Improving stroke

C

crappiecrazy

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
I read several threads about improving stroke. I have combined a couple of suggestions. Long stop shots with "golf tees set up". One of the members of this forum shows "how to" on Youtube. I have it set up on a table that I practice on daily.

I need some reassurance that this "exercise" ?? is going to improve my stroke.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L478bfv0Bas
 
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Start with a good solid stance, good head position, good bridge, etc.

As far as the stroke goes, don't move anything above the elbow. From the elbow down is what you should focus on for a good stroke. If you put all of these together and your cue stick is in a balanced position on your shots, then you will start to develop your stroke. Make sure you hold your cue stick loose or semi-loose and don't tighten up or flinch when stroking the shots.

Practice, practice, practice and it will become more and more natural as you go along.

Good luck, Jerry
 
Badbeat13 said:
Start with a good solid stance, good head position, good bridge, etc.

As far as the stroke goes, don't move anything above the elbow. From the elbow down is what you should focus on for a good stroke. If you put all of these together and your cue stick is in a balanced position on your shots, then you will start to develop your stroke. Make sure you hold your cue stick loose or semi-loose and don't tighten up or flinch when stroking the shots.

Practice, practice, practice and it will become more and more natural as you go along.

Good luck, Jerry
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I noticed that you do play some, so if I took it that you were a beginner and you're not, then sorry about that.

Just focus on the elbow down though. Straight back and straight through. It doesn't hurt to do this repeatedly without hitting any balls. Just make sure your cue is coming straight back and then straight through. You'll know if you have a hitch in your stroke if you watch the shaft as you practice your backstroke and follow through without hitting balls. This will also help develop your stroke and you'll feel more comfortable when you are hitting balls.

I'm sure you'll get more good advice from others in your thread and I hope it all helps, Jerry
 
I think the best stroke practice is shooting the cue ball from the rack spot, straight down the middle of the table to the end rail and having it return to your tip. Once you get the hang of that, you can try shooting with top, bottom, or with more speed, which makes it harder, and see if you can get the cue ball to come straight back. I think it's the easiest way to check the straightness of your stroke because you can tell if you are hitting off center and by how much by the way the cue ball deflects off the end rail. You won't get as much feedback from shooting an object ball into a pocket.
Many players, including many pros use this to troubleshoot their stroke.
 
crappiecrazy said:
I read several threads about improving stroke. I have combined a couple of suggestions. Long stop shots with "golf tees set up". One of the members of this forum shows "how to" on Youtube. I have it set up on a table that I practice on daily.

I need some reassurance that this "exercise" ?? is going to improve my stroke.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L478bfv0Bas
Click to expand...

The video is of Joe Tucker. One of the instructors on this forum, and a good instructor. He also has played in a number of pro events. What other assurances could you want?
 
If you really want to improve your stroke, get a lesson from a qualified instructor (one who uses video analysis). That will take years off your learning curve. You CAN learn it on your own, but it takes a long time. One or two lessons with a great instructor can give you the confidence you're looking for, and the knowledge of what and how to practice. Tell us where you're located and we can likely suggest an instructor. I travel coast to coast teaching full time. :D

Scott Lee
http://poolknowledge.com
 
Joe Tucker's materials are excellent, you can't go wrong there. I'd also highly recommend Mark Wilson's book. If you want a great stroke, you can't go wrong with those two sources. Good luck!
 
Neil said:
The video is of Joe Tucker. One of the instructors on this forum, and a good instructor. He also has played in a number of pro events. What other assurances could you want?
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Good point! I guess I was looking for assurances from players that were not selling something.
 
Scott Lee said:
If you really want to improve your stroke, get a lesson from a qualified instructor (one who uses video analysis). That will take years off your learning curve. You CAN learn it on your own, but it takes a long time. One or two lessons with a great instructor can give you the confidence you're looking for, and the knowledge of what and how to practice. Tell us where you're located and we can likely suggest an instructor. I travel coast to coast teaching full time. :D

Scott Lee
http://poolknowledge.com
Click to expand...

Scott,
Thanks for the input! I have a good idea how much a good instructor could help me. I worked with instructors for almost 30 years in firearms training. If not for their knowledge, skill and teaching abilities, I probably would not been able to "hit a bull in the ass" but they helped me to become a pretty fair pistol shot. The bottom line, as much as I would like to, spending 300/400 dollars on two days of pool instruction and I would be sleeping in a poolroom instead of my bed. lol. I live in Ky by the way not far from Stan Shuffett.
 
