Practice Strokes

P

PaulM

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Why do we perform 'practice strokes'? What is their purpose? How should they be performed? Do we need them?

We perform them from the cue ball to the end for our back swing, and then forward to the cue ball. The forward portion is only half of our final stroke. It's often recommended to perform them slowly, even when our final stroke will be faster. Are we really practicing our stroke? If not, what are we practicing?

While I've seen a few players place their bridge hand away from the cue ball and perform practice strokes with the final stroke to its finish position at the speed they intend to use, it's not normally the case. Golfers practice their full swing often. Why not pool players? Should we?
 
Great questions!

IMO we have them miss-named anyway. These are not "practice strokes".

The reason we perform "warm-up" strokes is two fold.

1. Too aim on the cue ball.
2. Too release muscle tension.

randyg
 
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PaulM said:
Why do we perform 'practice strokes'? What is their purpose? How should they be performed? Do we need them?

We perform them from the cue ball to the end for our back swing, and then forward to the cue ball. The forward portion is only half of our final stroke. It's often recommended to perform them slowly, even when our final stroke will be faster. Are we really practicing our stroke? If not, what are we practicing?

While I've seen a few players place their bridge hand away from the cue ball and perform practice strokes with the final stroke to its finish position at the speed they intend to use, it's not normally the case. Golfers practice their full swing often. Why not pool players? Should we?
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You sure do ask a lot of questions, PaulM. Are you writing a book? Just wondering.
 
I agree with Randy and might add a third purpose, to approximate the final stroke in tempo and force/direction, etc.

I say approximate because neither in pool nor golf should the warmup stroke equal the final effort precisely.

Remember also that a lot of good players will not take a full warmup stroke but simply wiggle/waggle the tip back and forth a slight amount before the pause/checkoff point then the final stroke...
 
FranCrimi said:
You sure do ask a lot of questions, PaulM. Are you writing a book? Just wondering.
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Just trying to improve my game. Questions are a good way to do that, right?

Doesn't anyone have an opinion on whether it makes sense to do a full practice stroke like golfers?
 
PaulM said:
Just trying to improve my game. Questions are a good way to do that, right?

Doesn't anyone have an opinion on whether it makes sense to do a full practice stroke like golfers?
Click to expand...

All golfers do not do that & the ones that do rarely do it exactly like they will for the real one. They do it more to just get a feel for the club head & how & when it turns over & for the less than full swing shots as they try to get a feel for what % of a full swing they want to use or for a shot that reguires alot of finesse.

I do not think it makes a lot of sense to do as you suggest. Pool is more about accuracy where golf is about distance control. I know the two are similiar but the dynamics are different.

JMO
 
Different strokes for different folks.

I have seen great players along the continuum of no stroke to full practice strokes.

No right, or wrong, just what works for the player.

Myself, I take full practice strokes, it is something I have done for a long time, and is most natural for me.
 
PaulM said:
Just trying to improve my game. Questions are a good way to do that, right?

Doesn't anyone have an opinion on whether it makes sense to do a full practice stroke like golfers?
Click to expand...

Well, looking back on all your past posts, they are question after question on a wide variety of topics. Are you working on all those things in your game at the same time?
 
Randy,

For 2, I call these 'swaggle' strokes. Trying to get into a proper stance, and groove my stroke.

For me, the practice stroke is
1. Aim
2. Approximate the final stroke, how much force to use so the cue ball ends up in the zone for the next shot.

If 2 is too hard for me, then I just concentrate on 1, aim and make the ball. I may revise that to reset, and go through the pre-shot routine and opt for a safety.



randyg said:
Great questions!

IMO we have them miss-named anyway. These are not "practice strokes".

The reason we preform "warm-up" strokes is two fold.

1. Too aim on the cue ball.
2. Too release muscle tension.

randyg
Click to expand...
 
ctyhntr said:
Randy,

For 2, I call these 'swaggle' strokes. Trying to get into a proper stance, and groove my stroke.

For me, the practice stroke is
1. Aim
2. Approximate the final stroke, how much force to use so the cue ball ends up in the zone for the next shot.

If 2 is too hard for me, then I just concentrate on 1, aim and make the ball. I may revise that to reset, and go through the pre-shot routine and opt for a safety.
Click to expand...



Hey, good job.

Question on #1. Aim at what?

randyg
 
...to add to what randyg said...a consistent warm up cycle (same # of warm ups), with a stop at the CB, allows our subconscious to "red light" or "green light" the shot. INO, are you ready or not?

Scott Lee
http://poolknowledge.com
randyg said:
Great questions!

IMO we have them miss-named anyway. These are not "practice strokes".

The reason we perform "warm-up" strokes is two fold.

1. Too aim on the cue ball.
2. Too release muscle tension.

randyg
Click to expand...
 
FranCrimi said:
Well, looking back on all your past posts, they are question after question on a wide variety of topics. Are you working on all those things in your game at the same time?
Click to expand...

Yes and no. I'm currently trying to build my stroke, but always am trying to improve everything in my game.
 
A "full" practice stroke should slowly bring the tip up close to the CB and then back to the bridge hand.

When working with beginning and intermediate students, I explain this is to confirm their stick line is on their aiming line - and make sure their planned stroke is straight.

The biggest problems with their practice strokes is:
1. If too rapid, this pulls the attention onto the tip, which is a distraction of the shooter's concentration.
2. If too short, the stick line is harder to confirm that it is on target.

Some players do both :)
 
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