Yes for accomplished veterans like yourself. The rest apparently benefit from the methodical stability.
The Pause
- Thread starter Matt_24
- Start date
Don't tell us, tell that to all of the pro's that have a pronounced pause at the end of their backstroke, they obviously have a lot to learn, you should teach them.
Just a couple of bangers here but if they are using a pause it can't be seen in the half dozen or so games I watched.
Hu
Hu
Yeah, I think I said in an earlier post Efren has a unique rhythm to his practice strokes and follow through with no pronounced pause. And his approach is very consistent/repetitive.
That "consistent/repetive part is the thing. Twenty years or longer ago few of the top pro's, particularly US pro's, had the same stroke. All self taught or taught by those without a guideline, they did whatever got them through the night! It was hard for some of them to go undercover, their stroke was their calling card.
Hu
Fedor definitely pauses, at least on any somewhat difficult shot. I didn’t watch the whole match but I skipped around a bit and that’s what I saw.
Which just confirms it isn't a consistent pause. He didn't put in a visible pause in the first half of the nine ball set. If he did use a visible pause later it is proof it isn't consistent.
I preferred a smooth transition to a visible pause which by the nature of the beast breaks your shot into at least three stages or phases. You have the warm up strokes which often don't have a pause, the paused state, and a final forward stroke as the third stage or phase of the stroke.
Fedor's sometimes pause demonstrates it isn't an absolute must for a good stroke. It doesn't really matter. I have never seen a rulebook specify you must pause or that you can't pause.
A natural pause as part of your stroke is fine. If you have to think about pausing it is costing you.
Hu
So... To characterize a player's use of a pause at the end of the backstroke, we need to say:
- how long the cue stick is completely motionless -- instantaneous, a tenth of a second, three seconds (I'm looking at you, Melling)
- what is the spread of pause times -- always the same, a little variation, from zero to a second, ...
- what shots tend to have more pause -- difficult shot, difficult position, power stroke, ...
- (some other stuff?)
I tried to do the characterization a little for a couple of the videos linked above. It was very hard to actually measure the time. YouTube is 1/30th of a second per frame, but sometimes a frame is skipped and sometimes a frame is repeated in the same video, I guess because of the input frame rate.
Also, due to the quality of the video, it can be very, very hard to see if the cue stick is actually stopped, or is just near the "peak" of the swing. Some of the pauses were down at 3 frames or so, which is a tenth of a second, and it's not clear that the stick is really stopped.
You need a good camera angle to get a good measurement. Face-on is nearly worthless; side view and a closeup of the player is best.
An indicator of having different gears.
Or perhaps the dance analogy of dancing a waltz or the mambo.
Different situations call for a different style.
If I am facing a straight forward conect the dots out going too slow can get me into trouble. Of course the same for too fast. So the Goldie Locks speed is variable depending on what condition my condition is in.
Check out Stephen Hendry's pause as he gives a lesson.
Hopkins stroke had no power.Many players with powerful strokes such as Buddy and Earl have a pause at the end the backstroke, none have jabbing stroke like Allen.
A pause will keep you from transition quickly, hence not jerking the cue.
Allen was a straight pool champion. The short jab stroke could provide precision over power.
A straight pool required precision put on display in the current record holder. He brings the power And precision And he's looking at whitey when he's launching it.
Oh wow, I found it.
Reyes, Archer, Him^^,
just make all the balls...
Mizerak, Sigel, Rempe and Varner were straight pool players to but with powerful strokes.Hopkins never had a power stroke.Allen was a straight pool champion. The short jab stroke could provide precision over power.
A straight pool required precision put on display in the current record holder. He brings the power And precision And he's looking at whitey when he's launching it.
I witnessed Hopkins beating Varner, Sigel, and J Fusco in a 4 day round robin including rotation games at West End in NJ- he had enough power in his stroke to beat the best in the world at games requiring the most power!
Hopkins stroke looks bad visuallyBUT - watch it closely - he gets the cue tip all the way through the cue ball- it really is not a jab stroke that ENDs at the CB.
No one can be a champion with a true jab stroke - the Cue always has to get through the cb in order to induce needed follow, draw, spin. It is not where the cue starts - it is where the cue ends up in relation to the CB strike that matters most- you don’t need a physics degree to understand this - just observe closely - the eyes don’t lie!
Watched a lot of his videoed matches long ago. I can't remember him having an issue with power. He always had all he needed. An unusual stroke but no lack of power. As you say, his stroke did everything it needed to.
Hu
I never doubted that he is a great player but he did not do it because of his stroke but in spite of it.Show me an example where he executes a power stroke, say a long draw shot.I'm waiting.