Proper positioning when shooting. Why the transition?

klockdoc

klockdoc

ughhhhhhhhhh
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What caused the transition between the time when players used to position their head above the line of aim (body more erect) and the now position of placing their head down on the cue (as if sighting a rifle)?

I have heard and read pros and cons on both aspects. What's yours:confused:
 
I would say the evolution of the game. Didn't snooker play a large part in the whole "chin on the stick" stance? I'm not qualified enough to really have any say here but just taking part in this conversation.

edit: or was it that the snooker stance has to do w/ feet alignment (squared off stance)?
 
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I think, but don't know, that snooker players started it. Then it became an empirical thing. Try both ways and give it a fair test. The chin lower helps with accuracy and many of the stand up type problems. I think people tried it and found that it is a significant improvement.
 
Even snooker players will stand higher when the cueball is close the the object ball, except on maybe a very long pot.

I believe the transition from straight pool to rotation games has changed fundamentals. In straight pool, most of the pots are relatively short, from the bottom half of the table into the bottom corner pockets, and the cueball is frequently very close to the object ball. In this scenario a more upright stance may assist in sighting the ball. Also, fewer stroke shots were required per game, with most being center ball "punch" strokes that moved the cueball relatively small amounts. In 9-ball, long pots with accompanying large amounts of spin are often required, which are better served by a lower, longer stroke.
 
It helped me.

don't know exactly what it did but I do know that my game jumped up a notch or two when I went down to the chin (almost) resting on the cue. Just started seeing the lines better.
 
blocked said:
What caused the transition between the time when players used to position their head above the line of aim (body more erect) and the now position of placing their head down on the cue (as if sighting a rifle)?

I have heard and read pros and cons on both aspects. What's yours:confused:
Click to expand...

I think the transition from 14.1 to 9 ball caused everybody's game to evolve. In 9 ball, there are a lot of difficult long shots on open tables, so precise aim is at a premium. In straight pool, there are a lot of short shots and blocked balls, so aim is secondary to precise position play. I also think 9 ball caused players to lengthen their strokes a little.

Also, where I play the pockets are about an inch tighter than they used to be, so we have to be more precise now.

Chris
 
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Probably when the older players from the 40's and 50's era "rice-bowled" aiming knowledge and failed to pass it to younger generations... which forced players to have to aim legitimately...i.e. sighting like a rifle.

Am I right, Hal?:p
 
TATE said:
I think the transition from 14.1 to 9 ball caused everybody's game to evolve. In 9 ball, there are a lot of difficult long shots on open tables, so precise aim is at a premium. Chris
Click to expand...

But, Luther Lassiter and others in his era shot fairly erect when playing. Nothing wrong with "Wimpy's" 9 ball game. Most of these players played in a more erect position that the players now days.

There had to be something else that made the players "sight the rifle" when aiming:confused:
 
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