Opposite hand

[Echelon]

I'm right handed but shoot left handed. I've always switched hands to shoot unless working from the end of the table where you have to stretch either way. I use an extension for that, the bridge is rare. I would rather be close to my work, better speed control.

I started practicing early right handed and when in a bar or hall it would get me all kinds of offers to play "cheap". Rarely did anyone notice I switched hands when we started to play. I was so early in my game i thought i invented the tactic, oh to be so naive again!

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[Michael Andros]

I'm right handed but shoot left handed. I've always switched hands to shoot unless working from the end of the table where you have to stretch either way. I use an extension for that, the bridge is rare. I would rather be close to my work, better speed control.

I started practicing early right handed and when in a bar or hall it would get me all kinds of offers to play "cheap". Rarely did anyone notice I switched hands when we started to play. I was so early in my game i thought i invented the tactic, oh to be so naive again!

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Oh, to be so many things again! :thumbup:

 

[chefjeff]

Years ago in the room i played at we would designate one day of the week as "opposite hand day". You had to play opposite handed all-day on that day. Really comes in handy. I can't shoot lefty any more due to nerve damage from a broken neck in a car wreck. I hate using the f^*#@*g crutch but it is what it is.

Good idea.

Long ago, I committed to playing left handed for one full week of leagues, tournaments, and gambling. My partner wasn't too keen on the gambling part of it, as we most often played partner pool back then, but it worked. I'm now almost as good (sometimes with a better stroke!) left handed as right.

It took only one week. I'd suggest that to any aspiring pool players.


Jeff Livingston

 

[Michael Andros]

Good idea.

Long ago, I committed to playing left handed for one full week of leagues, tournaments, and gambling. My partner wasn't too keen on the gambling part of it, as we most often played partner pool back then, but it worked. I'm now almost as good (sometimes with a better stroke!) left handed as right.

It took only one week. I'd suggest that to any aspiring pool players.


Jeff Livingston

Through the years, one of my main goals has been to play lefty so naturally that it appeared to be my normal hand to anyone who'd never seen me play. if I could accomplish that, I was satisfied.

 

[chefjeff]

Through the years, one of my main goals has been to play lefty so naturally that it appeared to be my normal hand to anyone who'd never seen me play. if I could accomplish that, I was satisfied.

Me, too. I even fool myself once in a while when I shoot the NEXT shot with my left hand, just cuz I'm too lazy to switch back to my right hand. I often wonder if my opponent even knows I'm switching back and forth.

When my right shoulder was hurting so much I couldn't play that way, I considered switching permanently to my left, but I found yoga and that cured my shoulder problems. You could even say I'm all right now....get it, right?????????? :grin:


Jeff Livingston

 

[Michael Andros]

Me, too. I even fool myself once in a while when I shoot the NEXT shot with my left hand, just cuz I'm too lazy to switch back to my right hand. I often wonder if my opponent even knows I'm switching back and forth.

When my right shoulder was hurting so much I couldn't play that way, I considered switching permanently to my left, but I found yoga and that cured my shoulder problems. You could even say I'm all right now....get it, right?????????? :grin:


Jeff Livingston

I do that a lot ( shoot the next shot lefty ), if for no other reason than not to break the rhythm of my play. And sometimes I shoot a shot lefty not due to "reach-ability" ( use the crutch or shoot lefty ) but simply because it's easier to shoot lefty than righty ( not having to stretch at all ).

 

[AlienObserver]

I recently was in a pool hall where a 3 cushion tournament was held. I don't follow 3 cushion that much, but there was some big names in the tournament so I watched the semifinals.
In one of the semis Filippos Kasidokostas was playing (multiple world champion runner up and winner). I was watching him and I found that it was strange that he was wearing a glove in both hands. He was playing left handed. I was talking with a friend of mine who follows 3 cushion a little more and he said to me that he was sorry for Kasidokostas's arm. I was like what about it? And he said that Kasidokostas is right handed, but in the last year he had a problem with his right elbow and a nerve was damaged, making him unable to keep his arm still when shooting. He could bridge with no problem but he couldn't held the cue.

I was shocked. I went back on YouTube and I saw some of his matches and he was indeed playing right handed. And there he was in front of me, playing left handed, and playing amazingly well, having runs of 11, 7, multiple 5s etc... When a shot came up where he couldn't reach with his left hand, he tried to shoot with his right hand and it was kinda sad to see, his arm was shaking like crazy, as if he had severe Parkinson disease.

