the stance
- Thread starter meucci
- Start date
There is no one stance that is right for everybody. Johnny Archer and Buddy Hall are going to have very different stances, simply because they have very different body frames and sizes. You need to find the stance that is right for you.
A good stance will provide stability for your body, and will get you in a position that will allow you to sight straight down the cue. It can be square up to the table, or it might be at a 45 degree angle or even more. Since we are all individuals, we may be much more comfortable with a different set-up.
As was pointed out, you need to be in a position that allows your stroke to move straight forward without your body getting in the way. My grip hand has to have enough room to go straight into my chest (actually, my right wrist comes right in to the side of my right pec.)
Comfort, Stability, allows you to sight straight down the cue, and lets your grip hand get straight up to your finish position.
Steve
A good stance will provide stability for your body, and will get you in a position that will allow you to sight straight down the cue. It can be square up to the table, or it might be at a 45 degree angle or even more. Since we are all individuals, we may be much more comfortable with a different set-up.
As was pointed out, you need to be in a position that allows your stroke to move straight forward without your body getting in the way. My grip hand has to have enough room to go straight into my chest (actually, my right wrist comes right in to the side of my right pec.)
Comfort, Stability, allows you to sight straight down the cue, and lets your grip hand get straight up to your finish position.
Steve
It's hard to answer the question without seeing you. The above is great info but I think really needs to be taught in person.
But a decent starting point, paraphrasing out of Maurice Daly's book:
1) Square off to the shot while standing away from the table.
2) Step INTO the shot. Do not kick your leg back. Step forward.
3) Pivot your back foot out by moving your toes out NOT the heel in. This will give you sort of a "T" stance.
But a decent starting point, paraphrasing out of Maurice Daly's book:
1) Square off to the shot while standing away from the table.
2) Step INTO the shot. Do not kick your leg back. Step forward.
3) Pivot your back foot out by moving your toes out NOT the heel in. This will give you sort of a "T" stance.
Do not kick your leg back? I'm afraid I must disagree. As an older (not OLD, just older!) player, I have found that there is a point in my approach and set up where kicking my rear foot back allows me to get down lower on the shot, without putting a lot of strain on my lower back.
You are correct that it is impossibly to totally address the question on the internet. Nothing beats a little face time with a qualified instructor.
Steve
You are correct that it is impossibly to totally address the question on the internet. Nothing beats a little face time with a qualified instructor.
Steve
pooltchr
"There is no one stance that's right for everybody"
I can't disagree with that and not trying to argue. I can only speak to my own experience. Stepping into the shot is one of the top 5 things I've learned in my game that produced significant improvement.
The back leg thing has been discussed here. Some see no or little importance some like myself see it as the best way to stay in alignment as I bend over. My theory is, its much easier to consistently place the front foot down than the back, just as it's easier to balance on a beam walking forward rather than backward. I've been wrong before.
Yes comfort is important but I might suggest that if after placing your front foot, you're not comfortable, then you're not placing it in a comfortable place.
Or your stance is wide and you are very low over the cue which could require an uncomfortably long stride forward. See your quote above.
I once made a bet with a friend that I could predict when he would make or miss a shot. The bet only concerned shots he "should" make. I was 95% correct. The indicator was strictly the back leg. When he placed his foot in the bucket he normally missed. When he stepped into the shot he normally made it.
Lastly, we agree neither one of us has seen meucci's stance plus I'm not a professional instructor like yourself but my 3 step process was stated as being "A Decent Starting Point." Adjustments are certainly acceptable but consistency should not be compromised.:smile:
I really do enjoy folks like yourself that have opposing views. That's how I learn.
Thanks for your contribution to AZB.
"There is no one stance that's right for everybody"
I can't disagree with that and not trying to argue. I can only speak to my own experience. Stepping into the shot is one of the top 5 things I've learned in my game that produced significant improvement.
The back leg thing has been discussed here. Some see no or little importance some like myself see it as the best way to stay in alignment as I bend over. My theory is, its much easier to consistently place the front foot down than the back, just as it's easier to balance on a beam walking forward rather than backward. I've been wrong before.
Yes comfort is important but I might suggest that if after placing your front foot, you're not comfortable, then you're not placing it in a comfortable place.
Or your stance is wide and you are very low over the cue which could require an uncomfortably long stride forward. See your quote above. I once made a bet with a friend that I could predict when he would make or miss a shot. The bet only concerned shots he "should" make. I was 95% correct. The indicator was strictly the back leg. When he placed his foot in the bucket he normally missed. When he stepped into the shot he normally made it.
Lastly, we agree neither one of us has seen meucci's stance plus I'm not a professional instructor like yourself but my 3 step process was stated as being "A Decent Starting Point." Adjustments are certainly acceptable but consistency should not be compromised.:smile:
I really do enjoy folks like yourself that have opposing views. That's how I learn.
