what hand??
- Thread starter bankNfoo
- Start date
bankNfoo said:
Opposite hand shooting is a valuable feature to have, and if you are one of the few with natural skills using either hand, stay the course. Still, if you're like most of us, and one side feels far more natural, focus on developing your skills shooting with that hand. Master the bridge and then learn to shoot opposite-handed. 2004 BCA Champion Tony Robles used to practice fifteen minutes a day with the bridge as he rose through the ranks, and what's good enough for Tony should be good enough for you. Most of all, BankNfoo, good luck with your game, and keep it coming with all these good questions.
Dont wait too long to start...
A little practice regularly should get you to where you can hit most of the shots needed opposite handed without too much trouble. I am not saying spend as much time left handed as you do right, (assuming your right handed) but if you spend even 10 minutes each time you go to practice this time will add up, and when a shot comes up you need to switch on it will have been time well spent.
A little practice regularly should get you to where you can hit most of the shots needed opposite handed without too much trouble. I am not saying spend as much time left handed as you do right, (assuming your right handed) but if you spend even 10 minutes each time you go to practice this time will add up, and when a shot comes up you need to switch on it will have been time well spent.
Me and my buddy were in a pool hall one time and there was noone there we knew, so the action was not gonna happen. In an effort to maybe fish in some $$$ we decided to play each other some sets left handed, we shot every shot including the break left handed, and if a shot was only reachable using the right handed bridge or the rest then we got the rest and used it left handed as well. It should have worked to drum up action, we looked alot more like amatures shooting like that as our natural handed shooting is alot more smooth, but by the end of a couple hours playing like that we were doing alot of 4 and 5 ball runs, and each of us had a rack or 2 run out from the break in 9-ball opposite handed.
Ever since that day I am not that tentative about switching to my opposite hand when shooting those shots down the rail that you cannot shoot right handed (unless doing the behind the back thing). I can play whatever siding I need to and my accuracy is good. I would highly reccomend you practice shooting opposite handed once in a while, especially at your age because you will learn it fast when younger, it is a skill that will come into play alot. Look at most of the top Phillippino players, Efren, Busta, they all can shoot very well opposite handed. Shooting well opposite handed will give you loads more ability to move the cueball then a mechanical bridge ever can.
Ever since that day I am not that tentative about switching to my opposite hand when shooting those shots down the rail that you cannot shoot right handed (unless doing the behind the back thing). I can play whatever siding I need to and my accuracy is good. I would highly reccomend you practice shooting opposite handed once in a while, especially at your age because you will learn it fast when younger, it is a skill that will come into play alot. Look at most of the top Phillippino players, Efren, Busta, they all can shoot very well opposite handed. Shooting well opposite handed will give you loads more ability to move the cueball then a mechanical bridge ever can.
My son was beating up on this guy in 9b. My son is right handed but he broke his right wrist about a year earlier and for quite a while had to use his left hand a lot. Anyway, the guy wanted to quit playing my son and told him he'd had enough. My son told him he'd play him left-handed then. The next rack my son ran the rack left-handed. This guy immediately quit crying like a stuck pig! Funny as Hell!
I think some people learn to shoot simple shots with confidence with opposite hand, but I suggest that if it doesn't feel comfortable after some practising, learn to use the rake efficiently. I know some people like to shoot behind the back as well, but I have never made any successful shots with that so I never use it. There are pros who shoot opposite-handed sometimes and there are pros who never use it, just a question of consistency level.
Personally, I shoot many shots left-handed but I use the rake if I need to make precision position play or shoot with a lot of spin or a lot of speed.
Personally, I shoot many shots left-handed but I use the rake if I need to make precision position play or shoot with a lot of spin or a lot of speed.
I'm right handed, but sometimes a left handed shot is needed and sometimes a mechanical bridge (rake) shot is needed. I was very bad at both of these...
Then I started practicing these shots once a week. I would shoot in a rack of balls left handed and then shoot in a rack of balls with the mechanical bridge. Shooting left handed was *very* frustrating at first. I line up shots with my right eye, so I learned that if I move my head over a bit for left handed shots and use my right eye, I make more shots.
I am now fairly good at these shots. It is still uncomfortable shooting with my left hand, but if I need to, I can.
And remember, when first practicing shots which are difficult for you, it will be frustrating. But after a few months of regular practice, you will start to notice improvement. It is good to practice the shots you are not good at, even though they are frustrating. After about 6 months of regular practice, some shots will not longer be frustrating, but fun!
For practicing with the mechanical bridge, I break the balls, then use the mechanical bridge for each and every shot. I'll stick the mechanical bridge on the rail if the cue ball is near the rail. This practice can give you an advantage since many players do not practice shots with the mechanical bridge. I hold the bridge with my left hand while shooting (then I can quickly remove the bridge from the table to keep balls from hitting it). I hold the cue in my right hand with my elbow about where my bellybutton is and my hand is under my chin. Then I take several practice strokes and may move the mechanical bridge a little this way or that way until it looks just right. Then a few more practice strokes and then I shoot....
Then I started practicing these shots once a week. I would shoot in a rack of balls left handed and then shoot in a rack of balls with the mechanical bridge. Shooting left handed was *very* frustrating at first. I line up shots with my right eye, so I learned that if I move my head over a bit for left handed shots and use my right eye, I make more shots.
I am now fairly good at these shots. It is still uncomfortable shooting with my left hand, but if I need to, I can.
And remember, when first practicing shots which are difficult for you, it will be frustrating. But after a few months of regular practice, you will start to notice improvement. It is good to practice the shots you are not good at, even though they are frustrating. After about 6 months of regular practice, some shots will not longer be frustrating, but fun!
For practicing with the mechanical bridge, I break the balls, then use the mechanical bridge for each and every shot. I'll stick the mechanical bridge on the rail if the cue ball is near the rail. This practice can give you an advantage since many players do not practice shots with the mechanical bridge. I hold the bridge with my left hand while shooting (then I can quickly remove the bridge from the table to keep balls from hitting it). I hold the cue in my right hand with my elbow about where my bellybutton is and my hand is under my chin. Then I take several practice strokes and may move the mechanical bridge a little this way or that way until it looks just right. Then a few more practice strokes and then I shoot....
It is very tempting to use your opposite hand sometimes when you really should have opted to use the mechanical bridge. My lefthanded cue action is horrible and I know it, but sometimes I use that awful stroke because I'm too lazy to pick up the bridge. Or sometimes I'm overconfident when playing well thinking that I could switch hands easily like Ronnie O'Sullivan...yeah right!
Thats a good post Predator, if the left handed stroke has not been practiced then a bridge is probably a better choice. We have to be realistic and decide if we have a better chance of pulling the shot off with a bridge or opposite handed. The amount of time we practice with each of these type shots will dictate how we should shoot the shot.
I play left-handed but I'm right-handed in everything else I do. I even use the bridge right-handed. Strange, but true. So, as a big guy, my gut gets in the way on some shots that I would be able to reach if I were a little thinner. I shoot plenty of shots right-handed instead of using the bridge and I have become quite comfortable doing this. I use the bridge only when I can't reach the shot with either hand. So, IMO, learning to play from either side is an asset. Good luck and peace.