Stance issues.

[nullsys]

Hi there!
I'm hoping someone can help, what I'm assuming (or rather hoping) is quite a common problem.

If I line up for any shot, but keep my head and chest away from the cue, I make better pots.
As soon as I come down into a traditional stance, it all goes wrong.

Do you have any suggestions or tips as to what might be going on?
Thanks in advance!

[Terry Davidson]

It's not absolutely necessary to have the cue tight against the chin and chest, however most of the top players do play with the cue on the chin (Graeme Dott wears a bandaid he has it so tight on the chin).

The only thing I can think of is somehow when you get into the final stages of your set-up and get the cue tight against the chest and chin you must be changing your alignment somehow. If you are pulling the cue up into the chest that is not correct as you should always bring the chest down to the cue (prevents alignment changes). As for the chin, don't place it tight against the cue but have the cue just brushing it.

The other thing I can think of is perhaps as you deliver the cue you are moving the head especially so minimize the shock of hitting the chin with the shaft of the cue or else bringing your grip hand around the chest in order to complete the follow-through. There is no reason why the cue cannot fall away from the chest slightly but during the delivery that should happen AFTER the cueball has been struck. If you can't video yourself, have a friend check when you're down in the tight stance and see if anything is moving up (head/shoulder) as you deliver

Terry

[nullsys]

Hi Terry,
Very kind of you to write such an in-depth analysis.
I really appreciate you taking the time.
I'll watch how I'm setting up a shot more carefully and give it a go next week! Will report back

[Particle Physics]

Hi there!
I'm hoping someone can help, what I'm assuming (or rather hoping) is quite a common problem.

If I line up for any shot, but keep my head and chest away from the cue, I make better pots.
As soon as I come down into a traditional stance, it all goes wrong.

Do you have any suggestions or tips as to what might be going on?
Thanks in advance!

I will let Terry and co. give you the coaching tips, and see what they've written in my post titled 'stance'. I was reluctant to the perceived wisdom of square stance, bent arm, chest and chin down on the cue to begin with, as a pool player. Proper bending of the knee and hips. It feels very strange, and to begin with, things get worse. But persistence over the last two months has now brought some reliable long potting, and I'm getting through the ball. Overall, I feel more like the players look like on tv, if that makes sense. The whole cue action is getting better, though I'm still moving my head a bit, bridge arm too and I get up too quickly, so there is much work to be done. But when I look back to where I was before I started listening to the guys on TSF, my god, I was awful. Yesterday I hit my highest break, then beat it with another one and that's the proof of the pudding. Good technique cannot be overstressed. Persist with good advice, sometimes, it can take time for the brain and body to accept what you consciously think is intuitively wrong.

[nullsys]

Hi!
I just wanted to give an update, it's been almost a month and around 8 sessions.

I found it's entirely my stance, and by that I mean: almost everything lol.

Footing wasn't right, my hips moved, my bridge arm wasn't resting, and worst of all my head still moves!
I'm getting there, but with your help it's improving.
Thanks so much all!

[denja]

Hi there!
I'm hoping someone can help, what I'm assuming (or rather hoping) is quite a common problem.

If I line up for any shot, but keep my head and chest away from the cue, I make better pots.
As soon as I come down into a traditional stance, it all goes wrong.

Do you have any suggestions or tips as to what might be going on?
Thanks in advance!

Are you playing with the sort of upright stance that you see many pool players use ? going from this to the text book stance for snooker (Boxer or Square) can be hard if you have always played that way however I think it is worth the effort getting the correct stance, lets face it most pros and top players use it with slight modifications for their build and arm length e.t.c. ok! you are going to lose a few frames in the process but a good foundation is important if you want to improve.