroking thru the cueball. This is not a plug for Joe. I bought the device a while back and it works wonders, and it fixes numerous other problems with one's game, like twisting, alignment, and finding exactly where centerball is. If you watch alot of pros, many of them have crooked backstrokes, but their forward strokes are very straight. That's all that matters. Get this device and your problem will be solved. I went thru the same thing you are going thru, I know exactly how you feel.
 
Blackjack said:
Perhaps it is your body/head/feet alignment and NOT your stroke. This cannot be diagnosed over the internet, but if you get with an instructor that know the difference it could save you a lot of trouble. Stroke mechanics are different for every player, so is body alignment, balance, etc. There is also the case where you could be twisting the cue by having the wrong grip.

Usually I have my students remove their thumb completely from the grip and try stroking with just the 3 fingers (ring, middle, forefinger) - in the thumb's absence you will see some wonderful action applied to the cue ball. This is because we have muscles that connect the thumb, wrist and forearm... the major muscle is called the Flexor Pollicis Longis- which is also connected to other tendons in the wrist and the forearm.

extrinsic3.gif


In this diagram you can see the deep muscles and tendons that you would use to perform your stroke. As you can clearly see, the Flexor Pollicis Longis moves in a different direction than the other muscles. Try eliminating your thumb from the grip for a few shots and see what happens. Afterwards, gently return your thumb loosely back into the grip. I think you will be surprised at the difference.
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This is great advice. I find I miss pressure shots because I tighten my backhand grip and it causes me to get out of line and miss. I shoot my best when I concentrate on leaving my thumb off the cue and just cradleing it in my hand. The weight of the cue is enough to keep me from tossing it on the table and I get plenty of english (sometimes more than I need), and my soft touch game is at it's best. If you don't feel comfortable with your thumb off the cue you might just try focusing on a loose grip.

Don't quit, break throughs sometimes take time and happen in a flash of inspiration. If you keep at it you will get it figured out......

McCue Banger McCue
 
Egg McDogit said:
I've been playing pool pretty seriously for the last few years with a really crooked stroke. Up until recently, I felt that it really doesn't matter how crooked your stroke is as long as you stroke the ball. But I'm starting to realize how untrue this is...especially when hitting balls softer or under pressure. And it also has a great effect on your overall precision, beyond just pocketing balls.

The line my stroking arm makes is about 20 degrees off-line in respect with my stick (inwards towards my body)...meaning that I stroke the ball really crooked but my stick goes straight (kind of) because my wrist bends/twists and my upper/lower arm and shoulder all move to accomodate it.

I've tried everything I can think of to try to get it in line, but for the life of me I can't figure it out. I've spent weeks working on this - and am wondering if anyone has had the same problem and managed to fix it somehow. I don't know if it's my build or what.

I've decided that if I can't get my stroke in line then I have to stop playing pool seriously. I'm not trying to be overly dramatic, but I know how I am and I think it's going to turn into something very unhealthy and self-destructive otherwise. I've been pretty down about it because I really love pool...but at the same time I can't just "play for fun"...I need to feel like I'm getting somewhere with it. I'm sure some people can understand that feeling.

Please don't respond if you're just going to say 'shooting straight isn't that important.
Click to expand...

Egg, I gave you the BOOK! The Pool School BOOK from RandyG. Would you like another copy?
Purdman;)
PS: Set, Pause, Finish & Freeze!! Grip, Bridge, Stance & Stroke! Check it out!
 
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I would ahve to agree that working on the very basic fundamentals of alignment and grip presssure would help you alot. If it feels like it is going to be delivered with a twist or crooked, then get all the way up and re-align and get back down. (The buddy hall tube is also a nice training device to get you in the habit of hitting the same lil spot everytime..

OH YEAH, and some time off isn't all that bad either. You would be suprised how a fresh start will make you play.
 
Sometimes

there is no quick fix for someone with improper stroke mechanics that has been that way for a long time, THAT'S WHY it is important to learn the RIGHT WAY TO BEGIN WITH. Evidently, you developed your crooked stroke for all the wrong reasons, and none of the right reasons.

