Why move your feet while getting into your stance?

[Joules]

Are there many (any) advantages to stepping into your stance after you get your line of aim? As opposed to getting your feet set and then getting your line of aim?

Moving my left foot causes me all kinds of issues with keeping my head on that line. If i have both my feet in their final spots while standing it is much easier for me to keep my head on the line.

Thanks

 

[Pidge]

Are there many (any) advantages to stepping into your stance after you get your line of aim? As opposed to getting your feet set and then getting your line of aim?

Moving my left foot causes me all kinds of issues with keeping my head on that line. If i have both my feet in their final spots while standing it is much easier for me to keep my head on the line.

Thanks

Stepping into the shot
http://forums.azbilliards.com/showthread.php?t=384702

Above is a thread I started about the benefits and how to do it correctly. The major benefit of walking into the shot is you are forced to stand further back from the table and this makes it easier to find the correct line of aim. If you watch snooker players they all walk into the shot. It gives you a clearer picture of the table, meaning that rather that seeing the line of aim just from cue ball to object ball the line goes past the object ball closer to you in your vision making it easier to judge getting the grip and elbow onto this line.

Hope the link helps.

 

[BilliardsAbout]

Are you attempting to keep your head from rotating as you step in? The most natural, balanced torso with your foot forward (for those players who step forward rather than using some kind of square stance) allows the head to rotate naturally with the torso.

A lot of right-handed players who step forward to address with their left foot, therefore, have their left eye slightly closer to the cue ball than their right eye. Kind of like the cheesy pose on my avatar. See how my head has my left eye closer? Send me a PM if you want to discuss this more or see some of my articles/illustrations on this point.

 

[FranCrimi]

Are there many (any) advantages to stepping into your stance after you get your line of aim? As opposed to getting your feet set and then getting your line of aim?

Moving my left foot causes me all kinds of issues with keeping my head on that line. If i have both my feet in their final spots while standing it is much easier for me to keep my head on the line.

Thanks

Great question. There are a couple of different ways to approach a shot, but the one thing they all have in common is that you have to find your line of aim before planting your feet, because the position of your feet is directly related to that line.

Some approaches do take your head away from the shot line as you plant your left foot (assuming you're right-handed). I've used an approach like that, very successfully, for many years, along with many other players. As long as your right foot is properly placed, you will find the shot line again very easily as you place your head and arm over your right foot.

There are other approaches you can choose from where you keep your head on the shot line and place your feet accordingly. This one requires a certain orchestration of body parts.

I prefer the first method because it feels most natural, and I have learned to trust that I will find the shot line again as I set down over the shot, and I always do.

 

[Joules]

Thanks for the feedback everyone.

I am right handed and I do have my head turned to the right (nose pointed 20-30 deg right) of the shot line when i'm down at address. So my left eye is forward of my right eye. I try to have this turn while i'm lining up the shot line standing as well so things don't change too much from standing to getting down.

I've been working on changing my head position to my vision center so my shot picture is very delicate right now. If I move off the line i have a hard time getting back on it just because the picture is different now. This will fix itself with practice as long as i'm consistent with the new head position.

I've been finding the shot line -> setting my feet -> then getting my head fixed on the shot line again and bending down. This really makes it easy to stay on the shot line. The movement of my left foot pulls me to the left - or if it doesn't then my left foot goes too far forward and straight and my stance becomes very closed instead of 45 degrees with the feet it might be 70 degrees which negative impacts my arm movement.

I can see where standing way back makes it easier to find the line and then stepping into the shot but that isn't physically possible in the bars I play. Your back foot is generally very close to an obstruction when it is set so it's only my left foot that has the option to move into the shot. I'm guessing it would be possible less than 25% of the time.

 

[Pidge]

You don't have to stand way back. Just far enough back that you have to move forward into the shot. Even if its just a little shuffle if the feet forward and not a full step, its still standing further back than needed and gives you a better view of the table. Another thing it does is show your opponent that the area around the table is your space, and you own it if it makes sense. Couple of benefits but it space is limited then your hands are tied.