Neck Pain While Shooting

[MDSPHOTO]

Anyone else experience severe neck pain while shooting? I'm a casual player so I shoot a couple times a week, but lately I've had severe neck pain when down over a shot with my head up. I've had neck & back issues most of my life, but this is really the first time this issue has appeared.

 

[CESSNA10]

Anyone else experience severe neck pain while shooting? I'm a casual player so I shoot a couple times a week, but lately I've had severe neck pain when down over a shot with my head up. I've had neck & back issues most of my life, but this is really the first time this issue has appeared.

I have arthritis in my neck and have had it for 20 years. Here is the thing, the morepool I play
the better it gets. I try to play at least an hour a day and Sundays I play with another
guy for about 5 hours. The more you move it the better it gets. Try sone simple neck exercises
as well. Start slow and build up. Works for me

 

[Poolmanis]

Shoot both knees bend and it will be easier for back and neck. I had to do it several years when back was more bad than today. Now if my Rheumatism is bad i have to do it still. Like yesterday competition. Tables were so low that my back did not let me shoot unless I bend both knees.

 

[tim913]

Shoot both knees bend and it will be easier for back and neck. I had to do it several years when back was more bad than today. Now if my Rheumatism is bad i have to do it still. Like yesterday competition. Tables were so low that my back did not let me shoot unless I bend both knees.

I agree sometimes it's just a simple adjustment in stance but some players have required surgery

 

[MitchAlsup]

Anyone else experience severe neck pain while shooting? I'm a casual player so I shoot a couple times a week, but lately I've had severe neck pain when down over a shot with my head up. I've had neck & back issues most of my life, but this is really the first time this issue has appeared.

Do not get so far down on the shot.

 

[L.S. Dennis]

Lower back pain is the real problem,,,,,,,

 

[Rusty in Montana]

I've had C -4 -5 - 6 all fused in my neck and use a American / European stance when I play pool if that helps I also stretch out before I start shooting . I also feel better the longer I play within a reasonable time frame .

 

[couldnthinkof01]

Regular exercise, daily stretching, and a relaxed but sturdy stance.

 

[AndRun]

One day, my friend told me that he got neckache after merely 30mins playing pool. On the other hand, I've gone 8hrs straight without being reminded that I still have a neck. I didn't understand his experience at the time.

Then years later, I hurt one eye (healed in 3 weeks, not permanent, but pretty bad). So I had to lean out in a certain way when shooting. In doing so, my neck stiffens subconsciously. And sure enough, in 15mins, my neck started its intro.

If this is similar to what you experienced, perhaps it might be your stance.
Only the shoulders should be held. The other joints would produce the arts of shooting. As long as the cue is centered under the line of aim (centered between 2 eyes, or under 1 eye in some situations), then the neck needs not be stiff.

 

[King T]

Anyone else experience severe neck pain while shooting? I'm a casual player so I shoot a couple times a week, but lately I've had severe neck pain when down over a shot with my head up. I've had neck & back issues most of my life, but this is really the first time this issue has appeared.

There's a national chain of chiropractic's their offices are called "The Joint" and they are great. They take walk in's and are very inexpensive. They also do a assessment of your condition and needs, before they suggest any treatment. Excellent service, very good results.

 

[Hoogaar]

2 and a half years ago I was on vacation and decided to play a bunch of pool. Had an 8 hour pool session. Woke up the next day with what felt like a kink in my neck. Went back for another 8 hour session. Next day kink was now uncomfortable, but went in again. After this session, woke up the next day with excruciating pain. Anyway - later found out I had a herniated disc. Didn't clue in at the time that it was the pool that was aggravating it as I have been playing pool for years and never had that happen.

I used to shoot almost like a snooker player - chin on the cue. Now I'm a little more upright and, knock on wood, haven't had a flare up in about over a year.

 

[Chili Palmer]

I have arthritis in my neck and have had it for 20 years. Here is the thing, the morepool I play
the better it gets. I try to play at least an hour a day and Sundays I play with another
guy for about 5 hours. The more you move it the better it gets. Try sone simple neck exercises
as well. Start slow and build up. Works for me

This. I've had arthritis in my neck since the mid-90's. In general, I need to exercise it, etc. or the calcium buildup from the arthritis starts hitting nerves and things start tingling.

With pool it's hard because your neck is always pointed up and that generally doesn't happen when not on a table. If you're not shooting enough pool to keep your neck flexible then start incorporating some different neck stretches.