What's with the pumping stroke?

A

Angle Detective

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
It looks like half the players play with what looks like a circular choo choo train stroking of the cue. Lots of filipino players seem to do this, as well as some of the old schoolers as well, like Mizerak. What's the reason for this technique?
Thanks,
Jeff
 
I think a lot of it has to do with people's own rhythm.

Many have attributed the flamboyant strokes of the Filipinos to poor (humid) playing conditions that require a larger stroke to move the cueball around the table. But you also mention Mizerak with a pump stroke. Immonen would be another to consider, I suppose.

Anyway, I think it's just how people think about making contact with the object ball and how their own temperment develops into rhythm at the table; also, about how people focus on being relaxed. It's much the same way that some people address the cuetip to the cueball at the point they intend to make contact, while others always cue very low and make contact elsewhere on their final stroke. People see things differently, and stroke things differently.

bluepepper said:
It looks like half the players play with what looks like a circular choo choo train stroking of the cue. Lots of filipino players seem to do this, as well as some of the old schoolers as well, like Mizerak. What's the reason for this technique?
Thanks,
Jeff
Click to expand...
 
I pretty much ignore all that and just look at the final stroke...;)

Locally Scott Frost is a prime example...(even when he plays 1-pocket)

He has a more flamboyent pre shot warm up...but when he applys the final actual stroke...pretty much dead straight and nothing like the warm ups.
 
bluepepper said:
It looks like half the players play with what looks like a circular choo choo train stroking of the cue. Lots of filipino players seem to do this, as well as some of the old schoolers as well, like Mizerak. What's the reason for this technique?
Thanks,
Jeff
Click to expand...

Well I noticed it takes me a few pumps for my rythem to get going, then a few more to get on my aim point on cb, then ob. I always seems to start left cue ball for some reason on my first few pumps on every shot on cb and sometimes I get a few more pumps in while checking if my stroke is true also.
 
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Mizerak had a pump stroke?
He barely moved his hand.

It had to be the slow cloth and humidity in the Philippines. After so many years of playing here and on Simonis, Efren lost his bicycle stroke.
 
StevenPWaldon said:
I think a lot of it has to do with people's own rhythm.

Many have attributed the flamboyant strokes of the Filipinos to poor (humid) playing conditions that require a larger stroke to move the cueball around the table. But you also mention Mizerak with a pump stroke. Immonen would be another to consider, I suppose . . .
Click to expand...

Mika lived and played pool in the Philippines for sometime. Directly or indirectly, he was bitten by the Filipino pool playing bug that patterns his playing style and thiinking to the Filipino style. From what I understand, it served its purpose.
 
JoeyInCali said:
Mizerak had a pump stroke?
He barely moved his hand.
Click to expand...

I saw Steve play in exhibitions and in pro tournaments and I don't remember him having a pump stroke, certainly nothing like Efren.
 
The Miz in a couple of my Accustats straight pool videos has a slight version of it. His is maybe more up and down than circular. He plays Oliver Ortmann in one video, who also does it.
It makes sense that it's a loosening or a rhythm thing.

It looks like Efren's elbow goes up and down while the bicycle warm up is taking place, then when he strokes the elbow moves sideways away from his body. Looks like it should lead to inconsistency, but I've heard he's done pretty well with it.

Jeff
 
I don't care if Efren and the Miz both did it. It's nothing you want to cultivate, and no, I'm not an A player or a Master Instructor. It's only common sense that what you want to develop is a perfectly grooved , accurate and repeatable stroke. One that will go back to the same spot as close to every time as you can get it to. That will bring success...Tom
 
Miz didn't have a pump stroke. Like many of the older players though, the tip of his cue dipped down into the cloth in the follow through, so maybe that's what you saw? That guy was smooooooth with a capital 'S' (I guess that would make him 'Smooooooth', huh?)!

bluepepper said:
The Miz in a couple of my Accustats straight pool videos has a slight version of it. His is maybe more up and down than circular. He plays Oliver Ortmann in one video, who also does it.
It makes sense that it's a loosening or a rhythm thing.
Click to expand...
 
It's only common sense that what you want to develop is a perfectly grooved , accurate and repeatable stroke.
Click to expand...

and bustamante, efren, immonen, mizerak's strokes aren't perfectly grooved, accurate, and repeatable?
 
The man with maybe the best stroke in pool, Allen Hopkins

Although I suspect most folks are scratching their head looking at my title, it is true. His stroke is almost impossible for someone else to duplicate but it is short, concise, and repeatable. He also seems to do everything he needs to do with a cue ball using it and there just isn't much to go wrong with an eight or ten inch stroke!

When talking to a top instructor the subject of stroke has came up several times. His opinion and mine, the approach, the follow-through, neither matter at all except as to how they affect the tiny fraction of a second when the tip is in contact with the cue ball. The preshot routine could look like a Dizzy Dean wind-up, the follow-through could be a half inch or less if our body allowed, it really doesn't matter. What all successful pool players have learned is how to control the tip for the instant or two that the tip is in contact with the cue ball.

The various pump strokes can be every bit as successful as the pendulum, if they are consistent. The pendulum is easier to teach and easier to groove in. Easier to correct when there is a problem too. All this writing about strokes does make me want to play with my pump stroke some. I made a lot of money with it before I knew better. Still tend to revert to it when I feel cramped up on a bar table.

Hu
 
Pumping Stroke

I have used the pumping/whirlwind looking practice strokes for about 7 years and I can tell you from experience that it has helped me alot in keeping loose and in rhythm for every shot. My final stroke is controlled and looks nothing like my practice stroke, but it really helps me alot. It may not work for everyone, and I can understand why.
 
SVB does it also, and look what he has accomplished so far. and hopefully he has future great success !!!!!!
 
Just curious...

BPG24 said:
I have used the pumping/whirlwind looking practice strokes for about 7 years and I can tell you from experience that it has helped me alot in keeping loose and in rhythm for every shot. My final stroke is controlled and looks nothing like my practice stroke, but it really helps me alot. It may not work for everyone, and I can understand why.
Click to expand...
I would gather from your signature that you play golf as I do. I am curious if you apply the same thinking and technique to your putting stroke while playing golf?
My guess is that you do not. My feeling is that a lot of the same type of muscle memory is shared in both putting and a billiard stroke.
It has always been driven into me that your actual stroke should be a replication of your practice stroke.
Just curious because I am always open to new ideas.
 
Jimmy M. said:
Miz didn't have a pump stroke. Like many of the older players though, the tip of his cue dipped down into the cloth in the follow through, so maybe that's what you saw? That guy was smooooooth with a capital 'S' (I guess that would make him 'Smooooooth', huh?)!
Click to expand...

It looks to me like a subtle up-and-down car-jacking motion. But it is small compared with the others. So I guess he's a bad example.
Jeff
 
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