Important Things To Remember When Playing Pool.
- Thread starter JoeyA
- Start date
dogassokie
dogassokie
Mechanics
Stay down on the ball. That's really good advice. I wish i had thought of that. By the way, you stand behind the object ball to find your line to the pocket. You are already behind the cue ball. And viewing any thing from a standing position, or any other position except as low to table level as you can get, works against you.
Stay down on the ball. That's really good advice. I wish i had thought of that. By the way, you stand behind the object ball to find your line to the pocket. You are already behind the cue ball. And viewing any thing from a standing position, or any other position except as low to table level as you can get, works against you.
The tip of my shaft mushrooms out just like all the rest.
Old post but a great one.............
Joe tho no one has gone into the shoulder alignment, I routinely teach a stance/alignment set up technique that promotes your thoughts indirectly.
I teach it two ways.......the first you hold the butt where you want it in the grip hand and place the hand on the side of the hip.
Now from there you can do it two ways.
One: Lay the tip on the table (don't take your hand off your hip) in line with the shot and you can pivot off the tip till your dead nuts. Then without removing the hand from the hip manually, drop into the shot. The hand will automatically fall off the hip into its proper place directly inline with the SHOULDER and elbow.
The second way is to just keep the grip hand on the hip just the same, but instead of laying the cue down on the table you raise the shaft up toward your face (while keeping the grip hand on the hip) B/c of the close proximity of the shaft to your eyes you can "see through" it.
Use the edges of the "see through" shaft and line them up with the particular edges of the CB and OB...........
Then you drop in.............same way, dont take the hand off yourself, it will naturally come off the hip by itself.
I like teaching the first version to beginners as it helps you to judge the distance gap between yourself and the CB better........once you get used to doing it you can just do the raise.
I pretty much apply a mixture, i grab the butt where i need to hold it and hand on hip. Then tip to ball and i set my back foot. I raise the shaft, check my edges and contact points and drop in when i'm ready.
I like what you said but its misleading somewhat as if the cue is not centered properly in the hand, and the hand is not centered properly in relation to the shoulder or elbow the shot, as long as the shoulder is on the line it will feel smoother? Definately NOT TRUE (just saying for those that don't have the rationale to figure out unsaid things)
Its true if you have PLUMB and level mechanics, but if you kick the wrist and other such stuff its out of wack, like a side arm stroke say b/c the player was well overweight.
When done right, HELL YES you are correct as its helping your body to get into the "SLOT" that it naturally has to deliver the motion straighter and smoother.
This "SLOT" is very distinct in feeling. As most players shoot and somewhat "slice" across the body with the shot as in the typical pool stroke (45º stance) the angled stance keeps the hand somewhat farther away from the hip/body.
When you drop in correctly and everything is plumb, it will feel good but I would almost bet you are going to feel "CRAMPED" like your boxed in or something......the stroke/cue just feels awfully close to your core.
When you get over this "cramped" or too tight feeling you realize its almost stupid how easy a straight stroke becomes and you wonder why in god's name didn't you do this a long time ago.
Its very distinct and when you get it you own it, its always there and your always on the hunt.
-Grey Ghost-
The one that has helped me more than most others lately and not posted yet is as follows:
Walk into the shot from behind the shooting position and place your shoulder on the shot line. This helps in many ways. The cue stick will tend to stay on the line when you bend down resulting in a straight stroke. When you know the stroke is dead straight you only have to move your butt (or your bridge hand in extreme cases). For some unknown reason your stroke will be much smoother if your shoulder is on line.
This principle works so well that I sometimes think it must be one of those pool secrets of the pros that we hear about but are not revealed. No one told it to me, I found it through trial and error and studying my own success and many failures.
Joe tho no one has gone into the shoulder alignment, I routinely teach a stance/alignment set up technique that promotes your thoughts indirectly.
I teach it two ways.......the first you hold the butt where you want it in the grip hand and place the hand on the side of the hip.
Now from there you can do it two ways.
One: Lay the tip on the table (don't take your hand off your hip) in line with the shot and you can pivot off the tip till your dead nuts. Then without removing the hand from the hip manually, drop into the shot. The hand will automatically fall off the hip into its proper place directly inline with the SHOULDER and elbow.
