Just My Thought On Short Players

Your attitude sounds right, I think you'll pull it off. If you accomplish your goals I think you'll be right up there with some of the best 70 year olds on the planet.

This may come out wrong, like.. ."hey look at those seniors go!" but just the other day I was watching an old movie I had saved of Lou Butera vs. Dallas west. This was taken in Dec. of 07, playing 8 ball.

Lou missed ball in hand to start his first game and of course I thought "oh man, that's it, he's just too old. He's done." ...but he just shook his head. West ran out beautifully. Broke and missed mid-run and when Lou got his next chance he ran out. Then broke and ran out the next one. There was a miss by both in the next game due to tricky cluster breaks but Lou made a nice shot to free up the 8 from across the table. West's next break was dry and Lou ran out in under 3 minutes. Then broke and ran the next one in a bit over 2. Then broke and ran the next one in a bit over 1. Broke and ran the next too.

At this point the video cuts out and I realize that even if these guys are playing 20% below their full speed, they are still better players than me or my friends or anyone I personally know.

Just be realistic... I dunno if even these guys are putting up 5-packs in 9 ball, that seems like it'd be about their top speed. So you don't have to quit just because you don't put up the same numbers as the legends.
 
I'm glad you tall guys think being short is a disadvantage! :) I"m 5'6" and I NEVER wanted to be any taller when playing pool. I'm not sure how others would rate my game, but I've run a few centuries and I can move the ball around ok for a short guy.......I"m lefty, and give myself the 8 playing righty. :thumbup:

As far as not seeing the table well being short......nah, or else we all would be shooting like the guys back in the day.....real upright.

I've also played to a 6 handicap golfing, and carried a 218 bowling average in 3 different leagues....along with being #1 singles on the high school tennis team..I like being short actually :) I had many friends that were tall and lanky......cept for baketball.....they hated it for most sports.

G.
 
Exactly.

Johnnyt said:
Being short can and for most is a big negative in pool. Before anyone says it, I know that Mosconi, Alex, and Nick Varner are/ were all short. These guys are/were world champions…I’m not talking about them. Alex can shoot with the opposite hand just about as well as anyone. I think Varner can too, and I’m not sure about Mosconi.

For us short players that are not from another world, it is harder to get to “A” and above. Short players are at a disadvantage reaching, jumping, and need to use the bridge often.

A few things I would suggest to new short players are. Learn to play with both hands. Play a few racks a day with the opposite hand in your practice routine. Practice playing racks only using the bridge, and work on pinpoint position…keeping in mind where you need the CB for a trade-off of reaching it w/o a bridge and being able to still make the next shot.

As far as jumping, I can’t give any advice on ways to get better for short players, as I’m not very good at jumping yet. One thing I can tell you, I stood on a 4” platform and tried jumping. I got 50% better in minutes. Out of all the really good jumpers I’d like to see them in slow motion where they strike the QB when jumping over a ball or two. I have a strong hunch that it is scooping. They still are very good to even jump that well that way…but it is a foul. Johnnyt
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You hit the nail right head Johnnyt.I am 5'10 and the most powerful thing I have found is the importance of being able to shoot with both hands.It opens a whole new game and gives you an abilty to look at a shot two ways.I have won countless games by being able to shoot with my opposite hande rather than lets say trying to play position or the money ball with a behind the back shot.Rep to you!:thumbup:
 
stormshadow1 said:
You hit the nail right head Johnnyt.I am 5'10 and the most powerful thing I have found is the importance of being able to shoot with both hands.It opens a whole new game and gives you an abilty to look at a shot two ways.I have won countless games by being able to shoot with my opposite hande rather than lets say trying to play position or the money ball with a behind the back shot.Rep to you!:thumbup:
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That's how Efren does it. Either that or learn to use the bridge. One of the best at that was Irving Crane.
 
I was at The Eastern States Nine-ball Championships in New london Ct. In 1981. The night before the tournament started, they had a who's the shortest person contest, in the room next to mine. Out of a thirty-two man field they had eight contestants. Boston Shorty came in third place. I believe Howie Pearl was the winner. One forth of the field was in the contest. I believe except when it comes to reach. The short person has every other advantage in the game. Of course, Jumping wasn't that popular at this time.
 
