Question for Blackjack

[highsea]

A while back I was reading an article that I believe you authored. The subject was fundamentals.

As I recall, you advised against having the bridge arm completely straight when shooting. I notice that I do tend to have a straight arm, with my elbow locked, primarily on long straight shots and long cuts. (Where the CB travels more than 1/2 the length of the table before contacting the OB) It seems to help my aim on these type of shots. The other time I will do this is on a long shot when the CB is frozen to an end rail. I will use an open bridge with my hand almost on the outside of the rail, and a lot of weight on my left hand.

I don't have too much difficulty making these shots, but the locked left elbow and straight arm does lead to a little bit of pain in the rotator cuff after several hours of play. I tend to get very low on these shots, my chin just an inch or so over my cue, which adds to the strain and inflamation in the shoulder.

What I would like to ask you is; first, do I have this correct, that this is a shooting position that you consider fundamentally poor? And secondly, If so, Why? Does it tend to push the shoulders out of square to the shot?

Finally I would like to thank you and say keep up the good work. You have helped myself and countless other players who are working to improve their game. Let me know when your book is ready, I'll take one.


-CM <~~~Ouch! That's my left arm!

 

[Blackjack]

In that book, I also point out that the purpose of the "bridge" is to support and guide the cue, not the weight of the body. If you are experiencing pain in your rotator cuff, chances are that your weight is not evenly distributed, therefore teh stance is not solid, IMO. Is it fundamentally poor? Depends on who it is and what result they are getting. If you are making these shots consistently with no visible deficiencies, and you believe that a little pain in your shoulder is worth it, live and let live. If you are inconsistent with this method, miss the shots, position, and find the shoulder pain blisteringly annoying, then I suggest a reevaluation of your stance mehcanics, bridge mechanics, and weight distribution.

Your weight distribution starts with your feet and leads to the top of your head. It should be noted that most of the time, the weight is being shifted to that shoulder when a player "crouches" or gets too low. The weight is shifted to the bridge shoulder, and I believe that the stance is unstable, as our base (feet, legs, hips) is no longer supporting the majority of our weight on that side of the body. Our bridge arm/shoulder is, and I guarantee you that you will not be balanced correctly like this, and that I could knock you off balance quite easily. Your shoulders can be "square" and you can still have this uneven weight distribution, as this also tends to move your balance point away from center. Your center of mass is very important in relation to your balance, breathing, and getting into the zone.

Also, Lessons in 9 Ball should be ready on Monday. I'll keep you posted on the price (the book is over 200 pages now), and the availablity date.

Here is an illustration of the center of mass

 

[highsea]

Thanks for the feedback. I think I understand you that it is less a question of the elbow being straight or slightly bent, but of the overall weight distribution and balance.

I definitely put too much weight on my left hand when the CB is frozen to the rail. I think I consciously lean into the rail to brace myself on these shots. The next time I go out to practice, I will setup some of these shots and work to maintain a more balanced stance.

I suspect my preshot routine goes out the window on these shots. If I could watch myself on video, I think I would see myself kind of place the bridge hand down and then shuffle my feet around getting comfortable, instead of stepping into the shot like normal.

If I had 9-ball man's upper body it wouldn't be a problem!

-CM