Putting pressure on the cue

[Terry Davidson]

I think my past statement was right. It appears to me that quite a few of the pros are pulling the cue into the chest and chin once they get into the address position and this gives them very positive 4-point contact and I believe it really helps to keep the cue straight on high power shots.

Originally, when I was taught as a Master Coach by Nic Barrow pulling the cue butt up and into the chest and chin was a definite no-no and Nic also teaches the cue should only be lightly brushing the chest but on the center of the chin. It appears to me that a lot of the top pros are getting down into the address position and initially dropping the chest and chin onto the cue and then at the final backswing they lift the butt of the cue as much as they can so the cue actually bends.

I also agree with the previous comments regarding how whippy the cue is. I tried this with a very stiff 3/4-butt here and it's quite easy to do even with a stiff cue.

And I find it also helps a lot during power shots, especially deep screw shots where you don't want that elbow to drop until well after the strike so you do hit the very bottom of the cueball because as soon as that elbow drops the tip will rise. I've also found using a good loop bridge for power deep screw shots helps, just as Joe Davis advocated many years ago in his book.

Terry

[throtts]

Since I enhanced my chest and chin contact my game has improved and believe it helps better sighting down the cue. However, my grip is not as loose as it use to be due to the stronger contact points, its not tight but its not loose either. I still drive through to the chest though .

[narl]

I can see it causing issues if you miscue or hop the cueball while applying more pressure on the cue, cloth damage possibly?

[damienlch]

Wouldn't that exert a lot of downward pressure on the bridge when pulling back the cue? I thought the cue is supposed to glide along the bridge rather horizontally and not pressing down on it.

I can't see how I can achieve a smooth cue action with that type of downward pressure but it obviously can be done.

My power screw shots are dodgy. Is this technique worth pursuing?

[vmax4steve]

I think my past statement was right. It appears to me that quite a few of the pros are pulling the cue into the chest and chin once they get into the address position and this gives them very positive 4-point contact and I believe it really helps to keep the cue straight on high power shots.
Terry

It looks to me Tel that Trump actually moves his jaw to put the pressure on the cue rather than pull the cue up to the chin. This movement of his jaw coincides with his final backswing and the jaw closes as the cue goes forward when the shot is played.

[Terry Davidson]

vmax:

Now the question is does he gain anything out of it or is it a habit he developed early on?

Terry

[vmax4steve]

I guess you'd have to ask him that Tel. Many people grind their teeth or move their jaw when concentrating hard, maybe he's learned to ally this with his cue action to give himself a little more pressure on that contact point with the cue to keep it in line, maybe it's something natural that he's unaware of. Certainly seems to work for him on those long deep screw shots.

[Terry Davidson]

vmax:

You just know there will be some players who will ask if bending the cue is better than not doing it and how it would work for them. I just can't answer that question as I tried it and I didn't notice any improvement at all. I think it's something he started when he was very young and it's become a habit, much like Ronnie dropping his elbow early in the delivery.

Terry