I read The above book secret art of pool and I thought it was really good. In one section of the book he talks about " feeling the pinch". He describes this feeling as a pinch between bicep and forearm. He claims if you don't feel this pinch than your not hitting the cueball properly. If its that important why not go into great detail this feeling? What is he refering too? Anybody have a better explanation ? Thanks everyone
The secret art of pool, "feeling the pinch"
- Thread starter clarkie39
- Start date
I have his DVD. A fine work.
What you ask is covered in the DVD and I'm not going to try to describe it in writing.
You really need to get the DVD.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year
John
I understand what he means. I felt it when I read what you 'said'. It is a similiar feeling to that point on the top side of your wrist on the thumb side between the thumb & the index finger.
Those two spots are the connection of the two moving parts of the stroke.
Consider your forearm & hand as two pieces of wood & your fingers as leather straps. The leather straps connect the cue to your hand block of wood... & your wrist, a leather hinge that connects your hand block of wood to your forearm 2x4 piece of wood. Now at the top of your forearm 2x4 is another leather hinge which is your elbow.
You need to feel the 'pinch' of that leather 'hinge' that is your elbow just to the outside of center. When I say elbow I mean on the inside of the bend not the bone side. You need to feel the 'pinch' as well of the leather 'hinge' that is your wrist connecting your hand block to your forearm 2x4, as I said, in that spot on the wrist between the thumb & index finger.
Those two places are the hinging sections of the stroke & you need to feel a 'pinch' in them when stroking the cue properly in his opinion. I would tend to agree but I would not say that that is the only way to stroke a cue and must have those feelings. There are other ways that may not give one those sensations.
The word 'pinch' is his term & I can not think of a more approprite one at this time. Maybe if those areas were actually leather but leather that could relay a feeling it would be the creasing of the leather at those points. Now since those points are not inanimate pieces of material but actually biological components they do transmit feelings. I do not know the proper term but as I said I understood when you said 'pinch'.
I hope this helps or at least gives you more food for thought.
Best Regards,,
Those two spots are the connection of the two moving parts of the stroke.
Consider your forearm & hand as two pieces of wood & your fingers as leather straps. The leather straps connect the cue to your hand block of wood... & your wrist, a leather hinge that connects your hand block of wood to your forearm 2x4 piece of wood. Now at the top of your forearm 2x4 is another leather hinge which is your elbow.
You need to feel the 'pinch' of that leather 'hinge' that is your elbow just to the outside of center. When I say elbow I mean on the inside of the bend not the bone side. You need to feel the 'pinch' as well of the leather 'hinge' that is your wrist connecting your hand block to your forearm 2x4, as I said, in that spot on the wrist between the thumb & index finger.
Those two places are the hinging sections of the stroke & you need to feel a 'pinch' in them when stroking the cue properly in his opinion. I would tend to agree but I would not say that that is the only way to stroke a cue and must have those feelings. There are other ways that may not give one those sensations.
The word 'pinch' is his term & I can not think of a more approprite one at this time. Maybe if those areas were actually leather but leather that could relay a feeling it would be the creasing of the leather at those points. Now since those points are not inanimate pieces of material but actually biological components they do transmit feelings. I do not know the proper term but as I said I understood when you said 'pinch'.
I hope this helps or at least gives you more food for thought.
Best Regards,,
I think he is reffering to the pressure between the bicep and forearm at the end of your stroke durring follow through. If there is no pressure, you are likely dipping your elbow.
Yeah; I haven't read the book but the OP had me wondering if it was simply the closing of the arm (biceps muscle against forearm) at the end of a pendulum stroke.
the pinch
he is correct its like if you have your shirt sleave rolled up and you close your arm all the way you pinch the shirt sleave. the only way i know how to put it into words but i do know when i am missing im not feeling the pinch if i am in stroke i do
he is correct its like if you have your shirt sleave rolled up and you close your arm all the way you pinch the shirt sleave. the only way i know how to put it into words but i do know when i am missing im not feeling the pinch if i am in stroke i do
Some players feel the pinch particularly on a very well struck draw stroke. I say some because the caveat here is if the wrist is turned in or the player's stance allows them to pocket balls without both the lower and upper arm on the aim line there will not be a pinch. Think of someone with an unusual arm/hand combination like Earthquake McCready. Not likely to feel the same "pinch".
The pinch is a confirmation that the lower and upper arms have come together just so--not needed on most shots, by the way, of course...
Does that make sense to you?
The pinch is a confirmation that the lower and upper arms have come together just so--not needed on most shots, by the way, of course...
Does that make sense to you?
Last edited:
I can ask Lee--I talked with him yesterday about something else--but you only get that anatomical feeling using a certain arm angle on certain strokes. Turn your wrist so that your lower arm is in fist curl position for that weight lifting exercise. Bring your lower arms and upper arms tightly together. You get close to a pinch--which interestingly can be done on a pool stroke with far less muscle effort exerted. You are describing the same thing I am describing.
Hi Matt,
Our different attempts to describe the same thing is certainly a good thing because saying the same thing in different ways can be beneficial to some that do not quite get it when said in one way.
We are just discussing it. I did not mean to be criticize your description. I was just attempting to claify.
So... I have another clarifying question. Do you feel that this 'pinch' is a good thing or a bad thing?
I sincerely hope You had a Merry Christmas!
Best Wishes & Have a Happy New Year Too,
PS I just re-read this & I think I need a new laptop as there were at least 10 errors. There was even an issue typing this out. Sorry for all of the initial mistakes.
Our different attempts to describe the same thing is certainly a good thing because saying the same thing in different ways can be beneficial to some that do not quite get it when said in one way.
We are just discussing it. I did not mean to be criticize your description. I was just attempting to claify.
So... I have another clarifying question. Do you feel that this 'pinch' is a good thing or a bad thing?
I sincerely hope You had a Merry Christmas!
Best Wishes & Have a Happy New Year Too,
PS I just re-read this & I think I need a new laptop as there were at least 10 errors. There was even an issue typing this out. Sorry for all of the initial mistakes.
Last edited:
I appreciate you, Rick. I wasn't taking it badly at all. Clarification is good and I tell most students, "Ask me as many questions as you like or there will be issues for you later..."
The pinch is a good thing for me on certain strongly struck shots. I'm going low and level on so many strokes and hold the cue very loosely. But I have a DVD coming from Lee to review and I'll check it out for sure...
Again, if you hold the cue sidesaddle or don't add extra oomph to follow through on a shot you won't feel the pinch often IMO--if I'm understanding Mr. Brett's concept.
The pinch is a good thing for me on certain strongly struck shots. I'm going low and level on so many strokes and hold the cue very loosely. But I have a DVD coming from Lee to review and I'll check it out for sure...
Again, if you hold the cue sidesaddle or don't add extra oomph to follow through on a shot you won't feel the pinch often IMO--if I'm understanding Mr. Brett's concept.
Matt,
I think we are thinking about two different meanings of the author's use of the word 'pinch'. I think he was referring to that feeling being the 'sign' of a well performed stroke due to using the anatomical components correctly,
I am not a power type player & rarely hit 'power' type shots. As I said I could feel that 'pinch' spot in the inside of my elbow area just by reading the description. I can feel it on a soft slow rolled shot with no where near a full finish.
It seems to me that you are referring to a complete finish were the upper & lower arm would meet & create a 'pinch'.
IMHO I do not think that is what the author means as that could so easily be described without the use of the word 'pinch'. However I could be wrong.
Best Wishes,
Last edited: