Lesson 7(F): The Practice Strokes

By Nick Prinsloo

More of this Series •  Introduction • 1.) Philosophy Of Pool • 2.) Learning To Play Pool • 3.) Overcoming The Physical Barriers • 4.) Overcoming The Mental Barriers • 5.) Why Pool? • 6.) Becoming A Natural Player • 7.) Judging The Angle & Establishing The Right Technique • 7e.) Sighting The Shot • 7f.) The Practice Strokes • 7g.) Pausing For Perfection • 7h.) Final Cue Delivery

The practice strokes (preliminary cueing) are a fairly subjective part of the technique. It is not quite so important that it will make or break a player, but yet it is worth mentioning. The practice strokes are the forward and backward movements of the cue before the shot is executed. It takes place during sighting of the shot.

The purpose of preliminary cueing, is mainly to check that the cue is moving in a straight line and will do so on the final execution of the shot. It also serves to build up a rhythm and should help with the timing of the stroke.

The practice strokes should be fairly slow and always rhythmical, although being slow should not be the rule of thumb. I have seen a few (and only a few) good players with lightning-fast practice strokes, but then the tendency normally is to jab at the shot, which is not good. It is not easy to move the cue to and fro at a hundred miles an hour, and then draw the cue back slowly (ideally) for the last backswing before the shot. This feels and looks awkward. You will see that players usually draw back the cue at the same speed as their preliminary cueing. However, it should also not be too slow and/or mechanical. Keep it smooth, fluent and rhythmical.

The length (not the length of time) of the of the practice strokes can vary. Some players have long, lavish strokes, others have short, stunted strokes. Some players hardly move the cue, but it is still distinguishable as preliminary cueing.

As far as the time taken on the practice strokes, you will find that when a player is in stroke (in form) it is the same on every shot. And that is ultimately the optimum, and what you should strive for. The number of practice strokes should also be the same on every shot, whether easy or difficult. Find your perfect rhythm - two strokes, three strokes, four or eight, whatever gives you the best results. To find out which feels the most natural, try this on fairly easy shots. Go ahead and complete the stroke by actually playing the shot for now, but in the next lesson, we will look at what should happen just before the final delivery of the cue.

(Next Lesson: Pause #1, Pause #2, and the Backswing)

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