When I follow thru after hitting the CB, my tip always seems to go downward. I have been playing like this for years, but I see some young semi-pros with better draw strokes than I have keeping their cue perfectly level when they follow thru. Even when they draw the cueball, they dont drag their tip into the felt, they seem to go right thru the CB. I am interested in trying this out, but cannot figure out how to position my body so that this is possible. Even if I get as level as possible, my tip still dives down. Even the guys who do it don't seem to know what lets them do that. Anyone got any suggestions?
Keeping Cue Level On Follow Thru
- Thread starter LastTwo
- Start date
LastTwo, this problem has haunted many a pool player.
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ManlyShot
You can try out a device called the Stroke Trainer. It comes with a money-back guarantee. So, if you are not 100-percent satisfied with your "new" stroke after 30 days, you may get your money back.
Here is the description by its inventor: Hi my name is Doug Carter and I am the inventor of the Stroke Trainer. Anyone who has ever played pool or billiards knows the importance of having a solid stroke. This is the basis of the entire game, a skill which takes years of practice to truly master.
But we have created a billiard training aid to do this in a matter of days not years. Just five minutes a day with this high quality aluminum-training tool is guaranteed to give you a champion stroke.
Tom "Dr. Cue" Rossman and "The Monk" Tim Miller, now using the StrokeTrainer in their clinics all around the United States and they endorse its use by anyone having stroke problems. Also endorsed by Tom Ross, (Master Instructor Through The Monk) and “Mad Max” Eberle a top touring pro player.
The website is www.stroketrainer.com if you are interested in finding out more.
ManlyShot
LastTwo,
The only way to keep your tip perfectly level on follow-through is to drop your elbow. If you think of a pendulum, as soon as it passes the mid-point of the swing it starts back up again. You would have to start dropping your elbow at exactly that point, at exactly the right speed to counteract the rise.
Why do you think a level follow-through is important?
The only way to keep your tip perfectly level on follow-through is to drop your elbow. If you think of a pendulum, as soon as it passes the mid-point of the swing it starts back up again. You would have to start dropping your elbow at exactly that point, at exactly the right speed to counteract the rise.
Why do you think a level follow-through is important?
Try holding your cue further back on the butt so that you contact the CB just before arriving at the bottom of the pendulum. this is where your stroke will be the most level to the table. The CB will be on it's way as your cue tip starts to drop as you describe on your follow through.
you have to drop your elbow on the followthrough.....
here is one of the contradictions in pool basics. i'll bet you were taught to keep your elbow locked. you were also taught to keep a level cue. you can't have both,,,and ALL the pro players i've seen drop their elbow.
if you lock your elbow, your forearm arcs on the upswing as it strokes forward, therefore the tip will dip. you have to drop your elbow to maintain a level cue.
also, the pros don't jab at the CB, and you'll also see that their stroke is not as "long" as you think(orttman's stroke is VERY short). if you do either, it might also contribute to a choppy, dip stroke.
here is one of the contradictions in pool basics. i'll bet you were taught to keep your elbow locked. you were also taught to keep a level cue. you can't have both,,,and ALL the pro players i've seen drop their elbow.
if you lock your elbow, your forearm arcs on the upswing as it strokes forward, therefore the tip will dip. you have to drop your elbow to maintain a level cue.
also, the pros don't jab at the CB, and you'll also see that their stroke is not as "long" as you think(orttman's stroke is VERY short). if you do either, it might also contribute to a choppy, dip stroke.
Last edited:
I agree with all above, you must drop elbow if you want a level follow thru, but is it that important? dropping elbow seems to give a "looser, freer" stroke but could also lose accuracy. pro's all do it, but their strokes are almost perfect
A
amateur
Guest
Well, the snooker guys don't drop their elbow too much...only sometimes when they need high power in the shot. From what I've seen from the likes of Ronnie and co. their follow through seems to be level whether they drop their elbow or not.
i don't watch snooker a lot but,,,,i just watched hendry vs. o'sullivan, 1999embassy, and they drop their elbow on every shot about 1"-2"(o'sullivan less than hendry), and really drop their elbow on all their power shots. it's especially easy to see because the camera is low and facing the player.
the only time i ever see a player not drop his elbow is on the very simple soft, strokeless shots.
btw lasttwo, another reason why you might be dipping your tip is you might be addressing the CB TOO LATE, ie,,the farther past the midway point (when your forearm is perpendicular to the table) your arm is when you strike the CB, the further up your forearm is arcing because you are near the end of your stroke,,,at which point the dip will be even more exagerrated.
the only time i ever see a player not drop his elbow is on the very simple soft, strokeless shots.
btw lasttwo, another reason why you might be dipping your tip is you might be addressing the CB TOO LATE, ie,,the farther past the midway point (when your forearm is perpendicular to the table) your arm is when you strike the CB, the further up your forearm is arcing because you are near the end of your stroke,,,at which point the dip will be even more exagerrated.
LastTwo said:
My husband does the low and level type draw and he draws beautifully. I strike down a little which does put my tip on the cloth a few inches past the original position of the cueball.
I believe that his draw is better because he has better, more polished speed control. So the real question is is it the technique that is at fault or is it a finess problem. Since I am an intermediate player at best, I think that for me it is that I need to practice getting better finess.
I bet that those pros have very good finess. Perhaps someone watching you could tell which it is.
Laura
Last Two- How much distance is between your bridge hand and the CB? You could have your bridge hand too far from the CB. This will cause you to "reach" for the CB, causing you to raise your elbow and shoulder, causing your tip to dip. I used to do this, but was able to quickly fix it.
Zim
Zim
Last Two- How much distance is between your bridge hand and the CB? You could have your bridge hand too far from the CB. This will cause you to "reach" for the CB, causing you to raise your elbow and shoulder, causing your tip to dip. I used to do this, but was able to quickly fix it.
Zim
Zim
If you want to follow through beyond 4" or so, drop your elbow. Personally, I agree with Bruin that you don't have to follow through that far. Speed is critical for maximum action on the cb. A light grip is also a key factor. Bruce Lee knocked a heavy bag off it's fastener with a 3" punch. Following through is important but you don't have to follow through that far. The further you follow through the more likely it is that you'll start "steering" the cb and that's a real bad thing to do.
i'm still a pretty new player (compared to most folks here), and i just can't draw if i don't skid the tip on the cloth on follow thru. it makes it a little dangerous, since at some point i'm technically hitting downward, and that generally curves the ball somewhat, but i decided that instead of "fixing it" but learning to keep the cue perfectly level, i'd just get used to whatever minor curve happens.
i already hit the cue ball 1/4 tip to the right no matter what i do, so i'm already used to aiming differently on left and right-side cuts.
anyway, my advice would be to decide whether you want to work with your body or against it. neither is inherently better than the other, as long as you're consistent and can make the shot and move the cue ball around, i'd say.
but again, i'm a one-rack runner, haha.
i already hit the cue ball 1/4 tip to the right no matter what i do, so i'm already used to aiming differently on left and right-side cuts.
anyway, my advice would be to decide whether you want to work with your body or against it. neither is inherently better than the other, as long as you're consistent and can make the shot and move the cue ball around, i'd say.
but again, i'm a one-rack runner, haha.