The second way is to just keep the grip hand on the hip just the same, but instead of laying the cue down on the table you raise the shaft up toward your face (while keeping the grip hand on the hip) B/c of the close proximity of the shaft to your eyes you can "see through" it.
Use the edges of the "see through" shaft and line them up with the particular edges of the CB and OB...........
Then you drop in.............same way, dont take the hand off yourself, it will naturally come off the hip by itself.
I like teaching the first version to beginners as it helps you to judge the distance gap between yourself and the CB better........once you get used to doing it you can just do the raise.
I pretty much apply a mixture, i grab the butt where i need to hold it and hand on hip. Then tip to ball and i set my back foot. I raise the shaft, check my edges and contact points and drop in when i'm ready.
I like what you said but its misleading somewhat as if the cue is not centered properly in the hand, and the hand is not centered properly in relation to the shoulder or elbow the shot, as long as the shoulder is on the line it will feel smoother? Definately NOT TRUE (just saying for those that don't have the rationale to figure out unsaid things)
Its true if you have PLUMB and level mechanics, but if you kick the wrist and other such stuff its out of wack, like a side arm stroke say b/c the player was well overweight.
When done right, HELL YES you are correct as its helping your body to get into the "SLOT" that it naturally has to deliver the motion straighter and smoother.
This "SLOT" is very distinct in feeling. As most players shoot and somewhat "slice" across the body with the shot as in the typical pool stroke (45º stance) the angled stance keeps the hand somewhat farther away from the hip/body.
When you drop in correctly and everything is plumb, it will feel good but I would almost bet you are going to feel "CRAMPED" like your boxed in or something......the stroke/cue just feels awfully close to your core.
When you get over this "cramped" or too tight feeling you realize its almost stupid how easy a straight stroke becomes and you wonder why in god's name didn't you do this a long time ago.
Its very distinct and when you get it you own it, its always there and your always on the hunt.
-Grey Ghost-
Hello Greyghost.
I did not know you were a hunter! And a teacher as well! Way to go Ghost!!!!
Regards,
Lock N Load.
I did not know you were a hunter! And a teacher as well! Way to go Ghost!!!!
Regards,
Lock N Load.
This thread is an oldie but a goodie. I would like to add one and hope it has not been posted already:
Find your own rhythm and stick to it.
What I mean is that everyone has their own natural rhythm, fast, medium or slow which is made up of your pre-shot routine and delivery of the stroke. It it important to maintain that rhythm for every shot: don't take the easy ones for granted and don't stress over the game winning shots - each shot is important. If you have doubts, stand up and start over.
Pool is a game of rhythm, find yours.
Nice meeting you again, Joey.
Dave
Find your own rhythm and stick to it.
What I mean is that everyone has their own natural rhythm, fast, medium or slow which is made up of your pre-shot routine and delivery of the stroke. It it important to maintain that rhythm for every shot: don't take the easy ones for granted and don't stress over the game winning shots - each shot is important. If you have doubts, stand up and start over.
Pool is a game of rhythm, find yours.
Nice meeting you again, Joey.
Dave
Good point that some forget.
A pool cue is a type percussion instrument by function............all music has rythm only the style is subjective
hope your well dave,
-Keebie
Hello Greyghost, When are you coming to New Orleans, LA?
I really would like to get a few pointers from you. Thanks. Very good post response.
Regards,
Lock N Load.
Good point that some forget.
A pool cue is a type percussion instrument by function............all music has rythm only the style is subjective
hope your well dave,
-Keebie
I really would like to get a few pointers from you. Thanks. Very good post response.
Regards,
Lock N Load.
Lock n Load,
that s why the Pre-Shot-Routines are so important.
"Think before shooting" and "Shoot before Thinking" saves you also to not be too *long* down on your shot. If you re too long swinging your cue with endless pre-swings your brain starts to *think* again
So here the point from Keebie is really good: A good rythm helps you here, too. (same amount of pre-strokes for example etc.)
that s why the Pre-Shot-Routines are so important.
"Think before shooting" and "Shoot before Thinking" saves you also to not be too *long* down on your shot. If you re too long swinging your cue with endless pre-swings your brain starts to *think* again
So here the point from Keebie is really good: A good rythm helps you here, too. (same amount of pre-strokes for example etc.)