Yes, that's true. You have to be all in with the process or you'll never know for sure if the change is right for you. However, sometimes there are ways to shortcut it a bit, like for example, if someone knowledgeable or even someone who knows your game is watching you go through it, they may be able to tell pretty early on whether or not the change is working for you or if it suits your style. Oh the other hand, I've made changes in my own game that lasted for as long as a year before finally letting go of them.
stroking straight question
- Thread starter z0nt0n3r
- Start date
Your helpful post brings something to mind - it is very hard for even a pro to focus on two skill improvement sets at once. If working on aim, don't alter your typical stroke and vice versa.
In this vein--and on the surface it may seem contradictory to my prior paragraph--but to develop an aim system or instinctual aim, the player has to commit to a straight stroke as more important than the ball sinking. Too thick or too thin? Setup the missed shot again and correct it. But how can you work on object ball aim if your stroke is twisting consciously or subconsciously to score the balls?
Speed of the stroke. Mark Wilson did a test and found that amateur strokes were about twice as fast as pro's. That's starting at the beginning of the take back through contact with the cb. Whatever speed you shoot best at, you may find that you are shooting faster than that speed if things aren't going quite right. Just something to consider.
Not the speed of the cue at CB contact? That's what I'd call the "speed of the stroke".
pj
chgo
Let's say "the time interval it takes to execute the stroke from the time the cue starts back to the time it contacts the cb."
I'd say that is "the total time of the final stroke", understood to mean both the back stroke and the forward stroke. Some might call it the "set to finish time".
well said bob.....
I think "speed of stroke" is also perfectly acceptable if it is used in context. I probably didn't make that
I'd also say "speed of the stroke" is more clear when taken in context. It was perfectly clear inside my head.
I think the OP got it, too, but wasn't sure if I was talking about slowing down the cue or slowing down play (pace) overall.
To me and I think to most people who deal with physics-related ideas, "speed" means the miles per hour that a thing moves. I think using that word for the concept you are trying to convey even in context invites confusion. Maybe "tempo" would be a better word, but then you might hear from musicians.I think "speed of stroke" is also perfectly acceptable if it is used in context. I probably didn't make that
I'd also say "speed of the stroke" is more clear when taken in context. It was perfectly clear inside my head.
Pacing?To me and I think to most people who deal with physics-related ideas, "speed" means the miles per hour that a thing moves. I think using that word for the concept you are trying to convey even in context invites confusion. Maybe "tempo" would be a better word, but then you might hear from musicians.
pj
chgo
Sounds good to me.
OK have a way even the physicists can understand: When your stroke approaches the foxtrot make sure you slow it down to more of a waltz.To me and I think to most people who deal with physics-related ideas, "speed" means the miles per hour that a thing moves. I think using that word for the concept you are trying to convey even in context invites confusion. Maybe "tempo" would be a better word, but then you might hear from musicians.
I don't think pacing or tempo are the best words for it for the same reason I think timing also isn't the right word. I think it's stroke time -- a simple calculation of the time it takes from start to finish, calculated in measurements of time.
Things like timing, tempo and pacing are all variable, depending on the player and when he speeds up or slows down his stroke. There will be several different types of paced strokes that will take the exact same amount of time from start to finish.
Things like timing, tempo and pacing are all variable, depending on the player and when he speeds up or slows down his stroke. There will be several different types of paced strokes that will take the exact same amount of time from start to finish.
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In my case, it did not take months to figure out that the new stroke worked better than the old one. More like a couple weeks. Like I said, a pool stroke has a lot fewer moving parts than a golf stroke and once I got familiar with how the new stroke felt it didn't take long to imprint it on my subconscious. I used the previously mentioned stroke drills as the yard stick, going from making many of the 50 yard line straight in shots to making all of them.
So, back to this, you are saying that when you slow down the back and forth speed of your cue that it works better than using a faster back and forth speed? My experience is mostly the opposite, where if I go real slow I can see some wobble in my cue that is distracting to say the least. I have tried moving it real slow to try to make it smooth but can't seem to make that happen even by trying to force it, which tightens up my arm, which can't be a good thing.
I may well have some sort of body mechanics abnormality in my right arm that is having that effect. I am probably lucky that I shoot right handed due to the broken elbow and collar bone on the left side (from bicycle wrecks).
If I speed it up enough I no longer see any wobble, even tho it might still be there. The address of the ball looks correct and the CB does what it is supposed to and it all feels right. That said, I am pretty sure my stoke speed is still slower than many and I know it is slower than it had been prior to me re-engineering my stroke.
I spent a lot of time watching pros playing tournaments, online lessons and reading books and tried a few different approaches (pause just before the shot, don't pause before the shot and different styles) and ended up with very little pause and a somewhat shorter stroke. I understand the reasoning behind it but the longer pause at the end of the last back swing did not work well for me at all, causing the shot to veer.
I don't know but would suspect that there is no magic stroking speed that is right for everyone and that each player needs to find out what works for them. The results should tell you something.
What would I find in the book beyond your description of "contact point aim"? I like your description. What does Mark Wilson add?
I understand, but when amateurs stroke overly fast it's because they are adding conscious effort to drive or thrust the cue forward. The backswing should be smooth and "buttery", the transition paced and the acceleration for most shots will occur naturally if the backswing was long enough to begin.
One reason for quick amateur strokes--shortened backswing (not all the way back to the bridge hand) followed by thrust or jab forward, as opposed to a smoothly accelerating cue from a long backswing and return to the cue ball.
My original comment was pretty simple. Let me rephrase it: If you are having trouble then the first thing to check is whether you are rushing your stroke beyond what is normal for you. Someone said this is what Buddy Hall recommended. For me, I am sure to take the cue back slower, which leads to a slower transition. The forward movement is going to be what it has to be for that particular shot. I think Fran is a big proponent of having a good transition, which I can certainly vouch for.
Mark Wilson adds quite a bit about what you do to align your cue correctly to the shot line and what you do with your eyes once you are down in the shooting position- the book is worth 10 times $75 if you are willing to read it, understand it, put it all into practice, review your videos constantly - I have stayed with the book for 10 months now and it has resulted in my largest game improvements by far.