Stopping the dreaded wrist twist

R

recoveryjones

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
The dreaded wrist twist is something that comes up for me(sometimes) on those long draw shots that are 7 ft apart or more.Shorter draw shots for the most part, give me no trouble at all.The extra long draw shot seems to be the only time I ever twist my wrist.

Sometimes I can spread the balls 8ft apart and draw the cue ball the length of the table all the way back to the short rail from where I've started.To me there isn't a more satisfying shot in pool. Outside of the pro level (or strong shortstop) this shot seems to trouble a lot of players.

Anyway, I know the most logical answer would be to see a BCA instructor. This isn't possible for a lot of people because of various geographical(for me) or monetary reasons.

Does anyone have any tips, or drills regarding grip or line up on how to stop the dreaded wrist twist and what causes it to happen?
RJ
 
If you twisting your wrist you are probably holding it too tight. My cue almost slides in my hand. Try Holding it very lightly shooting balls straight in, let the cue slide in your hand and see if it helps. I warm up with straight in shots just to see if my stroke is straight and loose.
 
RJ,

There is a bowling device that straps onto your wrist to keep it from twisting, you may want to check into that. I used to use one when my stroke finally got straightened out.

Personally, I think that drilling straight-in stop shots as far away as possible will help ingrain the wrist to not twist.

Barbara
 
Some top pro's seem to twist the wrist on this very shot. Maybe it is not all bad. Does twisting your wrist change the direction of your stroke?
 
recoveryjones said:
Does anyone have any tips, or drills regarding grip or line up on how to stop the dreaded wrist twist and what causes it to happen?
RJ
Click to expand...

I agree with a previous poster... Loosening your grip will help...

Most of all, you have developed a habit (good or bad). Being aware of it is the first step. To fix it, you need to consciencely correct it. I know it won't feel right but consentrate on your wrist til it feels good and automatic...

Whenever I change anything about my game, it makes me feel as if I am shooting with my left hand. I feel lost and uncontrollable until I gain confidence with the new improvement. Then it feels "natural".
 
This is why I use a two or three finger grip, Locking your wrist will nose dive the tip.. some say this is correct.. I firmly disagree.. I believe the wrist to be a power weapon.. no nessasairly twist, but snap...


I also believe the best way to cure your problem is with a longer cue.. I like to get more "behind" the shots, using a slightly longer bridge, as opposed to standing up more by using a shorter bridge.. some may disagree but I have tried longer cues and it helps.. I recently ordered a 65" Schemlke for a friend with the same problem, it ships out the 5th, when he gets it I'll let you know how he likes it..


2wld4u
 
Tennesseejoe said:
Some top pro's seem to twist the wrist on this very shot. Maybe it is not all bad. Does twisting your wrist change the direction of your stroke?
Click to expand...

I have noticed that too, but you will also notice that when they deliver the goods to the CB it's dead straight....and yes if you hit the CB while twising your wrist for sure all kind of wierd things could happen....
________
 
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I think you are confusing rolling the cue in their hands with twisting the wrist. A lot of players roll the cue in their hands before the shot but not while they shoot. I have never seen a top player twist their wrist while delivering the cue forward.
 
I forgot, Linda Haywood taught me this. Your forefinger and middle finger are your "guide fingers". If you hold you hold your cue with your middle finger and your ring finger and your pinkie, you're really not going to be able to twist your wrist and can just guide your cue in a straight line

HTH.

Barbara
 
Barbara said:
I forgot, Linda Haywood taught me this. Your forefinger and middle finger are your "guide fingers". If you hold you hold your cue with your middle finger and your ring finger and your pinkie, you're really not going to be able to twist your wrist and can just guide your cue in a straight line

HTH.

Barbara
Click to expand...

L:isten to Barbara, she has an answer....randyg
 
A guy goes

to the doctor and says to the doctor, it hurts when I do this.

The doctor says, don't do that.

If twisting your wrist is a problem, than stop twisting it. Only you can change bad habbits. Don't use any tool or trick. Just remember on this shot the last 100 times I twisted my wrist, well now I'm not. Soon you will learn not to twist it. Works for me.

When you find your aiming point stoke through your shot trying to make the tip of your cue hit the object ball.
 
when you say you "twist your wrist", what do you mean exactly. While i was in pool school, on really long draw shots I noticed my stick would not be straight at the end, it would be twisted to the right. The culprit was my pinkie, i was hitting the ball hard and this was making me grip the butt harder and my pinkie was torqueing my cue. I took the pinky completely off the butt, just let it hang down, and no matter how hard (fast) i hit, my cue is dead straight at follow thru
 
scottycoyote said:
when you say you "twist your wrist", what do you mean exactly. While i was in pool school, on really long draw shots I noticed my stick would not be straight at the end, it would be twisted to the right. The culprit was my pinkie, i was hitting the ball hard and this was making me grip the butt harder and my pinkie was torqueing my cue. I took the pinky completely off the butt, just let it hang down, and no matter how hard (fast) i hit, my cue is dead straight at follow thru
Click to expand...


thats why the back of hand or grip is "open" slightly, meaning my last two finger's barely touch the cue.. I apply pressure with my thumb, pointer finger and middle inger only..
 
sheaprek said:
to the doctor and says to the doctor, it hurts when I do this.

The doctor says, don't do that.

If twisting your wrist is a problem, than stop twisting it. Only you can change bad habbits. Don't use any tool or trick. Just remember on this shot the last 100 times I twisted my wrist, well now I'm not. Soon you will learn not to twist it. Works for me.

When you find your aiming point stoke through your shot trying to make the tip of your cue hit the object ball.
Click to expand...
Good advice sheaprek!

A couple of other things I think are relevant here:

1. Pulling the tip across the line is usually more due to rotation at the shoulder than flexion at the wrist. A small rotation on the humorous (upper arm bone) will move the hand several inches left or right.

2. I believe the main reason players pull across the shot is a sub-conscious correcting factor because they can sense the shot is not aligned correctly.

If you work harder on alignment, so that you feel comfortable the bridge hand is positioned in the correct spot, then you'll find it's not that hard to make yourself cue straighter.

Problem is a lot of players don't realize the importance of the bridge hand position and try to adjust their alignment simply by pivoting the cue left and right. They need to be able to pivot while shifting the bridge so that the bridge, cue, and center of CB are all aligned to the target line.
 
I think ...

It comes about from a combination of the following:

1) Some idiot telling you when you started to play
that shooting down on the cue ball gets more draw.
(yes, you may have overcome that, but it still rolls
around in some player's heads at times)

2) Tried a looser grip for the draw and ended up
1-2 feet short, so your natural tendency is to tighten
your grip and harder stroke equals more draw power, at
least subconciously you think it does.

3) A basic fear that the cue will slip out of your hands
if your grip is too loose. Actually, I have had this happen
to someone I was instructing for such a shot. It was funny,
but we tried not to laugh. The cue goes flying onto the table.

I can think of 3 players offhand to watch on this type of shot
that show you it is more about stroke than power as they make
it look very smooth when they do it: Earl Strickland, Gabe Owen,
and Danny Harriman.
 
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