The Art Of Accurate Cueing

FranCrimi said:
Great post and if I'm not incorrect --- classic snooker style.

I've watched Allison Fisher pull her cue back level for a few decades now. I have tried it and found that it does require some hand manipulation through the stroke. Your and others solution of gripping with your thumb and index finger isn't my thing. However, if the grip you're referring to is more of deep into the 'V' between both fingers, which I think I've seen often with snooker players, I find that more favorable than the former.

One thing I don't agree with (but I do understand why it's done) is what you didn't mention here, which is the bent bridge arm. That can be changed to a relaxed straight arm with a simple stance adjustment that doesn't compromise alignment or stability. In fact, I find that a straighter arm actually increases stability and also provides viewing at arm's length.
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The bent bridge arm is completely down to comfort, and personal factors such as height.... A lot of 6ft plus snooker players learn with a standard length cue so have to bend their arm.

I feel having more things contacting sturdy objects is better for stability. A cube for example is better at staying still than a ball. But, the straight arm can be just as sturdy, no more, no less IMO.
 
9Ballr said:
"The Art Of Accurate Cueing"

It's actually more just a skill than art.
Very developed skill but an art it is not.
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Depends if someone is drawing you when shooting. Does it then become art?

Err, thanks for chiming in with that wonderful nugget of a post :-)
 
Agreed...which is why cueing with the cuestick on the chin is also a choice, rather than a necessity. There are 10's of 1000's of highly skilled poolplayers from many eras that play in a more upright position. For a "chinned" player, all they have to do is put their chin 1" above the cue, to avoid any kind of head movement. I think we can agree that there are many ways to successfully execute a pool stroke.

Scott Lee
http://poolknowledge.com

Pidge said:
I mentioned about those that have their chin planted to the cue, like many snooker players. So in that aspect, making the cue travel anything but level to your set up will cause all kinds of head movement and upper body movement so I have to disagree with the method mentioned having no advantages.
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Neil said:
Good post, just would like to clarify one point to you. You say there is no right or wrong way to do it (stroking). I strongly disagree, and you will also in a moment or two. If what you currently doing with your stroke isn't delivering the cue in a straight and repeatable fashion, then you are doing it wrong and something has to change.
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I gotta disagree with you on the straight stroke comment. Repeatable I would agree is absolutely necessary. I have seen quite a few pro players on youtube who do not exactly have the straightest stroke yet they still play at an extremely high level. The only thing that would be left is even though they do not stroke perfectly straight their stroke is repeatable. Doing something uncomfortable to gain a straight stroke may hinder more than it helps you if you are consistently putting the tip where it needs to be.
 
Pidge said:
The bent bridge arm is completely down to comfort, and personal factors such as height.... A lot of 6ft plus snooker players learn with a standard length cue so have to bend their arm.

I feel having more things contacting sturdy objects is better for stability. A cube for example is better at staying still than a ball. But, the straight arm can be just as sturdy, no more, no less IMO.
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I'm sure the short snooker cues could be a problem for tall players, as you state, but I think I recall seeing shorter players bending their arms as well. I thought the bent bridge arm was mainly to facilitate a particular stance angle and weight distribution that could not be accomplished without it --- as opposed to simply a comfort level thing. My observation about it has been that it's more of a school of thought and not purely just a comfort issue.
 
Pidge said:
The bent bridge arm is completely down to comfort, and personal factors such as height.... A lot of 6ft plus snooker players learn with a standard length cue so have to bend their arm.

I feel having more things contacting sturdy objects is better for stability. A cube for example is better at staying still than a ball. But, the straight arm can be just as sturdy, no more, no less IMO.
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Straight arm is terrible advice. I don't know what decade US instructors are living in. :frown:
 
FranCrimi said:
I'm sure the short snooker cues could be a problem for tall players, as you state, but I think I recall seeing shorter players bending their arms as well. I thought the bent bridge arm was mainly to facilitate a particular stance angle and weight distribution that could not be accomplished without it --- as opposed to simply a comfort level thing. My observation about it has been that it's more of a school of thought and not purely just a comfort issue.
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It is. It is very much best practice in snooker circles. And snooker cues are the same length as pool cues afaik.
 
If you watch an overhead view of Francisco Bustamante, unless he is playing with side, he follows straight through the ball. His back swing is all over the place, but he gets back to the line of aim before or just as he is hitting the ball. And ultimately that is all that matters. But it's much easier to just stay on the line of aim for the entirety of the stroke.

I've played around with the idea that stroke accuracy is unnecessary, and focused entirely on alignment. The fact is my potting accuracy decrease by a lot.

The whole point of a slow straight back swing is so that you don't have to expend energy returning to the line of aim on your follow through. If straight back swing is detrimental to a player, I'm fairly certain it's because they aren't properly aligned.
 
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Ron Swanson said:
Straight arm is terrible advice. I don't know what decade US instructors are living in. :frown:
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Shooting with a straight, relaxed bridge arm is EXCELLENT advice. We are in the 2010 decade, last I checked. I'm sorry you're so confused. Maybe you should switch to your other posting name? Would that help you remember what decade you're in?

About your comment on length: I thought the average snooker cue was 55 inches; and some come with an attachable butt extension that can make them longer if needed. Have they decided to change their standard to conform to the length of a pool cue these days?
 
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as close as possible

Neil said:
Well, I have recommended that also on here. It doesn't change ones aiming abilities, but does greatly reduce steering of the cue. It can be a great band-aid on certain shots where extreme accuracy is required. Assuming of course that one can aim it correctly.
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I hope you're not advocating placing the bridge hand less than an inch from the CB, are you?

With a closed bridge at such a close range, one can't even see the tip of the cue at the address point, unless you stand up straight in your stance.

I understand your point about steering, and I know there's also an exception for every rule, and I've been teaching "nip" strokes for decades, but I always want to be able to see my cue tip when it strikes the CB.
 
as close as possible

Neil said:
Well, I have recommended that also on here. It doesn't change ones aiming abilities, but does greatly reduce steering of the cue. It can be a great band-aid on certain shots where extreme accuracy is required. Assuming of course that one can aim it correctly.
Click to expand...

I hope you're not advocating placing the bridge hand less than an inch from the CB, are you?

With a closed bridge at such a close range, one can't even see the tip of the cue at the address point, unless you stand up straight in your stance.

I understand your point about steering, and I know there's also an exception for every rule, - I've been teaching "nip" strokes for decades, but I always want to be able to see my cue tip at the address position.
 
Donny Lutz said:
I hope you're not advocating placing the bridge hand less than an inch from the CB, are you?

With a closed bridge at such a close range, one can't even see the tip of the cue at the address point, unless you stand up straight in your stance.

I understand your point about steering, and I know there's also an exception for every rule, - I've been teaching "nip" strokes for decades, but I always want to be able to see my cue tip at the address position.
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No, not that close at all. 3-4" will do the job just fine.
 
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