Stance questions??

mworkman

mworkman

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
I have never thought or worried about how I set up my stance. I just did what ever I thought felt natural. I've been looking at a couple of different techniques. The first is Capelle's, he has the right foot turned to the right somewhat so that you are kinda sideways to the shot. Tim White says you should align yourself with the right side of your body and then step forward a little with your left foot if you need to so you are basically facing the shot.

I know some other good players face the shot, but for me, I want to turn that right foot some because it feels weird facing the shot like that. Is this just a matter of body type? Or is one technique better then an other? :confused:
 
ill tell you what works for me. Ok imagine the cue, without you there, how it is lined up with the cueball and the object ball and how it goes back and forth in the warmup strokes (lets call it the stroking line). Ok now you want to make sure the cue is going to be there in that plane, and now you need to align your body around the cue so you make all that happen. What I like to do is stand back from the shot while i get my aiming points and decide how i want to play the ball, get shapes etc. Then I will start out with my right foor (im righthanded) perfectly inline with and to the left of the line of the cue and where it needs to be (stroking line). THen as i slide down into my stance, my right foot pivots to about 70 or 80 degrees to the stroking line, and i just step froward with my left foot until im balanced and as low as i want to be over the shot. Like i said im trying to get the cue perfectly in line and just confrom my body around where it needs to be.
 
scottycoyote said:
ill tell you what works for me. Ok imagine the cue, without you there, how it is lined up with the cueball and the object ball and how it goes back and forth in the warmup strokes (lets call it the stroking line). Ok now you want to make sure the cue is going to be there in that plane, and now you need to align your body around the cue so you make all that happen. What I like to do is stand back from the shot while i get my aiming points and decide how i want to play the ball, get shapes etc. Then I will start out with my right foor (im righthanded) perfectly inline with and to the left of the line of the cue and where it needs to be (stroking line). THen as i slide down into my stance, my right foot pivots to about 70 or 80 degrees to the stroking line, and i just step froward with my left foot until im balanced and as low as i want to be over the shot. Like i said im trying to get the cue perfectly in line and just confrom my body around where it needs to be.
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Not sure I'm tracking with you here. So you turn your right foot just a little bit? 70-80 degrees sounds like you are almost sideways to the shot?
 
mworkman said:
Not sure I'm tracking with you here. So you turn your right foot just a little bit? 70-80 degrees sounds like you are almost sideways to the shot?
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well my right foot will be yes, it will be almost perpendicular to my cue and the stroking line, my left foot is going to be up and running almost parallel to my cue. By having my right foot perpendicular, it allows the cue and my arm to clear my hip and side and keeps me in line.
 
the key on your stance is to spread your feet apart and keep your head low and dont pull up early but keep your head perfectly still.pretty similar to hitting a golf ball
 
Stance is an interesting thing that I spend far too much time thinking about and analyzing.

In Max Eberle's eBook, "Zen Pool" he talks a bit about fundamentals without going into too much detail. What he does say on stance is pretty specific, but manages also to relay that everyone stands differently. The most important thing is that your body doesn't interfere with your stroke.

When I posted the Blomdahl vs. Reyes YouTube links, what I found interesting was seeing a 3-cushion champion and his fundamentals. Yes, I've seen plenty of 3-C players, but their fundamentals seemed all the more noticeable when they're playing pocket billiards. They've got a lot of elbow action, and although they strike the ball so incredibly well they don't have what most would call perfect fundamentals. They just approach the game so differently but they get the job done. The same goes for snooker.

All the different billiard disciplines have such different fundamentals, and with 3-C and pool they're never really "taught." I think snooker is a little different, in that a lot of people definitely develop a very identifiable "snooker" technique/fundamentals. Look at Steve Davis and this seems to be the ideal snooker technique. I think Joe Davis seems to be the model for this,... can someone correct / confirm?

Anyway, what was my point? Oh, right -- different stroke for different folks, and different stances as well. Just so far as it doesn't get interfere with your alignment and your stroke you should be fine. I get into too much trouble when I start thinking about it too much... I think so much about my foot position that I forget that the real game is played on the green felt. I need to remind myself of this, as I've been in a slump. So thanks for posting!

Just my $.02
 
Read Maurice Daly's Billiard book. Paraphrased: Stand square to the shot.
Grip hand at your pocket. Lay Cue to CB for distance from CB adjustment.
STEP INTO the shot as you get down. Slightly turn right toe out. Not your heal in.

I find most people do not step into their shots. They kick their left foot back. This takes your body out of alignment as you get down to shoot. Every sport I can think of, players are better off stepping into the shot. Example: Right handed Batting, left foot forward? Or right foot backward?

Another good book is Joe Davis How I play Snooker
 
I am old School.

Yes it matters, a lot. Having improper form can limit your game in someway or another, and/or particular shots. Many people shoot for years, never getting better, and wonder why?

