Keeping my head still. What a difference!

P

pooladdiction

shut up and rack em
Silver Member
I'm a C player at best. I had been in a bit of a funk lately. I saw the patterns but I would miss easy shots, get out of line and jaw balls often(especially lately).

I decide to try and keep my head perfectly still until the ball went in the pocket along with good follow through. What a difference! I didn't think I was jumping up on my shots but apparently just that little anticipation of an extra muscle twinge was really throwing off my shots.

I would say that the overexagerated act of staying down and keeping my head perfectly still till the ball is made has definitely jumped my game up a ball or two. Nothing excited or groundbreaking in this post just something I thought I would share :)
 
pooladdiction said:
I'm a C player at best. I had been in a bit of a funk lately. I saw the patterns but I would miss easy shots, get out of line and jaw balls often(especially lately).

I decide to try and keep my head perfectly still until the ball went in the pocket along with good follow through. What a difference! I didn't think I was jumping up on my shots but apparently just that little anticipation of an extra muscle twinge was really throwing off my shots.

I would say that the overexagerated act of staying down and keeping my head perfectly still till the ball is made has definitely jumped my game up a ball or two. Nothing excited or groundbreaking in this post just something I thought I would share :)
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Couldn't agree more. This makes ALL the difference. I like extending the idea to keeping my whole body still, and focusing my entire consciousness on my stroking hand. Just swing, but STAY STILL!

Good info sir, I think it will help many!

KMRUNOUT
 
Your head is way heavier than you think and when it gets to moving around nothing good happens.
 
Hey PA. Glad you are making some progress. For me its tough to stay down when my back is screaming at me to stand up as soon as possible.
In a couple weeks my classes will be over and I'll have some free time if you want to do some drills. Until then there is still quite a bit going on at Longshots on Sundays. Today Sarge, Chef, Ernie and I were knocking them around and Frank showed up later. Lots of good players and action if you want it.
 
You're on the path to success. If the head moves then the shoulders move. When the shoulders move then the arms move. When the arms move the hands move. Well, guess what you're holding in your hands, and is isn't your wanker. It's your cue. :smile:
 
Good to see you the other day James! I'll see if I can come over to Longshots next Sunday for a cheap set or 2. Ring game maybe. I know what you're saying about your back. As a taller player myself(6'2) it's not always that comfortable to stay down on the shot but it certainly seems to be paying dividends. Thank you all for the responses.

P. s. James, Red Shoes has a 9 ball tourny next month on 9 footers. I might go. Just a heads up
 
Tramp Steamer said:
You're on the path to success. If the head moves then the shoulders move. When the shoulders move then the arms move. When the arms move the hands move. Well, guess what you're holding in your hands, and is isn't your wanker. It's your cue. :smile:
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Well, that must be my problem. All this time I've been holding my wanker.
 
Tramp Steamer said:
You're on the path to success. If the head moves then the shoulders move. When the shoulders move then the arms move. When the arms move the hands move. Well, guess what you're holding in your hands, and is isn't your wanker. It's your cue. :smile:
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Exactly!
To stay still like a statue (as good as you can :p ) must be one of the first goals if you start to play seriously billiards.
TrampSteamer explained it perfectly. :thumbup:
 
Slight movements by your head, get exaggerated throughout your body. So concentrating on keeping your head still can drastically limit movement in your shoulders and hips. One thing I would add to what you are doing when practicing is not following the OB or CB with your eyes. If you look at the OB last or CB last keep looking at that spot after the balls have gone. One thing I see a lot is people following the OB with their eyes, but their head moves too and because they've done it for so long they anticipate the OB movement and end up moving their head too early. Count to 3 after you hit the CB, or just listen for the ball to drop before you move.
 
Pidge said:
Slight movements by your head, get exaggerated throughout your body. So concentrating on keeping your head still can drastically limit movement in your shoulders and hips. One thing I would add to what you are doing when practicing is not following the OB or CB with your eyes. If you look at the OB last or CB last keep looking at that spot after the balls have gone. One thing I see a lot is people following the OB with their eyes, but their head moves too and because they've done it for so long they anticipate the OB movement and end up moving their head too early. Count to 3 after you hit the CB, or just listen for the ball to drop before you move.
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That seems like some pretty solid advice, although I would imagine its gotta be tough not to watch the ob go in the pocket. I'll give it a try. Cheers
 
pooladdiction said:
That seems like some pretty solid advice, although I would imagine its gotta be tough not to watch the ob go in the pocket. I'll give it a try. Cheers
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Its tough enough to do it in practice let alone in a match. I recommend just trying it in practice to start with. If it does work wonders then do it in game situations. I do it in practice all the time, but in a match I follow the OB with my eyes. It just gives you the correct feeling of not moving the head.
You have to at some point follow the OB though. If you miss, how would you know why you missed? Or if you hit the wrong part of the pocket, you wouldn't know you did.

I remember growing up the snooker coach I had used to put a plastic plate on my head when I was down on a shot because I had a tendancy to move my head just before I hit the CB in anticipation of where the OB would be going. It worked wonders, even if it was unorthodox :)
 
Pidge said:
Its tough enough to do it in practice let alone in a match. I recommend just trying it in practice to start with. If it does work wonders then do it in game situations. I do it in practice all the time, but in a match I follow the OB with my eyes. It just gives you the correct feeling of not moving the head.
You have to at some point follow the OB though. If you miss, how would you know why you missed? Or if you hit the wrong part of the pocket, you wouldn't know you did.

I remember growing up the snooker coach I had used to put a plastic plate on my head when I was down on a shot because I had a tendancy to move my head just before I hit the CB in anticipation of where the OB would be going. It worked wonders, even if it was unorthodox :)
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That gives me and JolietJames something to do in our next practice session. Shooting with plates on our heads. Lol ! Hey, but if it works, go with it
 
Pidge said:
Slight movements by your head, get exaggerated throughout your body. So concentrating on keeping your head still can drastically limit movement in your shoulders and hips. One thing I would add to what you are doing when practicing is not following the OB or CB with your eyes. If you look at the OB last or CB last keep looking at that spot after the balls have gone. One thing I see a lot is people following the OB with their eyes, but their head moves too and because they've done it for so long they anticipate the OB movement and end up moving their head too early. Count to 3 after you hit the CB, or just listen for the ball to drop before you move.
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I've been trying to do exactly this for the past 2 years now. Probably the hardest thing to correct. Maybe it's just natural to want to watch that object ball go into the hole.

I have decided I am going to fix this once and for all. Maybe a week long practice should do it. Thanks for the reminder.
 
The body follows the head. It's been a reoccurring theme in almost every sport I have been involved in, especially martial arts. Hand eye coordination rely's on it. If your head is moving and your eyes are moving than you coordination will be off.

Try this exaggeration, shake your head back and forth quickly while trying to write your name. Writing your name is about as second nature as breathing yet when you move your head back and forth it becomes difficult.
 
I used to have the same problem picking up my head. But I used to shoot with a more upright stance. i found when I get my head down closer to the stick put my head in a better more comfortable spot and i don't jump up as easy any more.
 
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