I'm 6'2" and have never gotten low like that. I get as low as comfortable but chinnin' it is not my deal.
Should your Chin be on the Stick, or what's comfortable for you?
- Thread starter LeftyIke
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GoldenDiamond
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I'm a short dude. Comes naturally. :rotflmao:
Hey, at least i don't touch-the-crutch very often.
Joe Davis keep that chin down all through the “Action”.
Chin placement
Do you feel that Stance is variable, depending on what's comfortable to you, while Snooker Coaches seem to say that lining the shot up, and the stance should be the same for every shot? They seem to turn their back foot 45 degrees or so to the line of aim, and seem to have one leg straight. There seems to be more variability in pool stances and chin-placement.
Do you feel that Stance is variable, depending on what's comfortable to you, while Snooker Coaches seem to say that lining the shot up, and the stance should be the same for every shot? They seem to turn their back foot 45 degrees or so to the line of aim, and seem to have one leg straight. There seems to be more variability in pool stances and chin-placement.
CaptainPots
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I think an interesting and valid point has been made here: chin height affects your perception of the shot. The chin height that gives the most effective perception of a shot varies from player to player. E.g. I spent my first solid few years learning pool with a 100% snooker technique. A low-down stance gives me an almost 2D shot perception and it’s what I’m familiar, accurate and comfortable with. On the contrary, if you began by training with your chin high above the cue, you’d be used to a 3D shot perception (with good depth perception).
Making significant changes to your chin height will require regaining familiarity and confidence of shot-making. In my experience, when learning a new chin height, you’ll probably feel skeptical once you’re down in your stance before making even simple shots that used to be very familiar to you.
Maybe learning to have space between your chin and cue serves the purposes of freeing up space and reducing friction, or learning to lower your chin gives you a more accurate shot perception... but definitely can be done but won’t be easy if you’re making significant changes and/or you’re so used to a certain chin height.
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Maybe this is the best way to shoot 
https://www.facebook.com/venomtrickshotsofficial/videos/278144206334564/
https://www.facebook.com/venomtrickshotsofficial/videos/278144206334564/
Maybe this is the best way to shoot
https://www.facebook.com/venomtrickshotsofficial/videos/278144206334564/
It’s pretty good....but some people just can’t use their head.
For various shots that come up, various head positions are required. When the CB and OB are close together, particularly on cut shot, it is necessary to hold your head/eyes in a higher position over the cue, to be able to accurately determine the distance between the CB and OB, which will affect how much you'll need to cut the OB in order to pocket it. Having that 3D visual perspective which you can only get by holding your head up higher is needed, as opposed to a longer shot down the table when you need to get down low on the shot to best visually determine the line to aim the CB towards the OB.
51Breakshot
Registered
I think something hasn't been mentioned is that putting your cue to the chin offers consistently the same viewpoint, as the chin contact is used to "validate" that head position on every shot.
Now whether the position is correct relative to your vision center is another story. Everyone should discover where their chin should be touching the cue to see a straight line correctly. For me it's slightly right of chin center for example. Took a long while to figure it out as it looked unnatural at first, but when in that position I see both balls lined up straight in perfect perspective without paralax errors. But pulling the cue back it obviously goes a little right under my eyes (which is perfectly straight shot line when looking at the mirror). But main thing is that you must see the balls straight sending the correct picture to the brain.
Oh it also helps to keep your mouth closed and jaw locked in neutral position as I've noticed some players open their mouth, seeking that contact with the cue (causing missalingment as you can shift your jaw left/right from shot to shot).
Just my two cents.
Sent on mobile Android via Tapatalk
Now whether the position is correct relative to your vision center is another story. Everyone should discover where their chin should be touching the cue to see a straight line correctly. For me it's slightly right of chin center for example. Took a long while to figure it out as it looked unnatural at first, but when in that position I see both balls lined up straight in perfect perspective without paralax errors. But pulling the cue back it obviously goes a little right under my eyes (which is perfectly straight shot line when looking at the mirror). But main thing is that you must see the balls straight sending the correct picture to the brain.
Oh it also helps to keep your mouth closed and jaw locked in neutral position as I've noticed some players open their mouth, seeking that contact with the cue (causing missalingment as you can shift your jaw left/right from shot to shot).
Just my two cents.
Sent on mobile Android via Tapatalk
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Lot easier when you're his height.