Thanks for your contribution to AZB.
Maybe it didn't come through when I posted it. As I approach the table, I do step into the shot with my left foot. This brings me into alignment with the shot as my bridge hand comes to the table. It is at that point that I move my rear foot straight back which brings my head down closer to the cue. And in keeping with my first statement, this may or may not work for others.
When I am working with students, I often ask them to try different things. Some things work for some students and not others. That's why I teach three different methods of aiming. There is no "One size fits all" in pool. We have to find what works for each individual, whether it be stance, aiming, stroke, grip, or whatever. The more options I present in school, the more likely we are to find what works best for the student.
I don't see us as disagreeing on the subject at all.
Steve
When I am working with students, I often ask them to try different things. Some things work for some students and not others. That's why I teach three different methods of aiming. There is no "One size fits all" in pool. We have to find what works for each individual, whether it be stance, aiming, stroke, grip, or whatever. The more options I present in school, the more likely we are to find what works best for the student.
I don't see us as disagreeing on the subject at all.
Steve
OK so this allows me to make one last comment to be sure it's clear to meucci what I'm saying and believe you agree.
A common mistake I see regarding stance is when a player stands right up against the table then kicks their leg back to
get down rather than standing away from the table and stepping in. I think this is what Daly was saying as well.
Thanks for your clarification. I was starting to worry a little.
A common mistake I see regarding stance is when a player stands right up against the table then kicks their leg back to
get down rather than standing away from the table and stepping in. I think this is what Daly was saying as well.
Thanks for your clarification. I was starting to worry a little.
I think people misinterpret the kick back leg. Maybe say widen your stance instead.
Don't construe that with putting your weight on the back foot, the weight is still forward as you said it should be.
Above mentioned about helping with the bend angle of the back, your exactly correct. By widening your stance, your lessen the angles your back and neck have to deal with. While still maintaing a proper an comfortable balance ratio.
This is about the best explanation I can give verbally.
1.) Hold the cue where you want it with your back hand.
2.) Place that hand at the side of your hip….back side of the hand on the side seam.
3.) Now place your bridge hand on the shaft
4.) Step up to the shot and look through the cue ball and sight the contact point…while standing and your going to be somewhere around that 45 degree angle in relation to that shot. No argueing semantics if its 30 degrees or 60 its an angular position lets just say that.
5.) Now RAISE your bridge hand up to in front your face arm extended.
6.) Sight that line through the shaft, its an optical illusion that you can see through the cue shaft at the cue ball and object ball and pocket.
7.) Then step into the shot…placing the bridge hand down so the tip drops almost touching the ball.
You do this without taking your back hand off that jeans pocket and seam.
8.) As you drop down your almost at a 90 degree angle so spread your stance to get comfortable…..just take a lil’ step back till its comfortable but maintain that forward balance....along with some knee bend it fixes itself. And your back ain't gonna feel wacked out
9.) Relax your body and watch what your rear hand does….it pops off the hip and falls naturally into alignment with the shot along with the eyes and feet.
I’m very much going to try and put up some photo stills you can see the steps.
It is so simple and easy to duplicate its amazing, a great way to teach and understand but like you guys said, its hard with words.
Eventually you develop your own style but its a wonderful, basic system, to get you started in the right direction.
G.G.
Don't construe that with putting your weight on the back foot, the weight is still forward as you said it should be.
Above mentioned about helping with the bend angle of the back, your exactly correct. By widening your stance, your lessen the angles your back and neck have to deal with. While still maintaing a proper an comfortable balance ratio.
This is about the best explanation I can give verbally.
1.) Hold the cue where you want it with your back hand.
2.) Place that hand at the side of your hip….back side of the hand on the side seam.
3.) Now place your bridge hand on the shaft
4.) Step up to the shot and look through the cue ball and sight the contact point…while standing and your going to be somewhere around that 45 degree angle in relation to that shot. No argueing semantics if its 30 degrees or 60 its an angular position lets just say that.
5.) Now RAISE your bridge hand up to in front your face arm extended.
6.) Sight that line through the shaft, its an optical illusion that you can see through the cue shaft at the cue ball and object ball and pocket.
7.) Then step into the shot…placing the bridge hand down so the tip drops almost touching the ball.
You do this without taking your back hand off that jeans pocket and seam.
8.) As you drop down your almost at a 90 degree angle so spread your stance to get comfortable…..just take a lil’ step back till its comfortable but maintain that forward balance....along with some knee bend it fixes itself. And your back ain't gonna feel wacked out
9.) Relax your body and watch what your rear hand does….it pops off the hip and falls naturally into alignment with the shot along with the eyes and feet.
I’m very much going to try and put up some photo stills you can see the steps.
It is so simple and easy to duplicate its amazing, a great way to teach and understand but like you guys said, its hard with words.
Eventually you develop your own style but its a wonderful, basic system, to get you started in the right direction.
G.G.
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