It didn't take me too long to get comfortable switching. I played for a day left only and kept focusing on the mechanics of what my arm is doing. I hold a much softer grip with my left. I'm not as good with my left but am comfortable enough to shoot with it and still have pretty good ability to leave the cue ball where I want.
Playing opposite handed
- Thread starter smokey777
- Start date
eye surgery
I just lazer surgery on my left eye 100% blind in that eye to 20/20 vision.
Eye sight is nothing but a blessing. I have never been able to shoot with my left hand.
It was truly frustrating to play pool with one eye, some of the shoots I would miss would
destroy me . It was like handing someone my wallet and saying take what you want.
Is there any hope of getting your eye fixed
MMike
I just lazer surgery on my left eye 100% blind in that eye to 20/20 vision.
Eye sight is nothing but a blessing. I have never been able to shoot with my left hand.
It was truly frustrating to play pool with one eye, some of the shoots I would miss would
destroy me . It was like handing someone my wallet and saying take what you want.
Is there any hope of getting your eye fixed
MMike
It's all about muscle memory. Once you play left-handed, put in a couple hundred hours of practice, you develop muscle memory. :smile:
It's the same old song: Practice, pratice, practice.
But, I know there's a secret and I don't want to spend over a couple of hours practicing before I can beat the ghost.
Don't listen to anyone who says "just learn to use the bridge" or "just play shape better so you don't need to". That attitude is dead wrong. For one thing you will often be stuck playing the opponent's leave or forced to move the CB into the stretch zones just because that's what the table dictates.
Yes you will be forced to use the bridge on some shots regardless. That doesn't mean off hand is not incredibly useful.
The reason you should choose off hand over bridge is because the bridge, using the traditional form, is not a natural shot. The cue is elevated, causing sidespin to result in curveballs. Full topspin is digging down into the cueball and may miscue. Draw requires carefully avoiding up and down dips as you swing which may lead to either zero draw or miscues. The stroke is not your normal forward motion.
You've invested hours into training your arm how to move for various shots. if you use your off hand those hours will help, you'll subconsciously know when you're tip placement is perfect or when your cue isn't level enough. If you just use the rake all the time those hours ate somewhat wasted because everything changes with the bridge... The bridge length, levelness, where you point the tip, the swing speed, etc.
Anyway sorry to ramble on, just want to make sure you know you're on the right track.
The number one problem I see with people learning off hand is they are scared of it and make excuses to avoid it. They think about it, even start to set up for it, then say "no, nevermind, **** it, too difficult". Just force yourself to do it every time it comes up in casual games with friends. If you're in league or gambling and winning is important, ok, put self improvement on hold temporarily, but outside if those situations just make yourself do it.
You don't need to run racks opposite handed, you'll never be breaking or shooting off the rail that way. You're not relearning every single pool shot you know. There are just a few limited situations that call for off hand. For example thin cuts along the short rail where the CB us close to the OB. Those are the ones to practice. Don't spend hours practicing long straight shots offhanded because that's got no practical use in a game.
And don't get discouraged... think of the amount of time it took you to get good with your main hand. It won't take that long to get good with the off hand. It won't even take 10% of that time. You already have the mental part down of aligning yourself and stroking a ball. The actual physical motion is easy.
Posted from Azbilliards.com App for Android
Yes you will be forced to use the bridge on some shots regardless. That doesn't mean off hand is not incredibly useful.
The reason you should choose off hand over bridge is because the bridge, using the traditional form, is not a natural shot. The cue is elevated, causing sidespin to result in curveballs. Full topspin is digging down into the cueball and may miscue. Draw requires carefully avoiding up and down dips as you swing which may lead to either zero draw or miscues. The stroke is not your normal forward motion.
You've invested hours into training your arm how to move for various shots. if you use your off hand those hours will help, you'll subconsciously know when you're tip placement is perfect or when your cue isn't level enough. If you just use the rake all the time those hours ate somewhat wasted because everything changes with the bridge... The bridge length, levelness, where you point the tip, the swing speed, etc.
Anyway sorry to ramble on, just want to make sure you know you're on the right track.
The number one problem I see with people learning off hand is they are scared of it and make excuses to avoid it. They think about it, even start to set up for it, then say "no, nevermind, **** it, too difficult". Just force yourself to do it every time it comes up in casual games with friends. If you're in league or gambling and winning is important, ok, put self improvement on hold temporarily, but outside if those situations just make yourself do it.
