Stance Question

[Pool Player]

Hi all,

I've read the 99 Critical Shots in Pool by Mr Ray Martin and 'Stance' section, he adviced players from cue-ing too low.

However it seems like everyone been doing that all these years. So whats right for us?

Stephen

 

[SpiderWebComm]

I'd never want to argue with Cool Cat, ever. However, for me personally, I cue very very low. The lower I cue, the closer to the center axis I get.

 

[Neil]

..............

 

[ShootingArts]

styles plus body height and type

Hi all,

I've read the 99 Critical Shots in Pool by Mr Ray Martin and 'Stance' section, he adviced players from cue-ing too low.

However it seems like everyone been doing that all these years. So whats right for us?

Stephen

Styles will change over time. Hard to call any right or wrong. Plus body height and type dictate changes from what may be considered perfect by someone of a different height or body type. The stance for someone close to a foot taller than Ray Martin is going to be considerably different than Mr. Martin's stance.

The only hard rules concerning stance are that it should be stable, as consistent as possible when dealing with the realities of play, and should allow you to stroke freely. Your line of vision should be the same for most shots but it matters little where you have learned for that line of vision to be. There are advantages to the inline very low shooting style and there are advantages to the higher third leg of a triangle shooting style. Since God didn't design us for shooting pool compromises are always required.

Hu

 

[Voodoo Daddy]

When he wrote that book I would think it wa geared for the beginner and worked its way to the advanced...having said that you could understand him advising "young" or "new" players from cueing on the low end of whitey.

Hope that helped...

Voodoo~~~knows Ray since he had no gray hair, LOL

 

[Island Drive]

Hi all,

I've read the 99 Critical Shots in Pool by Mr Ray Martin and 'Stance' section, he adviced players from cue-ing too low.

However it seems like everyone been doing that all these years. So whats right for us?

Stephen

What reason did Ray give for NOT cueing too low? I know nowadays with rotation pool the game, cueing low minimizes cue ball movement and maximizes object ball movement.

 

[Pushout]

I know nowadays with rotation pool the game, cueing low minimizes cue ball movement and maximizes object ball movement.

I learned this a long time ago. New players often confuse hitting the cue ball low with drawing it, however.

 

[woody_968]

What reason did Ray give for NOT cueing too low? I know nowadays with rotation pool the game, cueing low minimizes cue ball movement and maximizes object ball movement.

Im not sure exactly what you mean by this?

I think the term in the original post "cueing low" is causing some confusion. It can be taken as hitting low on the cueball or having your head low (close to the cue) in the stance. I think he meant the latter.

Woody

 

[BRKNRUN]

Im not sure exactly what you mean by this?

I think the term in the original post "cueing low" is causing some confusion. It can be taken as hitting low on the cueball or having your head low (close to the cue) in the stance. I think he meant the latter.

Woody

The confusion starts with the thread title..."Stance Questions" but then based on the wording seems to be referring to tip placement.




However...the responses for both seem to be good responses IMO.

 

[Patrick Johnson]

Pushout:
New players often confuse hitting the cue ball low with drawing it

What do you mean by it?

pj
chgo

 

[woody_968]

What do you mean by it?

pj
chgo

I would assume he means that new players (and many that are not so new) think that hitting the cueball low means it will draw. They do not understand the friction between the cueball and the cloth and how it effects the shot.

At least that would be my guess.

Woody

 

[Pool Player]

Since God didn't design us for shooting pool compromises are always required.

Oh jeez. This line is gonna make my day

I think the term in the original post "cueing low" is causing some confusion. It can be taken as hitting low on the cueball or having your head low (close to the cue) in the stance. I think he meant the latter.

Sorry for any confusion cause I do mean the latter. Thanks for the response

 

[Scott Lee]

Okay...so the correct answer is that it doesn't matter how high or low your head is above the cue...it's a personal decision. Some players play very low over the cue, and other stand more upright. Do what works best for you...but make sure your stroke is true. Height above the cue has nothing to do with the quality of the stroke.

Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com

Oh jeez. This line is gonna make my day



Sorry for any confusion cause I do mean the latter. Thanks for the response

 

[Patrick Johnson]

Pushout:
New players often confuse hitting the cue ball low with drawing it

What do you mean by it?

pj
chgo

woody_968:
I would assume he means that new players (and many that are not so new) think that hitting the cueball low means it will draw.

Duh. I mean what does he mean when he says hit the cue ball low.


pj
chgo

 

[SupaFoo]

Okay...so the correct answer is that it doesn't matter how high or low your head is above the cue...it's a personal decision. Some players play very low over the cue, and other stand more upright. Do what works best for you...but make sure your stroke is true. Height above the cue has nothing to do with the quality of the stroke.

Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com

As always excellent advice from the instructor.

I'm a bigger guy and when my game deteriorates in the middle of a session it's almost always because my stance is breaking down. Mostly from fatigue, but also from thinking about the wrong things. I sometimes find that after playing for several hours I'll consistently get my chin to the cue (what I normally do), but my stroke becomes slightly compromised as a result (only when I'm tired).

I do think that getting your head as close as you can to the cue is beneficial for aiming precise shots, but on all but the toughest cut shots, I (and many many others) find that pocketing balls standing straight up isn't any harder than usual (mostly because the stroke is completely free from anything that may mess it up).

-Alan

 

[berlowmj]

play barefooted

Hi all,

I've read the 99 Critical Shots in Pool by Mr Ray Martin and 'Stance' section, he adviced players from cue-ing too low.

However it seems like everyone been doing that all these years. So whats right for us?

Stephen

Martial artists achieve a great deal of stability as they spar barefooted. I often play pool in my socks at home. Does anyone else play barefooted?

 

[TX Poolnut]

Martial artists achieve a great deal of stability as they spar barefooted. I often play pool in my socks at home. Does anyone else play barefooted?

All the time at home. However, I have noticed that the tables out around town seem to be a wee bit shorter thanks to my shoes. This seems to be the only real problem with having a table at home.