Steering

[1ab]

I recognize, in most instances, a recurring tendency that's becoming a hard habit to break. At times, without warning, I begin gripping with my back hand to the point of squeezing. Whenever I start doing it I have to think about not doing it constantly or it creeps back into play. The ill effects are varied but end up fixable when I realize what I'm doing. How do I get rid of this problem for good?

 

[One Pocket John]

One thing you may want to try is to shoot a few 15 ball racks holding the cue with just the pads of your thumb and index finger with no other fingers on the cue. This is going to feel very awkward but stay with it, its an exercise for feel.

I too also find myself sometimes holding the cue too tightly. When I first notice this I immediately start practicing as mentioned above.

Another thing to keep in mind is the feeling you have in your hand from the cue is the only way to feel the shot and the weight of the cue ball. The game is played with the feeling in the hand. So relax the hand so that you can feel the shot.

With this type of feel you wont be steering the cue.

It works for me.

John

 

[Scott Lee]

1ab...Another way is to get some video analysis. You can't fix what you don't know about (you know about this); you can fix what you can't measure; and you can only fix one issue at a time (you may have some other things that are interfering with delivering the cue in a straight line...although grip if often part of, if not the entire culprit! I've offered before to come down to Lafayette and do this for you...anytime! :grin:

Scott Lee
http://poolknowledge.com

 

[FranCrimi]

I recognize, in most instances, a recurring tendency that's becoming a hard habit to break. At times, without warning, I begin gripping with my back hand to the point of squeezing. Whenever I start doing it I have to think about not doing it constantly or it creeps back into play. The ill effects are varied but end up fixable when I realize what I'm doing. How do I get rid of this problem for good?

Steering isn't from gripping too tight. Steering is when you turn your hand over or under your cue in an attempt to steer the shot left or right.

What are the effects that happen to you when you grip too tight?

 

[1ab]

The reason I called is a steering is because of what occurs after the fact of gripping too tightly. I notice very significant change in the stroke that hits the ball vs my practice stroke. Usually it's an outside in move, and whenever it occurs I have found myself squeezing.

 

[One Pocket John]

The reason I called is a steering is because of what occurs after the fact of gripping too tightly. I notice very significant change in the stroke that hits the ball vs my practice stroke. Usually it's an outside in move, and whenever it occurs I have found myself squeezing.

You need to pick a specific point on your grip hand to line up the shot. Whether it be your thumb, index finger whatever, but line up that point inline with the shot line and tip of cue.

You have to get the rear sights (a point on your grip hand) inline with the front sights (the tip of the cue) and both must be on the shot line to the target.

John :smile:

 

[ENGLISH!]

You need to pick a specific point on your grip hand to line up the shot. Whether it be your thumb, index finger whatever, but line up that point inline with the shot line and tip of cue.

You have to get the rear sights (a point on your grip hand) inline with the front sights (the tip of the cue) and both must be on the shot line to the target.

John :smile:

John,

Well & simply stated.

Then one needs to keep them in that alignment during the stroke.

It took me quite a while to learn that when I took my left top hand golf grip with my arm straight but not fully locked out & then locked it out that the tendons in my arm turned the club & opened the club face.

When I tried CJ's tennis grip I could not stroke straight no matter how hard I tried until I turned my hand clockwise. That put the relationships in proper alignment & the cue was then on track.

All the components need to fit together in proper alignment & not change during the stroke.

Best Regards & Wishes,

 

[One Pocket John]

John,

Well & simply stated.

Then one needs to keep them in that alignment during the stroke.

It took me quite a while to learn that when I took my left top hand golf grip with my arm straight but not fully locked out & then locked it out that the tendons in my arm turned the club & opened the club face.

When I tried CJ's tennis grip I could not stroke straight no matter how hard I tried until I turned my hand clockwise. That put the relationships in proper alignment & the cue was then on track.

All the components need to fit together in proper alignment & not change during the stroke.

Best Regards & Wishes,

Yeah Rick, I agree.

When instructors state that the cue must be cradled that is a sure opportunity for the wrist to move either inward or outward.
The best solution to this is to lock the wrist in a position that prohibits any sideways movement.

For beginners this is not so easy to teach. I think, and I could be wrong, it is best to teach body alignment first and then once that is accomplished and proven then proper holding of the cue should be given. Naturally, body alignment may have to change just a little for shot alignment to accommodate the proper grip.

Teaching someone how to shoot pool is no easy task. My hat is off to those that have chosen how to instruct. :smile:

When I started playing back in '63 there wasn't any instructors you learned the hard away.

Today's students don't know how easy they have it.

John :smile:

 

[ENGLISH!]

Yeah Rick, I agree.

When instructors state that the cue must be cradled that is a sure opportunity for the wrist to move either inward or outward.
The best solution to this is to lock the wrist in a position that prohibits any sideways movement.

For beginners this is not so easy to teach. I think, and I could be wrong, it is best to teach body alignment first and then once that is accomplished and proven then proper holding of the cue should be given. Naturally, body alignment may have to change just a little for shot alignment to accommodate the proper grip.

Teaching someone how to shoot pool is no easy task. My hat is off to those that have chosen how to instruct. :smile:

When I started playing back in '63 there wasn't any instructors you learned the hard away.

Today's students don't know how easy they have it.

John :smile:

Yeah John,

I started in 1966 & the retired gentleman next door that knew it all & played nearly everyday with my Dad & me on our Sport King table would not even teach a 13 year old boy anything, but I stole it all from him. My eyes were wide open.

Instruction can certainly get one off to a good start & shorten the learning curve if what is being taught is correct. I've seen many a golf instructor as well as ball coaches teaching some very suspect stuff.

Sometimes a student just has to figure out what teachings are valid & what are not & put the pieces together themselves. One has to take responsibility for their own game & not be blindly lead.

Anyway, I hope 1ab can solve his problem.

Best to You Sir,

 

[BilliardsAbout]

Two suggestions:

1. I advocate a loose grip but you can play at a very high level with a tighter grip as long as it is consistent. Consistently choose to go ahead and squeeze the cue with some pressure--say a 3 or 4 on a scale with 10 being the hardest--and then you're less likely to regrip/squeeze through the stroke.

2. Or stay loose but make one of your checkpoints getting your hand right under your elbow. Some of the "clenchers" are too far back with the grip hand and seesaw their stroke. Some are too far forward and their elbow pops up during the stroke.

 

[Donny Lutz]

The reason I called is a steering is because of what occurs after the fact of gripping too tightly. I notice very significant change in the stroke that hits the ball vs my practice stroke. Usually it's an outside in move, and whenever it occurs I have found myself squeezing.

Different coaches and players have different definitions of "steering". Some call using "body English" steering. Others say, a sloppy follow through is the result of subconscious "steering". Fran's definition is a good one.

If you're gripping too tightly, you might try closing your eyes, so that the only sense your using is tactical, (rather than visual). Put the "feeling" of a less tight grip solidly into your memory bank by practicing various strokes with eyes closed. This can help with other aspects of your stroke as well.

My column in the April P & B issue is all about one's memory bank.