Opposite handed - worth the effort?

hobokenapa

hobokenapa

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
One night recently, I started playing opposite handed as a simple handicap rather than games/balls. I didn't really have much problem doing it apart from when the cue ball was on the rail. I was about APA5 speed. Is it worth putting in time working on this? Or is the time best spent honing my 'real' game? ( I am B+ speed).
 
I play ahead sets against myself 6 ball ghost left handed then 3 ball ghost right handed. unusually enough i'm right handed but i play pool lefty, so i guess it might have come easier for me. I enjoy the challenge so for me it's worth the time. Is it worth the time for you? That's for you to decide.
 
Do you realize how many times the need for ability in opposite hand play will come up in your real game? If you can shoot opposite handed versus grabbing a mechanical bridge every time this will be a true asset. Practice it and develop a good technique for making balls opposite hand. Nothing fancy. You're just looking to be effective.
 
hobokenapa said:
One night recently, I started playing opposite handed as a simple handicap rather than games/balls. I didn't really have much problem doing it apart from when the cue ball was on the rail. I was about APA5 speed. Is it worth putting in time working on this? Or is the time best spent honing my 'real' game? ( I am B+ speed).
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Well worth it. My weak hand's game is several balls below my dominate hand, but the accuracy and power is way stronger than with a bridge. I can use a mech. bridge just fine, but have only had a couple of situations where I needed it over the last couple of years.
 
hobokenapa said:
One night recently, I started playing opposite handed as a simple handicap rather than games/balls. I didn't really have much problem doing it apart from when the cue ball was on the rail. I was about APA5 speed. Is it worth putting in time working on this? Or is the time best spent honing my 'real' game? ( I am B+ speed).
Click to expand...

I think it's worth the time, if you find that it comes somewhat easily... I'm a righty. I hate the feel of using a bridge, so I started working on my left handed shots. I think the thing I struggle with most on my left handed game is power shots. A few friends have noted that my left handed stroke looks good, and they could hardly tell the difference from my right. Maybe only because my overall game isn't that great? I dunno...

Some will say that it is not worth the time to practice opposite-handed, as it would have been time better spent on your normal hand. I suppose this argument has some merit... But, personally, I very much enjoy being able to make shots opposite handed, I feel like I got a better understanding of good mechanics from causing myself to relearn on my awkward left hand. To me it's infinitely more comfortable to be in a left-handed stance than to be using a mechanical bridge on a shot that I can't reach with my right hand. I'm also left-eye dominant, and whether or not that has any bearing on pool, I tend to think it helped me adjust to left-handed play, with the cue easier to place somewhat underneath my left eye.
 
Matt_24 said:
Do you realize how many times the need for ability in opposite hand play will come up in your real game? If you can shoot opposite handed versus grabbing a mechanical bridge every time this will be a true asset. Practice it and develop a good technique for making balls opposite hand. Nothing fancy. You're just looking to be effective.
Click to expand...

I find too that you don't need to practice all kinds of shots, just the type that come up that you would normally need the bridge. Like the cueball in center around the back of where you would rack, shooting end rail cut shots. Those shots are brutal tough with the bridge and I always shoot them opposite handed instead.
 
It is worth it because

1) If you are a money player, it will come up some time trying to match up.
2) It is a good way to beat a better player that can not shoot real well opposite handed (or 1 handed). I was once getting beat by a friend of mine now, but at the time we were adversaries, and he was $300 up on me. I told him I was done, but that I would continue if we both shot 1 handed.
He agreed and at closing time, I won $250 from him, as I was the best in town at the time shooting 1 handed, even though I wasn't 2 handed.
3) Good way to play lessor players EVEN, especially if they gamble.
4) What you learn from thinking and paying attention to your form opposite
handed flows back to your regular stance and shooting, and can benefit
your regular game.
5) One of my best hustles used to be, 'Hey, I tell you what, I play you for $20 a game, and I'll shoot with my left foot'. (using left foot as a bridge).
I had guys jumping up all over the place to play me, that is, unless they had seen me shoot before with my left foot.
 
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