things I have given up for 2010

I do know that New Years is for resolutions and Lent is the time to give things up but I felt like getting ahead of the curve this year.

So far I've given up the pause before the final backstroke and after it.

I've given up shooting with my fore arm perpendicular to the cue or the floor on all shots.

I've given up aiming systems.

I've given up the idea of one stroke style for all shots.

I've given up trying to set my feet in the same position all of the time.

So far I am shooting better than I have in a long time and I'm enjoying shooting pool much more. Since coming back to pool a few years ago I had tried to respect all of the sacred cows and play pool "the right way". I have played with great style and some grace, there were just those little matters of the balls falling in the hole and getting shape that were giving me problems. Now my style makes them smile and grace is something said before supper but the balls are falling and shape is getting better all the time. Seems like that might have been the object of the game anyway, something I had forgotten along the way.

Hu
I also agree...If there is no joy in your game, why play.

Probably why there is so many shooting styles...Important to do what works for you!

...And if your winning, no one should correct you.

Great Post Hu!!
 
recognize the link

Don't give up on aiming systems so quickly. Sounds like you might really like this one: PIITH http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_q4jEPmHFa8

;)

I recognize the link. Been thinking about suing them for infringement!

Commenting on what Roger and Joey have said, Roger is spot on. I have moved to what works for my body with a dose of some of my old school style mixed in. My speed control is lousy hitting the ball with my arm perpendicular for one example. Changing the timing of my hit early or late works great for me, might be lousy for somebody else.

Joey has a great point also, what we are trying to do can be more important than what actually happens if we hang test equipment on a cue and actually measure what it does. One example, hitting through the cue ball can be taught by sitting another ball in front of it and telling the person to focus on hitting a ball six to ten inches in front of the cue ball. They can't hit the second ball but trying to keeps them from jabbing at the cue ball.

I used a slip stroke some recently. While the slip stroke won't be used for all shots I find some elements from the slip stroke moving into my other strokes and I consider that a very good thing.

Hu
 
Chris Bartram Quote of the Year!!!

What Chris Bartram said in THIS post was kind of a lightbulb moment for me, too.

While he was talking about drills, it applies here:



"I think people worry too much about things that don't matter in pool." - Chris Bartram


Looks like you found the same thing to be true!
 
The cue tip can't accelerate through the cue ball of course but the motion of your hand can accelerate until after the cue ball has left the tip. That one little thing is huge.

Hu

Damn, something else to go work on. Thinks for the correction and "Put it in the hole"

Larry
 
I recognize the link. Been thinking about suing them for infringement!

Commenting on what Roger and Joey have said, Roger is spot on. I have moved to what works for my body with a dose of some of my old school style mixed in. My speed control is lousy hitting the ball with my arm perpendicular for one example. Changing the timing of my hit early or late works great for me, might be lousy for somebody else.

Joey has a great point also, what we are trying to do can be more important than what actually happens if we hang test equipment on a cue and actually measure what it does. One example, hitting through the cue ball can be taught by sitting another ball in front of it and telling the person to focus on hitting a ball six to ten inches in front of the cue ball. They can't hit the second ball but trying to keeps them from jabbing at the cue ball.

I used a slip stroke some recently. While the slip stroke won't be used for all shots I find some elements from the slip stroke moving into my other strokes and I consider that a very good thing.

Hu

Just giving this thread a little bump back towards the top. Good stuff here.
 
I do know that New Years is for resolutions and Lent is the time to give things up but I felt like getting ahead of the curve this year.

So far I've given up the pause before the final backstroke and after it.

I've given up shooting with my fore arm perpendicular to the cue or the floor on all shots.

I've given up aiming systems.

I've given up the idea of one stroke style for all shots.

I've given up trying to set my feet in the same position all of the time.

So far I am shooting better than I have in a long time and I'm enjoying shooting pool much more. Since coming back to pool a few years ago I had tried to respect all of the sacred cows and play pool "the right way". I have played with great style and some grace, there were just those little matters of the balls falling in the hole and getting shape that were giving me problems. Now my style makes them smile and grace is something said before supper but the balls are falling and shape is getting better all the time. Seems like that might have been the object of the game anyway, something I had forgotten along the way.

