Looking for insight on stance, 6 foot 8 pool player

[Lyle89]

Hello,

I'm looking for some insight and advice regarding stance/alignment. I've looked through numerous threads dealing with height and stance.
I've searched everywhere online for videos of tall pool players so that I can emulate their form.

If I go with a wide stance the weight shifts to my front leg which ends up putting my knee in a lot of pain after a few days.

When I try to lock my rear leg it strains my back and hamstring, and when I try to square up my stance more it ends up hurting my right knee.

I've put a great deal of time into trying different stances so that my cue doesn't clip my right leg (bent) when stroking. It's a little frustrating to me.

Some general info: I'm 6 foot 8, I've played for about 4 or 5 years. I use an 6" cue extension full time.


TLDR: 6 foot 8 player, difficult to find stance with clearance + getting my vision aligned

 

[couldnthinkof01]

Only guy I know personally who is real tall and plays good is, Scott Tollefson. The guys jump cue is the same size as my playing cue.

 

[Lyle89]

Only guy I know personally who is real tall and plays good is, Scott Tollefson. The guys jump cue is the same size as my playing cue.

Thanks, I don't think I've looked him up yet.

Some of the players i've looked up are: Dennis Grabe, Mike Massey (met him at our pool hall last year which was awesome), Shawn Putnam, Del Sim, Adam Wheeler. I'm forgetting a few others.

 

[bbb]

PM island drive ........bill meacham/meachum
he is your height and was a very sporty player
he posts on here

 

[MitchAlsup]

If I go with a wide stance the weight shifts to my front leg which ends up putting my knee in a lot of pain after a few days.

When I try to lock my rear leg it strains my back and hamstring, and when I try to square up my stance more it ends up hurting my right knee.

I've put a great deal of time into trying different stances so that my cue doesn't clip my right leg (bent) when stroking. It's a little frustrating to me.

You want a comfortable balanced stance, neither foot is stressed, nor are the knees.
A bend in the knee is acceptable, a locked knee is not.

Lower your torso only so much as you can comfortably.
Raise your head only so much as you can comfortably.

And after doing all 4 above, keep your dominant eye over the cue stick.

 

[Wybrook]

...the pains of being a tall player

I found a stance that works, and Ive been playing for a really long time with no pains anywhere..
I also don't use an extension as it feels too long to me.

My stance is between snooker and pool, and I don't bend all the way down to the cue as I lose my peripheral of the table layout.
Hard to relay to someone else how to stand, but you do need to be comfortable for long periods of time, or your game suffers.

 

[Black-Balled]

I think the pic of you shooting is pretty good form.

You gotta realize a pool table was not built for people your size. I'm sure you run into that issue often.

You are one tall mofo.

 

[Black-Balled]

Thanks, I don't think I've looked him up yet.

Some of the players i've looked up are: Dennis Grabe, Mike Massey (met him at our pool hall last year which was awesome), Shawn Putnam, Del Sim, Adam Wheeler. I'm forgetting a few others.

...the pains of being a tall player

I found a stance that works, and Ive been playing for a really long time with no pains anywhere..
I also don't use an extension as it feels too long to me.

My stance is between snooker and pool, and I don't bend all the way down to the cue as I lose my peripheral of the table layout.
Hard to relay to someone else how to stand, but you do need to be comfortable for long periods of time, or your game suffers.

Behold the power!

 

[pwd72s]

Chris Byers here in Oregon is very tall..6'7", maybe more? Anyway, a good player in BCAPL. I don't do facebook, don't tweet either.
But you might find him on one of those. I did find this.

Chris Byers - People - AZBILLIARDS.COM

The A to Z of Pool and Billiards Online

www.azbilliards.com

His Fargo is over 700, so he must have figured something out.

 

[gerryf]

David Grace is the tallest snooker player. I don't have the height but he's about a head taller than anyone else, and is rumoured to be about 6'8""

 

[Lyle89]

PM island drive ........bill meacham/meachum
he is your height and was a very sporty player
he posts on here

Thank you, will do.

...the pains of being a tall player

I found a stance that works, and Ive been playing for a really long time with no pains anywhere..
I also don't use an extension as it feels too long to me.

My stance is between snooker and pool, and I don't bend all the way down to the cue as I lose my peripheral of the table layout.
Hard to relay to someone else how to stand, but you do need to be comfortable for long periods of time, or your game suffers.

Hah right? I guess my body suffers when I try to get my head low over the cue but it feels strange to me when my head is higher.
But when I bend both knees to get super low I lose stability the longer I'm down which is really annoying on hard shots where I take my time.

Makes it more difficult to stay still on the shot.

Chris Byers here in Oregon is very tall..6'7", maybe more? Anyway, a good player in BCAPL. I don't do facebook, don't tweet either.
But you might find him on one of those. I did find this.

Chris Byers - People - AZBILLIARDS.COM

The A to Z of Pool and Billiards Online

www.azbilliards.com

His Fargo is over 700, so he must have figured something out.

Thanks I appreciate the information!

 

[bbb]

David Grace is the tallest snooker player. I don't have the height but he's about a head taller than anyone else, and is rumoured to be about 6'8""

his stance looks comfortable for someone his size

 

[Lyle89]

I think the pic of you shooting is pretty good form.

You gotta realize a pool table was not built for people your size. I'm sure you run into that issue often.

You are one tall mofo.

I got into the wrong sport LOL

Haha just kidding I love pool, it's such a magical game.

But ya all I ever hear is blah blah your tall and you don't have to use the crutch.

 

[3kushn]

You need to bring this to the "Instructor Forum"
Plus seek a qualified Instructor.
A real Instructor can help you more than think.
You'll learn more than you ever imagined.

Spend the money. You won't regret a minute or a single dollar.

If you're Really serious about learning.

 

[Fatboy]

I don’t know his name. There was a kid at the time-mid 90’s he was 17-18 years old with red hair from Florida who used to make it out to Vegas, passing through. Was a road player, when that was a thing. He was 6’5 or 6’6” and wow could he play. I can’t recall his name. He could reach any shot on a 9’ table and he had a wide stance. I moved to LA and never saw him again.

Best
Fatboy

 

[TheBasics]

Lyle89, Howdy;

This guy on YT has several videos where he mentions the problems Taller folks
run into (he's reportedly 6'6 or7"). Here's a link to one;

get in touch with him, should be able to help, maybe.
He's also on here as Tall Bob.

hank

 

[SLO-ROLL]

There’s a 3 cushion player I see once in awhile on Kozoom that’s really tall you might check him out. Maybe someone here knows his name.

 

[MmmSharp]

How flexible care you ? This not a pick up line.

I think a lot of people who have body aches are often stretching, or using muscles they dont typically use. I am having that issue right now because covid made me lazy.

You being taller is the opposite my concern. You would need to strengthen and stretch the muscles leaning down to our level to feel more natural and comfortable.

I am no personal trainer, but perhaps asking someone better versed in that area could help with some exercises that strengthen and stretch the muscles you need to help be more comfortable in your stance.

 

[straightline]

Do the routine glacially slow until you have identified all the loads an stress points. You can take this to a trainer or do the development yourself. No running around the table till you've properly beefed up the weak areas.

 

[rjb1168]

We had a guy in our 8 ball league years ago that was that tall and he shot off one knee.
He played pretty dam good.