You overweight people and tall people that say they can not stand the proper way. That's b***s**t, and just their personal problem they don't want to address. Many tall guys play with both legs bent in a crouch postion, and I will play them a 12-16 hour session anytime, because at the end they will be missing shots and not be steady in their form from fatigue, and not supporting their body in the right way.

Everything you do in POOL matters, and if you don't realize that, you will never get better.
 
Snapshot9 said:
Yes it matters, a lot. Having improper form can limit your game in someway or another, and/or particular shots. Many people shoot for years, never getting better, and wonder why?

You overweight people and tall people that say they can not stand the proper way. That's b***s**t, and just their personal problem they don't want to address. Many tall guys play with both legs bent in a crouch postion, and I will play them a 12-16 hour session anytime, because at the end they will be missing shots and not be steady in their form from fatigue, and not supporting their body in the right way.

Everything you do in POOL matters, and if you don't realize that, you will never get better.
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Thanks. I am 6'1 so not too tall. I want to nail this down. What I practiced last night was laying the cue down with the tip on the cueball grip on myside facing the shot. Stepping into the shot with the left foot a little and turning my right foot some to the right to make it comfortable. Pretty much what 3kushn said, however it seems like it feels that I'm too close and need to back that right foot up a little also. Is this ok? Or should I be not stepping as far forward with my left?
 
mworkman said:
Thanks. I am 6'1 so not too tall. I want to nail this down. What I practiced last night was laying the cue down with the tip on the cueball grip on myside facing the shot. Stepping into the shot with the left foot a little and turning my right foot some to the right to make it comfortable. Pretty much what 3kushn said, however it seems like it feels that I'm too close and need to back that right foot up a little also. Is this ok? Or should I be not stepping as far forward with my left?
Click to expand...

I seen great players would weird stances and i seen really bad players with good stances. For me, its always find the plane/line. When you go down on the shot, u should be on that line, if not then adjust your stance until everytime you get down you would feel comfortable and on the right swing plane.

Seriously, I hope you feel it out during your practice time. Don't go into a real game thinking about where your feet should be planted.
 
Stance

I had a lesson from Mark Wilson a little over a year ago and the only thing he had ot say about stance was to make sure you had a solid base that was out of the way of your stroke. Good balance and the ability to repeat your follow through properly with a proper stroke was all that mattered.
 
badbanks said:
I had a lesson from Mark Wilson a little over a year ago and the only thing he had ot say about stance was to make sure you had a solid base that was out of the way of your stroke. Good balance and the ability to repeat your follow through properly with a proper stroke was all that mattered.
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thats whats key to me......getting out of the way of your stroke. I agree with scott that stance definitely matters. Ive tried alot of different things tinkering with my game and the stance that was "most comfortable" to me had me completely out of alignment. I try to stand back and step into every shot. Watch archer play, he stands 4 or 5 foot back from every shot, lines up then walks in. I think alot of people dont do it because it takes extra time.
 
again, i still think the position of your head is the most important thing. it must be low and lined up properly with the shot. ive seen alot of beginners that stood too straight up and could not line up the shot properly.as far as your body goesfind a stance that is comfortable to you and stay with it.
 
I hate any advice to "just be comfortable" and "just get your body out of the way." I played with that advice for years, and it really held me up. Why?

For me what's comfortable for aiming is to have my head mostly over my left leg (I'm left eyed, right handed). This causes my hips to be too square to the shot, making my right shoulder go to the right, out of line with the shot. Yes, I could shoot very straight like this, with my underarm motion I was at least an APA 6, approaching 7. Now I've receieved a lot of coaching from a pro player to correct this, and it's still hard to fix for me. Getting there, every day is a struggle to fix this problem.

The most important thing is to get down over the shot so that your right shoulder is in line with your elbow and head. If you can see your shoulder behind your head (use a mirror), you're doing it wrong. Straight line. Your stance affects whether you can achieve this. Most pros end up with their hand over their right foot also.

So, sure, whatever's comfortable. But not until you have the rest of your alignment correct.
 
arsenius said:
I hate any advice to "just be comfortable" and "just get your body out of the way." I played with that advice for years, and it really held me up. Why?

For me what's comfortable for aiming is to have my head mostly over my left leg (I'm left eyed, right handed). This causes my hips to be too square to the shot, making my right shoulder go to the right, out of line with the shot. Yes, I could shoot very straight like this, with my underarm motion I was at least an APA 6, approaching 7. Now I've receieved a lot of coaching from a pro player to correct this, and it's still hard to fix for me. Getting there, every day is a struggle to fix this problem.

The most important thing is to get down over the shot so that your right shoulder is in line with your elbow and head. If you can see your shoulder behind your head (use a mirror), you're doing it wrong. Straight line. Your stance affects whether you can achieve this. Most pros end up with their hand over their right foot also.

So, sure, whatever's comfortable. But not until you have the rest of your alignment correct.
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couldnt agree more.......i worked on my stance for probably a year until i found something that got me properly aligned. Some people might just naturally line up and get into position but it sure wasnt that way for me. Im comfortable in my stance now, but every now and then if im not paying attention I will fall into my old stance.......which is out of line.
 
