Stroke question/issue.

Guapo

Guapo

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
As I've said before, I'm a newbie to this game. I spend most of my time on bar-boxes where bad strokes can be concealed for the most part.

I know I need to spend more time practicing. I'm really serious about getting good at this game fast. I now have a good starting point with the advice given in this thread. I know it all starts with a good, repeatable stroke.

http://forums.azbilliards.com/showthread.php?t=222729

One issue I have though reared it's ugly head last night after having been dormant for a while. A few months back I was having the same issue but it seemed to fade away.

I hit a few shots where the cue ball would have a weird unintentional spin on it. I could see it rotating clockwise. This obviously through off my aim and botched my shots.

Does anyone know what was causing this? How do I fix it?

I wasn't feeling it last night but last time it happened, on some shots I would feel my hand/wrists sort of twisting on the shot. Maybe this could explain the clockwise spin on the CB(viewed in the down position from my POV). It was as if the the cue was twisting on contact causing it to impart that spin on the CB.

Thanks in advance.
 
For me, when I am trying for a centerball shot and throw in unintentional back handed english, it shows up as this type of spin.

Check your stance and your stroke, working with an instructor will probably help you identify and fix the problem sooner than on your own.
 
If you are right handed, and are twisting your wrist on your forward srtoke, you are pulling the butt toward you, to the left, and that means the tip is moving to the right. This would put right spin on the cue, which would appear counter clockwise. If you are shooting left handed, the opposite would happen, and the cb would pick up some clockwise spin.

If you are a righty and getting clockwise spin, that means you are hitting left of the vertical center, possibly moving your grip hand away from you as you stroke the shot.

You might try picking up Joe Tucker's 3rd eye trainer. It's a great tool to train yourself to stay on the vertical center.

Or, you might want to spend some time with an instructor who can help you diagnose the problem, and come up with a solution to fix it.

Steve
 
I also recommend Joe Tucker's Third Eye Stroke Trainer. I use it when I feel like I'm not hitting the true center.

Also another thing I did recently was change, which may or may not help, is the way I approach a shot and my stance. I apply a lot of snooker fundamentals to my stance; meaning my foot, cue, bridge, and head are on the line of aim. I feel that this has straightened out my shooting.
 
In Snooker it is called cuing across the ball.
With smaller balls, smaller pockets, and greater distances, it has much more serious consequences than on a pool table.
So snooker players spend a lot of time keeping their strokes straight.

Set up on the baulk line - without a ball.
Does your stroke move straight along the baulk line or is the cue wandering off line?

Shoot the cue ball straight down the middle of the table - the cue ball should return to your cue tip.
At about 6:15
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f-h8deVZ4aY

Have a friend observe you to see if you are aiming straight through the centre of the cue ball to the middle diamond of the end rail.
You can also check to see that the butt of the cue is over the middle diamond.

Put a mirror at the end of the table so you can observe yourself.

Video yourself

Joe Tucker's Third Eye gizmo provides a visual feedback

http://www.joetucker.net/3rdeyeStrokeTrainer.htm
 
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Thanks for the replies fellas. I'll look into that 3rd eye trainer and those youtube vids. I think what it is is that I twist my wrist on the follow-thru sometimes.

Not right now, but I do want to get lessons from an instructor this year. Can anybody recommend any good instructors in SoCal?
 
I think RandyG and Scott Lee do a pool school out your way every year. If you can get in their class, it will be the best 3 days your pool game could ever have!

Steve
 
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