shooting arm distance from body?

I have been struggling pocketing balls lately. I have been bouncing all over the place looking for answers. I FEEL like I am putting unintentional english on the CB because of a little 'swerve' around the time of impact where the tip of the cue veers a bit to the right. I have been allowing my right arm (stroke arm, Im right handed) to creep closer and closer into my body because I FELT like this was helping to straighten out my stroke.

Today during practice however, I moved my arm out considerably from my body. It felt a bit awakward but I pocketed every ball I looked at for 15 mins, and whitey was doing more of what I expect him to do. Of course, the new wore off, and I was unable to find this position again.

I am trying to get a live instructor to review my stroke, but I have a team tournament this weekend and I doubt I can get anything lined up before then. I don't really have access to video either. I am wondering if there are any drills I can do or anything I can read on this topic to try to work on it on my own. Something analogous to hitting golf balls with a towel under your arm or something.

Thanks in advance!
 
azbluemach1...First of all, you do not want to change ANYTHING in your stroke, just prior to going into a big tournament. Correcting stroke errors takes time, and has to be done away from competition. Part of your problem seems to be that you don't know what's right for you, or not. Consequently you keep trying to "fix" different things, hoping it will result in a better stroke. It won't! If you want to find out what you're doing that's good, and not so good, you need to find a live qualified instructor, who can SHOW you (with video analysis), and then teach you how to create your perfect stroke, as well as give you the diagnostic tools that will allow you to self-correct errors you make, even after you have developed your perfect swing process. I have given you Jerry Briesath's cell #, and he is currently in Phoenix. It's up to you to search him out.

Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com

I have been struggling pocketing balls lately. I have been bouncing all over the place looking for answers. I FEEL like I am putting unintentional english on the CB because of a little 'swerve' around the time of impact where the tip of the cue veers a bit to the right. I have been allowing my right arm (stroke arm, Im right handed) to creep closer and closer into my body because I FELT like this was helping to straighten out my stroke.

Today during practice however, I moved my arm out considerably from my body. It felt a bit awakward but I pocketed every ball I looked at for 15 mins, and whitey was doing more of what I expect him to do. Of course, the new wore off, and I was unable to find this position again.

I am trying to get a live instructor to review my stroke, but I have a team tournament this weekend and I doubt I can get anything lined up before then. I don't really have access to video either. I am wondering if there are any drills I can do or anything I can read on this topic to try to work on it on my own. Something analogous to hitting golf balls with a towel under your arm or something.

Thanks in advance!
 
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I have been struggling pocketing balls lately. I have been bouncing all over the place looking for answers. I FEEL like I am putting unintentional english on the CB because of a little 'swerve' around the time of impact where the tip of the cue veers a bit to the right. I have been allowing my right arm (stroke arm, Im right handed) to creep closer and closer into my body because I FELT like this was helping to straighten out my stroke.

Today during practice however, I moved my arm out considerably from my body. It felt a bit awakward but I pocketed every ball I looked at for 15 mins, and whitey was doing more of what I expect him to do. Of course, the new wore off, and I was unable to find this position again.

I am trying to get a live instructor to review my stroke, but I have a team tournament this weekend and I doubt I can get anything lined up before then. I don't really have access to video either. I am wondering if there are any drills I can do or anything I can read on this topic to try to work on it on my own. Something analogous to hitting golf balls with a towel under your arm or something.

Thanks in advance!

It sounds like your issue may be a stance issue more than an arm issue. I believe that stance is vitally important in pool. Most people play from the waist-up without realizing that where you place your feet could make or break your game. I would suggest that you spend time working on your stance ---Also be aware that there are instructors out there who don't feel that stance is important to your game. Don't believe them for a minute! Watch out for people who tell you "if it feels comfortable, it's right for you." When you make positive changes to your game, you will always feel some level of discomfort as you get used to something new.

Place your feet correctly and you will start to feel your arm falling right into place naturally.
 
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Stance is very important. That said, there is no one correct stance for everyone. The correct stance for the OP is one that is comfortable, balanced, a tripod, with free movement of the cue along their range of motion. Some instructors will try to "make" you fit into their idea of what a stance should be. Don't believe them either! :D

Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com

Also be aware that there are instructors out there who don't feel that stance is important to your game. Don't believe them for a minute! Watch out for people who tell you "if it feels comfortable, it's right for you." When you make positive changes to your game, you will always feel some level of discomfort as you get used to something new.

Place your feet correctly and you will start to feel your arm falling right into place naturally.
 
Stance is very important. That said, there is no one correct stance for everyone. The correct stance for the OP is one that is comfortable, balanced, a tripod, with free movement of the cue along their range of motion. Some instructors will try to "make" you fit into their idea of what a stance should be. Don't believe them either! :D

Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com

Just so you know, Scott, I wasn't referring to you when I mentioned about certain instructors not caring about stance. I think you do care, however, I do take it to a different place than you do. But that's what makes us all individuals in our teaching styles.

I totally agree that there is not one perfect stance for us all to follow. Each of us has our own perfect stance. We are all of different heights, weights and dominant eyes ( Oops! Did I say dominant eyes? LOL By George, I did.).
 
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Ive been trying to stay out of the dominant eye perfect aim rabbit hole, but I might just have to go down it. When I quit playing 5 years ago, I knew I had perception issues, and I resolved them for myself by looking at cuts through different eyes - i.e. if I was cutting the ball to the right I would look through my left eye and vice versa.

I haven't quite been able to get back there this time around, and I seem to have the most success by looking at shots with my left eye. Im right eye dominant/right handed though, and everything looks weird when I look through my left. The shots go for the most part but I am super uncomfortable seeing the balls like that and it takes intense concentration to even pocket a ball, so I give up alot on stroke/positioning when I shoot like that. Otherwise, I simply play as well or poorly as I am seeing the balls. Example in practice last night, I rattled off a 5 pack in 9ball, and an hour later I couldn't pocket a ball. Super frustrating.

Anyway, I think my issue is I see the balls differently every time I play, and I end up trying to force my body into a position that works that day and stroke issues pop up.

I have been using grey ghost's pre-shot routine to try to get into a really consistent, repeatable position at the table, but I still havent figured out how to get my eyes into the SAME position every time. I don't typically play all the way down with my chin on the cue, so it is harder to find a point of reference to square off too.

I will try to get in and see Jerry next week (Schedule just doesn't allow for it this week).
 
...and likewise Fran, I was not referring to you, when I made my comment. Both Randy and I feel that many teachers and players obsess over the "correct" stance, when, imo, in reality it's pretty simple to find a person's right stance for them! When many players start making errors, the first thing they want to mess with is their stance...when, in fact, that is likely not the problem. It's pretty difficult to make any conclusions about someone's process, without SEEING them.

Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com

Just so you know, Scott, I wasn't referring to you when I mentioned about certain instructors not caring about stance. I think you do care, however, I do take it to a different place than you do. But that's what makes us all individuals in our teaching styles.

I totally agree that there is not one perfect stance for us all to follow. Each of us has our own perfect stance. We are all of different heights, weights and dominant eyes ( Oops! Did I say dominant eyes? LOL By George, I did.).
 
...and likewise Fran, I was not referring to you, when I made my comment. Both Randy and I feel that many teachers and players obsess over the "correct" stance, when, imo, in reality it's pretty simple to find a person's right stance for them! When many players start making errors, the first thing they want to mess with is their stance...when, in fact, that is likely not the problem. It's pretty difficult to make any conclusions about someone's process, without SEEING them.

Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com

He did it again........lol :)
:bow-down:

Perhaps just copy and paste your postings Scott :P would be n *easy written* book of quality^^

tc
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