Pendulum Stroke vs. Elbow Drop

[pdcue]

The purpose of following through is to make sure that the player is accelerating the movement of the cue as contacting the cue ball.
Since we can not bring the cue to a full stop in zero time we actually slowing down to a stop, if we are not following through then we are slowing down toward the contact with the cue ball. Following through will ensure that the CB will be hit in the desired speed.

Our body mechanics will only allow us to move the cue forward to a point while using the pendulum stroke. If further movement is required for better acceleration (like on extreme draw or extreme follow) then dropping the elbow is a must! this is the secret of the pro's stroke, this is why the can move the CB so much without hitting if hard, the don't punch it hard (unless you're John Schmidt ) they just move it faster...

Slipping the cue will allow the cue to move past the point that our body allow us, so in a way it does what dropping the elbow do.

Both technics will work great once the player is able to control them. Whether to use one over the other is matter of personal preference and comfort.

Beginners should stick to the pendulum stroke without dropping the elbow or "slipping" the cue as they should focus more on delivering a straight and smooth stroke first.

Sorry about the long post

No problem with length of the post, but I would like some detail on
what you mean by 'slipping' the cue.

As Joey<cali version> explained, a slip-stroke involves sliding your grip hand back and has nothing directly to do with follow thru.

Dale

 

[pdcue]

With all due respect, Dale...the real issue is WHEN does the movement of the elbow begin? Before contact, at contact, or after contact? If it's AFTER contact, there's much less chance of missing where you're aiming, on the CB. When it's before, or at contact, the chances of missing where you're aiming increase exponentially, because the tip moves off-line slightly. So, many of the old timers, who moved the elbow the way you describe, were either doing it after they hit the CB (where it had no effect on their aim)...or they had some kind of innate natural ability (to do something completely different). By-in-large, even most of the old time players understood the concept of taking the weight of the cue, and using timing to create the stroke speed...not muscle! That means "loose" grip!

When you watch today's pros drop their elbow on a shot, it's extremely likely that they're doing it after contact with the CB. Most of us mortals don't possess that perfect timing. So we begin the movement (of the shoulder) too early, causing small errors in the stroke, which are then magnified, as it's delivered through the CB. I haven't had the pleasure of watching George Rood play. I simply must get back to Dayton, and play some with him!

For, far and away, the HUGE majority of us, the pendulum swing still rules...because that's what you get, when you drop the elbow AFTER contact with the CB (as long as you FINISH your stroke)! It doesn't matter, because you're striking the CB much more accurately...and you're using the same stroke for every shot.

Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com

Well Scott, with all due respect I don't need any lectures on stroke mechanics, but I am wondering where you have seen a top player
move his elbow BEFORE contact? We described that as a pump-handle stroke, and avoided it like the plauge.

Pendulum stroke - by definition, means your elbow doesn't move at all.
If your elbow comes down because your upper arm moves forward, that
would be something other than a pendulum stroke.

I really would like to see some term other than 'elbow drop' because
it oversimplifies the variations between the two types of deliveries.
Maybe I'll make one up that refers to upper arm involvement.
When I try to describe my stroke to someone I usually just say I
SLIDE the cue rather than swing it. But that doesn't cover much info.

Like I said, all you got to do is watch a room full of 100 ball runners
and you will see lots of examples of extended follow thru.

On a sad note, you won't likely be playing George any, he has taken several bad falls recently and is in a nursing home. He may recover
enough to leave the facility, but I doubt he will be able to play
for quite some time.

Dale