Stance vs Player Height

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MissCue

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Not sure if this has been discussed. Tables are pretty much locked down to the same height within an inch or so.

So when you have a person that is tall...say over 6'. what comes into play into a perfect stance that would be different than say someone who is 5'5" tall? Lets assume this person is right handed. So the right leg is locked vertical. However in order to get the taller person down to table height the left leg needs to be more spread eagle...pr farther apart from his right leg than that of a shorter person.

Am I missing something? Looking for input because it would seem that shorter people may have a more solid platform for shooting.

Fire away with comments...
 
I'm not sure what you mean by "locked vertical". I am right handed, and my right leg is absolutely not vertical. When I step into the shot, my left (forward) leg bends as I get about half way down on the shot. I then kick my right leg further back. This brings me down to the shot with less bending at the back. (I'm a little older, and my back doesn't bend like it used to). I would think that a taller person using the method I use would just kick the right leg back a little farther than I do.

In pool school, we don't teach a specific kind of stance. Each player is different, so what we look for is a stance that is comfortable, and provides a stable base for the body. Since our bodies come in all different shapes and sizes, stance will be something that is what is comfortable and stable for each individual.

Steve
 
MissCue said:
Not sure if this has been discussed. Tables are pretty much locked down to the same height within an inch or so.

So when you have a person that is tall...say over 6'. what comes into play into a perfect stance that would be different than say someone who is 5'5" tall? Lets assume this person is right handed. So the right leg is locked vertical. However in order to get the taller person down to table height the left leg needs to be more spread eagle...pr farther apart from his right leg than that of a shorter person.

Am I missing something? Looking for input because it would seem that shorter people may have a more solid platform for shooting.

Fire away with comments...
Click to expand...

I'm not an instructor, but here's my opinion:

To adjust your height in any stance, you have 2 calibration knobs....
Spread your feet farther apart and/or bend your back more.

In finding your perfect stance, your lower body is secondary to your upper body. You should create your stance based upon the way you establish your upper body (sighting/stroke).

For example, a woman with tig ol bittys might establish a particular method of delivering the cue to the cue ball without hitting or rubbing up against her milk jugs. If that woman is short, she might have both legs straight in order to maximize her height. If she is tall, then she might bend her back more, or spread her legs out more, or a combination of the two.

My girlfriend uses a side arm stroke with the rifle sighting method, and she's short. For her, her legs are the same as if standing normally, and bending over. If she were to use a bird's eye sighting method, then she would not need the side arm stroke.

My point is...your main goal is to deliver the cue perfectly. In order to do that, you have to establish your sighting/stroke technique (upper body), and build a foundation to support it.

JMHO,
Mathew
 
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I am 6'2". In pool school, my stance was modified to take on a traditional snooker stance. I am able to comfortably spread my legs and get my chin about 1" from the cue.

NOTE: The reason Randy modified my stance, is because my original stance did not allow me to finish my stroke properly. Bearing down closer to the cue was a very nice side effect.
 
Exactly what I was talking about. I've had students who struggled with a traditional stance, but a squared-up snooker style stance worked much better. Others have a problem getting centered over the cue from that stance. Everyone needs to find the best overall stance for their body type.

BTW, Randy was the one who told me to try kicking back to get down lower on the shot several years ago. Over the years, that one thing has probably allowed me to win many matches, simply because less back strain reduces the fatigue factor for me.

Steve
 
That is what is so impressive about your schools. You are helping creating players and not robots. You base every movement on the individual which is paramount. I see my billiard books now and occasionally chuckle as I remember needing to be a master yoga artist to accomplish some of their ideas.

I appreciate you, Randy and the entire SPF group. I am hoping to start teaching this as well to kids that unable to afford the school but need something to do than just hit balls around.
 
NewStroke said:
I am 6'2". In pool school, my stance was modified to take on a traditional snooker stance. I am able to comfortably spread my legs and get my chin about 1" from the cue.

NOTE: The reason Randy modified my stance, is because my original stance did not allow me to finish my stroke properly. Bearing down closer to the cue was a very nice side effect.
Click to expand...

Thanks...randyg
 
pooltchr said:
I'm not sure what you mean by "locked vertical". I am right handed, and my right leg is absolutely not vertical. When I step into the shot, my left (forward) leg bends as I get about half way down on the shot. I then kick my right leg further back. This brings me down to the shot with less bending at the back. (I'm a little older, and my back doesn't bend like it used to). I would think that a taller person using the method I use would just kick the right leg back a little farther than I do.

In pool school, we don't teach a specific kind of stance. Each player is different, so what we look for is a stance that is comfortable, and provides a stable base for the body. Since our bodies come in all different shapes and sizes, stance will be something that is what is comfortable and stable for each individual.

Steve
Click to expand...

Yes the taller player will have a more "open" stance distance between feet, taller player suffer from a few extras that shorter players don’t. I.E. if their legs are to close and too straight there is more bend at the waist which causes the neck to have to crane up more which has an effect on the bridge shoulder (it puts downward pressure and begins to hurt).

Just a much the same can happen with the elbow of the bridge hand it should never be straight it causes pain, can cause hypertension or the joint and puts more pressure on that deltoid muscle.

The legs are not to be straight and it is mostly because of the balance of the stance though you should be balanced on your feet your weight should somewhat be forward it causes you to gain more stability from your bridge hand which just completes the TRIPOD OF BALANCE, too bad there wasn't some real corny name for it other than the one I just pulled out of my hat lol.

So with taller players spread the legs more and adjust the spread/bend of the knees so as not to have one too extreme what it does is get you lower to center (more balance) and the hips are lower so less bending of the back is needed to get down on the ball which leads to no more neck pain, shoulder pain etc. I’ve known many very tall players and many suffered after playing a while and were relieved by the simple adjustments from above.
 
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