Being the best I can (realistically) be

[Billy]

Okay, a few givens before I start.

I've never been particularly flexible, and have seen enough summers to mean I’m even less so now. To that end I’ve had to accept that my chin is never going to meet my cue again, so I’ve had to try and adapt more of a pool stance, which is even more exaggerated when playing balls at the other end of the table.

But my biggest problem is how tense I am on the shot. I’m pretty sure it’s because I’m trying too hard, but I was wondering if this is common for casual players. When I’m down on the shot I find it very hard not to tighten everything, I think in an attempt to stay still on the shot. If I force myself to relax I feel so much more comfortable, and I’m sure if I could maintain this, wouldn’t finish my sessions feeling like I’d been under a steamroller. But the very next shot, back comes the tension.

Also, I was watching some tips on YT the other day, and although it was aimed at pool players, a lot of what the guy was saying made so much sense to me (on paper, at least). The three main tips (all about improving your potting) were:

‘Stop slow-rolling your pots’ (the object ball can be pushed before it begins on its path, because the cue ball is in contact for longer, akin to how plants need to be ‘squeezed’ if they’re not perfectly aligned with the pocket)

’Lose the preliminary addresses’ (in other words, point the cue, draw back and strike)

’Shorten bridge’ (we all know how effective this has been for Mark Allen)

Would appreciate thoughts on these tips or any way I can stay loose and more relaxed on the shot.

[Nifty50]

I haven’t been able to get chin on cue for a long time. Barry Stark told me to make sure the other 3 points of contact were sound. Bridge hand. Chest. Back arm.

[philip in china]

I can't either following my rotator cuff problems.

[Billy]

I haven’t been able to get chin on cue for a long time. Barry Stark told me to make sure the other 3 points of contact were sound. Bridge hand. Chest. Back arm.

Bridge and back arm I get, but what do you mean by chest?

[PatBlock]

Bridge and back arm I get, but what do you mean by chest?

It's as he says Billy, your cue should be in contact with your chest (tucked in, as it were), rather than it waving around in mid air, it'll help you deliver the cue in a straight line, it makes a world of difference.

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[Billy]

It's as he says Billy, your cue should be in contact with your chest (tucked in, as it were), rather than it waving around in mid air, it'll help you deliver the cue in a straight line, it makes a world of difference.

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Oh, gotcha. Well if I could get my chest in contact with the cue, I could get my chin there. But without blowing my own trumpet, the instincts are already there. Lining up shots and whatnot isn’t the problem. It’s my stiff joints and involuntary tensing up when on the shot. I marvel at the ease and fluidity of players like MJW.

[Nifty50]

Bridge and back arm I get, but what do you mean by chest?

Cue running along your chest. The chest is one of the four parts on the body where the cue makes contact. That’s the coaching advice I follow. You may have heard folk talk about Chest To Cue NOT Cue To Chest when getting down on the shot.

[vmax]

Oh, gotcha. Well if I could get my chest in contact with the cue, I could get my chin there.

Too true Billy, it isn't really needed. My practise partner is 20 years younger than me but has a back problem that means he can't get down on the shot so has a US pool players stance but it doesn't stop him knocking in 50+ breaks now and again.
You need to embrace a light excercise regime to get some flexibilty back, start with something easy and build it up, resistance bands are great for this.

Invest in a pair of snooker glasses or get a spec up or spoony for your normal specs, bend both legs to get a little lower, have just one thing in your mind when playing the delivery stroke which is 'eyes on the contact point of the object ball', and don't drop the upper arm into the stroke which is very easy to do with an upright stance as the shoulder joint isn't locked as it is with chin down.

Nothing too technical, just do your best to try to hit what you're looking at.

[Nifty50]

From memory the late Terry Griffiths was a chin not on cue person and he was World Champ. I subscribe to the Frank Callan school of coaching which says you have to be comfortable on the shot.

[Billy]

Invest in a pair of snooker glasses or get a spec up or spoony for your normal specs […]

Very encouraging and helpful words. Thank you. But just to clarify, when I said I struggle to see shots at the other end of the table, I just meant I can’t flex my neck to that extent when on the shot. I need reading glasses but for the time being that’s it.

From memory the late Terry Griffiths was a chin not on cue person and he was World Champ. I subscribe to the Frank Callan school of coaching which says you have to be comfortable on the shot.

I can honestly say I’ve not noticed, but then it must be 30+ years since I’ve watched Griffith play. I’ll have to dig up some old clips. And so true about comfort being paramount. I do pot more consistently if I can just remember to relax on the shor.