Jumping up

D

dirtydog48

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
In forty years of playing this stupid game, I will still jump up when tired or in action. I have used SPFF, focused on finishig my shot, tried to just hold still, and anything else, but still find when I am playing badly, it is because I am doing anything from slightly moving my head to jumping out of my shoes ( I always wear tie shoes because loafers are a pain to put back on).
Would you all share any means you might have to consistently keep your head still, or is it impossible to contain this sign of releasing tension?
 
yeah, just 'stay down', you just have to do it. And forcing yourself to actually think about it every shot; will become habbit after a while, and it will come naturally.
You might want to try placing the cue ball on the spot or closer to the side rail, and getting down and firmly shooting into the rail and try not to jump out of the way. Maybe you can condition yourself not to hop up.
I liken it to closing your eyes everytime you use a hammer (it is a reflex).
Also, your fundes. might be a little off. I read somewhere to check the distance and weight dispersement of your feet. Try going 75-85% weight on your lead leg.
 
You could always try having someone hold a pool cue about 2 inches above your head while you shoot. You will either keep your head down, or be taking a lot of asprin.

Seriously, it's something you just have to practice until jumping up no longer feels natural. Then when you get tired, you won't revert to the old habit.
Steve
 
dirtydog48 said:
In forty years of playing this stupid game, I will still jump up when tired or in action. I have used SPFF, focused on finishig my shot, tried to just hold still, and anything else, but still find when I am playing badly, it is because I am doing anything from slightly moving my head to jumping out of my shoes ( I always wear tie shoes because loafers are a pain to put back on).
Would you all share any means you might have to consistently keep your head still, or is it impossible to contain this sign of releasing tension?
Click to expand...


Maybe I can really help. First, who did you learn SPFF from? That will tell me where to start.

I have fixed this very same problem in many a player...SPF-randyg
 
Thanks

For the replies. "Just stay down" just distracts me and I miss more than usual.
Randy, the SPFF comes from reading this forum, so I have had no formal instruction in that method. I have heard you are a great instructor, but I am from the Detroit area. I have worked with John Binion and Harry Sexton (Poochie) when he was alive. I normally play from a strong "B" to "A" when I am playing well, but like most people, I will have stretches when I cannot beat Ray Charles.
 
I have seen even Efren pop up on a shot as late as 2004 Derby City. I believe it will happen to everyone, no matter how disciplined, no matter how seasoned.

Just don't do it!

If you find yourself doing it, Stop.

I actually stop myself by looking at the cueball instead of the object ball during the shot.
This works for me, and may not be advisable for everyone.
 
dirtydog48 said:
For the replies. "Just stay down" just distracts me and I miss more than usual.
Click to expand...

To this I would have to say.. "suck it up", and play through it. It is a very bad habbit, and the benefits of breaking yourself of doing it will by far outweigh the short term distraction. Don't cramp up and strain to force yourself down, just relax and try to keep a still head (for an exagerated time). It may cause you to suck for a while or feel awkward, but when you begin to come out of that feeling, lookout!
 
BazookaJoe said:
I have seen even Efren pop up on a shot as late as 2004 Derby City. I believe it will happen to everyone, no matter how disciplined, no matter how seasoned.

[...]
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I've heard accustat commentators say that so-and-so was doomed to miss the long tough shot because of the way he jumped up.

But I think people are frequently mixing up what is the cause and what is the effect.

In many instances, imo, when the Efren's of the world jump up, it is *because* he missed the shot. I think it can go like this. You have a tough shot. You get into position, take your warm-up strokes and everything looks right. Then you take the business stroke. As you're striking the ball--after the point of no return--you can tell the aim is wrong, but it's too late to do anything about it. For good players who rarely pop up, I think this is frequently what is going on when you do see them pop up. They know they've already missed the shot. If so, they they're not missing the shot
*because* they jumped up, but they're jumping up *because* they missed the shot.

mike page
fargo
 
One way you can keep yourself from this is shoot and watch the cue ball immediately until contacts the OB, on short shots watch the CB then the OB this helps me stay down on shots...I also have the cue rubbing my chin when I shoot...I notice people that play in a more upright stance tend to pop up alot after a shot...maybe try and lower your stance on the shot....
________
 
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Jumping Up

mikepage said:
I've heard accustat commentators say that so-and-so was doomed to miss the long tough shot because of the way he jumped up.

But I think people are frequently mixing up what is the cause and what is the effect.

