Wrist curl

[bbb]

as i have started my second phase into serious pool (after 35 years)
i realize on certain shots that require draw with english i tend to curl my wrist in as if to screw the cue stick into the ball
on all other shots i follow thru straight
i cant say i miss alot because of it
(perhaps because of lots of reps as a youth doing it)
but is that BAD???

when i try to hit straight thru of course it feels weird because of too few repetitions and muscle memory
it happens most whe i really want to "juice* the cue ball
or hit a ball close to the rail and spin it in
should i force myself to break this habit??

 

[Tony_in_MD]

Is it bad, well that depends on how many balls you miss doing this, and are the misses caused by this curling action? You seem to state that it is not causing you to miss many shots.

Your question should be "why do I want to change this?"

BTW I believe you are describing the same thing that we have seen Earl do many times. It appears to work for him.

as i have started my second phase into serious pool (after 35 years)
i realize on certain shots that require draw with english i tend to curl my wrist in as if to screw the cue stick into the ball
on all other shots i follow thru straight
i cant say i miss alot because of it
(perhaps because of lots of reps as a youth doing it)
but is that BAD???

when i try to hit straight thru of course it feels weird because of too few repetitions and muscle memory
it happens most whe i really want to "juice* the cue ball
or hit a ball close to the rail and spin it in
should i force myself to break this habit??

 

[bbb]

Is it bad, well that depends on how many balls you miss doing this, and are the misses caused by this curling action? You seem to state that it is not causing you to miss many shots.

Your question should be "why do I want to change this?"

BTW I believe you are describing the same thing that we have seen Earl do many times. It appears to work for him.

to answer your question "why do i want to change this?"
I am trying to get as good at pool as my abilities and available time to practice will let me.
the first time around i learned by some players showing me things and i had mosconis book
i had a few bert kinister tapes later on
most of my skill was from table time

now i want to do it "right"
FUNDAMENTALS are preached as the way to go it seems to me
a strong house starts with a strong foundation idea

pre shot routine, line up the shot, address the cue ball, stance ,stroke, set ,pause, fire

so if its important to change ill try
if its just a "quirck" of mine thats so ingrained im better off keeping it
than it will save a lot of time
now when im conciously trying to hit thru the cue and not let my wrist do what it wants to naturally i of course am missing balls because im thinking to much and trying to learn a new feel

im ok with taking a step backwards to go foward if need be

thats a long answer to your question

 

[Tony_in_MD]

Ok then here is what I would suggest.

You need to setup a shot in which you notice that you curl your wrist.
As you have not told us what kind of shot's cause you to do this (besides those when you try to juice the ball) Get some hole renforcers to mark the ball placement on the table so they are the same each time.

Get a small adhesive colored dot an put it on your ferrule. This is going to be your marker that will give you feedback about the wrist curl. Always start by positioning this colored dot straight up at cue ball address.

You will have to practice hitting the balls at the pace and speed that you would normally curl your wrist. Focus on your back hand and finishing position, cradle that cue, and let the cue do the work. Observe the dot at your finish to see if it is still straight up. If it isn't you did not execute the shot with a neutral back hand.

The focus, and feedback is key, to developing the muscle memory required to change this habit. Do this Twenty minutes twice a day for a month.

Make each shot count! Don't get lax in the feedback, and do not rush through this exercise just to get through it. Observing and modifying what you do is the most important part of all of this.

to answer your question "why do i want to change this?"
I am trying to get as good at pool as my abilities and available time to practice will let me.
the first time around i learned by some players showing me things and i had mosconis book
i had a few bert kinister tapes later on
most of my skill was from table time

now i want to do it "right"
FUNDAMENTALS are preached as the way to go it seems to me
a strong house starts with a strong foundation idea

pre shot routine, line up the shot, address the cue ball, stance ,stroke, set ,pause, fire

so if its important to change ill try
if its just a "quirck" of mine thats so ingrained im better off keeping it
than it will save a lot of time
now when im conciously trying to hit thru the cue and not let my wrist do what it wants to naturally i of course am missing balls because im thinking to much and trying to learn a new feel

im ok with taking a step backwards to go foward if need be

thats a long answer to your question

 

[randyg]

Just an idea. Normally the wrist curl happens when a student holds their cue stick "ahead of perpendicular". Check with a buddy or in a mirror.

1. When the cue tip is right at the cue ball, the grip hand should fall right below the elbow.
2. Check the tension in your grip. The looser, the better.

randyg

 

[Mitchxout]

Your wrist curl is a symptom of anxiety. Like Randy said, make sure your grip is loose and tension free, especially on "juice" shots.

 

[bbb]

Ok then here is what I would suggest.

You need to setup a shot in which you notice that you curl your wrist.
As you have not told us what kind of shot's cause you to do this (besides those when you try to juice the ball) Get some hole renforcers to mark the ball placement on the table so they are the same each time.

Get a small adhesive colored dot an put it on your ferrule. This is going to be your marker that will give you feedback about the wrist curl. Always start by positioning this colored dot straight up at cue ball address.

You will have to practice hitting the balls at the pace and speed that you would normally curl your wrist. Focus on your back hand and finishing position, cradle that cue, and let the cue do the work. Observe the dot at your finish to see if it is still straight up. If it isn't you did not execute the shot with a neutral back hand.

The focus, and feedback is key, to developing the muscle memory required to change this habit. Do this Twenty minutes twice a day for a month.

Make each shot count! Don't get lax in the feedback, and do not rush through this exercise just to get through it. Observing and modifying what you do is the most important part of all of this.

thanks alot for this drill
I'LL DO IT and post feedback in a month

one shot where i notice it is if the object ball is alittle off the rail and i want to get the cueball to really spin off the rail to open up the angle
for example
object ball on my right side rail lets say about a diamond and a half above the corner pocket
the angle is such where the cue ball lies that its not easy to get well above the left side pocket towards the diagonal corner pocket from where im pocketing the object ball
i want to get alot of low right in that scenario
not that im trying to hit it hard just want alot of spin
thats an example

 

[bbb]

Just an idea. Normally the wrist curl happens when a student holds their cue stick "ahead of perpendicular". Check with a buddy or in a mirror.

1. When the cue tip is right at the cue ball, the grip hand should fall right below the elbow.
2. Check the tension in your grip. The looser, the better.

randyg

i do sometimes grip "ahead of perpendicular"
ill check to see if for some reason i do that more often on the shots i curl my wrist
i know on follow shots when i feel i am alittle "foward" i still stroke thru with a neutral hand (i think)

i guess i need to get the camera out

 

[Tony_in_MD]

The camera never lies.

i do sometimes grip "ahead of perpendicular"
ill check to see if for some reason i do that more often on the shots i curl my wrist
i know on follow shots when i feel i am alittle "foward" i still stroke thru with a neutral hand (i think)

i guess i need to get the camera out

 

[Tony_in_MD]

As Randy said keep your backhand loose and check on its postion at cueball address. I implied it but did not state it verbatuim.



Post some vids, as you work through this. It helps seeing it. Good luck.

thanks alot for this drill
I'LL DO IT and post feedback in a month

one shot where i notice it is if the object ball is alittle off the rail and i want to get the cueball to really spin off the rail to open up the angle
for example
object ball on my right side rail lets say about a diamond and a half above the corner pocket
the angle is such where the cue ball lies that its not easy to get well above the left side pocket towards the diagonal corner pocket from where im pocketing the object ball
i want to get alot of low right in that scenario
not that im trying to hit it hard just want alot of spin
thats an example