Cueig off chin - ala Terry Griffiths

[johno]

From viewing old footage it seems that when Terry would the world title in 1979, he pretty must cued with his
chin on the cue. However over the years, and especially towards the end of his career he changed this and
cued off the chin. Just wondering what peoples views are on this, and is the conventional way of chin to cue
(or slightly brushing) the only way forward. Another great player of the time John Spencer didn't cue on the
chin either, but then we have todays players, eg John Higgins that really presses down on the cue

[Particle Physics]

It's a great way of keeping the head and eyevision central, down the cue. It also stops head movement, and it steadies the cue as another contact point on the shot line (both hands and chest being the other three). It also helps in getting a player down on the shot. I guess it's personal taste and if someone finds it better not to, fair play to them. But most will benefit from it. A lot of pool players seem to cue off chin, with the head in the air; but the balls are smaller and the table a quarter of the size, and the shots easier, so they can get away with it. I think that age and backache/joint ache may explain why some players lift off. The greatest players cue with chin on, which can't be a coincidence can it?

[Terry Davidson]

I think particle is correct here and it's more to do with age within the snooker ranks. I'm lucky I'm still flexible enough at 67 to get my chin on the cue and I believe it helps the technique but there are players who insist keeping the chin off the cue allows for looser action and more follow-through. I would dispute this as a looser cue action is not, to my mind, a good thing.

Keeping the cue off the CHEST might lead to more follow-through too, but again not recommended

Terry

[Particle Physics]

I guess it depends what one plays on too. I played on the world's slowest table yesterday and I could see the advantage of not having the cue on chin/chest, as my friend (who does cue this way) generated terrific pace and spin on the ball. On a glass surface, like the championship tables, a more technical approach for accuracy, ala Hendry, might be more in order because pace and spin will be easier to generate all other things being equal. It's an interesting point and I wonder if the balls and tables folk are using influence the techniques they learn and the way they set up?

[johno]

Yeah fair point, i'm like you and I imagine most of the members on here and cue on the chin. I would be interesting
to know from Griffith's point of view why he changed his action, was it due to his age or other factors. Being a coach
himself now, I think at the time he was one of the pro's that really studied the mechanics of the game.

[LittleMissAlexa]

I think particle is correct here and it's more to do with age within the snooker ranks. I'm lucky I'm still flexible enough at 67 to get my chin on the cue and I believe it helps the technique but there are players who insist keeping the chin off the cue allows for looser action and more follow-through. I would dispute this as a looser cue action is not, to my mind, a good thing.

Keeping the cue off the CHEST might lead to more follow-through too, but again not recommended

Terry

you are never a pensioner terry you look 50 max

the loose thing is really about timing if you can cue straight lose it can be beneficial

the chin almost acts as a second rest

[mick farrell]

From viewing old footage it seems that when Terry would the world title in 1979, he pretty must cued with his
chin on the cue. However over the years, and especially towards the end of his career he changed this and
cued off the chin. Just wondering what peoples views are on this, and is the conventional way of chin to cue
(or slightly brushing) the only way forward. Another great player of the time John Spencer didn't cue on the
chin either, but then we have todays players, eg John Higgins that really presses down on the cue

Terry started lifting his chin off the cue as far back as 1984. David Taylor - a top 10 player at the time - even commented in a snooker magazine article that this was a technical fault. If you watch footage of Terry in the 1988 World Final, you will see his chin is off the cue on close range roll through shots and his chin actually touching the cue on a lot of screw shots.