Allison's stroke is one to copy. I wish I stroked like her!
Question about Allison Fisher's stroke.
- Thread starter inside_english
- Start date
To pause, or not to pause...
Watching Allison play in the first WPBA tournament she ever won, at Amstersdam Billiards(the original west side location), was what cemented in my mind what Jerry Briesath taught me about correcting my stroke. He gave me the analogy about throwing a baseball, you need that pause when you change direction in order to gather your focus. As everyone else has already stated, Alison has the most perfect, repeatable fundamentals you could ever want to emulate.
Watching Allison play in the first WPBA tournament she ever won, at Amstersdam Billiards(the original west side location), was what cemented in my mind what Jerry Briesath taught me about correcting my stroke. He gave me the analogy about throwing a baseball, you need that pause when you change direction in order to gather your focus. As everyone else has already stated, Alison has the most perfect, repeatable fundamentals you could ever want to emulate.
Kristi Carter
Registered
Truth
Actually Scott...
I'm not sure where you're getting your information but if it's from Randy himself or anyone from his school then I'm sorry to break it to you but they're not telling the truth and/or simply advertising their product. If it's from someone else, then either way you are misinformed.
Allison credits the development of the hesitation in her stroke to world-renowned coach, Frank Callan, who also taught Steve Davis, Stephen Hendry and a number of other great snooker players. At the age of 17 (1985) and three months before the World Championships, Allison spent one weekend with Frank. During this time, he taught her the effectiveness of pausing at the back of the stroke. She's worked on this technique ever since.
She visited Randy's pool school several years ago in order to see how the BCA instructors taught -- and for no other reason. She did not bring a cue and did not strike a single ball during her time there. She was there to observe their instruction techniques. So I find it bemusing that you believe Randy taught her "how to finish her stroke" and that "she started doing table length draws accurately, with no effort!". The only thing correct about your comment is the "no effort".
Regarding your statement, "snooker players are taught to "screw" the CB by forcibly stopping the cue at contact with the CB (aka no finish or followthrough)". No snooker player in the world stops at the cue ball when delivering the final stroke. It's an absurd concept.
I also highly doubt that Allison "had trouble' with long draws when she visited Randy's school. I've read several comments on this forum about Allison's appearance at Randy's school and nearly all of them have been erroneous. It's very sad. I wish Randy would come on here and set the record straight but that has yet to happen. Wonder why.
Let's remember that Allison had over 11 world titles and 80+ national titles before ever coming to the US or visiting Randy's school.
Scott Lee said:
Actually Scott...
I'm not sure where you're getting your information but if it's from Randy himself or anyone from his school then I'm sorry to break it to you but they're not telling the truth and/or simply advertising their product. If it's from someone else, then either way you are misinformed.
Allison credits the development of the hesitation in her stroke to world-renowned coach, Frank Callan, who also taught Steve Davis, Stephen Hendry and a number of other great snooker players. At the age of 17 (1985) and three months before the World Championships, Allison spent one weekend with Frank. During this time, he taught her the effectiveness of pausing at the back of the stroke. She's worked on this technique ever since.
She visited Randy's pool school several years ago in order to see how the BCA instructors taught -- and for no other reason. She did not bring a cue and did not strike a single ball during her time there. She was there to observe their instruction techniques. So I find it bemusing that you believe Randy taught her "how to finish her stroke" and that "she started doing table length draws accurately, with no effort!". The only thing correct about your comment is the "no effort".
Regarding your statement, "snooker players are taught to "screw" the CB by forcibly stopping the cue at contact with the CB (aka no finish or followthrough)". No snooker player in the world stops at the cue ball when delivering the final stroke. It's an absurd concept.
I also highly doubt that Allison "had trouble' with long draws when she visited Randy's school. I've read several comments on this forum about Allison's appearance at Randy's school and nearly all of them have been erroneous. It's very sad. I wish Randy would come on here and set the record straight but that has yet to happen. Wonder why.
Let's remember that Allison had over 11 world titles and 80+ national titles before ever coming to the US or visiting Randy's school.
