I first heard about the concept of a personal shooting template from Scott Lee and Randy G. I am a student of the game and am not in the same company of the many BCA and other instructors who post at this site.
My experience in both golf and pool are that second to a solid pre-shot routine proper stance and alignment are a significant component of a successful shot.
The purpsose of sharing this post is not to hold the content out as what you should be doing but rather share and example of the journal I put together for myself to help me document my observations of my personal shooting template when I am playing well.
When I struggle it typically is a breakdown in my pre-shot routine or my stance and alignment. This journal helps get back to my base.
I am sharing this as an example of a journal that some may find helpful.
For what its worth.
My Personal Stance and Alignment Shooting Template
Fixed Semi-Fixed Fundamentals [core fundamentals for most individuals]
1. Rear grip hand directly under elbow when tip is at cue ball and arm is hanging at ninety degrees.
2. Horizontal head position over cue is where I perceive a straight-line.
3. Vertical (head height) over cue is where I SEE/KNOW the shot is on. [Don’t shoot until you see it/feel it]. This is a Semi-fixed component (While typically in the approximate same position my head height will be closer to the cue on five/six diamond distance shots than on shorter shots and conversely will be higher on shots where cb and ob are close together (less than 6 inches). For all shots in between the height where I SEE/KNOW the shot is on is basically the same position and differences if any in head height over cue will be nominal.
4. Level eyes, level ears. If 1,2 and 3 are where they need to be then my eyes and ears will be level.
Semi-Fixed – Variable Fundamentals [Fundamentals that typically vary depending on the individual.]
5. Natural Alignment of the feet occurs between square [right angle to the line of the shot] (open snooker style) to closed on the same line as the line of the shot. So if these are the two extremes of the ranges of foot position to the line of the shot then natural alignment occurs at the angle to the line of the shot that:
a) I do not need to use muscles to hold the entire length of the cue stick on the line of the shot and
b) By default this will also be the foot angle to the line of the shot that items 1, 2 and 3 above falls in place most comfortably.
As a checkpoint If I stand straight-up after assuming my shooting position the edge of my right hip in the standing position is just touching the line of the shot.
6. Width of my feet typically finds my heels directly under my armpits. They might be slightly wider for long-shots five/six diamonds as my vertical head position lowers and will likely be closer together and possibly on the ball of my right foot for six inch or shorter ob to cb distances.
7. Left Arm – My left arm is in its natural crimped position. For me this is the point where the tension needed to hold this arm straight is relieved. [If 90 degrees is straight left arm then my natural crimp angle at the elbow is 87-88 degrees which is just enough to relieve tension of holding the arm straight. When my left arm is straight it pulls me out of my natural alignment position as my stance must close or my body must twist to get the entire length of the cue stick back on the line of the shot.
8. Right Arm Clearance – If all of the above are in place then my natural clearance in the shooting position results in my right hand being approximately two fists from might right hip. My error as I fall out of alignment is for the right hand to get closer to the right hip when I am in my shooting position.
9. Standard Bridge Length – 12 inches (Measured from the front fingers of my bridge hand to the base of the cue ball, Randy and Scott’s measurements I believe are from the V of the bridge hand).
10. Standard distance of FFF 6 inches (slow back accelerate through to a fluid finish then freeze)
11. Release – When I am playing well I do not stand straight up from the shot. (Unless I would foul if I stayed down on the shot). When the shot reaches its conclusion, I can lift my lift my left hand from the table then raise my left arm up a bit and then will stand up from my shooting position.
PERFORM THE CEREMONY
Primary Sources of the above concepts – Discussions with Randy G and Scott Lee and also their instructional video “Play Better Pool”; Blackjack David Sapolis book “Lessons in Nine Ball” and individual lessons with Bert Kinister and Mark Wilson.
My experience in both golf and pool are that second to a solid pre-shot routine proper stance and alignment are a significant component of a successful shot.
The purpsose of sharing this post is not to hold the content out as what you should be doing but rather share and example of the journal I put together for myself to help me document my observations of my personal shooting template when I am playing well.
When I struggle it typically is a breakdown in my pre-shot routine or my stance and alignment. This journal helps get back to my base.
I am sharing this as an example of a journal that some may find helpful.
For what its worth.
My Personal Stance and Alignment Shooting Template
Fixed Semi-Fixed Fundamentals [core fundamentals for most individuals]
1. Rear grip hand directly under elbow when tip is at cue ball and arm is hanging at ninety degrees.
2. Horizontal head position over cue is where I perceive a straight-line.
3. Vertical (head height) over cue is where I SEE/KNOW the shot is on. [Don’t shoot until you see it/feel it]. This is a Semi-fixed component (While typically in the approximate same position my head height will be closer to the cue on five/six diamond distance shots than on shorter shots and conversely will be higher on shots where cb and ob are close together (less than 6 inches). For all shots in between the height where I SEE/KNOW the shot is on is basically the same position and differences if any in head height over cue will be nominal.
4. Level eyes, level ears. If 1,2 and 3 are where they need to be then my eyes and ears will be level.
Semi-Fixed – Variable Fundamentals [Fundamentals that typically vary depending on the individual.]
5. Natural Alignment of the feet occurs between square [right angle to the line of the shot] (open snooker style) to closed on the same line as the line of the shot. So if these are the two extremes of the ranges of foot position to the line of the shot then natural alignment occurs at the angle to the line of the shot that:
a) I do not need to use muscles to hold the entire length of the cue stick on the line of the shot and
b) By default this will also be the foot angle to the line of the shot that items 1, 2 and 3 above falls in place most comfortably.
As a checkpoint If I stand straight-up after assuming my shooting position the edge of my right hip in the standing position is just touching the line of the shot.
6. Width of my feet typically finds my heels directly under my armpits. They might be slightly wider for long-shots five/six diamonds as my vertical head position lowers and will likely be closer together and possibly on the ball of my right foot for six inch or shorter ob to cb distances.
7. Left Arm – My left arm is in its natural crimped position. For me this is the point where the tension needed to hold this arm straight is relieved. [If 90 degrees is straight left arm then my natural crimp angle at the elbow is 87-88 degrees which is just enough to relieve tension of holding the arm straight. When my left arm is straight it pulls me out of my natural alignment position as my stance must close or my body must twist to get the entire length of the cue stick back on the line of the shot.
8. Right Arm Clearance – If all of the above are in place then my natural clearance in the shooting position results in my right hand being approximately two fists from might right hip. My error as I fall out of alignment is for the right hand to get closer to the right hip when I am in my shooting position.
9. Standard Bridge Length – 12 inches (Measured from the front fingers of my bridge hand to the base of the cue ball, Randy and Scott’s measurements I believe are from the V of the bridge hand).
10. Standard distance of FFF 6 inches (slow back accelerate through to a fluid finish then freeze)
11. Release – When I am playing well I do not stand straight up from the shot. (Unless I would foul if I stayed down on the shot). When the shot reaches its conclusion, I can lift my lift my left hand from the table then raise my left arm up a bit and then will stand up from my shooting position.
PERFORM THE CEREMONY
Primary Sources of the above concepts – Discussions with Randy G and Scott Lee and also their instructional video “Play Better Pool”; Blackjack David Sapolis book “Lessons in Nine Ball” and individual lessons with Bert Kinister and Mark Wilson.
