Hello all. Long time reader first time poster. I was told that I don't get down on the ball enough in my stance. On top of that I always seem to pop my head up before completing my stroke. Any suggestions on how to break the habit?
In order of importance:
Welcome aboard.
I don't have a cure. It seems all of us jump up to varying degrees, usually at the most inopportune time. For me, usually it happens when I have not committed to the shot, and am not confident of the shot selection. Or, the shot is very crucial, and I'm feeling nervous.
On a Jimmy Reid tape that I recently viewed, 'No Time for Negative', he advises, visualizing all elements of the shot: aiming, contact point, english, speed, shape, etc while standing-all the decisions having been made, drop down on the shot, take a few confirming practice strokes, slight pause, then shoot.
He advocates-stay down after the shot-and
count: one thousand
one, one thousand
two, one thousand
three before moving. This is to allow you to see and evaluate the accuracy of the stroke in delivering the cb to the aimed part of the ob, the travel of the ob to the pocket, and the travel path of the cb for shape. All this assumes that you can stay down that long without being in the way of moving balls after the shot is made.
Jumping up comes in several forms. Some excellent players seem to have a consistent slow rise on the last stroke, rather than an abrupt pop up. Works for them.
Then there is the exaggerated "jump away" jump up. Where the player seems convinced that the ob will explode like a grenade-so he has to get out of there very quickly. A buddy of mine had this problem. We had some luck with having him close his eyes on the last stroke and listen for the results. Now, he does the 'slow rise'-this might be as good as it gets.
Welcome and Take Care.