In many instances, imo, when the Efren's of the world jump up, it is *because* he missed the shot. I think it can go like this. You have a tough shot. You get into position, take your warm-up strokes and everything looks right. Then you take the business stroke. As you're striking the ball--after the point of no return--you can tell the aim is wrong, but it's too late to do anything about it. For good players who rarely pop up, I think this is frequently what is going on when you do see them pop up. They know they've already missed the shot. If so, they they're not missing the shot
*because* they jumped up, but they're jumping up *because* they missed the shot.

mike page
fargo
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Very astute, I agree 100%. I have the same habit and my teammates tell me I missed because I jumped up. 90% of the time I jumped up because I knew in my heart I wasn't going to make it. The other 10% is actually me moving my head/torso before/during the shot.
 
Hopefully you're not crowding yourself in your stance and you have room for the arm to move freely and complete the stroke.I've seen people crowd themselves in their stance and have to jump up to get body clearance to move their arm through freely.It's most likely not this, however, I thought I'd mention it for another option.Have someone(preferably an instructor) check your stance.

Also most amatuers grip the cue too tightly and hit the ball too hard.I found when I gripped to cue too tightly, that bad habit manifested itself into another bad habit of lifting my head.Instead of letting the cue do the work, they tend to muscle the ball.I'm by no means claiming that there is a connection between a tight grip and a head lift, however, when one strokes it smoother there is a tendency to stay down and really enjoy that(relaxed) stroke.Tension is a killer in pool and it most likely has some connection with head movement.

In practice I'll stay down for a two count after object ball contact, or even exagerate things by staying down until the cue ball stops rolling.You may have to mentally remind yourself on every shot to stay down until it becomes a habit.It can be hard work mentally, however, no pain, no gain.
RJ
 
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I would suggest staying down while counting to 2 or 3. Just like you should have a consistent Pre-shot routine. You can call it your Post-shot routine. Make this count part of every shot.
 
When i do it right it's when i am concentrating on keeping the left hand down. If that stays down it's hard to jump up.
 
I try to keep down untill the OB is either in the pocket or I've counted to 3 after making contact with the CB. I say try, because I don't always do it.
 
Do you

suffer from pre-mature ejaculation too!!!:D :D lol (just kidding)

You do this because you are anxious, and you want to 'see' the outcome
of the shot before or as it happens,and when you raise up, you have a
better view than being ground level.

This is just one reason why real good players like to get lessor players out of their 'comfort zone' gambling. (playing for $500 instead of a $100) because they will FEEEEEEELLLLLLL PRESSSSSSSUUUURRREEEE, and start doing all kinds of things they normally don't do, like raising up on shots and missing.

I told you why you are doing it, it is up to you to train your mind otherwise.
If you want to see yourself doing it, have a friend videotape you.:D :D
 
Also, understand something, coming out of your shot or jumping up as you put it usually starts with the first forward movement of the cue.

It begins BEFORE you strike the cue ball, which is why contact is far off the aim point. I have watched so much film on students, and with them that it really blows their minds when in slow motion the see themselves moving so much before contact.

I use a spot drill to help my students with this and try to have them focus on just using the lower arm from the elbow to the wrist to make the stroke, and keeping the rest of the body quiet. Then I can take them into SPFF.
 
DD,

It sounds like you don't feel comfortable staying down on your shot. Why is that?

Maybe you could get someone to hold you down while you're shooting some easy shots and see how that feels.

Barbara
 
I suppose you could always put a string around your neck attached to a fish hook hooked on the crotch of your pants. If you jerk up you'll...... well I'd rather not get into that :D
 
dirtydog48 said:
In forty years of playing this stupid game, I will still jump up when tired or in action. I have used SPFF, focused on finishig my shot, tried to just hold still, and anything else, but still find when I am playing badly, it is because I am doing anything from slightly moving my head to jumping out of my shoes ( I always wear tie shoes because loafers are a pain to put back on).
Would you all share any means you might have to consistently keep your head still, or is it impossible to contain this sign of releasing tension?
Click to expand...
i have heard of people that when they practice against each other that would whack the other on the head with the stick if/when they jumped up.....i guess like training a dog...........down for the sound another used to stay...if u practice on staying down extra long....until the ball hits the back of the pocket it might help
 
for me raising up is usually the effect, not the cause. my solution is to pay attention to the pre-shot routine. the effort usually corrects a miss before it happens, so i don't lift up at the last second...remove the cause, i say.

-s
 
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