Gerry said:
I'm glad you tall guys think being short is a disadvantage! :) I"m 5'6" and I NEVER wanted to be any taller when playing pool. I'm not sure how others would rate my game, but I've run a few centuries and I can move the ball around ok for a short guy.......I"m lefty, and give myself the 8 playing righty. :thumbup:

As far as not seeing the table well being short......nah, or else we all would be shooting like the guys back in the day.....real upright.

I've also played to a 6 handicap golfing, and carried a 218 bowling average in 3 different leagues....along with being #1 singles on the high school tennis team..I like being short actually :) I had many friends that were tall and lanky......cept for baketball.....they hated it for most sports.

G.
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Not to mention you hardly ever see any 6'5" old guys out on the golf course or 300 lb guys for that matter. They just don't live as long or as healthy as smaller light weight people I am sorry to say. What was the line in the movie My Giant with Billy Crystal. "Have you ever seen an old giant"
 
I'm 5'10 and I love it plan and simple , I use a bridge all the time in practice and can shoot with my left hand when I need to , you just need to practice everything .:wink:
 
dardusm said:
I'm not sure how disadvantageous it really is to be a short player. Yes, there are shots that are more difficult to reach, but take a look at the the Filipino players (the best in the world). There are ways around it plus I heard from taller players is much more difficult to get lower in your stance and get that rifle type of aim. I have a friend who is really short < 5 and plays pretty good. It's interesting to watch him move around the table and he encompasses a very long bridge to reach/make shots.

Is there an optimum height to play pool? Probably, but I tend to think it's more about heart than height.
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take it form a short guy. being a short player is a big disadvantage. a lot of shots and positions have to be played differently
 
Milo said:
I am 5'1". If they had an Olympic event for using the bridge (or rest), I might be in contention for the Gold Medal.:D
I was playing with a pro level player in my area about 5 or so years ago.
He gave me a great compliment, " Andrea, you are absolutely one of the best I have EVER seen using the bridge". Boy, that made me smile .:)
I agree with Cameron. Short people need to become experts with the bridge. All it takes is practice. I guarantee, it will get you out of alot of jams.;)
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Hmmm, I thought I was taller than you and I am only 5'1" on a good hair day, lol. I know what you mean though. 5'8" seems tall to me!

I swear by my Stretch bridge system which allows me to cant the head to get low over an obstructing ball, even if it is way down table.

With over 37 years of using a bridge, I can attest to the importance of using it. My problem comes when I think I can just stretch out AND stroke it, because I invariably end up missing it, then I cuss myself out (nicely!) "Why didn't I get the bridge?!" Mike says there is no room in the poolroom for a lazy pool player. Which means go get the bridge or go around and look at every shot.

In fact, I am probably better at drawing with the bridge than I am without it, lol.

I also have a mean one-handed game. JD used to try to take my money playing one-handed and I surprised him.
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All in all though, being as short as I am is a disadvantage. Hands are smaller, some shots (even with ball in hand) require you to have the cueball in a bad spot to play it the correct way, so we play position closer to the rails sometimes or figure out alternate routes to accomplish the same things. Jumping is tough, even air bridging.

And also that body position where you sit on the edge of the table for greater reach? Can't do that, even though I am super flexible (all those years of gymnastics)
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because the other leg comes up off the floor! No fair! We should be able to drag a little box around to stand on.
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Johnny, I think:

"Short people got no reason
Short people got no reason
Short people got no reason
To live

They got little hands
Little eyes
They walk around
Tellin' great big lies
They got little noses
And tiny little teeth
They wear platform shoes
On their nasty little feet

Well, I don't want no short people
Don't want no short people
Don't want no short people
`Round here

Short people are just the same
As you and I
(A fool such as I)
All men are brothers
Until the day they die
(It's a wonderful world)

