Set, Pause, Finish, Freeze
- Thread starter cuekev
- Start date
I have heard of the Set, Pause, Finish and Freeze method. Could someone please explain the steps in some detail and who is the originator of this system?
SPF is the actual stroking motion denoting where your body/cue should be for each of its three locations. Instead of teaching the stroke in motion, I elect to teach the stroke in its non-motion (static) positions. This procedure allows my students a faster learning curve.
I share a belief with some very successful Billiard, Golf, Martial Arts or Dance Instructors on how they teach their trade.
The Meaning of SPF
SET: After all of the "warm up" strokes (I recommend 2-3), you bring your cue to its final rest at the cue ball for three purposes.
1. Am I ready?
2.Is that where I want to strike the cue ball?
3. Am I on target?
At this point, the only things moving are your eyes, not your cue. When all your answers are yes, you begin your final smooth (slow) backstroke.
Once your cue has reached it's proper backwards goal it must stop. The cue must Stop moving backwards before it can start the forward movement. This slight hesitation is termed a Pause. It is one of the major "Law of Physics”. All Players must pause; some just PAUSE longer than others.
Complete the forward motion of your cue to your Natural finish position (in doing so you naturally accelerate through the cue ball). This position is 4 to 6 inches past the cue ball location. This is the Finish position!
FREEZE and look at your tip for (direction and attitude) then check your grip hand to make sure it went home.
It originated from Cue tech, Check with RandyG
Hope this helps!
I share a belief with some very successful Billiard, Golf, Martial Arts or Dance Instructors on how they teach their trade.
The Meaning of SPF
SET: After all of the "warm up" strokes (I recommend 2-3), you bring your cue to its final rest at the cue ball for three purposes.
1. Am I ready?
2.Is that where I want to strike the cue ball?
3. Am I on target?
At this point, the only things moving are your eyes, not your cue. When all your answers are yes, you begin your final smooth (slow) backstroke.
Once your cue has reached it's proper backwards goal it must stop. The cue must Stop moving backwards before it can start the forward movement. This slight hesitation is termed a Pause. It is one of the major "Law of Physics”. All Players must pause; some just PAUSE longer than others.
Complete the forward motion of your cue to your Natural finish position (in doing so you naturally accelerate through the cue ball). This position is 4 to 6 inches past the cue ball location. This is the Finish position!
FREEZE and look at your tip for (direction and attitude) then check your grip hand to make sure it went home.
It originated from Cue tech, Check with RandyG
Hope this helps!
Thank you Denny! I appreciate the detail and the quick response.
I have used the pause at the cue ball and then at the end of the backstroke before. Now I am going to work on incorporating it all into my game.
At what point to you switch your focus from cue ball to object ball?
I hope this will help my league play.
I have used the pause at the cue ball and then at the end of the backstroke before. Now I am going to work on incorporating it all into my game.
At what point to you switch your focus from cue ball to object ball?
I hope this will help my league play.
I support DennyS's reply 100%. That's the same method we (Billiard Sanctuary Academy of the Cueing Arts, BSACA) teach our students.
As your stroke moves into the backward motion, your eyes should move to the contact point on the OB. When the stroke is in forward motion, your eyes should focus back on the contact point on the CB for your tip. Some players on their final stroke will keep their eyes on the contact point on the OB, others keep it on the CB. It really depends on the condition of your eyes and how quick you can focus near and far.
Zim
As your stroke moves into the backward motion, your eyes should move to the contact point on the OB. When the stroke is in forward motion, your eyes should focus back on the contact point on the CB for your tip. Some players on their final stroke will keep their eyes on the contact point on the OB, others keep it on the CB. It really depends on the condition of your eyes and how quick you can focus near and far.
Zim
I'm pretty sure Denny will answer the same...
Your tip should be pointing downward toward the cloth or touching the cloth.
Your grip hand should come to stop by contacting your chest, almost like a punch to the chest. By this action, you should reach your full finish (follow thru).
Zim
Your tip should be pointing downward toward the cloth or touching the cloth.
Your grip hand should come to stop by contacting your chest, almost like a punch to the chest. By this action, you should reach your full finish (follow thru).
Zim
Zim,
I tried SPFF last night while practicing on the table in my garage. I have tried the pauses in the past. What I added this time was an extra warm up stroke. I used three every time. I think of it as purifying the stroke. I notice there is a certain amount of wobble in the first stroke and less with each additional one. I am also experimenting with not dropping my elbow. It seems to help but practice and game time are two different animals.
I had to quit after about a 1/2 an hour it was only 22 degrees in the garage I live in Michigan.
Thanks again,
Kevin
I tried SPFF last night while practicing on the table in my garage. I have tried the pauses in the past. What I added this time was an extra warm up stroke. I used three every time. I think of it as purifying the stroke. I notice there is a certain amount of wobble in the first stroke and less with each additional one. I am also experimenting with not dropping my elbow. It seems to help but practice and game time are two different animals.
I had to quit after about a 1/2 an hour it was only 22 degrees in the garage I live in Michigan.
Thanks again,
Kevin