Not arguing, but I like Buddy Hall's pause.
Refining pre shot routine
- Thread starter tomatoshooter
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I don't recall a pause but there just isn't much not to like about Buddy's stroke. Buddy was a local god when I was playing a lot. I didn't know who Buddy was the first time I saw him but we had a pretty tough group of shortstops in South Louisiana. When I saw them sitting around Buddy's feet like puppies hoping for scraps I knew it was time to tread lightly.
I have noticed an extended pause in my stroke once in awhile when I am shooting a shot that needs a lot of touch. I don't know if it helps or hurts and it is rare enough to not be a concern.
Hu
Some people just cannot lock their final focus on the OB while the cue is still moving- I am one of those people. I am a much better player when I incorporate a noticeable pause before my final stroke to the CB- it is my only way of truly locking in on the OB contact point and that lock also keeps me from jumping off the shot as well.
Everyone has a different attention order, some are more natural, some discover that they need something extra to maximize final focus- I would agree that a noticeable pause prior to final stroke should have a purpose, a reason, I am very glad that I discovered why I need to do it.
Buddy's pause is legendary. Look at one of his old U Tube videos.
Just caught a little of Dr Cue Tom Rossman at current event at the Westgate in Vegas. His wing shots exhibition astounded me. He said he does them until he hits 10 in a row, then he did it!
He said Rhytm is the key. I looked up the definition to be sure I understand.
Here's Luca taking slightly longer at the back at the 5:10 mark. His rhythm is quite similar to Ronnie and the pause at the back is variable for both.
He said Rhytm is the key. I looked up the definition to be sure I understand.
So regardless of when where or if I pause it is My personal rhythm. Ronnie O'Sullivan displays a rhythm that got him the name The Rocket. He does however take just a little longer at the back on occasion. The times I have noticed his change in rhythm were game balls that his pause at the back was ever so slightly longer.Dictionary said:
Some people put the final focus on the cueball. Stephen Hendry and Ronnie O'Sullivan do it.
When I focused object ball last, the pause at the back was when I made the final shift of focus from cueball to object ball. Now that I take my final focus back to the exit wound on the white, the process follows a similar patern. When the cue is moving forward my eyes are on the white. Got that after bumping the cueball accident ally a few times(in the beginning).
So on the final draw back I am confirming that the tip is taking the prescribed line through the cueball to launch it to the contact point that has been locked in on the object ball. At the back my eyes shift to the white and exactly where I want to strike it. Then my final focus is where the cue tip would exit the back of the white if it was immovable. That accounts for my pause at the back. Sometimes the confirmation takes a little longer. When it takes too long, it's time to stand up and sort out the solution then start over.
I took a look at Buddy introducing his clock system. A handful of shots with video from the side. Far easier to see his stroke than watching many matches where they tend to cut away at the last moment. When his grip hand can't be seen I just moved my attention to the joint. The majority of the time he has a pronounced pause. Sometimes, particularly noticeable at the end of the video, he doesn't use the protracted pause if any pause at all. Instead he has little or no pause but a several inch creep as his cue starts forward. The creep interests me as it is something I try to put in my stroke in practice sessions to avoid the jerky start which wants to get in my stroke sometimes. I wonder why Buddy uses it sometimes?
Sometimes purely as a practice thing I one stroke but instead of the usual firm one stroke I start my stroke very slowly and gently increase speed.
This video does demonstrate that Buddy often uses a pause, more often than not judging by this short video. It is also a bite sized introduction to his clock system running under seven minutes I believe.
Hu
Yes, of course, if this works for you then it is the correct methodology to follow. I just can’t trust the CB hitting the OB where I want by watching CB last —- that’s why I was saying earlier we all have different internal wiring - no one method can apply successfully to all.Some people put the final focus on the cueball. Stephen Hendry and Ronnie O'Sullivan do it.
When I focused object ball last, the pause at the back was when I made the final shift of focus from cueball to object ball. Now that I take my final focus back to the exit wound on the white, the process follows a similar patern. When the cue is moving forward my eyes are on the white. Got that after bumping the cueball accident ally a few times(in the beginning).
So on the final draw back I am confirming that the tip is taking the prescribed line through the cueball to launch it to the contact point that has been locked in on the object ball. At the back my eyes shift to the white and exactly where I want to strike it. Then my final focus is where the cue tip would exit the back of the white if it was immovable. That accounts for my pause at the back. Sometimes the confirmation takes a little longer. When it takes too long, it's time to stand up and sort out the solution then start over.
