Uncomfortable Change

[Reptile1]

I know this issue has been dealt with on this forum many times before but any advice would be greatly received!

As mentioned before I have been playing this crazy but addictive game for over 25 years on and off, my best breaks are 82 and 66 in a match although this was about three years, since I have neglected practice up until now.

During my entire snooker practice/matches I have played with my elbow sticking out:-

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DTwb0...ature=youtu.be

Over the last few days I have started to analyse my game and one of the main issues I think is my elbow, I have therefore tried to practice with it straighter:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HPN5eoRjAdM

I know there are other issues (feel free to comment).

My main questions are:

I am finding my new style a little uncomfortable and unnatural therefore can anyone make any suggestions to ease this.

Should I stick with it or revert back to my elbow sticking out as this is what I have been used to and my cueing is reasonably straight…most of the time!

My goal as always been to achieve the big 100 and to do this I intend putting the practice in (before I’m too old…lol!) to do this I feel I have to get the foundation right before I spend hours on the practice table (otherwise this could all be wasted).

Thanks to all concerned for a great website.
Regards Repy.

[pottr]

The cue's not going through the white straight, it's follwing through right of center.

That's even with the change, so I assume your wrist is twisting a touch.

[bricktip]

I'm no coach, but there is quite a bit of body and head movement. I think that's more of an issue than your elbow. Obviously you can play, as you don't get 82 and 66 by accident.

[nrage]

Saw a bit of head and body movement on those 2 shots with the new elbow position, the first movement seemed to be you tilting your head back to get a better view though.. Instead, get down in the final position and don't move

The elbow was better, but moved outward on the shot.

The first and most likely cause is in the wrist, and it's usually bent inwards or curled around the cue, with the cue resting more in the palm of the hand. Try resting the cue on the 1st and 2nd pads of the fingers, the thumb should rest on the side of the cue, and be pointing directly at the floor. The cue should be in a vertical line with the bone of the forearm.

Can you get down in this position, can you maintain it on the stroke?

Some people who have an outward elbow have a rolled over/dropped shoulder on the same arm. To combat this get your other shoulder (bridge arm) as low as comfortable as this should raise and lock the shoulder and help with keeping the elbow where you want it.

Another thing to look at is your stance, a completely square stance might push the elbow out further than a slightly side-on/boxer style stance.

I have the opposite problem to you, my elbow drifts inwards. This is partly due to my slight side-on/boxer stance, which I find necessary to get the cue to the correct position for sighting (I am right-handed and the cue likes to rest to the left of my nose).

In your case the cue is center chin but your head is tilted to the left (yours, not camera) and the cue is actually below the right eye. This was present, but less exaggerated in your original setup.

[bricktip]

Reptile1, prepare to be overwhelmed with information!

[Reptile1]

Reptile1, prepare to be overwhelmed with information!

Don't mind that just want to get things right from the outset, and decide elbow in or out!

[nrage]

Reptile1, prepare to be overwhelmed with information!

Just make sure you change one thing a time and try to be objective about the results it produces.

[Reptile1]

Saw a bit of head and body movement on those 2 shots with the new elbow position, the first movement seemed to be you tilting your head back to get a better view though.. Instead, get down in the final position and don't move

The elbow was better, but moved outward on the shot.

The first and most likely cause is in the wrist, and it's usually bent inwards or curled around the cue, with the cue resting more in the palm of the hand. Try resting the cue on the 1st and 2nd pads of the fingers, the thumb should rest on the side of the cue, and be pointing directly at the floor. The cue should be in a vertical line with the bone of the forearm.

Can you get down in this position, can you maintain it on the stroke?

Some people who have an outward elbow have a rolled over/dropped shoulder on the same arm. To combat this get your other shoulder (bridge arm) as low as comfortable as this should raise and lock the shoulder and help with keeping the elbow where you want it.

Another thing to look at is your stance, a completely square stance might push the elbow out further than a slightly side-on/boxer style stance.

I have the opposite problem to you, my elbow drifts inwards. This is partly due to my slight side-on/boxer stance, which I find necessary to get the cue to the correct position for sighting (I am right-handed and the cue likes to rest to the left of my nose).

In your case the cue is center chin but your head is tilted to the left (yours, not camera) and the cue is actually below the right eye. This was present, but less exaggerated in your original setup.

I know I have other issues like head and body movement, I put this down to not being sure about my cueing and once I get this right hopefully things will fall into place.

I will try what you suggest, thank you.

I'll keep you posted.

Repy.

[pottr]

Obviously you can play, as you don't get 82 and 66 by accident.

Fantastic point.

Reptile1, prepare to be overwhelmed with information!

And it's most likely going to come from everyone. 90% of which couldn't string 80 odd together in a month of Sundays.

Don't mind that just want to get things right from the outset, and decide elbow in or out!

Do what feels comfortable. Perfection is unattainable. As long as the cue goes through straight, that's all that really matters.

I find that a consistent pre-shot routine helps me do this.

All the best, I love reptiles

[nrage]

I know I have other issues like head and body movement, I put this down to not being sure about my cueing and once I get this right hopefully things will fall into place.

Sure, good idea, work on one thing at a time and only move on once you're happy you have any change well cemented in. Some changes take a while to "take". Once you're more comfortable, your body will be under less tension/stress and the body movement will naturally lessen somewhat.

[Particle Physics]

It took me a while to get used to all the tips that coaches on here recommend, square stance, bent bridge arm, sighting, different grip. I had to undo years of bad habits learned playing pool. It takes time, as Nrage says, to get used to these things. But after a month or two, they feel more natural, and WORK. Doing the same things you've always done probably won't achieve your goals. Taking the change route may not either, but at least you find out and don't have what if thoughts anymore. You lose nothing by trying to change your game, and learn a lot about different techniques in the process; information is valuable. Good luck in the pursuit of the tonne mate.

[cazmac1]

I haven't read all the post's so if I'm repeating some advice already given please for give me.
First of I would like to say that there are many players that play with your style and have had a lot of success namely ray readon.
If you were a kid starting up I would try to change your style but as you have been playing like this for many a year I would abandon any attempt to change your style.
Your biggest problem is movement and unless you can eliminate this from your game you will never have any consistency.
I saw that someone made a comment on your cue not going through straight but as your moving so much it is hard to see why. I to am no a coach but would say concentrate eliminating the move movement and what ever you do play your natural game and fine tune it a bit at a time.
Good luck

[Reptile1]

Hi,

Thank you all for the great advice.

I decided to stick with it, here is the new squarer stance, what do you think? Improvement or not?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6cucJ...ature=youtu.be

[alabadi]

I'm no coach, but there is quite a bit of body and head movement. I think that's more of an issue than your elbow. Obviously you can play, as you don't get 82 and 66 by accident.

i have to concur here, you are lifting your shoulder just before you strike which is lifting your head too, i would sort that out first, and then see if it makes a difference.

Alabbadi

[DandyA]

i have to concur here, you are lifting your shoulder just before you strike which is lifting your head too, i would sort that out first, and then see if it makes a difference.

Alabbadi

very good point alabadi ... I can see that now you mention it ... having said that Reptile1, you're cueing action is a whole lot better than mine ...