Last edited:
I don't know you, but I would like to point out a fault in this statement. http://www.poolschool.info/alumni.htmKristi Carter said:
In this link there is a picture of Allison shooting and Randy observing. To me it looks like he is teaching her the finish position and freezing to analyze. That may not be her cue, but she's definitely striking a cue ball. That's Karen in the other picture with Jerry Powers. I don't think she went there just to be in a photo.
Maybe we should just leave it up to Randy and Allison to set the record straight?Kristi Carter
Registered
Big C said:I don't know you, but I would like to point out a fault in this statement. http://www.poolschool.info/alumni.htm
In this link there is a picture of Allison shooting and Randy observing. To me it looks like he is teaching her the finish position and freezing to analyze. That may not be her cue, but she's definitely striking a cue ball. That's Karen in the other picture with Jerry Powers. I don't think she went there just to be in a photo.
You have a pretty amazing ability to bring pictures to life if you think that photos depicts Randy "teaching her the finish position and freezing to analyze" -- either that or you're very good at storytelling. Allison has used this technique since 1985 so maybe it isn't Randy who is doing the "teaching" and maybe he is simply "analyzing" Allison's position. Furthermore, it wasn't her cue and she is not "definitely striking a cue ball". The ball pictured isn't even in the same path as the cue.
And by the way, my information is from Allison -- I'd like to hear what Randy has to say. Let's be honest, there's far more marketing leverage allowing the rest of you to believe Allison was a student then there is admitting that she went simply to observe techniques.
Last edited:
Take a chill pill.
You may be right about all of this. But until I hear it from someone that was actually there, you comments bear no merit to me. I don't care if you are Alison's friend, let her speak for herself. BTW, I took the time to read some of your past posts so that I could somewhat familiarize myself with whom I am exchanging messages with. I have to say that you seem like a very angry person. Do you always choose the flamethrower over the olive branch?Kristi Carter said:
Buddy's stroke
I'm not up on all that SPF stuff so I won't enter that fray, but since several people have mentioned Buddy's stroke I will add this to the conversation. Buddy's stroke has changed a little over the years. When I first saw Buddy play in 1968 the "pause" was even more pronounced.
It was a beautiful stroke, yet at the same time, the most unusual stroke I had ever seen. It wasn't just the pause, it was where the cue was when he paused. On the final stroke he would bring the ferrell and tip all the way back INSIDE his bridge hand where he would then pause. When he would finally stroke forward the tip, ferrel, and shaft would appear out of that big mit as smooth as silk. I remember thinking that he had to have a perfect stroke to avoid hitting the forefinger on his bridge hand when he brought the cue forward. The results of that stroke were even more amazing than the stroke itself.
As the years went by the stroke stopped going back so far, but the pause remained.
I'm not up on all that SPF stuff so I won't enter that fray, but since several people have mentioned Buddy's stroke I will add this to the conversation. Buddy's stroke has changed a little over the years. When I first saw Buddy play in 1968 the "pause" was even more pronounced.
It was a beautiful stroke, yet at the same time, the most unusual stroke I had ever seen. It wasn't just the pause, it was where the cue was when he paused. On the final stroke he would bring the ferrell and tip all the way back INSIDE his bridge hand where he would then pause. When he would finally stroke forward the tip, ferrel, and shaft would appear out of that big mit as smooth as silk. I remember thinking that he had to have a perfect stroke to avoid hitting the forefinger on his bridge hand when he brought the cue forward. The results of that stroke were even more amazing than the stroke itself.
As the years went by the stroke stopped going back so far, but the pause remained.
Big C said:I don't know you, but I would like to point out a fault in this statement. http://www.poolschool.info/alumni.htm
In this link there is a picture of Allison shooting and Randy observing. To me it looks like he is teaching her the finish position and freezing to analyze. That may not be her cue, but she's definitely striking a cue ball. That's Karen in the other picture with Jerry Powers. I don't think she went there just to be in a photo.
You are barking WAY up the wrong tree. Anyone who thinks that Kristi doesn't KNOW what she's talking about re: matters concerning Allison (or any other subject she chooses to post about) doesn't know what THEY are talking about.
I respect Scott and don't think he would intentionally post incorrect or misleading remarks so, for the moment, I will assume that he was just passing on "folklore" that he heard from others and would not represent his remarks as coming from events he personally witnessed.
