cue arm position and cue action

[vucko117]

Terry:

thank you. Tomorrow I will try to spread the stance a little bit more and I'll see if it works for me. All in all I am pleased with my improvement,as I have managed to become say regular 30-40 break player. Which was impossible 6 months ago. But know I want to improve even more,and I just can feel that there is something wrong with my cue action,but can't figure it out on my own...

[eaoin11]

Terry, is it true that Pros prize a very flat lower back? I find it difficult to do well as I'm not terribly flexible, would you recommend stretches etc to help with this? I remember Ronnie saying that it's good to keep your hip as close to the line of the shot as possible, but it's hard to do this and get flat if your hamstrings aren't up to it.

[Terry Davidson]

eaoin:

Yes, it is true that most pros do want a flat back which they achieve by bending from the hips only. It's not totally level though as the hip on the straight leg should be higher than the hip on the bent leg.

And much the same as golfers do, I would recommend a few stretching exercises before you play and especially in your case as you say you're not very flexible.

Terry

[vucko117]

Well I have changed a few things what do you think now about my cue action?

[vucko117]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YuPZwAyCE1U it seems that I didn't post a link

[Inoffthered]

It is also natural to wiggle around on your stance to find a pefect balance etc. You don't do this. Don't be too mechanical. You're a person. Wiggle your ass a bit.

This... Haha

[Terry Davidson]

vucko:

youtube wouldn't let me in without a password, and I can't remember mine

Terry

[vucko117]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YuPZwAyCE1U

maybe now you can see it,Terry

[Terry Davidson]

vucko:

You look virtually textbook or 'ideal' as far as I can tell from the short video.

However, I wouldn't mind seeing a better view of the cue action, so if possible could you post 2 more short videos with better camera angles?

The first, set the camera over the top left pocket so it's looking right back at the yellow pocket, then take 5 shots off the blue spot with the cueball on the baulkline and just do a 'stop shot', meaning stop the cueball on contact with the object ball on the blue spot.

Next, since the lighting looks pretty good on your table, set the camera behind the cue and just slightly to your left and take 5 more shots of any type but around medium pace.

The idea here is with the camera over the black pocket have the camera taking in the cueball up to the top of your elbow in the address position. This way I can watch for how straight you are delivering the cue by watching it against the leather of the yellow pocket.

With the other shot from behind and slightly to the side of the cue make sure your grip hand is visible throughout the stroke and also from the top of your elbow down to just below the cue in the address position.

With these 2 videos I'll be able to get a really good idea of exactly what's happening and also I may be able to look at them using analysis software where I can do stop-action frame by frame to see how you are accelerating and decelerating the cue.

Terry

[Matt-10ant]

I have a problem when cueing i have been told when feathering to take a shot my cue is going from left to right and not staying central is the to do with my grip being too loose or too tight or is there a problem with it not being enough stability on my bridge allowing the cue to swing like this. Also i seem to come alot closer to potting the balls when i walk in to my shot and bring the cue down at the potting angle when i approach to take my shot. Im not saying i pot everytime but this has improved me quite drastically but i dont do it everytime so i need to learn to get in a routine of doing this.

Any tips/coaching would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks Matt

[nrage]

I have a problem when cueing i have been told when feathering to take a shot my cue is going from left to right and not staying central is the to do with my grip being too loose or too tight or is there a problem with it not being enough stability on my bridge allowing the cue to swing like this. Also i seem to come alot closer to potting the balls when i walk in to my shot and bring the cue down at the potting angle when i approach to take my shot. Im not saying i pot everytime but this has improved me quite drastically but i dont do it everytime so i need to learn to get in a routine of doing this.

Any tips/coaching would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks Matt

Whereabouts on your chest does your cue run? Relative to your nipple. I've found recently that my cue runs much straighter if I get it higher up my chest, so it's 1-2 inches above the nipple. This (as Terry frequently mentions) brings the shoulder up and back behind the head, and seems to keep it there nice and stable throughout the shot.

[vucko117]

Try to slow down your backswing. That way you'll notice what is happening with your cue and grip hand. I had a problem of pulling the cue to quick during the backswing and couldn't notice anything wrong with my cue action. SO just slow everything just a little bit down and see if that helps you

[Matt-10ant]

Thanks nrage and vucko i will take in to consideration all the help you have gave me and when i next play tomorrow night i will tell you how i get on.

Thanks Again Matt

[Matt-10ant]

I also have been told about my stance last night that i dont get my elbow to be directly behind my head when cueing and when trying to do this it is quite uncomfortable and also have lots of problem cueing as its impossible for me to keep the position when cueing.

So if feel my stance is very wrong i am a right hander and bridge with my left hand so if anyone feels they knows whats wrong please comment.

Thanks Matt.

[Inoffthered]

Not sure this relates to the OP's question, but the problem I seem to have is my elbow drops too far when I play a shot.

My action is along the lines of the Del drive, starting off @ 1 chalk piece above the table, but once I have finished the stroke the cue is level with the bed of the table.

Unfortunately I do not have a video of myself, so it's just me describing what I think is going wrong.

My arm DOES hit my chest, but it is easy to see my elbow has dropped. The cue stays on a straight line ( I know that's the idea ), and the follow through point on from where the cueball was struck is @ 3-4".

I think that's too much. As in the video of Caz when he went to see Del, it is the closing of the palm of your hand that stops the cue.

Just want to ask Terry & others here... is it possible to drop your elbow too much on the shot? I'm not in the same league as Tony Knowles' action, but at times my stroke feels 'violent' or with too much strength when I play though the ball.

I focus on a 'pause at the front' and seem to be hitting the ball sweet and don't miss anything easy ( not too often! ). Maybe it's all in my mind, idk.

I realise a video would help, sorry guys. Thank you in advance to your replies.