I was introduced to 'the pause' decades ago by Allison Fisher. I had been playing for years, without any pause at the back of the stroke, so this was difficult for me to perform. Took me months before it became natural but for sure it improved my game. Allison said that the pause prevents any possibility of creating movement in your stroke through the transition from going back to going forward. For me, I have found that I additionally get just that brief moment to allow me to lock into the speed of the shot before pulling the trigger.Some pretty well-respected personalities in the pool world harp on the importance of having a notable pause in your backstroke. Jeremy Jones routinely mentions the pause during critiques. Mark Wilson has the differences between pros and amateurs broke-down to tenths of a second.
Here's the thing. I never hear anyone explain HOW it helps? What functional purpose is it serving to stop and hold for a couple seconds? Aim? Shot speed? A last mental check-down of the shot?
It seems comparable in some ways to the back-swing in golf. As a former avid golfer, I had a big pause (it seemed big to me, but to someone observing was probably pretty subtle), and it helped "reset", before beginning the shift forward. In pool, I'm sold on the notion that it helps, just based upon the many pros that do it, even if I don't know why.
Yeah - I've definitely been noticing this the last couple of days - my speed control I think is better than it was ever been, with only a few weeks of doing this.I additionally get just that brief moment to allow me to lock into the speed of the shot before pulling the trigger.
Yes, that is a consequence of changing direction between backstroke and forward stroke.According to definition, ALL pool players have to "pause"! Now the question is, "how long"?
...and consider someone the like of Mr. Ronnie OYes, that is a consequence of changing direction between backstroke and forward stroke.
The question "how long" is unneeded for those who play well without any conscious pause.
I've heard this a lot, but I don't think it's necessarily true. Think of the motion of an engine's piston - straight line back and forth, but driven by a circular motion (the drive shaft and rod) that never pauses. There's never a moment of stillness in the circular or linear movements.According to definition, ALL pool players have to "pause"! Now the question is, "how long"?
I didn't mention that as I wasn't sure of the classification of the information. But now that the cat's out of the bag......I concur.I was introduced to 'the pause' decades ago by Allison Fisher. I had been playing for years, without any pause at the back of the stroke, so this was difficult for me to perform. Took me months before it became natural but for sure it improved my game. Allison said that the pause prevents any possibility of creating movement in your stroke through the transition from going back to going forward. For me, I have found that I additionally get just that brief moment to allow me to lock into the speed of the shot before pulling the trigger.
It prevents the biceps and triceps from "fighting" each other on a quick backstroke and a quick forestroke. A pause does not allow the "shuddering" effect to occur between the two muscle groups.Some pretty well-respected personalities in the pool world harp on the importance of having a notable pause in your backstroke. Jeremy Jones routinely mentions the pause during critiques. Mark Wilson has the differences between pros and amateurs broke-down to tenths of a second.
Here's the thing. I never hear anyone explain HOW it helps? What functional purpose is it serving to stop and hold for a couple seconds? Aim? Shot speed? A last mental check-down of the shot?
It seems comparable in some ways to the back-swing in golf. As a former avid golfer, I had a big pause (it seemed big to me, but to someone observing was probably pretty subtle), and it helped "reset", before beginning the shift forward. In pool, I'm sold on the notion that it helps, just based upon the many pros that do it, even if I don't know why.
I totally agree with the statements above. I believe that when Mark Wilson measured the "pause" it was the total time of the final stroke ... the last pull back to hitting the cue ball. The reason for the "pause, as all here seem to agree, is to deliver a smooth stroke on the cue ball. I believe a "pause" is inherent in developing a good stroke and cannot be practiced. You just have to be aware of the mechanics it takes to deliver a smooth stroke and practice to build your muscle memory. If you practice and say "pause now" I bet you will never be able to get a good stroke. The practice is to be aware not to rush the final shot ... different shots might have different "pause" based on what it takes to get a good stroke.Players incorporating a pause (I think) are largely doing it to make sure they don't rush back AND that they don't rush forward. I don't think Mark Wilson takes a position on whether one should pause or not, I think he would say what is important is smooth and gradual movements back and smooth and gradual acceleration forward, and that the entire stroke cannot be delivered quicker than 1.2 seconds if your intend to play professional level pool. The pause is simply a tool some players use to make sure their transition is smooth and gradual.
That's not true. There's a pause in the upward motion of the piston. It stops and reverses. The motion doesn't stop in the crank and rod, which maintains angular momentum. The piston itself DOES stop and reverse. It slows down as it approaches TDC and then stops briefly before reversing direction.I've heard this a lot, but I don't think it's necessarily true. Think of the motion of an engine's piston - straight line back and forth, but driven by a circular motion (the drive shaft and rod) that never pauses. There's never a moment of stillness in the circular or linear movements.
pj
chgo
Then the piston doesn’t stop. Changing direction doesn’t equal stopping.The motion doesn't stop in the crank and rod, which maintains angular momentum.