Neck Strain

BeeMan

BeeMan

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
I am a right hander, and so when playing a shot, I tilt my head to the left, or turn to the left to keep my head upright. Lately I have been playing a hell of a lot, and the left side of my neck feels extremely cramped....never when I'm playing, but usually a few hours later...No matter how I stretch it, massage it, whatever, the cramped feeling is still there..

Anyone else have this problem? any exercises or stretches you recommend?
 
BeeMan said:
I am a right hander, and so when playing a shot, I tilt my head to the left, or turn to the left to keep my head upright. Lately I have been playing a hell of a lot, and the left side of my neck feels extremely cramped....never when I'm playing, but usually a few hours later...No matter how I stretch it, massage it, whatever, the cramped feeling is still there..

Anyone else have this problem? any exercises or stretches you recommend?
Click to expand...


Chiropractor...seriously
 
beeman--- great news!!!!!!!!! your playing wrong! when you play pool, your head, should never, ever, never, ever be tilted!!!!!!!!! the head should be exactly level and straight. make sure you correct this problem. when you do 2 great things will happen. #1 your game will improve by 80%! and all of your neck pain/strain will be 100% gone forever!!!!
 
THE SILENCER said:
beeman--- great news!!!!!!!!! your playing wrong! when you play pool, your head, should never, ever, never, ever be tilted!!!!!!!!! the head should be exactly level and straight. make sure you correct this problem. when you do 2 great things will happen. #1 your game will improve by 80%! and all of your neck pain/strain will be 100% gone forever!!!!
Click to expand...


my head is straight, just compared to the rest of my body it is tilted..are you telling me that your neck is completely straight when you play?
 
yes, my head is perfectly straight. i swear to you, your twisting, your head, thus causing strain. not one pool player in a million has ever complained of neck strain. arm strain, finger strain, feet ache, leg ache back ache. not head or neck strain. somethings wrong. wish you were near by, so i could see, unfortunatly, your the furtherest place on earth from me, new york to australia!!!!
 
THE SILENCER said:
the head should be exactly level and straight. make sure you correct this problem.
Click to expand...

I’m sorry, but should you be the one to offer level headiness advice? j/k

BeeMan, it sounds as though you are forcing your head and neck into that position. Are you? I think playing twice as long, or longer, than you normally play adds to muscle strain and until you build up some endurance or strength, it may feel sore for a while. You could try exercise. Or perhaps, the real problem could be something unrelated to pool, like sleeping with your neck twisted or some other uncomfortable position and the soreness becomes apparent after playing for hours. Hope you find a solution.

Rick
 
It might not hurt to get an instructor to check out your form, but since you are practicing a ton more it could just be weak muscles. I know when I practice a lot my left arm and shoulder gets sore. I had a top player from my area tell me that you know you have put in the right amount of practice when you come away from the table sore. Maybe our bodies will evolve into a more pool friendly shape in a million years if everyone starts playing pool more:D
 
It's all about how far you get down on the cue. I'm a fairly stocky 6' 1" guy and everytime I shoot my cue drags my chin. I get the neck strain too but it's just natural because of the amount of contortion. If your a big guy and you get real low on the cue then it's expected trust me.

Also about the whole thing about head tilt. Your eyes should be absolutely level to the table when your lining up your shot and about to execute. Reason being, you have two eyes. This means that each eye takes a seperate picture and they're combined to give an estimate. You need each eye to be exactly level and the same distance from the ball your aiming at (object ball not cueball) for consistant results especially with table length cuts. Just try it. Try and hit a table length cut with your head tilted 45' to each side. You'll think your aiming perfect but really your not.

cheers,
Curtis
 
biGhuK, I am 6'3", and I also get my chin right down on the cue..

I know my head is straight and my eyes are level to the table because I have used a mirror and also had pictures taken.

Thanks for the replies guys
 
Stance

Do you use the "Yankee" stance or the normal "Snooker" stance?
The Yankee version keeps your back more straight and the Snooker stance makes your back twist a bit which causes you to twist your neck.
If you use the Snooker stance start moving your left foot forward a bit in your stance and your neck will not twist as much...
I should be in your area in a few months ... maybe we can work it out?
 
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