The best stroke/cue action you have seen
- Thread starter Cue Alchemist
- Start date
Earl Strickland all day, he's the best I've ever seen at the power draw and follow shot. He can even do a power draw shot while jumping the ball with a full length cue. Fedor probably has the most smooth and mechanically sound stroke. He does drop his elbow but that's not a big deal imo.
2024.....
Shaw/Earl.............
But.... Shaw has more cue power therefore in both their primes I'd have to pick Shaw.
Earl was created/borne with a ''straight swing''.
Shaw/Earl.............
But.... Shaw has more cue power therefore in both their primes I'd have to pick Shaw.
Earl was created/borne with a ''straight swing''.
Chris Melling's stroke is a thing of beauty.
I’ve never understood why some people think elbow-dropping is bad…it adds a facet to your game that is necessary.
I saw a guy once that had the smoothest stroke and form I've ever seen.
Then I realized the wall next to my table was all mirrors.
Then I realized the wall next to my table was all mirrors.
It's the difference between someone who understands and another who's not willing to ''stand'' not being understood when they are incorrect.
Th
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When I was a kid and thought I was a world beater an old man told me that I anticipate contact with the CB. I therefore, for a lack of a better word, would “flinch” a little at tip/CB contact.
He said you have to accelerate smoothly through the CB or your stroke, and the way the CB responds will never be smooth or consistent. The pendulum stroke with tip going to cloth is automatic if you go “finish”, can’t drop your elbow and get there.
Since then I’ve watched many players do the same whether intentionally or subconsciously.
I was told and taught to focus on my “finish”, as in the last letter in “SPF” refers too. I know you can’t let your stroke out on a lot of shots, and sometimes you only can move the tip a couple of inches.
He said instead of thinking about hitting the CB harder, think of getting to your finish faster, once Set my eyes shift to CP on OB and I don’t look at CB at all, it’s just something that’s in the way of my stroke. It really changed my game but might not work for all
He said you have to accelerate smoothly through the CB or your stroke, and the way the CB responds will never be smooth or consistent. The pendulum stroke with tip going to cloth is automatic if you go “finish”, can’t drop your elbow and get there.
Since then I’ve watched many players do the same whether intentionally or subconsciously.
I was told and taught to focus on my “finish”, as in the last letter in “SPF” refers too. I know you can’t let your stroke out on a lot of shots, and sometimes you only can move the tip a couple of inches.
He said instead of thinking about hitting the CB harder, think of getting to your finish faster, once Set my eyes shift to CP on OB and I don’t look at CB at all, it’s just something that’s in the way of my stroke. It really changed my game but might not work for all
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The Old Jaybird
Well-known member
my humble opinion, Jimmy Moore had an awesome stroke.
Flakeandrun
Well-known member
I thought he used a system of weights, pulleys (and sacrifices to the pool Gods) to develop such a blessed limb
WobblyStroke
Well-known member
All strokes finish. Even those with elbow drops. Focusing on your finish and letting the stroke complete is good advice for all techniques.
Nothing wrong with an elbow drop and finish if it’s consistent for you. I needed more of a target on my chest to be consistent, kudos to those who are consistent with whatever method they use. Like I said at the end of my post, “might not work for all”
Wayne Crimi
Member
When we are talking about great strokes are we talking about accuracy, power, smoothness or some combination?
In theory I would think the less movement there is between the hand, wrist, elbow and shoulder, the greater the accuracy will be. But less movement can inhibit how much action and power you get.
A guy like Allen Hopkins had very little backstroke and movement, probably hit the cueball as accurately as anyone out there, but there were limitations.
A guy like Earl Strickland moves his elbow, shoulder and sometimes even his wrist a bit but he can do things with the cueball that most other pros can't and he was still one of the best shotmakers ever at his peak.
To me, some of the Philippians had very relaxed grips and very relaxed smooth strokes.
Logic and standard belief is that most of the movement should come from the elbow, but I've had my best success when my shoulder gets into the stroke like Earl, especially at nine ball. It gives me way more power, way more action on the cueball, and in my specific case more accuracy because it extends my follow through further. That way my stroke doesn't break down at the end and veer left or right the way it sometimes does with more elbow action.
Still, I'm probably the last person on earth to give advice beyond observation because I've been tinkering with my mechanics for decades trying to find the right grip and hand action.
In theory I would think the less movement there is between the hand, wrist, elbow and shoulder, the greater the accuracy will be. But less movement can inhibit how much action and power you get.
A guy like Allen Hopkins had very little backstroke and movement, probably hit the cueball as accurately as anyone out there, but there were limitations.
A guy like Earl Strickland moves his elbow, shoulder and sometimes even his wrist a bit but he can do things with the cueball that most other pros can't and he was still one of the best shotmakers ever at his peak.
To me, some of the Philippians had very relaxed grips and very relaxed smooth strokes.
Logic and standard belief is that most of the movement should come from the elbow, but I've had my best success when my shoulder gets into the stroke like Earl, especially at nine ball. It gives me way more power, way more action on the cueball, and in my specific case more accuracy because it extends my follow through further. That way my stroke doesn't break down at the end and veer left or right the way it sometimes does with more elbow action.
Still, I'm probably the last person on earth to give advice beyond observation because I've been tinkering with my mechanics for decades trying to find the right grip and hand action.