Short people got nobody
Short people got nobody
Short people got nobody
To love

They got little baby legs
That stand so low
You got to pick em up
Just to say hello
They got little cars
That go beep, beep, beep
They got little voices
Goin' peep, peep, peep
They got grubby little fingers
And dirty little minds
They're gonna get you every time
Well, I don't want no short people
Don't want no short people
Don't want no short people
'Round here"

:D

It seems there is a reach disadvantage, but I would think there is an aiming advantage and longer lifespan for your back???
 
poolplayer2093 said:
take it form a short guy. being a short player is a big disadvantage. a lot of shots and positions have to be played differently
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Exactly! Shorter people are forced to play a lot of shots near the rail, my road partner was very tall and had a tremendous advantage on the big tables.
 
You know, I had an idea while reading this thread.....wingspan!

I don't know what the average wingspan is per height? I'm 5'6" and I just measured my wingspan tip to tip at 69"......that's 3" wider arm reach then I am tall!!!:D

Maybe I'm some kinda freak? but that might be why I don't mind being so short and playing pool?

no monkey jokes!!!!

hmmm?

G.
 
Gerry said:
You know, I had an idea while reading this thread.....wingspan!

I don't know what the average wingspan is per height? I'm 5'6" and I just measured my wingspan tip to tip at 69"......that's 3" wider arm reach then I am tall!!!:D

Maybe I'm some kinda freak? but that might be why I don't mind being so short and playing pool?

no monkey jokes!!!!

hmmm?

G.
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No wonder I can't reach anything...my arm span is only 56". But I have a big nose, big feet, and an over average.... Johnnyt
 
Wingspan is worth mentioning for sure... they say that it's normally about the same as your height, but it's common for wingspan to pass height by a couple of inches.

Also worth factoring is your gut, flexibility, and whether you're playing all balls fouls. You can't afford to stretch over a table if your belly is going to rake the balls, even if your height is decent. And some people can stretch until their hamstrings scream and one toe is just barely scraping the floor, while others will feel like reaching for the bridge long before that point.
 
CreeDo said:
Wingspan is worth mentioning for sure... they say that it's normally about the same as your height, but it's common for wingspan to pass height by a couple of inches.

Also worth factoring is your gut, flexibility, and whether you're playing all balls fouls. You can't afford to stretch over a table if your belly is going to rake the balls, even if your height is decent. And some people can stretch until their hamstrings scream and one toe is just barely scraping the floor, while others will feel like reaching for the bridge long before that point.
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All good points CreeDo. I'm usually very flexible.....5 years of Martial arts taught me how to stretch. I can still touch the back of my hands to the floor with my legs straight, and touch my face to my knees :) As for the gut,....I"m lucky there too.

G.
 
LAlouie said:
I think a short player's perspective of the table would be to his disadvantage. The table would feel bigger than to a taller player.
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I think that a lot of it has to do with the mental aspect of the game.

When I first started to shoot pool back in college, my friend who was trying to help me improve my game gave me some great advice while I sat back and watched his girlfriend run out the table on me.

Friend> "You are tall and that can be helpful in shooting pool, but it can also be your disadvantage."
Me> "Why is that?"
Friend> "Watch Jenny run the table, notice how she plays position on every shot so that she can comfortably reach it."
Me> "Yes, she's a good player."
Friend> "She is not tall and can't reach all the shots that you can, but that doesn't stop her. She relies on her technique and sets to play well. You can reach most shots since you are tall, but that can make you lazy. Don't get lazy on your technique and sets just because you can reach most shots anywhere on the table. This can also affect your mental game because you might not take the shots as seriously as you should. Just because you are taller doesn't mean you have the advantage."
Me> "I see what you mean."
Jenny> "Who's next?"
 
Another advantage

A great one pocket player in his day, Don "Capt" Wagner told me a long time ago. (This thread reminded me of his wise words.)
Short players know how to play the side rails very well because their height usually forces them to play position to where the player is standing on the sides of the table, versus reaching and stretching at either end. Makes alot of sense.:) I do this quite often, and dont even think about it anymore. Or plan B, I get my bridge.:D
 
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