I could play like that. For about 45 seconds. No way Jose.
This reason, along with others, is listed on the advantages of a low stance resource page. I agree that this is an important advantage.
I think vision center alignment is the most important fundamental of pool. For those who want to diagnose or work on this, see the vision center resource page.
I personally like opening my mouth during alignment to feel that the cue is in the right place (I open my mouth straight, the same way each time).
By closing my mouth (without moving my head) before the final stroke, this allows me to have a small clearance between the cue and my chin during the stroke.
Regards,
Dave
Well, at least you could GET there. With me, it's the impossible dream. :thumbup:
Maniac (sounds like a bowl of Rice Crispies when he stretches)
Since the resource page is not very long, here a complete quote:
A low stance, with the chin just over the cue, offers many advantages:
- It makes it easier to be consistent with your visual alignment (for more info, see vision center). With the chin so close to the cue, it is easier to see (or even feel) whether or not you are off to one side or the other.
- Being closer to the cue allows you to sight more along the cue, similar to a marksman looking down the barrel of a gun. This can help you better visualize the line of the shot. Note that with a low stance, it helps to use an open bridge or longer bridge length to allow you to see more of the cue (for more info, see bridge length).
- There is less eye movement between the CB and the OB while checking the tip position and aiming line in the set position.
- It is easier to visualize and create the exact tip position desired, especially in the vertical direction.
If you hit enough balls eventually you will figure it out. Even among players who are down on the cue they don't all have the cue in the same place. Some have chin on cue. Some cue under same eye as handedness. Some opposite eye from handedness. Some open bridge. Some closed bridge. There are various kinds of open and closed bridges. There are various stances.
This website is a great resource for information but the best way to figure this out is by spending time at a table and don't be afraid to experiment a little until you get your game where you want it to be.
This website is a great resource for information but the best way to figure this out is by spending time at a table and don't be afraid to experiment a little until you get your game where you want it to be.
When I started playing on a 9’ I had to relearn some fundamentals because my old techniques were not good enough. The key things I adopted were...
1) Visualizing the shot and aim while standing
2) Getting lower on the cue
3) Eliminate nearly all movement while down
4) Gripping the cue further back
5) Adding a pause to my backstroke
6) Focusing deliberately on a straight delivery
#1 is because I aim while standing, not while down. #2-6 is to not undermine my aim with a bad stroke. One “aha” moment I had was #4. I was taught to grip near the middle of the wrap but that seemed to force me more upright. Now I grip near or on the butt cap for most shots and it helps me get lower. I don’t rest my chin on the cue but I’m now lower much more comfortably.
Respectfully, Matt
(I don’t take myself too seriously. I hope you can return the favor.)
1) Visualizing the shot and aim while standing
2) Getting lower on the cue
3) Eliminate nearly all movement while down
4) Gripping the cue further back
5) Adding a pause to my backstroke
6) Focusing deliberately on a straight delivery
#1 is because I aim while standing, not while down. #2-6 is to not undermine my aim with a bad stroke. One “aha” moment I had was #4. I was taught to grip near the middle of the wrap but that seemed to force me more upright. Now I grip near or on the butt cap for most shots and it helps me get lower. I don’t rest my chin on the cue but I’m now lower much more comfortably.
Respectfully, Matt
(I don’t take myself too seriously. I hope you can return the favor.)
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I see there have been some references made to, 'snooker' players and that many have their chin resting on the cue. I'm pretty certain or hope that most posters in this thread are aware that, 'snooker' tables in general are anywhere from 2" to 5" higher than are standard pool table heights. Thus, causing players, head, chin to be closer to the table when getting ready to sight and play the shot. Just notice when looking at a photo or watching a video of snooker players playing, where the top of the rail cuts across them, even just standing next to the table.
I don't agree. I have worked with students who have had their head in the wrong place after many years of playing; and after getting their head in the right place, their shot making improves.
... and for some people, their personal vision center is somewhere between their nose and one of their eyes (or even outside of both eyes, albeit rare). This is why it is so important to find one's personal vision center position. For many it is with the cue centered under the nose or chin (regardless of which eye might be "dominant" or not), but for others it is somewhere else (regardless of which eye might be "dominant" or not).
Again, finding one's personal vision center is the most important fundamental of pool.
Regards,
Dave
