Opposite handed

3

3RAILKICK

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Is your opposite handed stroke as silky smooth as your good hand stroke?or is it rougher and jerkier?

How long did it take to master?

Or do you just use a bridge with the good hand?

Thanks
 
My stoke isn't as good but my accuracy and cue-ball movement more than make-up for how I look when I shoot with my opposite hand, which is my left hand.

I've taken and made some very meaningful shots with my left-hand.

My bridge play was very weak, until recently. That's why I favored switching hands over using the bridge.

High run opposite hand: 27 balls.

______________________________

http://tommcgonaglerightoncue.com
 
I will play a few strokes with my wrong arm. I choose these carefully, and play position against ending up is said position. Howver, give such a position, I will shoot it.

I will use a bridge first, shoot behind the back second, and only when all else fails resort to shooting wrong handed.

In shooting it, I will avoid to the extent possible, using english, hitting the CB hard, or trying for exotic position. Its a get in, do it, and get out play. My only stroke with the other arm is slow and as smooth as possible.
 
Jerky left handed, but I'm getting better at aiming. I'd say it's now about 50/50 whether I go southpaw or use a bridge.
 
3RAILKICK said:
Is your opposite handed stroke as silky smooth as your good hand stroke?or is it rougher and jerkier?

How long did it take to master?

Or do you just use a bridge with the good hand?

Thanks
Click to expand...

I go lefty when the ob is not too far from the pocket , but it is no where near as smooth as my right hand . I keep my lefty stroke short and without warm up strokes
 
I've been playing some opposite-handed lately, as a handicap against lower-level players at the neighborhood bar. I started out pretty shaky, but I'm getting smoother. I don't have much of an off-handed break, and I can't yet execute the power strokes, but I'm working my way there.

I was told a couple of weeks ago by someone on the rail that if they didn't know I was shooting off-handed, they couldn't tell. My response was: "I sure can tell." Maybe it looked that way to them because I had just broke and ran out a rack of 8 ball.

I think one of my off-handed shooting problems is that I'm very right-eye dominant when I shoot normally, which is right handed. When I shoot left handed, I can't orient my eyes over the cue the same way.
 
Interesting thread! I am just starting to practice shooting south-paw, for those occasions during league when it would help (there are no bridges at the bar I play... although a few ppl have there own bridge attachments). I have never been anywhere close to ambidextrous, but I think it is definitely worth the commitment! To be honest, when I shoot lefty, my grip arm (left) feels weird, and I can't get a good feel of whether or not my elbow is straight (as opposed to cocked in or out)... it just feels unusual... guess thats why I need to keep on keepin on :)
 
My northpaw stroke is definitely nowhere near as smooth and I tend to reserve it for those times where the OB is a virtual hanger. FWIW I am somewhat ambidextrous, though, so I could probably hone it sharper with time.
 
Maybe once every couple of weeks I will try and have a practice session only using my right hand (I'm lefty) and I would say my stroke is comparable to an average banger. I am a little on the short side (5'4") so I tend to use my right hand when the CB is on the rail. I am pretty good with the bridge so my right hand is more of a last resort.
 
i do everything but shoot pool, darts, bowl with my other hand. i write with my left, shoot hoops w my left; i even uhm..nevermind. but i cant make a ball with my left, so i shoot w my right. darts i can use both. bowling, i can use both. weird it is. im the best at two handed sunflower seed eating. oh and texting.
 
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My lefty stroke is actually better than my normal right handed stroke, but my accuracy at a distance isn't as good.
 
I have no problem shooting wrong handed when necessary. I spent over 8 hours one night playing strictly wrong handed, and have not had a problem with it ever since. The most difficult thing to learn is that there is a tendency to want to 'chicken wing' the wrong arm...so extra care needs to be taken to make sure that your wrong arm is in close to your body as it would be when shooting right handed.

I typically only use the bridge when a shot is further away than I am comfortable shooting proficiently at...I am not too shabby with one of those either.

Lisa
 
I will actually alternate hands when practicing during some of my practice sessions. I think if you really wanted to after a few weeks of serious practice you could become quite good at it. It's just a matter of muscle memory.
 
Cdryden said:
I will actually alternate hands when practicing during some of my practice sessions. I think if you really wanted to after a few weeks of serious practice you could become quite good at it. It's just a matter of muscle memory.
Click to expand...

I agree. Same in hitting a baseball or swinging a golf club. I can hit a baseball or golf ball with more power right-handed , but my left-handed stroke ain't that bad.
 
Cdryden said:
I will actually alternate hands when practicing during some of my practice sessions. I think if you really wanted to after a few weeks of serious practice you could become quite good at it. It's just a matter of muscle memory.
Click to expand...

I do the same also and I think it has helped the way I see the shots ( from a dominate eye stand point ).
 
3RAILKICK said:
Is your opposite handed stroke as silky smooth as your good hand stroke?or is it rougher and jerkier?

How long did it take to master?

Or do you just use a bridge with the good hand?

Thanks
Click to expand...


I can shot one, just one shot opposite handed, pretty good, after that my hand tires really easily!


David Harcrow
 
I use a bridge. I'm more comfortable with a mechanical bridge than I am shooting with my opposite arm. I personally have never had a problem using a bridge, and am completely comfortable doing so. If anything, I feel I am more accurate with a mechanical bridge, being able to sight straight down the length of the cue like a rifle barrel.
 
Hussa,

the most ppl just give up to early to train also their *opposite*. Many just because they re feelin uncomfortable. Spending 5-10 min a day will raise your *opposite-abilities* faster than the most won t imagine.
I m sure not that good with my opposite like with my usual hand- but sometimes i m able to ran out a rack :)
All those things like feeling bad with building the bridge, or just *don t feel* your stroke-arm will disappear soon, if you just spend a little time. No need to spend hours each days on it. You already KNOW what you have to do-the rest is just practice for your physical mechanics.
 
I've been working on shooting opposite handed. My bridge play is pretty poor and right now in a pressure situation I would trust shooting the shot left handed more than I would using a bridge. I am naturally ambidextrous anyway, so it's been coming along pretty good. I just need to practice more because when shooting left-handed, my bridge with my right hand is not as comfortable or stable as my bridge with my left hand yet.
 
Thanks guys.

Until I commit to practicing-I will try what John Schmidt mentions in his '294' DVD. He talks about using only the 'forward' part of a stroke without the back and forth warmup parts. / And for fairly easy shots.

Otherwise-until I get a left hand -I will use the bridge for shots where you have to manipulate the CB.

Thanks again
 
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