Object ball slightly Right

[Chili Palmer]

Two words...VIDEO ANALYSIS! Find a qualified professional instructor (not a pro player), one who does video analysis. Case Closed!

Scott Lee
2019 PBIA Instructor of the Year
Director, SPF National Pool School Tour

I was thinking about this on my way home from work. Although I posted the links to Deuel on YouTube I'm going to backtrack and agree with those that say video analysis. Using practice shots may get your stroke straight but you won't know WHY it's straight. A good instructor will be able to tell you why it's wrong and how to fix it, which is better in the long run.

 

[CJ Wiley]

Got back into pool a couple years back, after about a 35 year layoff, and thought it wouldn't take too long to get back in form, wrong. I am having a real problem getting a straight stroke that I used to have. It has a slight crook in at the end. I have tried shortening it up somewhat and that has helped, also have put a short pause in just before stroking the ball, and that has seemed to help the most. Also am doing some drills where I line a row of object balls up form one side pocket to the other, set the cue ball a diamond or diamond and a half away, and try and shoot ea straight in the corner pockets. That seems to really help keep my stroke straight, but it takes alot of concentration. Back to my topic. When I shoot in a game, or a match, when i miss long shots, I almost always miss to the right slightly, almost never left. Seems slightly better the softer that I shoot. I could just aim slightly left, but have resisted this as it just doesn't seem right to do this. Also break shots, I find that I do better shooting for a touch right of where I really want to hit, but don't like doing that also. Any ideas? Really would like to get that confidence back that I remember having when younger.

if you're right handed your left foot angle has a direct influence on your left hand which must be precise to aim the way you intend. Try setting your stance with the left foot Parallel to the line of the shot you're shooting. Chances are your foot is positioned to the right of the shot line and it's the source of your issues. I could tell in 2 minutes if I could see you in person, so this an educated guess that no matter what will help you to at least be conscious of your left foot positioning. This is one of the most overlooked causes of an inconsistent game, the feet, like the foundation of any structure is vitally important to position well.....it pool, this should be done Before you go down on the shot you're attempting!

The Game is the Teacher
www.cjwiley.com

 

[straightline]

Thanks everyone for your suggestions. Probably a bit of miscommunication on my part as to shortening my stroke. Did not shorten my follow through at all, just how far I was doing the back stroke, and really not much at that. It just seemed that at a certain distance of bringing the cue back, I really seemed to tighten up, and the cue tip would have a sideways movement that I didn't get if I stopped just short of where I tightened up. Thanks, I'll just keep working at it. I do know that when I do those drills, it really seems to help my aiming and stroke, and actually feels better. I guess i just need to spend more time on practice.

Practice your stroke without a ball. That will give you the best idea of how it actually is. There's a lot you can fix just by orienting your default stroke forward or back of the ball. This is not quite changing your bridge length or even the stroke itself; just the amount of travel past the ball. IOW Position yourself so the ball gets hit firmly with a FREE swing and the natural cue follow through is a few inches (try for 5 inches or less) past the ball. I stress 'free' because making your stroke confirm to some external ideal of technique will interfere with your speed control until you have fully evolved into the new "technique".
Basically isolate the stroke to determine what's going on with it. Then add the cue ball and shoot it around the table along straight lines and predetermined speeds. If you can bring your stroke into compliance without stress, you'll have an easier time doing pool with it.

 

[straightline]

One more tactile thing I forgot to mention, in the 99 shots book Ray Martin mentions drawing the ball by ignoring it entirely; defacto making the cue ball a "ghost" ball. Frankly, I think this bit of psychology works on any type of shot.

 

[muskyed]

I really want to thank everyone for all their helpful suggestions. Some I have tried, and more i will look at and try shortly. I'll also have my wife try and take some video to look at, and as to my foot placement, yes at times I have noticed that I turn my left foot to the right at times, but I do try to keep it more in line. It just seems that if I don't concentrate on things, it's easy to get in bad habits. What really bothers me is the lack in confidence I have now, compared to when I played pool in the 70's and early 80's, and I just want to get back to the level of pool that I was at then, before I quit playing. Coming back from a 30+ year layoff is much harder than I thought it would be. I have a great table and environment to practice on at home, and my wife and I shoot on a league, with a very mixed level players once a week. I fall about in the middle of the pack as to shooting level, of the shooters there, and am slowly improving. I also have looked up for some instructors in the area, and have found two, that seem to be recommended. One was in Minneapolis-pool boot camp, and one was in Madison Wi-Jerry Briesath. Both look to be good, and ea about two hours away from my house. Will probably contact then somewhere early next year to set something up for my wife and I at the same time. Thanks again, it's really appreciated.

 

[8BALL EDDIE]

Got back into pool a couple years back, after about a 35 year layoff, and thought it wouldn't take too long to get back in form, wrong. I am having a real problem getting a straight stroke that I used to have. It has a slight crook in at the end. I have tried shortening it up somewhat and that has helped, also have put a short pause in just before stroking the ball, and that has seemed to help the most. Also am doing some drills where I line a row of object balls up form one side pocket to the other, set the cue ball a diamond or diamond and a half away, and try and shoot ea straight in the corner pockets. That seems to really help keep my stroke straight, but it takes alot of concentration. Back to my topic. When I shoot in a game, or a match, when i miss long shots, I almost always miss to the right slightly, almost never left. Seems slightly better the softer that I shoot. I could just aim slightly left, but have resisted this as it just doesn't seem right to do this. Also break shots, I find that I do better shooting for a touch right of where I really want to hit, but don't like doing that also. Any ideas? Really would like to get that confidence back that I remember having when younger.

Welcome back to the table.

A little trick I learned and used years ago that proved beneficial to my stroke:
If you have a table at home - stand at the edge of the table, stroking your cue straight down the rail while using the diamonds and the seem between the wooden rail and the cloth cushion as guidelines to make sure you're stroking straight.

If you do not have a pool table, you can use the edge of any table (dining table, etc.) or any makeshift line you come up with - as long as it is straight... Kitchen countertops; drawn lines; levels; etc.

Do this for 10-15 minutes daily.
Over time, your shoulder - elbow - arm - wrist will lock a straight motion into your muscle memory. A straight stroke will become more second-nature.

I hope this proves helpful for you.
People compare easy tasks to "riding a bike". But, try riding a bike after not doing it for 35 years. Even tasks that were once very simple become difficult. We just need to re-learn the mechanics.

Good luck!