my stance need advice

M

Marshall206

Registered
I am at a crossroad right now, I am changing my stance for the better in the long run, at least I think but I could use some input.

My way of standing that I am comfortable with and that I play great with is a kind of ready position with both legs bent, my back is more straight up and down and I am able to get very low easily because I am not leaning over as much, more of a squat it is I guess. I feel very comfortable with this stance and play well, but I notice that I get tired faster and am not necessarily unstable but am using more balance to stay stable.

It was pointed out to me by a very good player here in Seattle, that it wont do me any good to keep shooting that way and it wont work for me in the long run. I realized that what he was saying was probably true.

So... now I am trying to have a stiff back leg and bend slightly at the font with a wider stance. I feel very stable standing like this but the problem is my back is level and I am more bent over, so this causes my head to be more leaned in. On long shots on bigger tables I feel like im straining my eyes and neck when going to shoot.

Hard to explain, but with the squat stance my head is straight up and down with my back and the stiff leg stance forces me to lean over and then be looking "up"

any info very much appreciated, I know this stuff is much better explained in person.
 
Marshall 206...The "very good player" is wrong. There is no "one correct stance" for everyone. You can stand however you want to...as long as you're balanced, comfortable, and have free movement of your cuestick. It doesn't matter whether you play with bent legs or straight legs. It also doesn't matter how high or low you stand over the cue...that is personal preference. Remember that the stance is a tripod...weight balanced between both legs, and then some weight on the bridge hand, which brings your weight slightly forward.

Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com
 
I needed to hear that because I do feel like my stance was doing fine. All this new stance trying really put me in a slump too, paying more attention to my legs then what I am shooting at. I do feel balanced with my stance, and I will take the advice of giving some weight to my bridge hand.

Thanks,

-Bjorn
 
Scott is correct that there is no one stance that is right for everyone. However, if the stance you are using allows you to become tired faster, you might want to work on it a little bit.
Try keeping your same angle to the shot, but when you get part way down on the shot, just kick your back foot (right, if you shoot right handed) around 18 to 24 inches. Your front leg will still be bent, but your back leg will straighten out. This will lower you down on the shot without bending at your back, reducing fatigue. It will also spread your feet more, and provide some added stability.
As you said, it's hard to describe it on the internet, but hopefully, you get the idea.
Steve
 
thanks steve I will give that a try. I think somewhere in between both stances is probably where I want to be, not getting tired fast but also remaining in my comfort zone.
 
it sounds to me like you either may be a taller individual, or your back leg is right under your butt when you drop into your stance...

(i see steve has adressed this also....going to also try and "describe" it)

thats creating the 90º angle at your waist/back....if you like the stance but are having to crane your neck then move your back foot farther out away from your rear end....it will open the angle more in the legs and the angle leading from the back leg into the back will be less drastic which in turn will reduce that pressure on your neck.....i've known quite a few players deal with exactly what your describing and some even noticed shoulder pain in the bridge hand arm for basically the same reason the neck tends to hurt, its because your back is flat and then the arm has to extend flat out too and it puts pressure there....kind of like sleeping with your arm under the pillow b/h your head that tension causes loads of stress in the muscle over time.

i agree with scott also, but figured it may help you to know what is exactly causing some of the issues with your body you described
 
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