Low over the cue or taller stance (older guys)

I find that when i am concentrating on a shot i have my chin close to the cue. When i am tiring my chin moves higher above the stick. Pool is a mental game. When i am on, i am low...happy new years to prairie dog and garczar
 
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I think the stance is just something you grow up with.

I know I grew up when many of the greatest players were relatively upright, compared to many modern day players. If I recall correctly, in the old days the cues tended to be 57" v 59" and that probably had something to do with it. Now, if I get too low, I play poorly and I'm alway conscious that if I'm too low, I know I'm set up wrong. Regardless if you're more upright, you still have to be able to see the hit on the CB.

So really, it's just the stance you're used to triangulating from and you can pretty much get used to anything and play pretty well. IMO, the only issue with a more upright stance is being a hair too high and forward v high and a bit back so as to be able to see your hit on the CB.

Lou Figueroa
if that
makes any
sense
 
its not how high you are or your stance, or stroke its how often you can repeat the exact same thing that counts.
 
Prairie dog said:
I have to stand higher as my neck (surgeries) will not let me see the balls down where the cue stick is above my chin. No choice.
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Me too. I simply cannot crane my neck enough to have a good sight picture when trying the low stance....and even if I COULD get my neck into that position, I'd end up looking through the top frame of my glasses.

That sucks. :frown:

Maniac
 
ShootingArts said:
The books, including Ray's, and the video's tell the story. Old time players tended to stand higher. Also their "level cue" tended to be three to five inches higher at the buttcap than the tip rather than the all out effort to get the cue as flat as possible.

I have shot both very low and more erect. There was a twenty year break between the time I was getting low and obsessed with pool for ten years and the time I came back and had to stand more erect. I once got so low on some shots that I used my bearded jaw as an anchor point for the cue to slide on.

No question that old school players were highly skilled with the higher stance. No question I shot better with a low stance but the hours put in might have had more to do with it than the stance.

I think the lower stance might not be better but it is easier to use. When you can't get low the shoulder is much freer and the pendulum stroke is much more difficult to execute well. The pendulum stroke and low stance go together. If you use a pendulum stroke you should use the lowest stance you are comfortable with. If there is a lot of shoulder movement in your stroke standing a little higher might be an advantage.

Consistency is the most important thing. I believe that the low stance and pendulum stroke is easier to learn. Almost anything you can do consistently works well. I noticed one of the best in the world has a pretty pronounced chicken wing. Perhaps we should tell him his technique is poor!

Hu
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The Games where different.
14-1 at it's peak, we seen most old schoolers playing with a higher stance.
Most of the game was played on just half of the table.
As 9-ball became more popular we started lowering our heads over the shot line.

Happy New Year
randyg
 
No disagreements

goettlicher said:
The Games where different.
14-1 at it's peak, we seen most old schoolers playing with a higher stance.
Most of the game was played on just half of the table.
As 9-ball became more popular we started lowering our heads over the shot line.

Happy New Year
randyg
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Randy,

I won't disagree about the game and players being different. Straight pool and eight ball you can often use bridge balls to keep the shots and shape short too. With the focus on nine and ten ball I don't think most amateurs even think about bridge balls when they can use them.

While many think the eight foot table was an advantage for Willie, I don't think any of the people trying to run up high scores today want any part of fifteen balls on half of an eight foot table.

Equipment, the conditions any new record is likely to be shot under, public opinion, I think Willie's record will always remain and a new record will be just that. It will be an impressive accomplishment but will not supplant Willie's record although it should parallel it.

I hope 2019 is great for you!

Hu
 
Prairie dog said:
Has anyone ever calculated whether the lower cue stance where the cue stick almost hits the face or the more upright stance most of us older guys have to get in. I wonder if it makes a difference in shots?
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A more upright stance with the head/eyes considerably above the cue may be perfectly fine for shots in which the cue ball is relatively close to the object ball (within 3-4 feet), but for length of the table shots, particularly sharper cut shots, I would think it presents some obvious challenges in your ability to consistently aim and deliver the cue ball as precisely / accurately on your target line.
 
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PhilosopherKing said:
I've heard of this instructor in the PNW who can help... Can't think of his name. Maybe someone here can think of it.
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Thanks and you are correct. Had a lesson today and he tells me I have a hybrid stroke. My shoulder moves about 1" or so. But my stroke is okay. As others have said, he agrees that pure pendulum stroke occurs when the player has the cue right below his face. The shoulder locks up high with that low tilt. My head is about 8" above the cue stick on most shots so a pure pendulum stroke would be stupid.
 
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ShootingArts said:
... While many think the eight foot table was an advantage for Willie, I don't think any of the people trying to run up high scores today want any part of fifteen balls on half of an eight foot table. ...
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John Schmidt's views (as of 2009) on the relative difficulty of 14.1 on 7-, 8-, and 9-footers:

john schmidt said:
... for the record i think 14.1 on the bartable is easier than 9ft.

you can reach allbreakballs,combos and shots are a joke etc.

yes its more confined space but with the cueball control ive learned from 14.1 thats the last thing im worried about.

for the record the easiest table to play 14.1 is a 4x8 .ive played on them all and its the easiest no doubt. enough room to play but still easier on shotmaking,reaching,combos than 9ft.
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the proof is in the pudding

AtLarge said:
John Schmidt's views (as of 2009) on the relative difficulty of 14.1 on 7-, 8-, and 9-footers:
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There is no shortage of Brunswick eight foot home style tables out there which is what Willie's run was sometimes reported to be ran on. Not as common but still commercial eight footers around too if john wanted to try on one of them. When he was hunting a soft table to try to run over 526 balls on he picked a bucket pocketed nine footer.

john has been trying for a run higher than Willie Mosconi's for many years. I would say what he did recently carries more weight than what he said ten years ago.

Hu
 
Prairie dog said:
I have to stand higher as my neck (surgeries) will not let me see the balls down where the cue stick is above my chin. No choice.
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Same here brother. Broke my neck at C6 in '86. Fusion won't allow me to get low. The way it is. Deal with it is all we can do.
 
Since we're talking about this again....

Of the ten players in the Mosconi cup, only one has his chin as far as two inches from the cue stick and about half rub their chin with the stick.
 
Bob Jewett said:
Since we're talking about this again....

Of the ten players in the Mosconi cup, only one has his chin as far as two inches from the cue stick and about half rub their chin with the stick.
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Yes, but I have no idea of your age, but can you do that?
 
When trying to get low stance with limited flexibility, try this.
Bend both knees and try bring your ass little bit down. Like you are starting to sit down carefully. That is how I play when my rheumatism is having a bad time. :grin:

Edit :Added really good info and demonstration from really good Snooker coach, Nic Barrow

Timestamped link: https://youtu.be/2-yTPXlNfyY?list=PLLn9V3E56jPQW-aPraVZrTmQINJtIFyOt&t=1463
or if it is not working topic will start from 24:23
 
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