Keeping the elbow straight?

[OmaMiesta]

Hey everyone, been a while since I've been on here but my thirst and determination in the game is still as strong as ever

I recently started watching my technique in the mirror and realized that my elbow isn't straight when I play left handed yet its perfect when I play right handed. Im pretty adept at playing both but practice and play mostly left handed despite being naturally right handed (Just the way I was taught to play accidentally by my left handed brother).

My elbow seems to learn inwards when I get down naturally and thats how it feels comfortable but its really been bothering me now that I know it isn't actually straight. I can still seem to cue straight despite this, but I'm wondering if its really important to fix and how I would go about doing it.....
Ive tried to straighten it and play but it feels super uncomfortable and actually makes me play much worse. I also noticed that my arm position doesnt look the same as it does right handed. You can see my shoulder sticking out right handed but cant see it left handed. I made a little video example to give you guys a better idea of what I'm talking about. Would appreciate the feedback, thanks

[Ramon]

Nice to see you're still alive.
A talented and good player.
I wish i could cue like that with my left !!

[OmaMiesta]

Nice to see you're still alive.
A talented and good player.
I wish i could cue like that with my left !!

Hey man, long time. Still alive yes hows the snooker, still playing?
And yea haha its quite useful considering how bad I am at using the rest.

[GeordieDS]

Nice to see you back Oma, do you still cue straight with both hands when you use more power?

[tedisbill]

Oma,

Don't worry about it. It doesn't matter.

How is your game coming on now? Are you playing frames against opponents or just solo stuff?

[OmaMiesta]

Nice to see you back Oma, do you still cue straight with both hands when you use more power?

Good to back buddy.
Because my right arm is my stronger arm, I definitely have more cue power with it but I practice much more with my left so I think I'm probably more accurate with it. Only really use my right when I need a rest or depending on what side of the table I'm on.

[OmaMiesta]

Oma,

Don't worry about it. It doesn't matter.

How is your game coming on now? Are you playing frames against opponents or just solo stuff?

Hey dude, games coming on pretty well Id say. Mostly only play solo stuff but I have the occasional friend come over to practice, do drills, and play few frames here and there. Though I've gotten much better in the last year, don't really think I'm improving as quick as id like so might be time to start playing in more tournaments for the experience I guess. How about you?

[Terry Davidson]

Don't even worry about your elbow alignment at all. As long as you can deliver straight all is good.

If you worry about it and try to correct it you will really screw up your game.

[Erwan_BZH]

I agree with Terry here. Don't fix it if ain't broken...If you are cueing straight with the elbow inward and feels comfortable, then no need to tinker everything.

[Ramon]

Hey man, long time. Still alive yes hows the snooker, still playing?
And yea haha its quite useful considering how bad I am at using the rest.

Still trying .

Yeah, most snooker players hate using the rest. Even in top level.
Matthew Stevens is one of those. He also can play with left and right.
I think Jimmy White was the real master with the rest. Not to mention Shaun Murphy?

anyway, nice to see u cueing so well my friend.

[OmaMiesta]

Don't even worry about your elbow alignment at all. As long as you can deliver straight all is good.

If you worry about it and try to correct it you will really screw up your game.

Was under the same impression, really starts to screw with my consistency. Thanks for the confirmation!

[Shockerz]

Still trying .

Yeah, most snooker players hate using the rest. Even in top level.
Matthew Stevens is one of those. He also can play with left and right.
I think Jimmy White was the real master with the rest. Not to mention Shaun Murphy?

anyway, nice to see u cueing so well my friend.

I saw Jimmy White in the 1980's using side equipment (rests) in a normal cue action. He would use the half butt like a normal cue with the 4 points of contact. As long as you do it at the right pace so the centre of the cue doesn't bounce it's no different in aiming.

[mythman69]

I saw Jimmy White in the 1980's using side equipment (rests) in a normal cue action. He would use the half butt like a normal cue with the 4 points of contact.

Akani Songsermsawad (pro from Thailand) has a normal cue action when using the rest.

[Ramon]

I saw Jimmy White in the 1980's using side equipment (rests) in a normal cue action. He would use the half butt like a normal cue with the 4 points of contact. As long as you do it at the right pace so the centre of the cue doesn't bounce it's no different in aiming.

that's the easy part!

Deliver the cue and most important, stay beyand the shot after striking,, is the hard part.

And this due to the change of the balance point of the cue you take the shot with. which in this case, feels far away forward.

But the principle of cueing is actually the same. agreed. good point.

[jonny66]

The disadvantage of using the rest with your normal cue action is that you need an extension for almost every rest shot, my rest play is pretty terrible though, so I might just try it.