So basically, he is a former World Champion, Word Cup Champion and many many more, and he can't play anymore with the arm that got him those titles, but he practiced like crazy with his opposite hand and he is able to compete again with his opposite hand... I saw him with my own eyes making a run of 11 as I said, but people who know him told be that in practice he got a 25.. Remarkable.

 

[Michael Andros]

I recently was in a pool hall where a 3 cushion tournament was held. I don't follow 3 cushion that much, but there was some big names in the tournament so I watched the semifinals.
In one of the semis Filippos Kasidokostas was playing (multiple world champion runner up and winner). I was watching him and I found that it was strange that he was wearing a glove in both hands. He was playing left handed. I was talking with a friend of mine who follows 3 cushion a little more and he said to me that he was sorry for Kasidokostas's arm. I was like what about it? And he said that Kasidokostas is right handed, but in the last year he had a problem with his right elbow and a nerve was damaged, making him unable to keep his arm still when shooting. He could bridge with no problem but he couldn't held the cue.

I was shocked. I went back on YouTube and I saw some of his matches and he was indeed playing right handed. And there he was in front of me, playing left handed, and playing amazingly well, having runs of 11, 7, multiple 5s etc... When a shot came up where he couldn't reach with his left hand, he tried to shoot with his right hand and it was kinda sad to see, his arm was shaking like crazy, as if he had severe Parkinson disease.

So basically, he is a former World Champion, Word Cup Champion and many many more, and he can't play anymore with the arm that got him those titles, but he practiced like crazy with his opposite hand and he is able to compete again with his opposite hand... I saw him with my own eyes making a run of 11 as I said, but people who know him told be that in practice he got a 25.. Remarkable.

Good for him. And it shows there was good reason he was a world champion.

 

[chefjeff]

For anyone thinking of trying the opposite had for a while, here's my advice for quicker success...



Focus mostly on your bridge, not your grip and stroke.


Jeff Livingston

 

[Michael Andros]

For anyone thinking of trying the opposite had for a while, here's my advice for quicker success...



Focus mostly on your bridge, not your grip and stroke.


Jeff Livingston

Good advice. When I first began training myself, I made a right-hand bridge before anything else and I kept making it 'til it matched my left-hand bridge exactly. And I did it for every bridge: closed, rail bridge, elevated, open, all of them.

 

[jay helfert]

It's a huge advantage to be able to play with both hands! I won't go into all the reasons why, but will just say that it is. Some of the really great players could switch hands with no lapse in their game. Buddy, Keith, Sigel and Wade Crane come to mind first. They all played run out pool opposite handed, maybe one speed below how they played with their normal playing arm.

The most amazing transformation I ever saw was when Cecil Tugwell had his right wrist disabled and couldn't play right handed any more. He practiced non stop for a year playing left handed and ended up being a good player that way as well. His stance and stroke were completely different and he looked a little funny and awkward at the table but he kept making balls and that's what counts.

I would say that playing lefty (or opposite hand) for an hour a day for one month and you'll be in good shape. I lasted ten days on my quest a few years ago and I can now make the easy shots lefty. I need to do another twenty days and I'll be good to go. :wink:

 

[Michael Andros]

It's a huge advantage to be able to play with both hands! I won't go into all the reasons why, but will just say that it is. Some of the really great players could switch hands with no lapse in their game. Buddy, Keith, Sigel and Wade Crane come to mind first. They all played run out pool opposite handed, maybe one speed below how they played with their normal playing arm.

The most amazing transformation I ever saw was when Cecil Tugwell had his right wrist disabled and couldn't play right handed any more. He practiced non stop for a year playing left handed and ended up being a good player that way as well. His stance and stroke were completely different and he looked a little funny and awkward at the table but he kept making balls and that's what counts.

I would say that playing lefty (or opposite hand) for an hour a day for one month and you'll be in good shape. I lasted ten days on my quest a few years ago and I can now make the easy shots lefty. I need to do another twenty days and I'll be good to go. :wink:

I *love* playing lefty! I'm trying to get where I can draw the rock 3 rails. Getting close...

 

[Tony_in_MD]

Your right in my opinion. I would like your take on how they became so good opposite handed. My theory is they played a lot of sets that way as a handicap.

