Refining pre shot routine

T

tomatoshooter

Well-known member
I've been tinkering with my pre shot routine but there's a problem. The act of thinking about doing something different, in this case, a pause at the back of my stroke, compromises the flow. Trying to incorporate an improvement means I will shoot worse, making it impossible to judge if the improvement is working. It seems to work well when I do it subconsciously, but I usually either forget the pause or consciously pause, making it had to be sure.
 
I had to change my eye patterns. I’m a CP player so I would acquire my target at Set and go through the rest of my stroke with no pause. If I just added the pause it through off my timing and I shot worse. Then I started acquiring my target after set which took a second thus creating the Pause without thinking of pausing if that makes sense.
 
tomatoshooter said:
I've been tinkering with my pre shot routine but there's a problem. The act of thinking about doing something different, in this case, a pause at the back of my stroke, compromises the flow. Trying to incorporate an improvement means I will shoot worse, making it impossible to judge if the improvement is working. It seems to work well when I do it subconsciously, but I usually either forget the pause or consciously pause, making it had to be sure.
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The title of your thread is confusing. To me, your pre-shot routine is the repetitive routine you go through leading up to the start of your final backstroke/stroke.

As far as incorporating a pause at the back of your stroke, you have to have patience, practice it and give it time before you can expect to see the results as to whether it’s working for you to making it a permanent part of your stroke.
 
tomatoshooter said:
I've been tinkering with my pre shot routine but there's a problem. The act of thinking about doing something different, in this case, a pause at the back of my stroke, compromises the flow. Trying to incorporate an improvement means I will shoot worse, making it impossible to judge if the improvement is working. It seems to work well when I do it subconsciously, but I usually either forget the pause or consciously pause, making it had to be sure.
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As I was learning SPF I got worse and got better. You will judge results after weeks/months ...stay with it.... Stay consistent & confident.
 
tomatoshooter said:
I've been tinkering with my pre shot routine but there's a problem. The act of thinking about doing something different, in this case, a pause at the back of my stroke, compromises the flow. Trying to incorporate an improvement means I will shoot worse, making it impossible to judge if the improvement is working. It seems to work well when I do it subconsciously, but I usually either forget the pause or consciously pause, making it had to be sure.
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Nice to see you tomato! There were 2 pitchers in little league that had exaggerated leg rises/pauses on their windups. If you are going with the pause everybody has their own pace. A lot of people like the pause, a lot of people like fluidity. Good luck on your cultivation!
 
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For me the pause needs a purpose. Just adding a pause didn't do it. However taking the time to dial in the precision before giving the ring finger the shoot at will works best for me. Sometimes the pause is a little longer when absolute precision is required.
 
tomatoshooter said:
I've been tinkering with my pre shot routine but there's a problem. The act of thinking about doing something different, in this case, a pause at the back of my stroke, compromises the flow. Trying to incorporate an improvement means I will shoot worse, making it impossible to judge if the improvement is working. It seems to work well when I do it subconsciously, but I usually either forget the pause or consciously pause, making it had to be sure.
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Convention is probably real big at the Hard Times level so that. Me, I stopped caring a long time ago and just played with the mechanics - working on issues and less on un verifiable outcomes. My current dead stroke delivery is closer to bowling than pool. :D It's not comfortable at this stage so I easily revert to look and shoot. FWIW, it's all about alignment and doesn't miss. There are compromises but like I said, I stopped caring. :D
 
The pause is something misunderstood too easily. But it is necessary since it is the transition from a backwards motion to a forward motion. If you didn’t stop your swing to change direction, and smoothly so it can remain straight, your cue
would never move forward to strike the cue ball. So obviously it must happen and the challenge is controlling it so that
your stroke remains smooth and straight at the velocity you intended. In order to develop that albeit very momentary
pause in your backswing, you have to control just how far your bring you cue backwards. Think of it as the end of the
pendulum swinging motion of ball bearing balls on a string. You’ve seen the 5-6 hanging ball bearings where you pull
one side out and release it. It strikes the pack of ball bearings and you watch each side swing loose. Just watch the
way the hanging balls swing out and for a fraction of a second hang in mid air before changing direction. That’s the
pause you need in your pool stroke and based upon how hard your are stroking the cue ball influences the pause. It happens in a backswing of a golf club or a tennis racket stroke. The pause is learned and it is the transition of movement or more precisely, its direction. In pool it is from a backward swing movement to a forward movement which is natural and easy.
 
Very common to have to go through a period of poorer performance when trying to make a change like this. Comes up commonly in golf, going through a swing change can be rough and I think of this as being very similar, though ultimately probably easier/faster to incorporate than a golf swing change.

When I'm working on something like this I try to minimize the impacts a little by focusing hard on it during practice but trying to let things flow naturally during a match that counts for something. I do believe this slows the process slightly as compared to focusing on it regardless of the circumstances, but it does help minimize the effects on performance for matches that count. Over time you'll find yourself doing it more and more naturally during those matches even when you're not thinking about it, and ultimately that is the end goal.
 
tim913 said:
I had to change my eye patterns. I’m a CP player so I would acquire my target at Set and go through the rest of my stroke with no pause. If I just added the pause it through off my timing and I shot worse. Then I started acquiring my target after set which took a second thus creating the Pause without thinking of pausing if that makes sense.
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Well this is the key for me as well. I’ll refine this process for you a bit by stating:
Your PSR involves sighting the shot while standing to get your first decision on the OB contact point. When you get down on the shot your eyes make a more decisive mark on the OB contact point. As you draw your cue back just prior to your final delivery stroke — that is where your pause is heightened as you then lock final focus on your very specific OB contact point - after you pause and lock your eyes - you smoothly deliver the cue forward.

