Refining pre shot routine

[tomatoshooter]

a country boy that couldn't execute a bootleg turn wasn't considered knowing how to drive when I was learning

So you're saying I should cross train by running 'shine?

As far as my pool playing, I think the pause in the top of the backstroke helps the quiet eye and smooths the transition, I take a long 2-3 second pause with the tip close to the cue ball and shift my eyes to the object ball as my backstroke begins. The pause at the top of the stroke is very brief maybe a second. When it works well, my stop shots are much more consistently perfect. And when I need to blast the cue ball to stun sideways on near straight shots, I'm getting less unintentional spin.

 

[straightline]

I think the biggest thing the pause accomplishes is it settles the stick. IMO it should be as inert as possible as you apply stroke.

 

[Willowbrook Wolfy]

No pause here. Pause makes me shoot worse. A pause disengages your muscles. Is it easier to curl weight with a consistent movement or with the bar hanging? Thats probably why you need to practice a while when switching to a pause. You have to train your muscles. They are doing more work in different spots. And more work in total too. No idea what I look at when I shoot either. Gotta keep your eye on the ball though

 

[ShootingArts]

So you're saying I should cross train by running 'shine?

As far as my pool playing, I think the pause in the top of the backstroke helps the quiet eye and smooths the transition, I take a long 2-3 second pause with the tip close to the cue ball and shift my eyes to the object ball as my backstroke begins. The pause at the top of the stroke is very brief maybe a second. When it works well, my stop shots are much more consistently perfect. And when I need to blast the cue ball to stun sideways on near straight shots, I'm getting less unintentional spin.

Running a little shine will definitely help your driving skills. There is the occasional oops. I had about twenty feet of barbed wire hanging off of my dad's big Mercury when I brought it home after a weekend trip. A dirt road was inches deep in powdery dust in a curve. I learned it doesn't matter what you do, get in that damned powder and you went straight. Had to turn well before the curve. With the car cocked sideways you could make that big block Ford howl until the back tires found some bite. Dad didn't know how fortunate he was I brought the Merc back. Taking a look at what went wrong when I was on the flip-flop I saw my tire marks over a root of a big pecan tree. I couldn't have missed the trunk by a full inch. Fortunately dad had bought the Mercury to resell and he made a profit even with a foot of barbed wire tucked in the front bumper! All was peaceful in the household.

Back to pool, the pause at the beginning of the forward stroke can't be as smooth as a curve and no stop mechanically speaking. It can benefit the quiet eye and transfer of focus however. I'll stick with no pause at the back of the stroke. What is great is that it all works so there is no right or wrong here.

Hu