Stan is a great instructor, and the lessons are an investment in your game, rather than an expense. You highly value the instruction you got in firearms training...do the same thing for your pool game. Go see Stan! :thumbup:

Scott Lee
http://poolknowledge.com

crappiecrazy said:
Scott,
Thanks for the input! I have a good idea how much a good instructor could help me. I worked with instructors for almost 30 years in firearms training. If not for their knowledge, skill and teaching abilities, I probably would not been able to "hit a bull in the ass" but they helped me to become a pretty fair pistol shot. The bottom line, as much as I would like to, spending 300/400 dollars on two days of pool instruction and I would be sleeping in a poolroom instead of my bed. lol. I live in Ky by the way not far from Stan Shuffett.
Click to expand...
 
Scott Lee said:
Stan is a great instructor, and the lessons are an investment in your game, rather than an expense. You highly value the instruction you got in firearms training...do the same thing for your pool game. Go see Stan! :thumbup:

Scott Lee
http://poolknowledge.com
Click to expand...

I will try the "investment in my game" on my wife and see how it goes but I think it will go like a "turd in a punch bowl".
 
crappiecrazy said:
I will try the "investment in my game" on my wife and see how it goes but I think it will go like a "turd in a punch bowl".
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You are married. You know that eventually you end up in the dog house anyways. Since you know it's a matter of time till you get there again, why not just plan out on going there anyways? Get the lessons....but at least you have something to last a lifetime from the time you will be in the dog house and it won't be over some stupid stuff that won't matter in a year or so.
 
crappiecrazy...Successful marriage is about give and take. If your wife can understand your passion for the game, then she should go along with it. Maybe try reasoning with her via something that she wants (maybe for the house) that costs the same, and you both get what you want, in the long run! Good luck. If she gives you the "thumbs down" even knowing how good it wll be for your mental and physical well being...well then I don't know what to tell you. Get another wife! LOL :D

Scott Lee
http://poolknowledge.com

crappiecrazy said:
I will try the "investment in my game" on my wife and see how it goes but I think it will go like a "turd in a punch bowl".
Click to expand...
 
crappiecrazy said:
I will try the "investment in my game" on my wife and see how it goes but I think it will go like a "turd in a punch bowl".
Click to expand...

Why not discuss with her what she would like for an anniversary gift and tell her you would like a lesson or two with Stan.
 
I flew from Ottawa to spend a day with Stan and drove 7 hours to spend a weekend with Joe Tucker. Money well spent as I took a lot away from both guys.

If Stan is close to you I echo Scott's suggestion.

Cheers,
Gerry

Scott Lee said:
Stan is a great instructor, and the lessons are an investment in your game, rather than an expense. You highly value the instruction you got in firearms training...do the same thing for your pool game. Go see Stan! :thumbup:

Scott Lee
http://poolknowledge.com
Click to expand...
 
Getting marital advice on a pool forum would be like asking Earl Strickland to serve as Ambassador to Russia. :D

I live near Indy and have been to see Stan multiple times. His rates are unbelievably reasonable and he has to be one of the best instructors on the planet.
 
Does every question from a beginning player on here have to turn into a solicitation for instruction? Granted, I'm sure Stan (and others) are great instructors but enough already. Surely, I'm not the only one on this forum that is growing tired of this? Or am I?

We will have a thread that could turn out to be a good conversation but instead it comes to a screeching halt when everybody just tells the OP'er to just go and get some instruction.

As far as the original post is concerned:
I think that is an awesome drill and it's one that I was not aware of but I will be doing it today when I get home from work. The only problem I see with the drill is it could lead to a lot of frustration when you are just focused on the straight cueing action without any concern for the entirety of the stroke (if that makes any sense). In other words, you just focus on the end result and you don't focus on any other parts of your stroke (stance, bridge, grip, etc.). You sort of get tunnel vision and maybe put the cart before the horse, as opposed to focusing on getting your body properly aligned, placing your bridge hand properly, and paying attention to your grip hand -- these sorts of things.

I know I tend to do that myself when repeating shots over and over again. Instead of focusing on my body I start focusing solely on the balls. So I then get frustrated because the balls aren’t listening to my demands that they go in to the pockets. Then I remember that I can’t control them, I can only control my body.

Hope that made some sense – if not disregard.

Anyway, thanks for pointing out a cool drill.
 
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