I've got a horrible stance. I lock both knees and I don't get down on the ball much (a little higher than Corey Deuel). I also have a little pump in my stroke similar but probably more pronounced than Efren's. And I take a bit of time to shoot (avg. 10-15 seconds).
I've tried to 'correct' it, I'm still trying when I practice to stand how you're supposed to, drop my head down, keep my stroke motion smooth - shoot a little faster - but I can't make a ****ing ball like that.
I've had good players tell me "do what's comfortable, that's fine as long as you stay down and follow threw" and other good players say "you need to correct that because it's going to limit you".

Danny D' gave me a lesson for a couple of hours a few weeks back - and towards the end I asked him what I needed to do with my mechanics he said "I'd like to see you stay down on the shot more - because you jump up sometimes. And I'd like to see you take that little pump out of your stroke - but I mean you've got your way of shooting and it's a little different but you seem to be doing good with it".

I don't know, I wish I did - all I know is I play my absolute BEST pool (which isn't too bad considering I've only been playing 2 years) when I stand like I'm ready to play catcher and take longer on one shot than it takes you to cook minute rice.

I just won a weekly 8-ball tournament tonight, I played a guy (who cashes on the Florida Pro Tour) 2 sets for the 1st place win. I was running out from EVERYWHERE! *pats self on back*

Good luck to everyone on figuring this out - and if anyone ever does PLEASE let me know - I don't mind setting my game back a year if it'll help me in the long run.
 
I shoot left handed, right eye over the cue and with my chin on the cue.

Mark Wilson told me to get the toes of my back foot under the cue butt and to have my front foot a few inches open from parallel and my bridge arm fully extended. I interpreted this to mean a slightly open stance... for you golfers out there.

Once I did this he wanted my shoulders and hips a little more parallel than I had been standing. Pretty unscientific way of explaining this but there was no formula given. Just that the hips and shoulders being more parallel (turned counterclockwise from where I normally stood, I'm left handed!) would facillitate the delivery of the cue without getting in the way.

My problem tends to be that my shoulders/hips line up in the open stance with my feet and they get in the way of the cue. When I get the hips/shoulders more parallel then a play much better. Now if I could just stop dropping my shoulder.

I don't like the straight bridge arm. I like the bent arm with my head closer to the bridge and a short bridge (8") and short backstroke... ala Grady. I shoot more accurately w/my eyes closer to the bridge and cb.

The advice regarding the placement of my feet, shoulders and hips has been very helpful and frees up my stroke so my back hand can come to my chest at the end of the stroke... as Mark recommended.
 
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Checking yourself ...

mworkman said:
Thanks. I am 6'1 so not too tall. I want to nail this down. What I practiced last night was laying the cue down with the tip on the cueball grip on myside facing the shot. Stepping into the shot with the left foot a little and turning my right foot some to the right to make it comfortable. Pretty much what 3kushn said, however it seems like it feels that I'm too close and need to back that right foot up a little also. Is this ok? Or should I be not stepping as far forward with my left?
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If your nose is not aligned with your cue, or past it, then you are too close to the cue. Also, check your right hip vs. your grip hand ... If the cue is close to your right hip when you stroke, you are standing with your body facing forward too much, and this will cause problems sometimes subconsciously in your stroke. Your body is suppose to be at a 45 degree angle to your cue (except when having to reach across the table to shoot). The best example for a comparison that I can think of is a standing rifle postion that is lowered into a Pool form. Do this a few times, and you will then understand what I mean.

I have played with a good player when I was a teenager that was 7'1" tall, and the center of the basketball for St. Mary's of the Plains college in Dodge City. Jerry Govan was his name and he was from New York or New Jersey. He played good, and his form was excellent even at his height.
He did not crouch both his legs, he stood exactly the way I do at 5'7".
It did not take me long to realize he had a very good teacher.
 
Snapshot9 said:
If your nose is not aligned with your cue, or past it, then you are too close to the cue. Also, check your right hip vs. your grip hand ... If the cue is close to your right hip when you stroke, you are standing with your body facing forward too much, and this will cause problems sometimes subconsciously in your stroke. Your body is suppose to be at a 45 degree angle to your cue (except when having to reach across the table to shoot). The best example for a comparison that I can think of is a standing rifle postion that is lowered into a Pool form. Do this a few times, and you will then understand what I mean.

I have played with a good player when I was a teenager that was 7'1" tall, and the center of the basketball for St. Mary's of the Plains college in Dodge City. Jerry Govan was his name and he was from New York or New Jersey. He played good, and his form was excellent even at his height.
He did not crouch both his legs, he stood exactly the way I do at 5'7".
It did not take me long to realize he had a very good teacher.
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If I payed attention to all that not only would I look like a robot, but I would not be able to make a ball. I agree with everyone else that says as long as you are not in the way of your stroke and are setting up in line then yoiu are going to be fine.
 
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