Stroke question.......

[Majic]

I ask a lot of stroke questions, because its something I want to perfect.

When I stroke my cue back and forth in the air in a stance position, my cue goes perfectly straight back and forth no matter what the speed is. Now soon as you put a cueball in the way after I hit the cueball my stroke usually turns a bit in one direction.


This is especially noticeable if I need to use a strong stroke like a big draw or a hard follow shot.

I am certainly not an instructor and any advice that I may offer is only really just advice. I had similar stroke issues when I started and found that my stance and alignment was something that affected my stroke as well as the bridge length and rear arm position. If you don't have anyone to help you, try cueing into a mirror or look at yourself in the window reflection at the pool hall.

 

[housecue]

Everyone strokes crooked, everyone. You can mitigate it to some degree with proper alignment and technique. However, you'll never be perfect so learn to play it.

good advice, it took me a long time to figure this one out.

 

[Impact Blue]

good advice, it took me a long time to figure this one out.

trust trust trust.

maintain a confident disposition, in mechanics and shot choice...then it's just follow straight back, straight through.

(sounds easy, wtf)

 

[Andrew Manning]

Without the cb, you are nice and straight, but with it (the CB) you are out of line. Sounds like you have a good stance, but are not properly aligned on the shot. Thereby 'steering' the cue a little to achieve the correct line.

I agree that this is the most likely explanation.

When you're "stroking in air" you don't have a target, and there's no reason your tip shouldn't go perfectly straight. When you put the CB down, if you're a millimeter off in your set up (where you place your bridge hand, where your shooting shoulder is in relation to the cue) even if your fundamentals are perfect, you have to make the cue turn in order to make the stroke go through the cue ball in the direction you're trying to aim. Only when you're set up totally in line with the shot can you stroke dead straight through the CB and achieve the line of aim you want.

So concentrate on standing back from the shot, visualizing the line of the shot, and then moving forward into position, focusing hard on the line of the shot while you're positioning your body. This will lead to a more precise set-up and the stroke you will have to use to direct the CB accurately (defined by the positions of the CB and OB) will be more in line with the straight stroke your fundamentals you've worked so hard on want to produce. Then you'll find you stop "steering" and can produce a much more fluid, uninhibited, powerful stroke.

-Andrew

 

[SCCues]

another thing to consider is your grip. If i wrap my pinky around my cue, at the end of my stroke my cue it swerve to the left for some reason, i hang it off and my cue goes thru straight until it hits the table.

A tight grip will usually throw the end of your stroke off line and a nice soft grip lets the cue flow through the stroke more in line than the tight grip....


James

 

[Hail Mary Shot]

I ask a lot of stroke questions, because its something I want to perfect.

When I stroke my cue back and forth in the air in a stance position, my cue goes perfectly straight back and forth no matter what the speed is. Now soon as you put a cueball in the way after I hit the cueball my stroke usually turns a bit in one direction.

Now is this because it's slowing down quite a bit from the cueball impact? if so how do I get that cue to go through that cueball like it wasn't even there? This game is so difficult lol

This is especially noticeable if I need to use a strong stroke like a big draw or a hard follow shot.

Things to consider in a stroke, do you get the expected outcome on the shot? like pocketing the ball (accuracy) or land your CB at a certain position on the table after a shot? try to adjust, do you really need to apply a weak or strong stroke? hit the CB at a certain angle (english application)?

the perfect stroke is where you are most comfortable with w/o comprimising your shooting accuracy. if you're not confident with your stroke, it's either you're having a bad day or you just plainly S-UCK at playing pool.

positional play will develop over time as you get to familiarize with the CB angles thru trial and error. practice, practice, practice.

Pointers for beginners: dont drop or pump your arm in every shot, stay straight and find your ideal grip placement (most important).

P.S. try to be confident with your stroke, it would develop on it's own. just be patient.

 

[MinoInADixeCup]

Gatz...A shortcut to perfecting your stroke, is to get a video analysis from a qualified instructor! The TV shows ALL flaws, and the instructor shows you how to teach yourself to correct them!

Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com

After recording my practice sessions, I've made significant changes to my mechanics and after a few weeks of practice, I've noticed a lot of improvement in my game.

I'm sure having a good instructor analyzing what you are doing would be even better, but you would be surprised at how many things you can spot and correct on your own with a cheap or borrowed video camera.

 

[BRKNRUN]

Everyone has pretty much nailed it already, but I would point out that it also may depend on what bridge you are using......and your grip hand "placement" on the cue...If it is too far up on the cue...when the power gets introduced is when you will see the curve in your stroke...

I had Scott video me at Vegas BCA last year and he noted when I used an open bridge I dropped my elbow...when I used a closed bridge I did not drop my elbow...(unless I was using a hard draw shot and even then it was not near as much as with an open bridge)

Even though I thought I was using the exact same stroke for both bridges, they were quite different. Not a huge deal, but one to consider when analyzing your stroke.


I have also noticed that if you are using a overly long stroke..(uncluding the elbow drop).... (which I tend to do on power type shots)...For me it seems the cue must twist a bit at the end. I have slowmoed my entire (long) stroke to see where the twist comes from...I wanted to see if I changed my grip or pressures of fingers if it had an effect.

What I found was since the cue is basically hanging below your forearm, IF you drop your elbow (hopefully after impact)... as the grip hand comes up, you almost must twist the cue or the butt end of the cue will smack into your forearm...that "twist" allows the forearm to come down just outside the cue....(that twist is way after the CB is gone though)

NOTE: I am not promoting Elbow Drop / Super Long Follow throught / etc. I am just trying to point out what I think happens on super long follow throughs....(that include a elbow drop)

The origonal poster stated that he comes from an area of super long follow throughs....I would guess that means they also drop the elbow on those shots...

Me personally on soft shots and normal shots don't drop the elbow...but as the power comes into play and the stroke gets longer...my elbow tends to drop...(I have also noticed a majority of pro players do the same thing as the power increases)

In addition to the other suggestions...If this has not been mentioned already, I would suggest getting your grip hand placement checked at impact....Is your grip perpendicular at impact...(or is it too far forward of perpedicular)