Zero Head Movement

[buddha162]

I've watched countless pro matches on youtube, and what stands out to me is just how much pros move while staying down on their shots. Efren, Earl, Johnny, Shane, Ko...they all seem to have a slight lunge at the end of their stroke that is built-in to their routine and (obviously) highly repeatable and not detrimental to their game.

However, a couple of players stand out for being absolutely, preternaturally still on almost all their shots: Kevin Cheng and Hunter Lombardo.

Here's a clip of Kevin: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EsndpZBzeso&list=PL7B_aulXoMBN-TIsCKIVd_1OPmkwFMiP1#t=683

Hunter: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2shchSaRWQc#t=269

What are they doing differently? Is it stance, grip, a function of their body type/size?

 

[Donny Lutz]

head still

I've watched countless pro matches on youtube, and what stands out to me is just how much pros move while staying down on their shots. Efren, Earl, Johnny, Shane, Ko...they all seem to have a slight lunge at the end of their stroke that is built-in to their routine and (obviously) highly repeatable and not detrimental to their game.

However, a couple of players stand out for being absolutely, preternaturally still on almost all their shots: Kevin Cheng and Hunter Lombardo.

Here's a clip of Kevin: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EsndpZBzeso&list=PL7B_aulXoMBN-TIsCKIVd_1OPmkwFMiP1#t=683

Hunter: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2shchSaRWQc#t=269

What are they doing differently? Is it stance, grip, a function of their body type/size?

It have to do with their training.

Players in other parts of the world generally seem to be more sound basically.

Every good instructor will tell you that when your head moves during execution, it's like shooting at a moving target. You can get away with a little movement, but why have any?

Hustlers will jump up and exhibit all kinds of "mistakes" as part of their hustle...

 

[Sloppy Pockets]

I've watched countless pro matches on youtube, and what stands out to me is just how much pros move while staying down on their shots. Efren, Earl, Johnny, Shane, Ko...they all seem to have a slight lunge at the end of their stroke that is built-in to their routine and (obviously) highly repeatable and not detrimental to their game.

However, a couple of players stand out for being absolutely, preternaturally still on almost all their shots: Kevin Cheng and Hunter Lombardo.

Here's a clip of Kevin: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EsndpZBzeso&list=PL7B_aulXoMBN-TIsCKIVd_1OPmkwFMiP1#t=683

Hunter: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2shchSaRWQc#t=269

What are they doing differently? Is it stance, grip, a function of their body type/size?

I just recorded myself playing for the first time last night and was stunned to see that I lunge forward a bit like that on virtually every hard shot. Until now I would have sworn I was still as the Sphinx. Now all day long that's all I can feel, it's just so obvious now after being made aware of it. I also drop my shoulder a lot, which I didn't believe I did in general.

Not sure what to do at this point. My guess is that I've been playing that way an awfully long time.

 

[Neil]

I just recorded myself playing for the first time last night and was stunned to see that I lunge forward a bit like that on virtually every hard shot. Until now I would have sworn I was still as the Sphinx. Now all day long that's all I can feel, it's just so obvious now after being made aware of it. I also drop my shoulder a lot, which I didn't believe I did in general.

Not sure what to do at this point. My guess is that I've been playing that way an awfully long time.

Odds are you are also tightening up your muscles on every hard shot. No need to. You aren't trying to hit someone and knock them out, or hit a baseball over the fence. You are just moving a cb around a small area. Looseness and accuracy are the key. Not force and innaccuracy on the the cb hit.

 

[buddha162]

Odds are you are also tightening up your muscles on every hard shot. No need to. You aren't trying to hit someone and knock them out, or hit a baseball over the fence. You are just moving a cb around a small area. Looseness and accuracy are the key. Not force and innaccuracy on the the cb hit.

Very true.

I also noticed that both Kevin and Hunter use relatively short bridges. I wonder if positioning yourself closer to the CB in general, shortening up that bridge length, attributes to their ability to remain so still, even on hard stroke shots.

I do find it extremely difficult to remain as still as those two guys on every shot. As mentioned, they are not the norm even among pros.