practicing with your wrong arm

Pidge

Pidge

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
I play right handed and have been practicing a bit left handed for the last month or so (finally ran my first rack yesterday left handed :D). Does anyone else practice this? I've never seen a pro on TV use their wrong hand to shoot. Maybe because there isn't much need on a 9ft table. But watching snooker, Ronnie O'Sullivan does it all the time.

So I wonder, is it worth it for 9 ball?
 
Pidge said:
I play right handed and have been practicing a bit left handed for the last month or so (finally ran my first rack yesterday left handed :D). Does anyone else practice this? I've never seen a pro on TV use their wrong hand to shoot. Maybe because there isn't much need on a 9ft table. But watching snooker, Ronnie O'Sullivan does it all the time.

So I wonder, is it worth it for 9 ball?
Click to expand...

Pidge:

You obviously haven't watched enough Efren Reyes. Efren does it all the time, and will opt for using his off-hand (leftie) than using a mechanical bridge.

Oh btw, yes, it is INDEED worth it for *all games* -- not just 9-ball. I find it a boon to shoot with my opposite hand in 14.1 and one pocket.

-Sean
 
I can shoot just as bad with either hand.

Seriously though - yes it's a very valuable skill.
 
sfleinen said:
Pidge:

You obviously haven't watched enough Efren Reyes. Efren does it all the time, and will opt for using his off-hand (leftie) than using a mechanical bridge.

Oh btw, yes, it is INDEED worth it for *all games* -- not just 9-ball. I find it a boon to shoot with my opposite hand in 14.1 and one pocket.

-Sean
Click to expand...

I usually downt pay attention when watching Efren. im always too busy picking my jaw up from the floor! lol
 
Being ambidextrous at pool is not a horrible thing, regardless of what game you play. Why would being ambidextrous in 9-ball be more important than in straight pool? I would argue that the bigger the table, the more useful being ambidextrous would be.

If you practice opposite handed, then you better shoot opposite handed every time an opposite handed shot comes up, or the practice is a waste of time. If you're playing a big match/set/tournament and a shot comes up that you could either shoot opposite handed or use a bridge, what do you do? If you think, "This is a really important shot, I better use the bridge cuz I don't want to miss with my opposite hand", then you wasted a whole bunch of time practicing opposite handed.

Personally, I'd say practice opposite handed a little bit so you feel comfortable shoot easy shots that don't require shape. That's it, don't waste any more time on it. Save the extra time for practicing to get better with your normal hand.

On the other hand (no pun intended!), if you ever foresee a "I'll play you opposite handed" scenario in your future, then practice opposite handed!
 
jschelin99 said:
Being ambidextrous at pool is not a horrible thing, regardless of what game you play. Why would being ambidextrous in 9-ball be more important than in straight pool? I would argue that the bigger the table, the more useful being ambidextrous would be.

If you practice opposite handed, then you better shoot opposite handed every time an opposite handed shot comes up, or the practice is a waste of time. If you're playing a big match/set/tournament and a shot comes up that you could either shoot opposite handed or use a bridge, what do you do? If you think, "This is a really important shot, I better use the bridge cuz I don't want to miss with my opposite hand", then you wasted a whole bunch of time practicing opposite handed.

Personally, I'd say practice opposite handed a little bit so you feel comfortable shoot easy shots that don't require shape. That's it, don't waste any more time on it. Save the extra time for practicing to get better with your normal hand.

On the other hand (no pun intended!), if you ever foresee a "I'll play you opposite handed" scenario in your future, then practice opposite handed!
Click to expand...

I'd never use a bridge. I'd get better shape shooting with my feet. Lol
 
use a different part of my mind

Pidge said:
I play right handed and have been practicing a bit left handed for the last month or so (finally ran my first rack yesterday left handed :D). Does anyone else practice this? I've never seen a pro on TV use their wrong hand to shoot. Maybe because there isn't much need on a 9ft table. But watching snooker, Ronnie O'Sullivan does it all the time.

So I wonder, is it worth it for 9 ball?
Click to expand...

I've done this on occasion just to use a different part of my mind....after you play opposite handed for 20/30 minutes playing natural is a lot easier.
 
I do it all the time when I'm playing friends that don't play often. Aside from being helpful to have that skill handy, I find that I focus more on things like tip placement and stroke follow thru.
 
cjssecrets4u2 said:
I've done this on occasion just to use a different part of my mind....after you play opposite handed for 20/30 minutes playing natural is a lot easier.
Click to expand...

I totally agree. Even though it obviously isn't any easier than usual, mentally it helps a tonne
 
While I was practicing with my opposite hand (usually play left-handed) a few months ago, some guy came up and asked to play for money. I immediately thought about upping the bet and telling him I'd play left handed, but that would have been wrong...
 
In my younger days I played and practiced with my opposite hand often. Back then, players were always playing gimmick games as a way to keep the action going - opposite hand, one hand, one hand jacked up, you name it.

Now, I only use my opposite hand on hangers or other easy shots. My accuracy has dropped off a bit over the years.
 
victorl said:
While I was practicing with my opposite hand (usually play left-handed) a few months ago, some guy came up and asked to play for money. I immediately thought about upping the bet and telling him I'd play left handed, but that would have been wrong...
Click to expand...

You gotta stop being handicapped by crazy things like morals. :grin:
 
Yes, pretty often.

In fact, when breaking from the rail I usually brake righty on the left side and lefty on the right side of the table.

Freaks some people out tho. :)
 
RRfireblade said:
Yes, pretty often.

In fact, when breaking from the rail I usually brake righty on the left side and lefty on the right side of the table.

Freaks some people out tho. :)
Click to expand...

Haha the break is the hardest shot to get down, I'm impressed! Power is lacking on leftie breaks but I'm never going to break leftie.
 
Pidge said:
Haha the break is the hardest shot to get down, I'm impressed! Power is lacking on leftie breaks but I'm never going to break leftie.
Click to expand...

Started breaking left handed many years ago after surgery for a torn rotator cuff in my right shoulder. Didn't have much choice.

Power was actually quite good but control..... That took a little while. Now it just feels more comfotable that way on the corrosponding side of the table.

I'm a bit ambidextrous though. I carried ~190 average bowling left handed during one of those stretches. BTW , in bowling left hand and right handed averages are kept seperately and have to be announced prior.
 
Many years ago, the enlisted men (Navy) at GLAKES (Great Lakes) has a fairly large pool room on the base. Making about $37 net twice a month, I decided I would augment my meager wages with a bit of "sport" at that pool room.

The first time I went there, I shot opposite handed and finally matched up that way. To make a long story short, I NEVER switched back the whole time I was on that base. I think I might not have survived it. :grin:
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top