You don't need to run racks opposite handed, you'll never be breaking or shooting off the rail that way. You're not relearning every single pool shot you know. There are just a few limited situations that call for off hand. For example thin cuts along the short rail where the CB us close to the OB. Those are the ones to practice. Don't spend hours practicing long straight shots offhanded because that's got no practical use in a game.
And don't get discouraged... think of the amount of time it took you to get good with your main hand. It won't take that long to get good with the off hand. It won't even take 10% of that time. You already have the mental part down of aligning yourself and stroking a ball. The actual physical motion is easy.
Posted from Azbilliards.com App for Android
Playing off handed is my strong suit.
That did not happen over night. I started out playing left handed against weaker players, to make the game interesting and to help me develop another tool in my pool game. The hardest thing to get was making a loop bridge with the right hand. It took a year and a half to get my left handed game to the same level it took 10 years to develop my right handed game to.
Starting out fresh with the opposite hand can be an opportunity to build without any bad habits. Start with a good strong foundation of basics. Split practice time and devote equal time to each hand. If shooting drills I shoot the same amount with each hand. I will also play my left hand against the right in practice games. Splitting my practice time also allowed me to put in more practice without getting arm weary.
I have found that my left handed games is equal to but different from my right handed game, even though I aim with the same dominant eye. The left hand shoots a more free form or feel game, while the right hand shoots logically and linear. Bank shots and combination shots I hit better left handed.
There is no doubt in my mind of the value of being able to shoot comfortably with either hand. There are so many shots that are uncomfortable with one hand but natural with the other. Any time you do something at the pool table that your opponent can't do it effects their confidence.
The bottom line is start with the basics. Develop a good strong foundation. First learn to crawl, then walk, then run. This will take practice, practice, practice. You will know when you are ready to trust the left hand in a critical situation.
First off, I do not consider myself ambidextrous. I am a carpenter and can barely drive a nail left handed. However I have developed my left handed pool playing to the point that most of the time, I do not think about which hand I am shooting with. The stance or bridge that fits best at the table determines which hand I shoot with.
That did not happen over night. I started out playing left handed against weaker players, to make the game interesting and to help me develop another tool in my pool game. The hardest thing to get was making a loop bridge with the right hand. It took a year and a half to get my left handed game to the same level it took 10 years to develop my right handed game to.
Starting out fresh with the opposite hand can be an opportunity to build without any bad habits. Start with a good strong foundation of basics. Split practice time and devote equal time to each hand. If shooting drills I shoot the same amount with each hand. I will also play my left hand against the right in practice games. Splitting my practice time also allowed me to put in more practice without getting arm weary.
I have found that my left handed games is equal to but different from my right handed game, even though I aim with the same dominant eye. The left hand shoots a more free form or feel game, while the right hand shoots logically and linear. Bank shots and combination shots I hit better left handed.
There is no doubt in my mind of the value of being able to shoot comfortably with either hand. There are so many shots that are uncomfortable with one hand but natural with the other. Any time you do something at the pool table that your opponent can't do it effects their confidence.
The bottom line is start with the basics. Develop a good strong foundation. First learn to crawl, then walk, then run. This will take practice, practice, practice. You will know when you are ready to trust the left hand in a critical situation.
I wrote an article in "Inside Pool" about learning to play opposite handed.
I recommended that the shooter do a LOT of practice on the kitchen table - using, of all thing, a small can of tomato paste.
Use the can as the cue ball and set up for the shot.
Make very slow strokes the length of your normal follow through.
The Trick here is to make sure the stick is going straight. If the can rolls off to the side, you shifted your back hand.
As with any effective exercise, this is progressive. Start with very slow "shots". When you are consistent, increase the speed gradually.
This gives your muscles an opportunity to "learn" how to stroke properly. Any way you look at it, you are going to need a couple thousand strokes under your belt to get a handle on stroking right.
Fortunately, the brain power you have for shot selection and speed/spin control is already there. You must retrain some muscles.
I recommended that the shooter do a LOT of practice on the kitchen table - using, of all thing, a small can of tomato paste.
Use the can as the cue ball and set up for the shot.
Make very slow strokes the length of your normal follow through.
The Trick here is to make sure the stick is going straight. If the can rolls off to the side, you shifted your back hand.
As with any effective exercise, this is progressive. Start with very slow "shots". When you are consistent, increase the speed gradually.
This gives your muscles an opportunity to "learn" how to stroke properly. Any way you look at it, you are going to need a couple thousand strokes under your belt to get a handle on stroking right.
