This is my first ever thread so I guess an introduction is in order.
First a bit about me. I've played this game now on and off for about 10 years. For about 5 years mostly straight pool. I've had some ok runs around 70 balls, nothing spectacular, mediocre I guess. I started playing seriously again about a year ago and decided I was going to change my stroke to a more snooker-like action. I've always used a wrist snap and snooker grip but now I tried to incorporate the snooker swing and stance as well. I could feel my stroke getting straighter but the results did not follow. I got only 20-30 ball runs, kept missing break balls and difficult shots. After reading and participating in the wrist thread I experimented with CJ's techniqe, but it didnt work for me in normal play. Strangely i found out that I have always employed it on the break in 9ball and 8ball without even knowing it. I was certain that i snapped my wrist the opposite way!
Two things CJ said changed my technique completely: first he mentioned forming a "groove" in the hand to guide the cue and the other thing was that the stroke was all about moving the hand back and forth to the same position. I suddenly realized that with all the focus going to the elbow and wrist I was forgetting my hand. It turns out that subtle movements of the cue inside the hand just before the moment of impact was throwing my cue slightly off line and this was especially true in pressure situations, leading to missed breakballs and lack of consistency. As a result i immobilized my wrist on the stroke (at least for now) and have a firmer and more unchanging grip through the stroke. My stroke is shorter but i still get almost the same amount of spin and more feel since I have a firmer grip on the cue. I now only sight the shot and think about returning my hand to the same place and focus on the grip. Yesterday I had my first 50-ball run in what seems like forever and it was unfinished (had to leave due to other obligations).
I am very grateful to CJ Wiley for taking the time to interact with us, if it wasn't for his contributions and fresh perspective I might never have discovered this huge flaw in my stroke. It makes me wonder what could have been learned if even more pros started hanging out at this great site.
First a bit about me. I've played this game now on and off for about 10 years. For about 5 years mostly straight pool. I've had some ok runs around 70 balls, nothing spectacular, mediocre I guess. I started playing seriously again about a year ago and decided I was going to change my stroke to a more snooker-like action. I've always used a wrist snap and snooker grip but now I tried to incorporate the snooker swing and stance as well. I could feel my stroke getting straighter but the results did not follow. I got only 20-30 ball runs, kept missing break balls and difficult shots. After reading and participating in the wrist thread I experimented with CJ's techniqe, but it didnt work for me in normal play. Strangely i found out that I have always employed it on the break in 9ball and 8ball without even knowing it. I was certain that i snapped my wrist the opposite way!
Two things CJ said changed my technique completely: first he mentioned forming a "groove" in the hand to guide the cue and the other thing was that the stroke was all about moving the hand back and forth to the same position. I suddenly realized that with all the focus going to the elbow and wrist I was forgetting my hand. It turns out that subtle movements of the cue inside the hand just before the moment of impact was throwing my cue slightly off line and this was especially true in pressure situations, leading to missed breakballs and lack of consistency. As a result i immobilized my wrist on the stroke (at least for now) and have a firmer and more unchanging grip through the stroke. My stroke is shorter but i still get almost the same amount of spin and more feel since I have a firmer grip on the cue. I now only sight the shot and think about returning my hand to the same place and focus on the grip. Yesterday I had my first 50-ball run in what seems like forever and it was unfinished (had to leave due to other obligations).
I am very grateful to CJ Wiley for taking the time to interact with us, if it wasn't for his contributions and fresh perspective I might never have discovered this huge flaw in my stroke. It makes me wonder what could have been learned if even more pros started hanging out at this great site.
, but as a matter of fact[...]