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Proper Billiard Stance

9/30/2006 3:50:04 AM

Proper Billiard Stance

I need some help in regards to a proper stance for playing billiards.

I just can't seem to find one that I am comfortable with, even though I read somewhere that it should work. I wind up feeling either unbalanced, too distant from the table, or too close to it. I just can not seem to find one that works and I feel like I've tried all of them.

Please advise, thanks

Proper Billiard Stance

Replies & Comments
  1. cuebaldsmichael on 9/30/2006 3:55:24 AM

    Stance isn't everything, but it definitely helps. Thinking about the end goal of having a good stance, which is to get you in to the proper position to aim the shot, and strike the cue ball and send it toward the object ball. It should get you low enough so that your chin is practically resting on the cue stick when it is positioned paralell to the billiard table.

    With that, your stance can be of any position that is well balanced and you feel comfortable with.

  2. cuebaldRoss on 9/30/2006 4:00:14 AM

    A few quick points to add to this:

    • Place your feet far enough apart to balance your upper body, but don't over do it, since you want to keep your hips above the top of the table.
    • Adjust your hands so that you have five to seven inches between your bridge and the cue ball.
    • Check the placement of your back hand to ensure that it is not over stretched during the back stroke.

    This is one area where an experienced coach is well worth the cash money to improve your billiard stance.

  3. cuebaldbilliardsforum on 5/24/2007 1:28:23 PM

    cuebald - billiard stance is something that %90 of pool players strugle with, whether they know it or not. I know it was, and probably still is something that I need(ed) to work on.

    We've done a general article on billiard stance that you can check out in our billiard tips section.

    Also, our friend Matthew West has developed an extremely technical and detailed set of articles on proper billiard playing stance and billiard stance techniques:

  4. cuebaldkellystick on 5/30/2007 10:49:18 PM

    I didn't really read any of this much as I am tired. In no particular order...

    1. Don't stand off balance unless you ABSOLUTELY have to.
    2. don't stand with one leg sticking out in the air unless you have to.
    3. Mount the table so to speak if that makes your stance stable. One leg on the floor is the rule. The other can be on the table.
    4. Be stable in your stance, If it is not rock solid tgis is not good.
    5. Stand how you feel comfortable.
    6. Don't shoot behind your back
    7. Squat to see the shot like shooting a rifle with your dominant eye close to and over the stick.

    I've read several books that talk about stance. They never talk about basics they say to stand a certain way. BS. Be comfortable, be in control, be stable but not strained, don't let stance get in the way of stroke... There are other things but figure what works for you

  5. cuebaldPlumb on 6/3/2007 12:17:42 AM

    good points there kellystick, I agree with most of them, but i do disagree with two:

    1. Squat to see the shot like shooting a rifle with your dominant eye close to and over the stick.

    this is a matter of choice imo and experience. I am right eye dominant and I shoot comfortably with the cue centered on my chin. I think it's a choice, I can play with the cue under my right eye, but for me it's more comfortable centered through my head. Most players have eye dominance but lotsa players play with the cue centered between the eyes.

    and the other:

    don't let stance get in the way of stroke

    I think that we more or less mean the same thing here but our perspective is different.

    If you work on your stroke that will naturally improve your stance, but that doesn't change the fact that stance determines stroke.

    just my .2 cents

    regards, Plumb

  6. cuebaldkyle on 6/3/2007 4:14:48 PM

    Most good players use one of two stances, the first is to line up your right foot (if you're right handed) with the cue ball and get down from there. The second is to line up your cue while standing holding your tip as close to the cue ball as you can and forming your stance round your cue. I prefer the second method because there's less adjusting once you're down on your shot. someone mention that the stance is not that important IMO it's crucial to have a good stance. The biggest mistake I see are people standing parallel to there cue your feet should be closer to perpendicular to your stick to ensure proper balance.

  7. cuebaldPlumb on 6/4/2007 4:59:00 AM

    that's an interesting reply Kyle, I think your point about using the cue to position your stance is good advice, but also there's no reason not to also position your right foot in relation to the line.

    I think you can do both, I do. Cue in the general space first, while still standing, then adjusting the feet, then going down into the stance.

    I don't agree with your advice regarding the feet, parallel vs horizontal, I think that's wrong, feet should be mostly parallel, pointing at the short. That's the way most players do it.

  8. cuebaldkyle on 6/5/2007 1:02:00 PM

    I think you got me wrong your feet (the width of your stance) should be perpendicular (or closer to) your cue (toes pointing towards the shot) if your toes are pointing at your cue you're all twisted up with less balance. Using your cue or your right foot are merely starting points for a stance some begin with there foot others with there stick the end results are the same.

  9. cuebaldPlumb on 6/6/2007 11:58:45 AM

    k, my mistake regarding what you meant about the feet and perpendicular

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Proper Billiard Stance

  • Title: Proper Billiard Stance
  • Author:
  • Published: 9/30/2006 3:50:04 AM