I keep dogging "power" shots

B

bdorman

Dead money
Silver Member
I'd appreciate your advice on this: I keep dogging relatively easy shots when I need to add speed in order to get shape. It can be draw, stun or follow...shots that I can easily make at slow/medium speeds fall apart at higher speed.

I suspect it's a fundamentals issue so I've tried to focus on those. Mostly making sure that I keep a relaxed grip on the cue and don't "fist" it at the last moment.

What other areas would you recommend focusing on to solve this problem?
 
Try making sure the first couple inches of your forward stroke start out in first gear, then go from 2nd gear to fourth gearing your way to the cue ball.

Just don't forget 1st gear makes sure you start out straight.

Ever see those cars that floor it off the line and spin out? Don't be that driver.
 
Dont focus on power, focus on timing. Power will come naturally with good timing. Good timing is attempting to coordinate your movements to be as fluid and accurate as possible. I find it best to not focus on all encompassing ideas like "loose grip" etc., but to start stroking at extremely slow speeds and iron out every kink you find in your stroke. Often times, these kinks are impossible to see or feel at high speed, so it is imperative to start slow.
 
Power is nothing without control. How about videotape yourself making the same shots soft, medium, and your fastest speed. Maybe you can spot where your fundamentals break down.
 
When you dog these power shots, are you missing on both sides(over/under cutting)?
I find I under cut on power shots, so I say "cut it a hair more" in my PSR. I'm not sure if the impact collision with power changes the line, but it feels like it does for me.
 
kanecalgary said:
When you dog these power shots, are you missing on both sides(over/under cutting)?
I find I under cut on power shots, so I say "cut it a hair more" in my PSR. I'm not sure if the impact collision with power changes the line, but it feels like it does for me.
Click to expand...

I agree, I have to cut the ball more as well.
 
You have to trust your stroke and not try to force, steer, or "fist" the shot as you call it.

Ever throw balls out on a table and try wild stroke shots for fun? You need to hit your power draw (and similar) shots the same way. With a relaxed, fluid stroke. If you worry too much about keeping your arm and stick perfectly straight, you won't smoothly accelerate and follow through. Let that stroke come out, warts and all. Watch shane hit a few tough shots on youtube. See how slowly he goes back and then casually he goes forward? The word that comes to mind is "languid". Don't move your arm like you're trying to start a lawnmower or swat a bug. It's a smooth, almost slow motion.

Worry less about making it, treat making it as a foregone conclusion.

On one specific force shot, when I fall too straight on a rail cut, I tend to exaggerate the follow through... I mentally rehearse following way forward with my cue, and then I make sure to do that on the actual shot. This little visualization trick might help you on other similar shots.

Oh, one more thing... if what you're doing is pretty extreme draw, take a little risk on how low you hit that ball. Don't be afraid to come close to the miscue limit. The lower you can hit, the less force you'll need. If pounding a ball off the rail, cheat the cut as much as you can and send the object ball to the outside edge of the pocket. The more you can cut it, the less force you'll need.
 
First start a practice session by warming up with soft easy shots then gradually progress to harder shots as you get comfortable. After you are fully warmed up practice each individual problematic shot repeatedly until you can understand how to correct whatever flaw is causing the problem.
 
You're reaching. Whether you know it or not, when you go for the power shot, you are reaching back further to get more. It may only be an inch or so. This is outside of your normal stroke zone that your body and hand to eye coordination is accustomed to and it is freaking you out. Kind of like the yips in putting.

There are two ways you can go about this. One is to catch yourself doing it and stop it. Learn to generate power by acceleration within your normal stroke. Or extend your stroke zone by practicing the extended stroke at a slower speed at first so you can see where you are pulling yourself offline and build confidence in your shot making with it. You will never figure it out taking an extended stroke at full speed.

Lots of people reach back for that little extra and never realize they are doing it. If you are going to use it that way, you have to train for it just like drawing a ball or any other shot.
 
bdorman said:
I'd appreciate your advice on this: I keep dogging relatively easy shots when I need to add speed in order to get shape. It can be draw, stun or follow...shots that I can easily make at slow/medium speeds fall apart at higher speed.

I suspect it's a fundamentals issue so I've tried to focus on those. Mostly making sure that I keep a relaxed grip on the cue and don't "fist" it at the last moment.

What other areas would you recommend focusing on to solve this problem?
Click to expand...

You really can't diagnose on a forum. Have someone video you. My guess is that the issue will be very obvious. A reputable instructor should also be able help.

Normally if hard shots are consistently missed, the break down of your stroke should be relatively easy to spot. Not so easy to fix, but instructors should be able to help. I'd recommend The SPF family.

Freddie <~~~ it's all in the had positions
 
On tight pocket tables that are around now about 75% of my misses were power shots and probably 50% or more of them never had to be hit that hard. Johnnyt
.
 
Stay down

RBC said:
Stay Still!

Don't Move Your Head!

Royce
Click to expand...

Great advice here...this is what I see the most...many people ..myself included...tend to pop up when hitting hard-have some one stand next to you with their hand above your head, and shoot soft...you'll notice that you probably won't pop up into their hand...then shoot hard draw...try to draw full table length...and you'll notice how hard you hit that hand above your head...you'll think your friend hit you!!!

Also dropping shoulder...just stroke straight thru, smooth, elbow only will help. At least that's what works for me.

Good luck.
 
bdorman said:
I'd appreciate your advice on this: I keep dogging relatively easy shots when I need to add speed in order to get shape. It can be draw, stun or follow...shots that I can easily make at slow/medium speeds fall apart at higher speed.

I suspect it's a fundamentals issue so I've tried to focus on those. Mostly making sure that I keep a relaxed grip on the cue and don't "fist" it at the last moment.

What other areas would you recommend focusing on to solve this problem?
Click to expand...

I got a suspicion that you're hitting with your upper body.
A boxer throws a weak punch if he uses the upper body only.....
...this applies to golfing and pool also.
Hit every shot from your feet...and don't pay so much attention to your hand.

And I like Luxury's idea of the speed control...don't start the cue too fast.
I call a good stroke 'the train'...starts slow and keeps accelerating.
 
Excellent advice in this thread. The only thing I would add is to pay attention to where the cue tip ends up on your follow through. If you focus on a spot a few inches past the cueball that is in direct line of your aim to help your cue tip to end up there, that tends to helps. Stroking straight becomes more important when hitting a shot firm and often suffers. I notice when I break the cue tip tends to travel to the right.

If you are not getting the cueball to do what you want (i.e. not hitting it as low as you meant to), you may be dropping your shoulder, moving, or any of the other things mention in this thread that would raise the tip before striking the cueball.

Dave
 
My wife has the same problem. She misses most of her shots that require power. I have to constantly remind her "Slow back, power through the ball". She has a bad habit of jerking the cuestick back hard and driving forward hard, resulting in a herky-jerky stroke. You don't generate power in the backstroke.

Maniac (Fred is right. Get some instructional help)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top