Swing Speed

[av84fun]

Dave...as ANT812 suggested, shot speed ought to be a function of nothing more than the shape required on the next shot.

Of course, there are often several ways to get shape. Soquet typically uses minimal CB travel and will take a longer/harder shot by moving the CB 1 foot, instead going 2 rails to create an easier shot.

On the other hand, Earl seems to like to run it 3 rails seemingly for no reason other than he CAN! (-:

In your case, based on what you posted, it seems to me that...for example...you might choose a stun run through on a longish shot to send the CB forward a diamond rather than to roll it.

That's fine. Stun run throughs are one of my most practiced shots. I too don't like rolling shots partly because the stroke can feel contrived as you suggest and partly because of table/cloth imperfections.

But as far as slow paced shots feeling contrived, I was taught by a very top player to severely shorten my bridge length...move the grip hand forward to achieve a perpendicular forearm....and then be able to take a "full backstroke" all the way back to my bridge hand...BUT...due to the short bridge, that full backstroke is sometimes only an inch or two.

Stroked that way, slow paced shots feel fine...featuring a true, smoothly acceleration forward stroke but one which is so short that the accelleration is not allowed to generate much speed.

But bottom line...the questions are:

1. How often do you miss makable shots and
2. When you do miss, would a slower pace have avoided it.

For 99% of all amateur players, the answers to the above two questions would be...1. Too often and 2. Yes.

Regards,
Jim

 

[av84fun]

I never got in that situation myself...what you need to do is some speed control drills...here is one that will test your pluck...put a ball on the foot spot and with the CB straight out from the corner pocket shoot it in and draw back 6~7 inches. Without touching the CB put another ball on the spot and shoot again, drawing back. Repeat as many balls as you can without ever touching the CB and not getting out of line. It's reputed that pros can get around 5 or 6 balls before the cueball gets too out of line to keep shooting. My personal best is 14 so who knows.

In your poll you left out the option for "I shoot at the speed that the shot dictates".

Craig...that drill REALLY pisses me off!!! (-:

14 is STRONG!!

10 is a great even money prop bet because the odds have to be at least 8/5 against even for pretty strong players.

(-:
Jim

 

[Scott Lee]

I think speed is a function of cue weight, and timing. It has nothing to do with whether the cue is back-weighted or front-weighted. It has to do with how your arm works with your body (pendulum swing), which creates a very accurate and repeatable process of delivering the cue in a perfectly straight line, at any speed. We don't use terminology like "soft", "hard", "medium", or "firm", because those are subjective terms that mean different things to different people. Our brains are already assimilated to using numerical scales and systems in everyday activities that we do. Consequently, assigning a numerical scale to learn your own speed control is much easier, and means the same thing to everyone, regardless of ability. It's also much easier to adjust to different table conditions more quickly, and accurately. I demonstrated our speed control drill at the DCC last year. We be demonstrating it again next week in Las Vegas, at the BCA tournament. Anyone is welcome to stop by and learn.

Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com

 

[Patrick Johnson]

Do you find it's easier to stroke straight at pocket speed than firmer? That should have been my poll question...

I think most players have a speed "comfort zone" - harder or softer and their stroke becomes less reliable. On lots of shots you have a choice (you can get the same position with different speeds), but not on all of them, so I think it's best to keep working on expanding your speed comfort zone.

In general, I think most habits in pool are bad ones.

pj
chgo

 

[BRKNRUN]

I think most players have a speed "comfort zone" - harder or softer and their stroke becomes less reliable. On lots of shots you have a choice (you can get the same position with different speeds), but not on all of them, so I think it's best to keep working on expanding your speed comfort zone.

In general, I think most habits in pool are bad ones.

pj
chgo

That is kind of looking at the glass half empty...

There is a line that goes something like to break a bad habit you need to replace it with a good habit...

So if you continually do that...eventually all your habits will be good ones....

That all being said...a "bad habit" is not always a bad thing......If you have identified a "bad habit" you now have an opportunity to correct it and turn it into a good habit...

It's the habits you don't know about that are a problem...

 

[Patrick Johnson]

There is a line that goes something like to break a bad habit you need to replace it with a good habit...

So if you continually do that...eventually all your habits will be good ones....

I'd like to replace all my pool habits with conscious decisions that I just make faster and faster.

pj
chgo

 

[BRKNRUN]

I'd like to replace all my pool habits with conscious decisions that I just make faster and faster.

pj
chgo

See...I agree with you on that...(but you left out that part of the quote)

It's the habits you don't know about that are the problem.....

(I left out the word "bad" on purpose...because it includes "good" habits)

If you have a good habit that you don't know about...You may not be able to keep it in the future...and since you did not know about it...how would you know how to get it back?

 

[av84fun]

That is kind of looking at the glass half empty...

There is a line that goes something like to break a bad habit you need to replace it with a good habit...

So if you continually do that...eventually all your habits will be good ones....

That all being said...a "bad habit" is not always a bad thing......If you have identified a "bad habit" you now have an opportunity to correct it and turn it into a good habit...

It's the habits you don't know about that are a problem...

I agree with you here. Without a LOT of "habits" playing pool with any degree of skill would be impossible.

There is some debate in the scientific community as to whether the brain is capable of thinking about 2 issues simultaneously but there is little debate about the inability to process more than 2 things at once.

Since there are DOZENS of things to consider in every pool shot, the absence of "habitual behavior) would reduce the player to a sub-banger in a hurry.

The issue, of course, is as you have stated. Replace bad habits with good ones.

Actually, more importantly, KNOW THE DIFFERENCE!!!

(-:

Jim

 

[Jude Rosenstock]

I swing at mach 4 most of the time. Sometimes, I'll let it all out and show 'em mach 5.