That is my current approach to the problem as well. Last night and tonight I was staying down pretty well. It helps me to practice my fundamentals for at least 30 minutes earlier in the day.JoeW said:
Stop coming up on your final stroke - new pool gadget
- Thread starter BillPorter
- Start date
Steve said, "Joe, this is one critical points we teach in pool school. The Finish position (The "F" in SPF) is a specific point at the side of the chest or ribs where the grip hand ends up after every shot. With the proper pendilum stroke, finishing in the same spot every time helps control unwanted movement, and ensures a straight stroke."
I did not know that as I have never had a lesson, primarily because I am too cheap or my wife would blow a gasket, haven't figured out the real answer.
I saw this type of stroking in an English snooker coach's video on Utube. Seemed like an excellent idea to me. It is nice to learn that others also find it useful.
I did not know that as I have never had a lesson, primarily because I am too cheap or my wife would blow a gasket, haven't figured out the real answer.
I saw this type of stroking in an English snooker coach's video on Utube. Seemed like an excellent idea to me. It is nice to learn that others also find it useful.
ONE THOUGHT ONLYBillPorter said:
One thought at a time is all that I can handle. I suffer (who doesn't? sometimes) from the same tendency to jump up-especially on the critical shot- whether it is the winning shot, the 'case' shot in the rack that solves the trouble in the run, or the setup ball to the lockup safe you need to win- take your pick. I screw 'em all up. (I am the 'trashman'-I can make all the balls that mean nothing)
I don't really think it's that big a deal to come up a little in a smooth transitional way as part of delivering a good stroke on the ball. For me at least I do most of my aiming b4 I get down on the shot. As I step into the shooting stance- I get lower-take warm up strokes-then get lower-then take aiming strokes- by now I hope I have finetuned and adjusted the original 'standing' aiming line.
Those final couple of 'confirming' strokes have been done at the lowest that I can get- at the table. The last couple of eye movements from CB to OB and CB to OB and CB to OB, I have to do in part with my neck and therefore my head. That hurts or is at least uncomfortable at my age and my degree af flexibility. Now I have to shoot - Or start the whole friggin deal all over again.
I drop my shoulder a little on every shot-not much, just a little.. It helps me keep the cue level - just prior to-at-and after contact with the cue ball. Coming up slightly and smoothly helps me clear space to do this and helps my neck and lower back tension/pain. This actually then makes it more comfortable for me to stay down(I think of it more as being "still"/not frozen ) after the shot.
I like to keep the cue stick extended (if other ball traffic will allow) where it was at the end of the delivery of the actual-shot stroke. I like to leave it out there untill I MUST move it before it gets hits by another ball OR (HOPEFULLY) IT IS TIME TO GO START THE PROCESS OVER AGAIN because I actually made a ball. I AM EXAGGERATING. But not much.
I JUMP UP/ I JUMP UP AND SWING THE CUESTICK-people are NOT SAFE around me when I'm shooting. I jump up like I'm afraid the CB is going to EXPLODE when the cuetip contacts it. It gets this bad for me at times.
It helps me to shoot length of the table straight shots(slow to moderate speed) with a striped ball with the stripe aligned vertically upright from a comfortably low shooting stance and leave the stick out there at the end of the stroke. AND WAIT. Until the ball comes back as far as the extended tip. THEN DO IT AGAIN AND AGAIN. Maybe the ball comes back and hits the tip(yeah right) or not - I don't care about that as much as I am trying to WAIT and watch the ball travel down and back. I'm not in a hurry with this-I'm trying to change to/or reestablish a good habit.
My final and only thought in applying this practice in the game is "FINISH then WAIT". Then move out of the way IF your stick is in the way.
My turn at the table is over when I miss. I'm not in a big hurry for that to happen- I miss plenty soon anyway.
"FINISH!!/WAIT"!! helps me. If I can remember-to think this and only this -when I need to execute that critical shot instead of 'here's where the wheels come off" -something good might happen.
3railkick/Bill/ The trashman/ the curse
(everybody jumps up and steers the cue -just dont hurt any bystanders)
Jumping up and steering the ball are frequently signs of anticipating tip-ball contact and/or making last-minute corrections. If you're at all unsure whether you're aligned correctly, it's easy to sneak in a 'fix' for the shot on your final delivery. Then, whether you make or miss this shot, you haven't learned anything useful to apply to future shots because you're not clear about exactly what happened. If anything, making the ball will only encourage further corrections and make the problem worse.
Here are some exercises you might want to try that I teach for addressing this problem:
Robert
Here are some exercises you might want to try that I teach for addressing this problem:
- Instead of thinking about striking the cue ball with your tip, think about making a nice smooth stroking motion where the cue ball just happens to be in the way. Anticipating contact is like flinching when firing a gun instead of making a nice smooth pull on the trigger through the point where the hammer strikes the bullet. Firearms instructors mix fake rounds in with live ammo to show students they're anticipating the explosion. No bang, but they flinch anyway
- Imagine that you are not a pool player overly-invested in making a shot, but a scientist objectively making an experiment. With your mental lab coat on, making and missing balls are both useful results, since the feedback from each will help you refine further attempts as long as you are clear about exactly what happened during the shot. (Varner's suggestion complements this because it causes you to notice exactly where you hit the ball.) When lining up your shot, confidently pick a definite shot line and concrete target point. Whether you make or miss the shot, it's important to commit to your chosen line. Vagueness here will cost you the ability to learn something useful from the outcome of your experiment. (3-cushion pros do this to quickly adjust to unfamiliar equipment, as well as to the table as it changes during the course of a game.)
- Once all aiming/alignment is settled, close your eyes! If you've picked a definite target and are aligned correctly, then the only thing left is to trust your body to execute the stroke. Take a few more practice strokes with your eyes closed, and then shoot the shot blindly. Since you can't see anything and don't know the exact moment the tip will hit the ball, the last thing your brain is going to want to do is move your body or make a correction. This forces you to keep alignment and execution separate, and builds confidence in your technique as you start hearing more balls hitting the backs of pockets this way. It's not just for trick-shot artists anymore!
Robert
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Nice post!
I love that description! "like I'm afraid the CB is going to EXPLODE when the cuetip contacts it."
I really enjoyed reading your post and it's obvious that you have "been there and done that." And i agree that the human mind, or at least what passes for a mind when speaking of MY mind, can only focus well on one thing at a time. I have been using "watch the cue ball hit the object ball" lately, but I'm thinking it might be better to try something that will keep me still and down a bit longer.
3RAILKICK said:
I love that description! "like I'm afraid the CB is going to EXPLODE when the cuetip contacts it."
I really enjoyed reading your post and it's obvious that you have "been there and done that." And i agree that the human mind, or at least what passes for a mind when speaking of MY mind, can only focus well on one thing at a time. I have been using "watch the cue ball hit the object ball" lately, but I'm thinking it might be better to try something that will keep me still and down a bit longer.
Robert Raiford said:
Excellent post! You obviously understand this problem inside and out and have some great ideas for working on it. Thanks for your insightful comments!