What Makes Up a Good Stroke???

travis92

travis92

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
So I've been playing for maybe 3 or 4 years by now, and I turned 17 this summer. My game is alright I guess, but I am almost certain that my stroke is whats holding me back. You always here people talk about the bottle drill and all of that but that doesn't exactly solve the problems. So I am asking everyone that reads this, what are the components that make up a perfect stroke. For example, what is the ideal stance, what all must be inline, and anything else along those lines.

thanks, Travis
 
you must stand so that you can see the line..

you must align yourself to that line..

and you must use the simplest motion you can to deliver the cue along that line..

there are varying schools of thought on how to do those 3 things..

but the only ones worth anything... accomplish all 3 of them

your best bet is to find a good instructor.. and get a professional opinion

good luck:grin-square:
 
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travis92 said:
So I've been playing for maybe 3 or 4 years by now, and I turned 17 this summer. My game is alright I guess, but I am almost certain that my stroke is whats holding me back. You always here people talk about the bottle drill and all of that but that doesn't exactly solve the problems. So I am asking everyone that reads this, what are the components that make up a perfect stroke. For example, what is the ideal stance, what all must be inline, and anything else along those lines.

thanks, Travis
Click to expand...

Accuracy and timing. Of course it has to be straight, but timing your stroke that you are striking the cue ball at peak velocity is what makes a stroke great. This allows you to generate maximum power with minimum effort.

The perfect stroke in my opinion belongs to Ronnie O'Sullivan. He performs these powerful strokes with such accuracy and it barely looks like he is hitting the ball. Search for any video of him running centuries within the last 4 to 5 years on youtube to see what I mean.

Steve Mizerak had a very similar timing to his stroke.
 
The bottle drill is a fairly overrated training exercise.

The most important aspect of a good stroke is "feel", and unfortunatly that is a hard thing to explain and pretty much impossible to teach. Part of it is most definately the timing that is explained above, stroking straight through the cueball explained above is critical, part of it is the "feel" of exactly how long the bridge should be on each distinct shot and that changes for each player, part of it is the correct stance and that again depends on each shot as shooting off the rail will be different then shooting a cueball 3 feet off the rail and a shot off the side rail on each side of the table changes yet again. With all the variety in this game it is virtually impossible to teach a person the "feel" of a good stroke.

Generally speaking the key is stroking straight through the cueball, the cue needs to come back straight and go straight through the cueball in line with the shot. If you do this correctly you will hit the ball exactly where you are aiming it, if it misses then at that point you know you simply aimed wrong, it was not the stroke at that point. Spin you play on the cueball will change things up abit and this is for sure not a thing you can measure and adapt for beyond shooting a ton of pool and getting a feel for how the shot plays. Heck, with a new cue with a different deflection when using siding this changes everything up and anyone has to relearn and adjust to the new cue's feel.

It is a very elaborate thing, long story short, shoot for 5 hours a day just potting balls, long shots, short shots, inside english, outside english, follow, backspin, mix it all up shooting everything, when you find a shot you have an issue with such as backcutting a long shot to the left with top left hand siding then focus on it and shoot it until you start to hit it in and feel how it is to stroke that ball in with that spin, ect... for 1 month straight and you will get more stroke. There is no magic way to do it, shoot a boatload of shots and hope you have the natural affinity that makes the improvement take place fast.
 
All the above is great advice. The problem is some of the aspects of a good stroke is personal. That's why the answers may not pinpoint your concerns. The best advice given was to find a professional instructor. They can nail down whats going on very quickly.

You live in So. IL Mark Wilson gives lessons @ Cue and Cushion in St. Louis. He also travels so maybe you can meet him half way. http://www.playgreatpool.com/

Scott Lee seems to be everywhere at all times. He's probably passing through any day now. http://www.poolknowledge.com/

For me the 3 main aspects of a good stroke are:
1) Pause at the CB
2) Dead Slow back stroke
3) Consistant Rhythm

A Pause at the end of the backstroke also helps me. Its very slight but there. Some highly qualified instructors downplay the importance of this but for me it helps particularly with achieving point #2. A quick backstroke adds nothing. It can only subtract from achieving a good stroke.

If you want more specific advice from here try to post a video and make sure you show several angles.
 
video

Good advice already but one thing I wanted to mention is that several instructors offer video analysis too. If you think you have major issues with your stroke and can't get to a good instructor video analysis might be a good idea for something you can do very soon.