Fortunately, the brain power you have for shot selection and speed/spin control is already there. You must retrain some muscles.
Look... I don't care if someone dresses in a monkey suit and brings in a golf bag full of sticks and equipment. If they shoot and act like a player (that includes respect for others) then they will have my respect. That doesn't mean that they have to be able to run racks or anything else. I look at pool as I look at golf. There is a certain decorum for behavior that is part of the game. We have 3 people (all league players) at one of the places that I play at times that are as I described earlier... walking billboards with lots of fancy equipment (but no game). They all snake the tables next to them, get in your way, cut you off when you are setup for a shot, never apologize, ect... The regular shooters either change tables when any of these guys are next to them or just start out where they don't expect the leagues to be shooting. I always ask when I check in where the league tables will be for that night (as they usually have preference tables reserved) or look for where any other regulars are playing because they already asked before I did.
I know that people in OR are different than around here. One of my best friends in life was from Salem and was one of the nicest guys I've ever known (on and off of the tables).
Sorry for the rant earlier since it seems to have touched a nerve, but "DelaWho???'s" team captain reminded me of that kind of arrogance that I've see too much around here... so I guess it touched a nerve with me. You can also make fun of my equipment if you want to. After over 4 decades of playing the tables I've collected a few cues and cases, and still use my old 70's Viking window cue now as a break stick (sentimental reasons). But I believe that the soul shooters don't care about calling attention to themselves or how modern or prestigious their equipment might be. It's all about keeping the game real and the love of the game itself.
Shoot well with your $10 cue... it probably plays much better and means much more to you than that $1000 Predator that someone buys just to knock balls around a table.
Banks
Banned
No worries, just a bit of a misunderstanding, my bad. One of the things that I find most frustrating in this game is that most of the people that seem totally oblivious to all of the other players around them tend to be other players, league or otherwise. Could be because it's just a selfish kind of game, sometimes in your own world/zone, who knows. I'm quick to jump the gun in defense of league players, since that's how I started and have lots of league friends. Trust me, if I could bust a stick over somebody's head for not paying attention, it would've happened long ago.
As for the $10 Valley, it replaced my Joss w/ Z2 because it played better for me. If my opponent needs something to look at, they can bring a magazine. :thumbup:
With all due respect that isn't what I said. If you are going to quote me use the whole sentence...
DelaWho??? said:
I stand by my statement.
I broke my wrist a few years ago in a motorcycle ground, sky, ground event, which lead to playing off handed for several weeks. Now my game is stronger because I don't have to break my rhythm and get a bridge. Many other advantages to this skill.
Great ideas in this thread, including playing an intire session off handed.
I am a weak 7 in APA 8 ball. It would be great to raise my off handed play from a strong 4 or weak 5 to a middle of the road 6. Monster skillz!
If you can pull off a shot off handed that your opponent can't make with either hand, stick a fork in them, they are done.
I should have learned this thirty years ago! A no brainer!
Great ideas in this thread, including playing an intire session off handed.
I am a weak 7 in APA 8 ball. It would be great to raise my off handed play from a strong 4 or weak 5 to a middle of the road 6. Monster skillz!
If you can pull off a shot off handed that your opponent can't make with either hand, stick a fork in them, they are done.
I should have learned this thirty years ago! A no brainer!
With all due respect that isn't what I said. If you are going to quote me use the whole sentence...
I stand by my statement.
I didn't quote the entire sentence because my post often get a bit wordy... wasn't trying to make it sound like you said something that you didn't. It was just (what I believed to be) the meat of your statement that I was pointing out. My point was that I just don't believe in not even trying to add switch-shooting to your game... I think that I made that clear in my comparison of learning how to power-break.
However... I will concede (after reflecting on what you likely meant by the entire sentence) that yes... someone should not be trying to switch-hit if they don't already have a bit of game on their dominate side. But I still think that every "skilled" shooter should (try to) learn how to control the switch hit (as best they can). No one is ever going to equal their dominate side in accuracy... but once someone has learned their limitations at this technique, they usually leave the bridge alone unless it's a low percentage shot (or position leave) without it.
