Positioning a cue ball after it strikes an object ball requires finesse. The use of words and numbers do not work well .Most of us cannot tell the difference between a 28 degree angle and a 30 degree angle. Learning to control the cue ball is part of the definition of “feel” in the pool playing world. If we can not put what we do in words in any formulaic way, who is learning how to execute this extremely fine motor control?
Idea such as the “sub-conscious,” “muscle memory,” and “auto-pilot” are often used to describe this process of calculating and executing how we strike the cue ball to produce the desired effect. There is at least a three stage process at work. We must know what we want to do. We must know how to do it. And, we must then execute it as required. I have a suggestion for the last part, the execution phase.
To produce the desired result the mind must, once again, test the weight of the cue, the swing of the arm, and the type of follow through for the shot. For these reasons it is a better practice to have multiple smooth swings of the cue stick before the actual shot is executed. The term most often used is “practice swings” and I suspect that it is often undervalued by some players, who do not take practice swings or perceive them as only mildly useful at best.
The term multi-stroking” is coined as a way to emphasize the idea that the player should be aware of the process (weight of cue assessment, amount of speed required and type of stroke to be used) that is occurring during the practice swings. These are important determinations for where the cue ball will land after the ball is pocketed.
I have found that when I am aware of the function of multi-stroking during the shot making it improves my cue ball control. However, awareness does not imply verbal thought or any attempt to control the process. I am simply aware of the idea that my brain is figuring out all the right moves to produce the desire outcome and I do not shoot until the stroke “feels” right. That is, until I am sure that my arm (etc) can produce what is desired. This non-verbal awareness sure does help with positional play.
Multi-stroking requires various numbes of swings depending on the shot. Sometimes two swing are sufficient, sometimes we need four or five. It all depends on when the brain says, "OK, I got it." Ever notice that sometimes the brain says, "can't get there from here." and that is when we either jam it (and miss) or stand up and refigure the shot.
PS I like placing my thoughts here on AZB because of all the intense criticism they recieve. If there is something wrong with an idea posters here will find it. So thanks for your thoughts on the matter.
Idea such as the “sub-conscious,” “muscle memory,” and “auto-pilot” are often used to describe this process of calculating and executing how we strike the cue ball to produce the desired effect. There is at least a three stage process at work. We must know what we want to do. We must know how to do it. And, we must then execute it as required. I have a suggestion for the last part, the execution phase.
To produce the desired result the mind must, once again, test the weight of the cue, the swing of the arm, and the type of follow through for the shot. For these reasons it is a better practice to have multiple smooth swings of the cue stick before the actual shot is executed. The term most often used is “practice swings” and I suspect that it is often undervalued by some players, who do not take practice swings or perceive them as only mildly useful at best.
The term multi-stroking” is coined as a way to emphasize the idea that the player should be aware of the process (weight of cue assessment, amount of speed required and type of stroke to be used) that is occurring during the practice swings. These are important determinations for where the cue ball will land after the ball is pocketed.
I have found that when I am aware of the function of multi-stroking during the shot making it improves my cue ball control. However, awareness does not imply verbal thought or any attempt to control the process. I am simply aware of the idea that my brain is figuring out all the right moves to produce the desire outcome and I do not shoot until the stroke “feels” right. That is, until I am sure that my arm (etc) can produce what is desired. This non-verbal awareness sure does help with positional play.
Multi-stroking requires various numbes of swings depending on the shot. Sometimes two swing are sufficient, sometimes we need four or five. It all depends on when the brain says, "OK, I got it." Ever notice that sometimes the brain says, "can't get there from here." and that is when we either jam it (and miss) or stand up and refigure the shot.
PS I like placing my thoughts here on AZB because of all the intense criticism they recieve. If there is something wrong with an idea posters here will find it. So thanks for your thoughts on the matter.
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