Good to see you around posting Danny, Was great having you up to Sandcastle for the Accu-Stats event... May the Christmas spirit treat you well thru the holidays...
Chris
The Great Experiment Begins
- Thread starter jay helfert
- Start date
Good to see you around posting Danny, Was great having you up to Sandcastle for the Accu-Stats event... May the Christmas spirit treat you well thru the holidays...
Chris
God blessed fish stories. Hell, I ran 56 with a peanut shoved up my left nostril, a patch over my eyes and chicken lips embedded in my buttocks. Anyone can do that.
Jay, try to play scotch doubles by yourself. Meaning shoot every other shot left handed. If you try to just shoot all lefty it will drive you nuts. I practice this way whenever I am not playing well and it seems to help straighten me out. I seem to concentrate more playing lefty so it slows me down just enough to fix whatever it is that I am doing wrong...dropping shoulder, lifting head or just banging.
this will fit right in...
Without a doubt, one of my all time favorites and for those who may have missed it, enjoy.
best,
brian kc
Mark Twain Anecdote
While attending a billiard tourney on the evening of April 24, 1906, Mr. Twain was called on to speak. He told this story:
THE game of billiards has destroyed my naturally sweet disposition. Once, when I was an underpaid reporter in Virginia City, whenever I wished to play billiards I went out to look for an easy mark. One day a stranger came to town and opened a billiard parlor. I looked him over casually. When he proposed a game, I answered, "All right."
"Just knock the balls around a little so that I can get your gait," he said; and when I had done so, he remarked: "I will be perfectly fair with you. I'll play you left-handed." I felt hurt, for he was cross-eyed, freckled, and had red hair, and I determined to teach him a lesson. He won first shot, ran out, took my half-dollar, and all I got was the opportunity to chalk my cue.
"If you can play like that with your left hand," I said, "I'd like to see you play with your right."
"I can't," he said. "I'm left-handed."
Without a doubt, one of my all time favorites and for those who may have missed it, enjoy.
best,
brian kc
Mark Twain Anecdote
While attending a billiard tourney on the evening of April 24, 1906, Mr. Twain was called on to speak. He told this story:
THE game of billiards has destroyed my naturally sweet disposition. Once, when I was an underpaid reporter in Virginia City, whenever I wished to play billiards I went out to look for an easy mark. One day a stranger came to town and opened a billiard parlor. I looked him over casually. When he proposed a game, I answered, "All right."
"Just knock the balls around a little so that I can get your gait," he said; and when I had done so, he remarked: "I will be perfectly fair with you. I'll play you left-handed." I felt hurt, for he was cross-eyed, freckled, and had red hair, and I determined to teach him a lesson. He won first shot, ran out, took my half-dollar, and all I got was the opportunity to chalk my cue.
"If you can play like that with your left hand," I said, "I'd like to see you play with your right."
"I can't," he said. "I'm left-handed."
Advice that I have given him for years.
Well, Danny, not that I couldn't be mistaken, but I have a pretty vivid memory of this. It was a number of years ago at Side Pockets in Blue Springs, on one of the middle tables on the second row from the front. It was during the playoffs in our straight pool league. There was a semi match going on, and I was waiting to play in the final match.
You asked if I wanted to play some to warm up, and I said "yes, but three conditions . . . while you're shooting, you have to tell me what you're thinking. While I'm shooting, you have to tell me what I should be thinking. And you have to play left-handed."
I broke, then you made a ball, nudged the stack open, and I swear I racked the balls at least seven more times before you were done running balls. I could be wrong, but I remember telling people "glad I'm getting warmed up." I thought, "if I didn't know Danny was right handed, I'd never guess, watching this."
I even remember very specifically a shot you made during one rack. You explained that you were sending the cueball two rails to come around and bump a ball in the middle of the table a few inches uptable, so it could serve as a potential break ball in the side pocket if nothing else better materialized. You executed it perfectly.
That shot made me realize the difference between how world-class straight pool players think and execute, as compared to hacks like me. Thank goodness the league was handicapped, or none of us would have had a chance (well, maybe Gene Albrecht, if he was having a good day, and you had the flu).
Anyway, right or wrong, I'm not full of it. That's how I remember it.
Hope you're well. It was a real pleasure to play with you for a while on a regular basis.
That is so funny.
The way the subject had always come up for me is when someone actually sees me do it. (I'm not instructor for sure ) Otherwise I doubt I'd even remember to bring it up in discussion. It does offer and interesting alternative for action when weight can't be settled on.Good for you though and best of luck !
I'll try this, thanks.
i'm wondering if is this your strategy to make the mosconi cup team next year?
Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha
Some thoughts from other sports. I was a competitive pistol shooter, then for 16 years a combat pistol instructor. You also HAD to shoot weak handed. Most instructors at the higher level could shoot as well weak handed but took twice as long in sight alignment and trigger pull.
Then when taking fly fishing lessons I found that my 60 years of spin fishing wrecked my fly casting. When my right arm got tired I switched to the left. Whoa, I could cast twice as far and plop a fly right on top of the head of a moving fish 3,4 or 5 times as he swam around.
The instructor said that since you knew what to do, you just would do it with the left hand. The right would always spaz into default spin mode.
Having said all that no one should get within 58 inches of me should I shoot pool left handed.
Then when taking fly fishing lessons I found that my 60 years of spin fishing wrecked my fly casting. When my right arm got tired I switched to the left. Whoa, I could cast twice as far and plop a fly right on top of the head of a moving fish 3,4 or 5 times as he swam around.
The instructor said that since you knew what to do, you just would do it with the left hand. The right would always spaz into default spin mode.