Hu

I had a similar experience with modern "textbook" mechanics after 30 years away from the game. I also came to a similar solution with similar results. Good luck.

TxSkin
 
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JIm Furyck has the same objective as Phil Mickelson. They both swing the same kind of clubs but their styles couldn't be any futher apart. The bottom line is, they both play at a very high level. It's nice to have great form, it's better when the object-ball disappears before your very eyes.
 
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thanks to all!

Thanks to everyone who has posted. When I started this thread I never expected widespread support and acceptance. It comes as a very pleasant surprise.

Hu
 
Thanks to everyone who has posted. When I started this thread I never expected widespread support and acceptance. It comes as a very pleasant surprise.

Hu

I also think at some point, it's just too late in the game to make significant mechanical changes. Especially for someone that's been playing at a strong level for 75 years that is now approaching 90. ;) J/K!
 
Thanks to everyone who has posted. When I started this thread I never expected widespread support and acceptance. It comes as a very pleasant surprise.

Hu

Like you, I consider what you have decided to give up as mental "clutter", and never placed a high value on storing them.

I went to acting school many years ago. One of the first demonstrations that our instructor gave us was to select, at random, about a half dozen students from the class of about 30, have them form and and walk in a circle while the rest of the class just sat and watched them. Boy, did they turn into a bunch of awkward, self concious, zombies as they tried to appear natural. Then he gave them instructions to recall their ten favorite movies and actors as they again walked the circle. The difference was dramatic, they were all totally relaxed and natural. The lesson learned: one must be totally physically and mentally relaxed while performing, thinking about what you are doing contracts the muscles and confuses the mind of the performer. One must also "have talent", obtain and retain knowledge, develop a personal comfortable style, and be natural and relaxed for maximium performance. Some of these are learnable to some, and some are not to all.

Use the force, Hu.

Jim
 
I'm envious

:frown:I am envious of your courage to 'let go' of our adherence to the 'right way' doctrines.

Sadly, I cling to this dogma. I feel I must look like a know what I'm doing, while I miss shot after shot.

Soar my man-soar.

Have fun.

3railkick
stuck in the muck
 
Thanks to everyone who has posted. When I started this thread I never expected widespread support and acceptance. It comes as a very pleasant surprise.

Hu

So you are trying to be a trouble maker EH! ( in my best three stooges impersonation )

As I shoot now and think of the improvements my game has made since coming to this fourm. I think I needed to add this part.

I still read all I can about improving my stroke and still try to improve it. My point about giving up all the junk is just about the last few seconds before the shot. At that time I just want a smooth true stroke and don't sweat the details. Now off to practice my SPF.

Larry
 
I just want my stroke back

So you are trying to be a trouble maker EH! ( in my best three stooges impersonation )

As I shoot now and think of the improvements my game has made since coming to this fourm. I think I needed to add this part.

I still read all I can about improving my stroke and still try to improve it. My point about giving up all the junk is just about the last few seconds before the shot. At that time I just want a smooth true stroke and don't sweat the details. Now off to practice my SPF.

Larry


Larry,

Being totally immodest I just want my old stroke back. Being stubborn it took me a few years to decide I wasn't ever going to get comfortable with some of the new things. SPF is one of them. A slip stroke at least started to feel comfortable after a couple trips to the pool hall. "Set" I have no problem with. "Pause" on most shots goes against pretty much everything I have ever read or done dealing with sports mechanics.

That is one issue, I don't really have a conviction that the SPF technique is best long term. A great training tool and obviously it can be made to work but how many of the top pro's use it? Two come to mind and there are surely more but most have lost the extended pause if they ever used it. I much prefer slowing to a smooth transition and smooth acceleration through the forward stroke. Maybe one inch of follow-through is actually needed, and may be all I use on a slip stroke. Using other strokes I sometimes use everything up to and including a very exaggerated follow-through. I play better when I don't try to use one stroke for all things although I do use a modified pendulum for many shots.

There are a lot of paths to the same end goal and I suspect my path isn't the easiest. Forty to sixty hours a week on a pool table for years and almost any technique can be made to work. I put in those kind of hours for many years before I quit for a couple decades.

Hu
 
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