Elbow position

[Sample]

I'm relatively new to snooker, been lifting a cue since I was young though but I started frequently practicing snooker two months ago. I learned how to line up a shot since snooker has such fine margins (opposed to pool and billiards). My footwork and stance is alright now. The real issue is my elbow, have not been able to fix this (bad) habbit in my transition yet.

My elbow tilts away from my body when I'm down on the shot. All players (decent) I've watched in my club, their elbow lines up straight almost perfectly.

As is clearly visible in this picture. The elbow points up nicely, perfectly in line with the cue:



When I watch myself in the mirror my elbow leans right a few degrees. Something like this:



Note that my elbow stays in that position right from the start, I'm not moving it whilst I'm striking the ball.

Question: is this a problem? Could this affect my shot? I assume so since all players do it differently. But maybe this works just fine since it's my natural habit.

In other words, should I work on this (bad) habit. I've tried lifting my elbow straight but it feels really unnatural, seems pretty hard to fix.

Thanks in advance.

[ghost121]

Being in line is always preferable to being not, but it depends on which trait is the most repeatable, and therefore most consistent. It also depends on where your elbow line finishes at the end of the shot, not just through the feathers. There are many pro players who have competed at the highest level who are not in line, either inside or outside the line. Hendry was inside the line most of the time during his career and it didn't do him any harm. If you are missing pots you should be getting, particularly straight ones, then you may have an issue worth addressing. Otherwise, you're probably okay.

[itsnoteasy]

Are your hips out of the way like Fus are in the pic? You have to make room to get everything inline.

[Sample]

Being in line is always preferable to being not, but it depends on which trait is the most repeatable, and therefore most consistent. It also depends on where your elbow line finishes at the end of the shot, not just through the feathers. There are many pro players who have competed at the highest level who are not in line, either inside or outside the line. Hendry was inside the line most of the time during his career and it didn't do him any harm. If you are missing pots you should be getting, particularly straight ones, then you may have an issue worth addressing. Otherwise, you're probably okay.

Ok thanks. Hard to tell whether I'm missing pots due to positioning or just lack of skill, practice and experience. I can try some straight shots forcing my elbow to be stragith and compare the results to my normal stand.

[Sample]

Are your hips out of the way like Fus are in the pic? You have to make room to get everything inline.

Yes they are, but now that you mention it not as much. They're a bit more in line with my head.

[Tommykiid]

I think what you could do is record yourself head on and a side view of you doing blues off the spot then you can pause the video and see where your going wrong and work on the issue then

[ghost121]

Video experimentation is the way to go if you can.

[Big Splash!]

The bird you will have to do to correct this is about six months of constant practice. I did it long ago myself, after looking at Davis and Hendry.

It's worth it. All the greats have an upright forearm. So, cue under the nipple or near that depending on R or L eye dominant, upright forearm, with the hand hitting the chest on the way through.

I knew a guy who had the same forearm (inward pointing) and he'd make tons like there was no tomorrow, so it can be made to work. So the question is; do you feel like this forearm is holding you back? What are your breaks like now. Because you're new to snooker, if you're hitting 20s and 30s, make the change now and improve. Great technique is a lovely thing to fall back on when things go wrong on the table. This is a great time for you to nail your set-up, cueing and technique. If you were an older player hitting 50s and tons with a cranked over elbow, I'd say leave well alone.

[vmax4steve]

It doesn't matter where your elbow is as long as the upper arm doesn't move from the shoulder joint before the cue ball is struck. Ray Reardon won six world titles with his elbow stuck out, Hendry won seven with his elbow tucked in, both players didn't drop the upper arm from the shoulder, that's key with any technique that isn't exactly in line.

You need a cue long enough so that you're comfortable in getting your position at address at the vertical or just behind the vertical so that the cue ball is struck before the upper arm drops from the shoulder. If you're struggling to accomplish this with a standard length cue get a longer one.

[Sample]

It doesn't matter where your elbow is as long as the upper arm doesn't move from the shoulder joint before the cue ball is struck. Ray Reardon won six world titles with his elbow stuck out, Hendry won seven with his elbow tucked in, both players didn't drop the upper arm from the shoulder, that's key with any technique that isn't exactly in line.

You need a cue long enough so that you're comfortable in getting your position at address at the vertical or just behind the vertical so that the cue ball is struck before the upper arm drops from the shoulder. If you're struggling to accomplish this with a standard length cue get a longer one.

Watched some Ray Reardon footage and that is remarkable indeed. And a very accurate display of what my arm looks like. As long a my upper arm doesn't move, that's exactly what I was thinking. If I strike like this repetitively, I don't think it will.

[Giggity1984]

Jamie cope makes centuries and how elbow really sticks out. Don't worry about it.

[mythman69]

Ray Reardon won six world titles with his elbow stuck out, Hendry won seven with his elbow tucked in, both players didn't drop the upper arm from the shoulder, that's key with any technique that isn't exactly in line.

Walter Lindrum postcard.jpg

Walter Lindrum had his elbow in a lot and he did OK at billiards.

[vmax4steve]

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Walter Lindrum had his elbow in a lot and he did OK at billiards.

Then there's Joe Swail who is even more extreme

[CoachGavin]

If you are relatively new to snooker I would try and straighten it up. There are exceptions to the straight elbow but most of the top players have a straight elbow that points up. You need to check what exactly is wrong. The shoulder and elbow need to be on line and behind the head. If your shoulder is not behind your head (a la Nigel bond) then you need to turn your body and chest and get your shoulder on line. Turning the body will move your shoulder behind your head and your elbow will follow. If your shoulder is in the correct place but your elbow sticks out then it is probably your grip. You probably hold the cue in the palm of your hand quite a lot. This turns the elbow out. If you practice gripping the cue so that the thumb points down this usually straightens the grip. I hope that helps.

[mythman69]

If you are relatively new to snooker I would try and straighten it up. There are exceptions to the straight elbow but most of the top players have a straight elbow that points up. You need to check what exactly is wrong. The shoulder and elbow need to be on line and behind the head. If your shoulder is not behind your head (a la Nigel bond) then you need to turn your body and chest and get your shoulder on line. Turning the body will move your shoulder behind your head and your elbow will follow. If your shoulder is in the correct place but your elbow sticks out then it is probably your grip. You probably hold the cue in the palm of your hand quite a lot. This turns the elbow out. If you practice gripping the cue so that the thumb points down this usually straightens the grip. I hope that helps.

So at what stage should you not try to fix the problem? If I have been doing it for years and not improving is it a good idea to try and change now?

Cheers!