Most do this process most effectively by bring the cue back at least 6 inches before the forward stroke - a few pros do not bring the cue back that far - some only one or two inches - Lee Van, Allen Hopkins from yesteryear, sometimes Pagulayan.

Do what works for you and use a video during practice to truly understand what you are actually doing.
 
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Good thread. I'd guess we have all fought through this issue at some point.
Among the two or three dozen B and A players I've shot with throughout my pool life, there have been perhaps five who have a defined pause at the end of the take back stroke, including myself. That is to say, it is not mandatory -in my opinion. I have heard JJ recommend a pause at the CB rather than at the back. For me, the pause is a break at the direction change that I don't think of as a pause at all. It is my reset. Everything that transpired before that moment was prep. The actual stroke starts now. It works for me. Everyone is different however so ymmv.
 
mikemosconi said:
Well this is the key for me as well. I’ll refine this process for you a bit by stating:
Your PSR involves sighting the shot while standing to get your first decision on the OB contact point. When you get down on the shot your eyes make a more decisive mark on the OB contact point. As you draw your cue back just prior to your final delivery stroke — that is where your pause is heightened as you then lock final focus on your very specific OB contact point - after you pause and lock your eyes - you smoothly deliver the cue forward.

Most do this process most effectively by bring the cue back at least 6 inches before the forward stroke - a few pros do not bring the cue back that far - some only one or two inches - Lee Van, Allen Hopkins from yesteryear, sometimes Pagulayan.

Do what works for you and use a video during practice to truly understand what you are actually doing.
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I know what I’m doing but enjoy your video if it helps you
 
tim913 said:
I know what I’m doing but enjoy your video if it helps you
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Yes, for me, I am the type that needs to see my mechanics in order to improve / refine them in the fastest and best ways possible - just telling myself to do something a certain way - especially when I am looking to get it as correct as possible is not as effective for me. I think that most if not all of the great young players that are emerging today had video training as part of their practice routines.
 
Bavafongoul said:
The pause is something misunderstood too easily. ...
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In my view the major misunderstanding is that people confuse a reversal of direction with a pause.

When a pendulum swings, it does not pause at the maximum rise on each side. The speed is clearly zero at the extremes, but it has zero duration.

A pause has to have zero movement for more than "an instant" (zero duration). Some top players have a pause and some top players do not have a pause. I think the mechanics of the two techniques are very different.
 
A pause is a powerful tool that allows the conscious mind to relinquish control over the final stroke. Most don't think of it that way, so maybe I'm just making things up. I don't know for sure. However when you no longer have that cueing reference in your field of view and you're simply trusting that the tip will land the way the practice strokes lead you to believe it would. That's giving up control. At that point your subconscious mind is pushing the cue forward and making the adjustments as needed.

I'd wager a pause in back stroke isn't as powerful for those with short experience. However, stick with it. Anything that tampers with your mechanics and their timing, will through you off for a short while.
 
2 step process. Everything revolves around your stance.

-Do anything you want before you get down.

-When you are down then that’s the final process.

Any adjustment get back up and do it over again. Don’t make the habit of getting up and down continuously a routine and keep in mind your opponent is staring at you and waiting for you to shoot.
 
A backstroke pause is only useful if it keeps you from engaging your shoulder into the forward stroke.

Edit: plus eye persistence
 
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mikemosconi said:
Yes, for me, I am the type that needs to see my mechanics in order to improve / refine them in the fastest and best ways possible - just telling myself to do something a certain way - especially when I am looking to get it as correct as possible is not as effective for me. I think that most if not all of the great young players that are emerging today had video training as part of their practice routines.
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Video will help almost anybody. I tell a story from another sport because it is something I had an exact count on. I was at a large invitational, 120 of the best in the world, or at least 100+. Benchrest was shot free recoil, meaning that the rifle was allowed to float on the bags and you caught it with your shoulder after the bullet left the barrel.

Forty-eight shooters, at least forty-five would say they shot free recoil. By actual count three were shooting free recoil!

I have seen people watch video of themselves many times and say they wouldn't believe it if they hadn't seen it with their own eyes. What we think we do and what we do often aren't the same.


Bob Jewett said:
In my view the major misunderstanding is that people confuse a reversal of direction with a pause.

When a pendulum swings, it does not pause at the maximum rise on each side. The speed is clearly zero at the extremes, but it has zero duration.

A pause has to have zero movement for more than "an instant" (zero duration). Some top players have a pause and some top players do not have a pause. I think the mechanics of the two techniques are very different.
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Bob, one of the clearer explanations of a pendulum motion I have seen. Aside from that, humans aren't constrained to a perfect pendulum so it is quite possible to use a curve to reverse directions. Reminds me, a country boy that couldn't execute a bootleg turn wasn't considered knowing how to drive when I was learning! Much the same motion on a larger scale.

I fall in the camp of those that consider a pause worthless and an extended pause harmful unless other things are taking place during that pause, if only in our minds. I dislike the several second extended pauses I sometimes see because it seems that this separates the practice strokes from the final stroke and renders the practice strokes largely meaningless.

Hu
 
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