Shorter stroke?

mnorwood

mnorwood

Moon
Silver Member
Last week I posted a thread about pauses that I have in my stroke.

In addition to experimenting with pauses I have been using a shorter back stroke. I have found increased accuracy when I back stroke 3 inches from the cue ball before pausing one last time and then stroking.

Does anyone else do this?
 
ive experimented alot with my stroke. There for awhile i used the shorter back stroke and yes it seemed to increase the accuracy but at the sacrifice of action on the cueball. You might want to try the longer back stroke, but make it very slow with a definite pause then a good follow thru, the set pause finish freeze format.
 
well,,,,three inches is REALLY short :). however, you will find players have much shorter backstrokes than you think. ginky and mika's are about 5-6 ". orttman's is VERY short even though his stroke still looks very smooth,,,,,,it's very deceptive and all about how they go through the cb. shorter stroke means you will address the cb more accurately.

you do what works best.
 
Watch some of the pro’s when they stroke. Most start with a long stroke and get shorter until they are ready to hit. They might take an 8” stroke and when they are set to hit take a coupe ½” strokes and then hit the ball with the first 8” practice stroke. I take about 5 practice strokes start with a normal stroke (normal being hit straight in pocket with ball in hand stroke). If I need more power I make a longer stroke, until it feels like the stroke I need, shorter stroke less power. Once I have the stroke, I make a couple probably less than an inch to confirm cue ball contact.
 
A shorter stroke also seems to make me more accurate. As I try to overpower a shot I will usually miss. I think you see the pros use a shorter because they are playing on fast cloth. That is why KT wants to use a full nap slower cloth in his tour. He feels it will require a better stroke and more talent.
 
shorter stroke

Some people amaze me with the shorter stroke. I tried it for a long time and just coudn't seem to get used to it.
Take a look and some old tapes of Allen Hoopkins. His stroke is very compact and in his day, about as effective as any has ever been.
Then take a look at Buddy Hall's. They are as different as night and day. I would however trade mine, for either.
I don't feel like the slower nap cloth is going to make that much difference in the IPT. It is just a matter af adjusting and getting used to it. Once most get used to it, it is much easier to play the cue ball closer to the object ball because it is easier to control and you can trust it's consistency much more than say Simonis.
 
I prefer a longer stroke for three reasons; 1. shoot straighter 2. more action on CB when needed with less effort 3. tend to shot through the shot much better.

I know few preach the shorter one but looking at the players that play the best seem to have the longer ones. I taught my 9 yr old to use a longer one and it has paid off for him.

Also, when 14.1 was the dominant game, I think the shorter stroke worked well because most shots are short distances including position play. So a short stroke would have less impact on flaws.
 
Shorter backswing ONLY for specific shots...

I agree with Pete. We teach what is "natural" for each player. Most people are comfortable with a certain length bridge distance, and a general length backswing and followthrough. Timing is a more critical element, in determing effective CB accuracy and action. Usiing a short backswing, on a normal distance shot (3-4' between the two balls), will often result in a tighter grip pressure, and "muscling" the stroke. The most efficient and accurate stroke uses the weight of the cue and timing to create the speed of the shot, and thereby the desired position afterwards. We do teach a very short backswing (coupled with a very short bridge distance), when the CB & OB are close together, or you only want the CB to travel a very short distance, after striking the OB. This works much better to 'slow roll' the CB, than a poke, or 'dink'.

Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com
 
Well I don't think the stroke has much to do with potting accuracy at all. If the bridge hand is on the right line, then you can pretty much do whatever you want.

A couple of points worth considering:

1. Shorter bridge length may make it easier for some to align their bridge correctly.

2. A shorter stroke length can make positional play with the CB more difficult.

There is a great video of Cliff Thorburn making a 147 in snooker, the first ever in the World Championships ('83 I think) and he has an extremely short stroke and bridge had. From 1 to 2" cue draw back on most shots. This is not typical though in snooker, but he adapted to it at that time.
 
I've found I shoot more accuratelly with a longer stroke. When I use shorter strokes, I feel like I'm jabbing at the cue ball.
 
Colin Colenso said:
Well I don't think the stroke has much to do with potting accuracy at all. If the bridge hand is on the right line, then you can pretty much do whatever you want.

A couple of points worth considering:

1. Shorter bridge length may make it easier for some to align their bridge correctly.

2. A shorter stroke length can make positional play with the CB more difficult.

There is a great video of Cliff Thorburn making a 147 in snooker, the first ever in the World Championships ('83 I think) and he has an extremely short stroke and bridge had. From 1 to 2" cue draw back on most shots. This is not typical though in snooker, but he adapted to it at that time.
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COLIN: Actually we find quite the opposite in Pool School. Most players can get their bridge hand correct, they can't deliver their cue on a straight line. It takes both, Alignment and Stroke, to pot a ball. One with out the other is frustrating.....SPF-randyg
 
I can honestly say I never pay attention as to what kind of stroke I use. I try to put more follow through on a draw stroke, but other than that...I just grab the cue and stroke it how it feels comfortable to me.

I guess I play by feel more than I thought LOL

Shorty
 
randyg said:
COLIN: Actually we find quite the opposite in Pool School. Most players can get their bridge hand correct, they can't deliver their cue on a straight line. It takes both, Alignment and Stroke, to pot a ball. One with out the other is frustrating.....SPF-randyg
Click to expand...

How do you know when a student's bridge hand is placed correctly?

And if they have a bridge length near to the pivot point, as most players do, the effect of hitting to the side a little, one way or the other, the new line of cue is compensated for by the squirt and hence minimizes net error.

So I think the question I posed above is extremely relevant.
 
mnorwood said:
Last week I posted a thread about pauses that I have in my stroke.

In addition to experimenting with pauses I have been using a shorter back stroke. I have found increased accuracy when I back stroke 3 inches from the cue ball before pausing one last time and then stroking.

Does anyone else do this?
Click to expand...

The only time I go really short is when I've got a full length "lotta green" shot ... where precision is at its utmost. WOrks for me ...

JS
 
My knowledge doesnt compare with that of those on the forum but when I took lessons from a local pro he tried to get my birdge hand 4-5 inches away from the cue ball with a very definitive pause on my final stroke. I was very used to the bridge I was using which maybe long to some but I was comfortable with it. I didnt stay with 4-5 inches but I did shorten it up a bit. I find myself pausing here and there and when I notice it and think about it, I miss horribly but if I allow it to happen everything is so much better. Just my own personal experience with a shorter bridge. I feel that everyone can find a happy medium between 4-5 inches and 12-14 inches. (12-14 inch bridges make me laugh. so ugly, but I usually quit laughing when people make balls with a bridge like that.) FWIW, JMO.

Chris
 
Sweet Marissa said:
I've found I shoot more accuratelly with a longer stroke. When I use shorter strokes, I feel like I'm jabbing at the cue ball.
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I have found that too. Sometimes when I'm feeling a little tentative about my stroke, I will lenghten it to ensure that I"m stroking through the ball and following through. Sometimes a shorter stroke makes me feel (as you said) like I'm jabbing at the cb.
 
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