Having said all that no one should get within 58 inches of me should I shoot pool left handed.
Last night I was practicing pool with my son at a new pool room and I was using only my opposite hand. Two fellows were sweating our match pretty hard and I whispered to my son, "I hope they're clocking our speed." and he laughed. Later that night, I heard from another regular, that these two guys were new to the are and that they were doing exactly that and that they both gambled. Boy, are they in for a surprise. 
JoeyA
JoeyA
I learned to play left handed just out of boredom. Spending hours and hours in a poolhall, me and a friend just got bored and decided to try and play opposite handed after being bored shooting sets and 9ball. Like you, it was horrible starting out. I just concentrated on my stroke, and thought about every little movement i was making, something i didnt have to do with my right hand because it just comes natural and a thoughtless process after years of playing with that hand. We played like this for probably about 8 hours, and by the end, we were both playing remarkably well. And after that i never practiced it again, other than having to play a shot here and there in a game where it was needed. But just after that one day, it doesnt feel un-natural for me anymore and pretty much every shot i play lefty in a game i make. Some people will need longer and more practice, some less. But it might be a thought to try it for a whole practice session instead of for just 30 minutes at a time. But believe me, after a few hours of this, you'll need a break because its very tiring playing with your off hand. Good LUCK! :grin:
Thanks Demon
Hi Jay,
Few would be willing to do this, but I think the best way to fast forward opp hand playing is to spend 1 hour + per day simply swinging the arm back and forward whilst standing in the bridging position... about 1 min at a time, stand up, rest 30 seconds and repeat etc. I used to do it facing into a mirror, so I could more easily watch my cueing, in order to keep it as straight as possible... sometimes fast, sometimes slow... mix it up. nb. You will ache!
This trains the neuromuscular system how to activate the muscles in the correct sequence to develop a smooth at straight stroke at will. Within a week you'll feel much better over the cue, to the point where power shots with english are possible.
You already know where to hit the balls, so once you get the cueing to feel comfortable and predictable, it's just a matter of learning how to sight the aim with your head on the silly side of the cue.
Few would be willing to do this, but I think the best way to fast forward opp hand playing is to spend 1 hour + per day simply swinging the arm back and forward whilst standing in the bridging position... about 1 min at a time, stand up, rest 30 seconds and repeat etc. I used to do it facing into a mirror, so I could more easily watch my cueing, in order to keep it as straight as possible... sometimes fast, sometimes slow... mix it up. nb. You will ache!
This trains the neuromuscular system how to activate the muscles in the correct sequence to develop a smooth at straight stroke at will. Within a week you'll feel much better over the cue, to the point where power shots with english are possible.
You already know where to hit the balls, so once you get the cueing to feel comfortable and predictable, it's just a matter of learning how to sight the aim with your head on the silly side of the cue.
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Okay, Day Four in the books. I'm starting to listen to the suggestions I've had on here. I realize now that 30 minutes a day is not that much. But that is the trial I made for myself to see what I can accomplish over 30 of these sessions. It's still not much fun for me to bang balls around left handed but I plan to stick to it and see what happens. Otherwise what's the point? 
I basically did the same thing as the first three days, just hit a lot of balls. But today I added some drills, like shooting all long shots and then all cut shots. I am very much aware that to have any proficiency I need to develop my stroke, which is almost non existent. If you saw me play, I would look just like a 'banger' in a bar. So my focus now is trying to find some semblance of a consistent stroke. I even shot for a while in the mirror to see how I looked.
All that said, I could feel the progress. I was more consistent on the hangers/easy shots, even getting confident I could make them. And I did for the most part. I only miscued once today and I made quite a few long shots that felt pretty damn good. I am still uncomfortable, but judging by the results, no question I am improving. It's a slow process and I accept that. I skipped one day yesterday and could feel that I needed to get back on this horse today. It's not bucking quite as hard now. :wink:
I basically did the same thing as the first three days, just hit a lot of balls. But today I added some drills, like shooting all long shots and then all cut shots. I am very much aware that to have any proficiency I need to develop my stroke, which is almost non existent. If you saw me play, I would look just like a 'banger' in a bar. So my focus now is trying to find some semblance of a consistent stroke. I even shot for a while in the mirror to see how I looked.
All that said, I could feel the progress. I was more consistent on the hangers/easy shots, even getting confident I could make them. And I did for the most part. I only miscued once today and I made quite a few long shots that felt pretty damn good. I am still uncomfortable, but judging by the results, no question I am improving. It's a slow process and I accept that. I skipped one day yesterday and could feel that I needed to get back on this horse today. It's not bucking quite as hard now. :wink:
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Jay,
One other thing I do that you might try is when you chalk your cue, do it the opposite handed, too.
And when you approach an opposite-handed shot, do the whole set-up that way.
But the chalking thingy is the trigger that tells your mind to switch sides.
Hope that makes sense,
Jeff Livingston
One other thing I do that you might try is when you chalk your cue, do it the opposite handed, too.
And when you approach an opposite-handed shot, do the whole set-up that way.
But the chalking thingy is the trigger that tells your mind to switch sides.
Hope that makes sense,
Jeff Livingston
Tony Robles would approve of what you're doing, Jay. I recall that back in about 1999, Tony joined the weekly nine ball league at Corner Billiards, a local NYC poolroom, and played the entire season opposite handed. He was handicapped based on his opposite handed skills, and, if memory serves, sometimes strong amateurs had to spot Tony as much as the six ball.
I remember that Tony enjoyed the experience and improved his opposite handed skills significantly.
I remember that Tony enjoyed the experience and improved his opposite handed skills significantly.