Here is one little concept thats helped me hone my stroke recently. Just as one adjusts the length of their bridge and stroke depending on the shot, you can also change the plane of your stroke relative to your body.
Stand normally and hold the cue parallel to your body, facing straight up. This is one end of the plane, let us call this 90 degrees. Now hold the cue parallel to the floor and perfectly perpendicular to your body, this is the other extreme, let us call this 0 degrees. When you get down on your shot, your plane is somewhere between these two extremes. The plane describes the angle the cue makes relative to the floor (and your body) when you are down on a shot.
For example, in order to get into a stance with a 45 degree plane, stand straight up, and hold the cue at a 45 degree angle from the floor (and your body), at the same distance as it will be when you are down on the shot. Then lower the cue and your body until the cue is parallel to the table and you are in your stance. Some players use this as a preshot routine, notably snooker players such as John Horsfall.
Being aware of the plane of your stroke adds a new element to your arsenal. All players adjust the plane of their stroke unconsciously, including professionals, depending on the shot. One can essentially change the power and accuracy of one's stroke by changing the plane. A plane closer to 0 degrees (parallel to the floor) will be more powerful, while one closer to 90 degrees (parallel to your body) will be more accurate. For a breakshot, try standing straight up, and holding the cue so that it makes an angle of about 20 degrees with the floor, again holding it at the same distance as it will be when down in your stance, then lower yourself and the cue until the cue is parallel to the table. You will be standing more upright, with your head higher and farther back, giving you a more powerful but less accurate stroke. Contrast this with holding the cue 70 degrees from the floor, so that it is much closer to being parallel with your body than with the floor, then lower yourself and the cue until the cue is parallel. Your head is now down lower and farther forward, and your stroking hand is closer to the front of your body than earlier, providing more accuracy but a bit less power. If one naturally tends to stand more upright, then a lower plane is appropriate, while low crouchers can use a higher plane and still have room to stroke.
Stand normally and hold the cue parallel to your body, facing straight up. This is one end of the plane, let us call this 90 degrees. Now hold the cue parallel to the floor and perfectly perpendicular to your body, this is the other extreme, let us call this 0 degrees. When you get down on your shot, your plane is somewhere between these two extremes. The plane describes the angle the cue makes relative to the floor (and your body) when you are down on a shot.
For example, in order to get into a stance with a 45 degree plane, stand straight up, and hold the cue at a 45 degree angle from the floor (and your body), at the same distance as it will be when you are down on the shot. Then lower the cue and your body until the cue is parallel to the table and you are in your stance. Some players use this as a preshot routine, notably snooker players such as John Horsfall.
Being aware of the plane of your stroke adds a new element to your arsenal. All players adjust the plane of their stroke unconsciously, including professionals, depending on the shot. One can essentially change the power and accuracy of one's stroke by changing the plane. A plane closer to 0 degrees (parallel to the floor) will be more powerful, while one closer to 90 degrees (parallel to your body) will be more accurate. For a breakshot, try standing straight up, and holding the cue so that it makes an angle of about 20 degrees with the floor, again holding it at the same distance as it will be when down in your stance, then lower yourself and the cue until the cue is parallel to the table. You will be standing more upright, with your head higher and farther back, giving you a more powerful but less accurate stroke. Contrast this with holding the cue 70 degrees from the floor, so that it is much closer to being parallel with your body than with the floor, then lower yourself and the cue until the cue is parallel. Your head is now down lower and farther forward, and your stroking hand is closer to the front of your body than earlier, providing more accuracy but a bit less power. If one naturally tends to stand more upright, then a lower plane is appropriate, while low crouchers can use a higher plane and still have room to stroke.
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I can't put much faith in RandyG's rule of thumb.