I shoot my AR15 223R free recoil, but when I shoot my 308W it beats my shoulder up too much.
I would not expect anyone to shoot 338 Lapua (or larger) free recoil.
A lot of benchrest shooters are shooting 6-7mm bullets in 20-odd calibers. And I expect free-recoil is doable there.
Your PSR must:
Feel natural -- don't incorporate anything that feels weird.
And be fluid -- think Fred Astaire. It should be like a dance move that looks totally natural, regardless of the fact that it took hours of practice to look that way. Once you've got it down you should not have to think about it... much.
Lou Figueroa
somethings
it migrates
Feel natural -- don't incorporate anything that feels weird.
And be fluid -- think Fred Astaire. It should be like a dance move that looks totally natural, regardless of the fact that it took hours of practice to look that way. Once you've got it down you should not have to think about it... much.
Lou Figueroa
somethings
it migrates
I didn't try to clarify for the readers here but I was talking short range benchrest, 300 yards or less. I did a little checking not too long ago and see there are some new cartridges making headway but back then it was 6ppc or variations that were very similar when shooting for group.
My very first benchrest match I shot a VSSF Remington 700 in 308. Shot it free recoil for two days. Over 160 shooters there, I didn't check but not counting DNF's I am pretty sure I finished dead assed last!
Next event I was shooting 6PPC using a Hall actioned BB gun as I called the true BR guns. Reminded me of my Benjamin Pump from the days of my misspent youth. I did shoot an AR free recoil for testing. With that custom AR with a Lilja three groove barrel it shot five groups for something very close to a quarter inch aggregate. Might have made it, I didn't do the math. The rifle was for my brother who was a plinker and live varmint shooter so one hole groups were good enough.
Hu
When I am thinking about it I ain't playing my best. By the numbers is the way to learn the dance but a stellar performance requires feel and uh rhythm. Get in the flow is the way to go.
When I am thinking about it I ain't playing my best. By the numbers is the way to learn the dance but a stellar performance requires feel and uh rhythm. Get in the flow is the way to go.
Awhile back I had two people quit me in midset a few weeks apart when I started stalking around the table. Something about getting down and having a couple of practice strokes before the cue ball gets there seems to unnerve them a bit too.
I think I might say, "getting in the flow is the way to go." You might want to copyright that!
Hu
someusername
Well-known member
This post alone convinced me i don't know enough to post on this topic.
I was going to suggest this to the OP, but would also add that "one stroke" can be perceived as setting up with a gap to the cue ball, then one forward stroke, *or* setting up with cue tip close to the cue ball, then back and forth as "one stroke", *or* even a two-step of that, 1-back--pause--1 forward (I know, the latter two literally seem to be two strokes, but I think this falls between semantics and reality--although maybe it's both!).
By your description of increasing speed, I assume you do the first, single direction, "one stroke"?
One if my favorite lessons came through Gabby Mike Danner. A good man an surely resting in peace. The game was Scotch Doubles 9 ball after hours at Rustead 's place in Fife. Small bet maybe 5 or 10 each. I was the weakest player. Mike would make the shot then just walk to where he wanted to be and set up for the next shot. Taking that part of the load made it simple for me. We Won!!!
I used to be a popular scotch doubles partner for the girls. I always played shape for them to have easy shots even if it meant me shooting very tough shots. I understood a girl needed to enjoy the pool or next week we would be going to a chick flick or miniature golf.
Hu
Oh MAN! You trigger another story.
Maybe I have a hair trigger. A mixed Scotch Doubles event back in the day. Must have been Issaquah. Mixed with draw for partners 8 ball. The ladies side of the draw was one short of a happy tournament, so the house donated The Cook. I had the good fortune of drawing the Cook and we won. She had no experience but capable of following a recipe.
The field included a few of the Ladies Players from the East Side. They seemed uh? The wet hen analogous works.
Oh MAN! You trigger another story.
A mixed Scotch Doubles event back in the day. Must have been Issaquah. Mixed with draw for partners 8 ball. The ladies side of the draw was one short of a happy tournament, so the house donated The Cook. I had the good fortune of drawing the Cook and we won. She had no experience but capable of following a recipe.
Well as long as we are getting triggered: A friend found himself playing scotch doubles with a little fella from the Philippines as partner. Before shooting Joe would ask Efren where he wanted the cue ball. "It doesn't matter." Turned out to be Efren's stock answer to that question, he always said shape didn't matter. It didn't either, they won handily. Must be nice having perhaps the GOAT for a partner!
Hu