As Kristi pointed out, the picture proves NOTHING. Alli could as easily have been teaching the spectators as them teaching her anything.
Last time I looked, I am on the front page of Allison's Academy web site and I assure you she (and Gerda) were giving instruction...not taking it!
Regards,
Jim
Big C said:
Personally, I thought your post quoted below was insulting...as was the above...and that you got from Kristi what you deserved.
"I don't know you, but I would like to point out a fault in this statement. http://www.poolschool.info/alumni.htm
In this link there is a picture of Allison shooting and Randy observing. To me it looks like he is teaching her the finish position and freezing to analyze. That may not be her cue, but she's definitely striking a cue ball. That's Karen in the other picture with Jerry Powers. I don't think she went there just to be in a photo. Maybe we should just leave it up to Randy and Allison to set the record straight?"
Is it your opinion that only eye witnesses can write authoritatively about past events?
I guess Carl Sandburg should have just kept his mouth shut...ya think?
LOL
Jim
Kristi Carter
Registered
Big C said:
Well then maybe you should have thought about merit before you posted, "I'm pretty sure that Allison and Karen learned Set, Pause, Finish from Randy G. It's a very powerful training and self diagnostic tool. Also pay attention to their elbow and cue tip position at the finish position of the stroke". I highly doubt you were there.
Let's not forget that Allison and Karen were pausing at the back of their stroke before Cue-tech was ever established.
I'm not angry at all ... But I make exceptions for people like you who make ridiculous comments and then continue to defend them.
Jim, the only one doing the barking is Kristi. All was well until she jumped in the middle of Scott. Anything concerning Alison in this thread should be cleared up by Alison and not friends of Alison. I'm sure many people claim to be friends with Alison, but we all know celebrities, right? The pictures do prove one thing. Alison and Karen were at Randy G's pool school. The only people that teach in that building is Randy and his instructors that he trained. But of course only Randy and Alison could speak for that. I really wish I knew more people on this board personally. I really like this community. But it is very hard to get to know someone over a forum and there seems to be very tight circles of people that know one another and tend to gang up on an outsider. I'm sure Kristi is a very nice person, but she comes across very forceably and rude in recent posts that I have seen.av84fun said:
My goodness, we're on a tear tonight!
Anyone that knows me or has taken the time to read my posts knows that I have merit. Whether or not Alison/Karen had a pause before they attended Randy G's school does not mean that they did not learn SPF from Randy. No, I was not there when the picture was taken, but I have been to that school since then and have spoken with Randy about that occasion. You shouldn't make exceptions about people that you don't agree with. I don't think it's fair for you to come in here calling people liars. We all have opinions and have pieces of knowledge that we like to share. Can't you respect that and just politely disagree?Kristi Carter said:
I'm not backing down from anyone. If I am wrong than I will apologize. Until then, I will defend my statements. I haven't insulted anyone on this thread. Maybe you were just reading my statements with bias? Correct my english all you want. None of us are capable of walking on water. I dare you to try it sometime. :wink:av84fun said:
Trying to be helpful
I too have heard that their pool school taught Allison the SPF method and all of the intricate details that are more than just a couple of pauses.
I won't say any more about any specific details, because the relationship between Randy and Allison would be better served coming from one of those two.
The original statement may not be 100% accurate (I don't know).
But I will acknowledge that I heard something in the ballpark.
Like I said, Randy and Allison could clarify better.
From my estimates, as often happens in these threads. You two think you're talking about the same thing, but you really may not be. Simply clarifying 1 simple little phrase could be the difference that makes both of you right...
I too have heard that their pool school taught Allison the SPF method and all of the intricate details that are more than just a couple of pauses.
I won't say any more about any specific details, because the relationship between Randy and Allison would be better served coming from one of those two.
The original statement may not be 100% accurate (I don't know).
But I will acknowledge that I heard something in the ballpark.
Like I said, Randy and Allison could clarify better.
From my estimates, as often happens in these threads. You two think you're talking about the same thing, but you really may not be. Simply clarifying 1 simple little phrase could be the difference that makes both of you right...
Last edited: