Billiard Stance
Billiard Stance
Every player's billiard stance will vary, however, there are a few things that everyone can keep in mind while trying to perfect this aspect of their game. These include head alignment, balance, and the angle and position of your shooting arm.
Billiard Stance
Where possible, a good billiard stance includes the alignment of the shooter's head with the aim line of their cue. Align the cue with the center of your head (via your nose) or slightly off-center biased toward your dominant eye. You should also perform a quick check to ensure that your head is perpendicular to the floor, as opposed to tilted either to the left or to the right. You may not always be able to pick up on this on your own, so you can either have a buddy observe you, or you could videotape yourself during a practice session.
To achieve a proper stroke, you will also need to perfect your body's balance. Try to ensure that you have minimal body movement during your shot, with the exception of your swinging arm. Proper balance will help you attain low body movement. Some players prefer a wider stance, while distributing their weight evenly on each leg. Also, you should lead with the same foot as your arm used to bridge the cue. You should also avoid any unnatural stances, as they will likely throw your shot angle either left or right depending on the way your body moves to return to its comfortable position.
When shooting, there should be ample room for your stroke to occur without hitting the side of your torso. Generally, your body should be 25 - 35 degrees away from your cue. You upper shooting arm should begin at a perfect 90 degree angle (perpendicular) with the table's bed, as opposed to being angled to your left or right. The arm should remain this way for the duration of the stroke. During the stroke, avoid movement from side to side so as to ensure a straight shot. Finally, you should ensure that your cue runs fairly level with the table's bed. You may have to bend at the waist and lower your upper body for this to occur.
Some billiard players also talk about rigidity of the legs during the shot. Although this is discussed often, and there are proponents of both sides, there is a general rule of thumb that any rigidity whatsoever in shooting is bad. As always, you may have to stick with whatever feels right when it comes to your billiard stance.
Billiard Stance
- Title: Billiard Stance
- Author: billiardsforum (Billiards Forum)
- Published: 8/20/2006 12:56:00 PM
Billiard Stance
The Billiard Stance article belongs to the Aiming and Execution Tutorials for Billiards category. Billiard and pool playing tips around shot making, aiming, and execution.
Billiard Stance Comments
Ravi Bodani from Pune, Maharashtra on 1/18/2010 1:24:02 AM
Thanks very much.
I want to know what role does the bridge side foot play for a perfect billiard stance e.g. the leading foot?
It'll be a great help to know more about that, and I am looking forward for your response.
9 Ball Bill from Zhongshan, China on 3/28/2011 11:36:35 PM
This article really helped. Thanks you.
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