Over the last few months I've been playing around with my stance. In the past I have used a typical open pool stance, simply because that's what I saw everyone else doing. I never thought much about it until recently, when I watched Max Eberly's DVD. I know he recommends the open pool stance, but it got me tinkering with things until I tried the snooker stance. Instantly I was shooting straighter, seeing angles better, making cuts more consistently and in general playing better pool than ever. I have a good theory on why, but I'll save that for another thread.
The question is, what are the downsides to the snooker stance? I see a lot of pool players who transitioned from snooker seem to adopt the open pool stance over time. And a very high percentage of the pro's use the pool stance (or close to it). There has to be a good reason for that?
OnTheMF:
Be careful with who you consider to be "ex-snooker" or from a snooker background. For example, Darren Appleton, although he may've played snooker in his past, was primarily an English Blackball (8-ball, with reds and yellows) player. As another example, Alex Pagulayan, although he played snooker occasionally in his past (and he does have a jam-up snooker game), was and is primarily a *pool* player.
The true ex-snooker players never leave their roots. Allison Fisher, Karen Corr, Steve Davis, Mark Grey, Tony Drago, etc. all still have their snooker stance. Once you learn how to do this stance *properly*, it never leaves you. It's automatic, precisely because it lends itself so well to naturally putting all your body parts and joints facing into (not away from, as in the pool stance) and in-line with the shot.
The downsides to the snooker stance? Three things:
1. It's not easy to adopt. For one thing, when you're not used to it, it puts strain on your planted-leg's calf and hamstring muscles. ("Planted-leg" is the leg on the same side as your grip hand -- your right leg if you're right-handed.) However, all that issue is, is stretching the muscles to make them do something they've never done before, or on any consistent basis. It's the same as when you keep your legs completely straight, and you bend over to try to touch your head to your knees. Since you don't do that all that often, it's uncomfortable. It hurts, in fact. But do it enough, and not only will the muscles adapt, but it will be no big deal after that. It will come, and feel, natural, once those muscles stretch and adapt.
2. Age. As we age, our muscles get tighter, and their range of motion atrophies. So that locked stance is not as comfortable as it used to be when we were younger. Solution? Stretch a bit before playing. And play often, to keep those muscles tuned.
3. Range of motion. Let's face it, for breaking purposes, you can't beat the pool stance. The snooker stance locks you in place for alignment and accuracy reasons. The pool stance, however, allows the body to move, allowing more power for e.g. break shots. You can really throw your body into it using the pool stance. About the only thing you can do in the snooker stance, is to "fall forward" as you're delivering the cue, and your power is a bit hobbled. Or, let's shall we say, constrained to just your arm -- how much power can you focus in your arm alone, with your body adding only a little forward momentum?
The pool stance is comfortable because it's in the middle range of muscle motions, but sacrificing joint alignment to the shot, and thus accuracy. The snooker stance focuses on joint and body part alignment, at the expense of comfort in the muscle range. But it's well worth it.
It is helpful to know both, as you do. Use the pool stance for breaking, and the snooker stance for shooting. They actually match up well.
Hope this is helpful,
-Sean