A good stroke delivers a tip where you need it to be at the speed you need it to be moving for about a half inch when it hits the cue ball. Everything before and after that is optional. That is why you see so many variations in strokes. There were even more in the past and watching some of the old time players with slip strokes and other unconventional strokes by today's standards they looked like magic, smooth and effortless. Allen Hopkins stroke is usually mentioned sooner or later in stroke threads. His stroke looks like he was stung by a bee or had a sudden spasm. Short and choppy, deadly efficient. His and Keith's would probably be two of the worst to try to copy but both brought them to the top of the game.

Some variation of the pendulum is most popular now and it will certainly get the job done. Elbow stationary or close to it and the motion below it.

Hu
 
my keys

My keys to a good stroke, which are much different that some people's is three things


the first is repitition, doing it the same way everytime. I had a severe habit of two stroking shots I felt comfortable with in my rhythm and then some shots I would seven stroke.

the second and most important in my opinion is staying smooth and level. You never want to have that premature twitch or slight 'pull up' in your stroke.

The third relates to the 'line' and everything else that people talk about, you gotta be where you want or know where you're going. Keep your bridge hand steady and don't do the 'bobble' warm up stroke because that can lead to your eye's and body assuming you're hitting the ball with center when you are truthfully hitting low right.


So in short just get comfortable on the shot with your bridge and your body position because let's face it, My 5'11 frame with a lil baggage isnt gonna handle the same as a 6'4 or 5'5 guy with no gut :D.... Then go through your pre shot routine, the same number of practice strokes and stay level.

Like Scott Lee said to me when I posed a similiar question. The best cure is to make your muscles memorize the motion to the point that its natural and not 'forced' or thought about.


And if all else fails, you can always find a good teacher who can work with you.
 
All good advice. The goal of the stroke is to simply move the cue forward in a straight line toward the target. All the things mentioned, such as a solid bridge, proper alignment, a smooth back stroke, a consistent forward stroke, all of them contribute to that ultimate goal.
You probably won't find it on the internet. If you can get a qualified instructor to work with you, he can evaluate your personal stroke, and help you build all the necessary components into it with you.

Steve
 
See the stroking video at www.teachmepool.com It shows stroking using the spot, once you get the straight stroke and finish with cue tip 6-8 inches past the spot, freeze, and verify that the cue is centered over the spot and that you finished on the line you were aiming.
Once you are stroking straight and hitting the center of the cue ball, start making shots while staying centered on the vertical axis of the cue ball.
Mark
 
pool101 said:
See the stroking video at www.teachmepool.com It shows stroking using the spot, once you get the straight stroke and finish with cue tip 6-8 inches past the spot, freeze, and verify that the cue is centered over the spot and that you finished on the line you were aiming.
Once you are stroking straight and hitting the center of the cue ball, start making shots while staying centered on the vertical axis of the cue ball.
Mark
Click to expand...

My personal finish distance is only 5 1/2 inches past contact. Am I doing something wrong?

Steve
 
I saw a video of john schmidt teaching on youtube. In the video JS points out that most great players develop a rhythm where they stroke the cue (warmup stroke/warmup stroke/warmup stroke/warmup stroke/ etc), then they pause and fire. I studied some accustats and JS is right, so many of the greatest players have this rhythm where they stroke/stroke/stroke/pause/fire.

Im not sure how this pause helps, maybe some others or even JS himself can add to this.
 
The stoking gets the speed and reinforces that you are on the right line as your eyes are shifting from cue ball to the object ball and back. Once you are certain you have made the right choices I think the pause allows the triceps to relax before the biceps pull the arm forward at the predetermined speed.
The clearest example of the pause I have seen is Allison Fisher, she is very consistent in her routine from start to finish.
And No Pooltchr I was only trying to give an approximate distance, Sorry!
Mark
 
travis92 said:
So I've been playing for maybe 3 or 4 years by now, and I turned 17 this summer. My game is alright I guess, but I am almost certain that my stroke is whats holding me back. You always here people talk about the bottle drill and all of that but that doesn't exactly solve the problems. So I am asking everyone that reads this, what are the components that make up a perfect stroke. For example, what is the ideal stance, what all must be inline, and anything else along those lines.

thanks, Travis
Click to expand...

For God's sake Travis, you're 17 now. Take some on some responsibilty and update your signature! :wink:

Just kidding! :grin::grin:

Seriously, I think just watching someone with a good stroke can do wonders for yours. Humans and other animals sometimes learn by imitation.

Good Luck.
 
Alright, Thanks everyone.
I'm definitely going to try some things I've just heard but it probably wont get better overnight. but I've got a good 60+ years left to perfect it lol. Knock on wood.
 
SPF is the Heart & Soul of our stroke. This is a grading system for you to evaluate your own stroke. Find a SPF Instructor and spend a couple of hours with him.....SPF=randyg
 
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