It's a huge advantage to be able to play with both hands! I won't go into all the reasons why, but will just say that it is. Some of the really great players could switch hands with no lapse in their game. Buddy, Keith, Sigel and Wade Crane come to mind first. They all played run out pool opposite handed, maybe one speed below how they played with their normal playing arm.



The most amazing transformation I ever saw was when Cecil Tugwell had his right wrist disabled and couldn't play right handed any more. He practiced non stop for a year playing left handed and ended up being a good player that way as well. His stance and stroke were completely different and he looked a little funny and awkward at the table but he kept making balls and that's what counts.



I would say that playing lefty (or opposite hand) for an hour a day for one month and you'll be in good shape. I lasted ten days on my quest a few years ago and I can now make the easy shots lefty. I need to do another twenty days and I'll be good to go. :wink:

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[8ballEinstein]

I normally play right handed. Thirty years ago I started to practice and play left handed.- not full time of course. After two or three months, my left could give my right some weight, on the bar table. It made me wonder if I'd been standing on the wrong side of the cue all these years. Even so, I didn't make a permanent switch.

Right now, my left hasn't had much table time to feel real confident - even getting the seven from my right hand. But, I do think it's a good idea to play opposite handed occasionally..

Good thread, Michael.

 

[Michael Andros]

I normally play right handed. Thirty years ago I started to practice and play left handed.- not full time of course. After two or three months, my left could give my right some weight, on the bar table. It made me wonder if I'd been standing on the wrong side of the cue all these years. Even so, I didn't make a permanent switch.

Right now, my left hasn't had much table time to feel real confident - even getting the seven from my right hand. But, I do think it's a good idea to play opposite handed occasionally..

Good thread, Michael.

Thanks, Albert. :grin:

It's been said you should play whichever hand corresponds to whichever is your "dominant" eye ( no idea if that's really true. Heard that MANY years ago ). That said, I have no idea whatever how to go about finding which eye is dominant. But, seriously, if you played that strong lefty after such a short time, I would say lefty is most likely your natural side.

Thanks again for the kind words.

 

[jay helfert]

Your right in my opinion. I would like your take on how they became so good opposite handed. My theory is they played a lot of sets that way as a handicap.



You are exactly right. You have to come up with a new gimmick when no one wants to play you anymore. :thumbup:

 

[Michael Andros]

Your right in my opinion. I would like your take on how they became so good opposite handed. My theory is they played a lot of sets that way as a handicap.



You are exactly right. You have to come up with a new gimmick when no one wants to play you anymore. :thumbup:

You: You got the last 5, the breaks and the first 3 shots for 20 a pop. And I play opposite hand.

Nit: Bet it up!

You win 2 games.

Nit: Adjust!

You: You got the last 5, the breaks and the first 4 shots, plus, I break both my big toes with a ball peen hammer, then put on shoes 3 sizes too small. And I play opposite hand.

Nit: Bet it up!

You win one more game.

Nit: ADUST!!!

You: You got the last 6, the breaks and the first 5 shots, I play 1 shot and stop, plus I get a full frontal lobotomy. But you gotta bet 30. And I play opposite hand.

Nit: ADJUST!!!


Ummm... kinda like that, Jay? :thumbup:

 

[buckshotshoey]

I've been shooting opposite hand for years. There is still a small area on the table that needs a rake.

The problem with me is speed control. I can stroke well, and can draw and follow, but still don't quite have the feel for the speed.

One problem to overcome when shooting opposite hand is head position over the cue. If you don't get it right, you will miss lots of shots. BIG problem if you are right handed and right eye dominate. Something you have to work on for yourself.

 

[Michael Andros]

I've been shooting opposite hand for years. There is still a small area on the table that needs a rake.

The problem with me is speed control. I can stroke well, and can draw and follow, but still don't quite have the feel for the speed.

One problem to overcome when shooting opposite hand is head position over the cue. If you don't get it right, you will miss lots of shots. BIG problem if you are right handed and right eye dominate. Something you have to work on for yourself.

As you've experienced, it just takes time and effort to work out all the problems. Then it's just a matter of maintaining what you can already do.

 

[greyghost]

Your right in my opinion. I would like your take on how they became so good opposite handed. My theory is they played a lot of sets that way as a handicap.







You are exactly right. You have to come up with a new gimmick when no one wants to play you anymore. :thumbup:

Lol local tourneys are pretty weak I routinely joke about paying double entering in the one loss playing righty......never ever let me in an I’m like comon maingh!?!


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