Pool player, New to 3C. Stroke mechanic differences

[olgoat]

I have been working at my pool game for 2 years and it has been coming along slowly. I have been interested in 3C all along but having so much to work on with my stroke and pocketing skills and cue ball control, all of which still need a ton of work, I have attempted to try and billiards until just recently.

The fellow I played with was an older player and one of the things that I noticed is that he kept recommending more of a punch stroke without as much follow through as I usually use in pool.

He also advocated changing the grip position on the cue for follow (what he called Up strokei, grip further back on the cue) versus draw (Down stroke grip further forward). In pool I have always tried to gauge my grip based on the distance to the bridge, keeping my right forearm straight up and down (I am right handed.) with minimal movement shoulder to elbow

I usually play a little more upright than other pool players because it seems to allow more unimpeded follow through than when I am way down on the cue.

I would like to start mixing the two games but I sure don't want to screw up my hard earned pool stroke to play 3C and I am sure I would not be able to switch gears effectively between the two games.

Were these recommendations more of style issue or does 3C require different mechanics?

Thanks
Tim

 

[3kushn]

Your comment on style vs required mechanics is good.

So here's my humble opinion.

First there are some differences in stroke. A 3C stroke is less wristy than a pool stroke and may be seen as a punch. There is no punching going on with a good 3C stroke. It just may look that way. Nice smooth follow through keeping the tip on the ball as long as possible for a good finish.

Before I get hammered on that comment, yes there are exceptions to the wrist thing the most notable to me was Sang Lee. I think his wrist was triple jointed.

Now the upstroke. I've only had 2 billiard bums tell me to use an upstroke.
I really can't decide whether Allen Gillbert or Harry Sims really knew enough about this game to take their advice. It's your choice believe them and your freind or believe the other bums telling you the how to's.

All kidding aside Harry told me he wished he used it an upstroke more often when he was competing after studying Sang Lee.

Moving your grip back on the cue gives you a natural upstroke without dropping the elbow. With a normal to short grip your tip will naturally seek the cloth during the finish but the stroke is level at the time of CB contact.

I'm going to stick my neck out again but what I was taught by a couple of great players is, the amount of wood in front of your bridge is basically consistant barring certain circumstances and the grip position is determined by the shot. Distance, type, how much english is required....

For Starters. Try short gripping when needing max side spin. Try an upstroke when needing to get long. Try an up stroke on the infamous kiss where ball 2 is closer to the long rail than the CB and ball 3 is fat in the corner. An easy natural on paper but a kiss. An up stroke and thin hit will get the CB to the short rail before the OB thus missing the kiss.

 

[predator]

About fundamentals, why don't they (3C players) ever use an open bridge? At least I haven't seen it. I know the balls are rather heavy and you need a firm stroke if you wack them hard, but still...I cannot believe all the shots they perform actually require a closed bridge. Even if the cueball is frozen to the rail, they still won't use the open bridge which has to be more comfortable.

 

[Rich93]

About fundamentals, why don't they (3C players) ever use an open bridge? At least I haven't seen it. I know the balls are rather heavy and you need a firm stroke if you wack them hard, but still...I cannot believe all the shots they perform actually require a closed bridge. Even if the cueball is frozen to the rail, they still won't use the open bridge which has to be more comfortable.

Besides the heavier ball reason, three additional reasons:

The supposed advantage of an open bridge - that it makes aiming a little easier because the hand doesn't get in the way of sighting like a rifle - doesn't matter much for 3C. 3C players don't get down far enough to aim like a rifle. Their stances are more erect because when aiming they like to envision the carom angle, which is easier to see from a more erect stance.

Second, they use sidespin on most shots. A closed bridge offers a little better control.

Third, people copy the style of the greats. So far there hasn't been a billiard great who uses an open bridge. If one does come along, you might begin to see it spread, as it has in pool.

 

[billiardgrue]

Blomdahl and Jaspers (and I) use an open bridge for thin hits where extreme accuracy is required. They also have a less upright stance than the majority of players.