It is pretty common for someone to reach limits in their game when they do not have the PROPER BASICS down, and reteaching someone is much harder than teaching someone brand spanking new.

This is why all sports have standard form and mechanics to them to be able to perform them at the highest levels.

You didn't think about this when you started playing? why not?
 
Purdman said:
Egg, I gave you the BOOK! The Pool Schol BOOK from RandyG. Would you like another copy?
Purdman;)
PS: Set, Pause, Finish & Freeze!!
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Purdman,
I went to Randy's school and recommend it highly, but the book from the school comes up short without attendance at the "pool school". IMHO.
Egg, you might want to consider Randy's school.
 
catscradle said:
Purdman,
I went to Randy's school and recommend it highly, but the book from the school comes up short without attendance at the "pool school". IMHO.
Egg, you might want to consider Randy's school.
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I offored Egg free lessons about 8 months ago, that's right, free. I gave him the book to look over. He wanted nothing to do with it. All he was looking for was someone to gamble with. That's why we had and still have a problem. I, sir, went to the College of Cueing Arts twice. First time to become a recognized instructor in 1999 and the second time to become a Certified BCA instructor in 2001. Been certified for 5 years. Thanks for the advice though.:rolleyes: Randy is an excellant instructor.
Purdman;)
The offor still stands, I don't hold grudges!
 
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Use a wall

I used to have the opposite problem; my elbow was way outside my shot so my forearm was pointing back in toward my body to stroke the cue. It made it hrad to repeatably stroke straight. I had a lesson where an instructor pointed this out using video to show me what I was doing, and he helped me figure out how to stand and hold my arm so that I was back in line, but what he didn't teach me was how to keep my stroking arm "in plane" and avoid slipping back into my old position.

So I figured out an exercise to help: I found a small section of wall in my apartment (one that didn't just run into other walls, but stopped in the middle of the room) and held my cue flat against it, sighted down the cue, and found a spot to aim at on the opposite wall of the room so that the first wall was "pointing at" the spot on the opposite wall.

Then I lined up so that my shooting shoulder was against the little wall but my head was out in the room (so the wall didn't limit how I positioned my head). Focusing on the spot on the opposite wall, I bent down into stance, and took practice strokes with my shooting shoulder, elbow, and knuckles of my grip hand were all touching the wall, ensuring that my stroke was on plane. As long as those three points, should, elbow, and hand, were all against the wall, I knew I was aligned well, and all I had to do was take practice strokes in that position, "aiming" at the spot on the opposite wall, until the correct alignment was grooved. My game still has problems, but my shooting arm plane is not one of them.

-Andrew
 
Purdman said:
I offored Egg free lessons about 8 months ago, that's right, free. I gave him the book to look over. He wanted nothing to do with it. I, sir, went to the Pool School twice. First time to become a recognized instructor in 1999 and the second time to become a Certified BCA instructor in 2001. Been certified for 5 years. Thanks for the advice though.:rolleyes: Randy is an excellant instructor.
Purdman;)
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Well, with the history thrown in, I see the point you were making.
 
catscradle said:
Well, with the history thrown in, I see the point you were making.
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I would also be happy to lend him my Stroketrainer and BreakRak. I will need to hook up with Icon of Sin to pick the BreakRak up. I love the game and love to teach but don't like to gamble. That seems to be a problem for some people.
Purdman:cool:
 
Purdman said:
I would also be happy to lend him my Stroketrainer and BreakRak. I will need to hook up with Icon of Sin to pick the BreakRak up. I love the game and love to teach but don't like to gamble. That seems to be a problem for some people.
Purdman:cool:
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I soooo need to give that back to you. Its just been sitting under the table, I got what I needed out of it and now it just sits, kinda like you said it would :D
 
Icon of Sin said:
I soooo need to give that back to you. Its just been sitting under the table, I got what I needed out of it and now it just sits, kinda like you said it would :D
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I know that Heath. It is doing just as well sitting under your table as it is mine! When we find someone else who would like to use it, we will hook up.:D No complaints here my friend!
Hows your dads new cue holding up? Thats a beaut!
Don
 
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