As I said before, I think that we are in agreement on some of what you are saying... but I don't know the skill level of the OP so it's not for me to judge if "smokey777" is ready to start learning. He did say, "I wanna learn how to play with my left for when it's practical" and that tells me that he is using common sense about judging his abilities. If you don't want to learn to change up... then don't. I know many shooters who are content with their game without learning the switch. I know others who see me (and other shooters) doing it and want to learn, but just won't try because they are afraid of looking clumsy. But until you have accomplished the art enough to know it's advantages over using a bridge, I will still challenge that there are many shots that are better played (from a control standpoint) by switching and leaving the bridge under the table. If you can effectively switch hit and insist that you are still better using a bridge, then I salute you for having mastered poking at the Q-ball with your elbow below a highly elevated cue-stick. That's another practice technique that should also be in everyone's table workout. My primary playing partner won't switch (though he always says that he wants to learn) and he is a very formidable (and equal) opponent. There are plenty of excellent shooters who can't (or just don't) switch.
My bad if I skewed your comment a bit from what you were saying. The actions you described of your league captain kind of hit a nerve with me (because I know of what you speak) and got me a bit off course on the subject. It just sounds like this guy doesn't care as much about your team as he does (trying) to showboat at something (in this case shooting left handed) that he obviously isn't good at. So... I can see why you would feel the way that you do about switch hitting.
I'm not looking for an bad blood here on AZB. Friendly debate is often good for later reflection and improvement of all things in life. At the very least our volley of discussion has reminded me that I have neglected practice using the bridge and it wouldn't hurt to get a bit more control as I still use it on any low percentage lengthy shot.
Shoot well and just don't take me too personally. I am usually multi-tasking whenever I'm hanging out at AZB. I start jonesing when I don't have time to chalk it up.
This is the main reason why I work on the switch as hard as I do. When I am "dancing with the table" (as I like to call it), I don't want to take my eyes off of the cloth or stop moving for one second longer than I have to. At least once a week I will practice playing against myself right handed vs left for about an hour or so. I love it whenever the left hand outplays the right.
But you get my main reason for using the switch... it's all about keeping the rhythm when my game is really on.
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Its a great skill to have. I started playing lefty as a way to earn a little bit of money off the drunks in my local pool hall when I was a kid. I also think being able to play with a bridge is a great skill to have. If I need to shoot with english ill use my left hand, its easier to judge than using a bridge. But anything else ill use a bridge. So unless you're 6'7 its worth dedicating some time to either lefty or the bridge. Its suprising how quick you can learn to use your "wrong" hand if you really want to. In just a couple of weeks it will start to feel "normal" and you will have a stroke that isn't perfect, but more than usable. Just try some left vs right games to keep it interesting and enjoy it.
I would practice about an hour every other week left handed till one day i was playing in a tournament and made 4 shots in a row playing lefty. I seem to get better with an off and on type of practice drill is stead of forcing my self into kinda of like and over practice thing
One of the things that helped me learn to play opposite handed(left in my case) was to do every thing I could using my left hand. I brush my teeth, comb my hair, shave, eat and every thing else I can do using my left hand. It was a little odd at first but quickly became second nature and significantly shortened up the learning curve for playing left handed as well as making me ambidextrous.
I'm right handed, and shoot that way.
A couple of years after I began playing pool, I decided to learn how to shoot lefty, for all the reasons mentioned above (especially the "dancing the table" comment).
I'm not saying this is the best way, but here is how I did it:
I was playing several hours a day, almost every day at the time. I picked a weekday (Tuesday, I think), and never shot right-handed on that day for about a year. I didn't change anything else. I still went out and played pool, even some small tournaments, but I just shot every shot left-handed, including jumps and breaks.
I'm no champion when playing left handed, but I'm very comfortable shooting lefty for just about any shot that could come up on the table.
Maybe a less extreme version would be more reasonable, but I like the idea of committing to shoot lefty during certain periods of times. Have fun with it - your goal is to become comfortable and proficient, not necessarily to win.
Best of luck,
-Blake
A couple of years after I began playing pool, I decided to learn how to shoot lefty, for all the reasons mentioned above (especially the "dancing the table" comment).
I'm not saying this is the best way, but here is how I did it:
I was playing several hours a day, almost every day at the time. I picked a weekday (Tuesday, I think), and never shot right-handed on that day for about a year. I didn't change anything else. I still went out and played pool, even some small tournaments, but I just shot every shot left-handed, including jumps and breaks.
I'm no champion when playing left handed, but I'm very comfortable shooting lefty for just about any shot that could come up on the table.
Maybe a less extreme version would be more reasonable, but I like the idea of committing to shoot lefty during certain periods of times. Have fun with it - your goal is to become comfortable and proficient, not necessarily to win.
Best of luck,
-Blake