Roy Yamane should require very little introduction. Nicknamed "The Sensei", Roy is a Master Certified BCA Instructor with the American Billiard Academy. Roy can be reached for private individual or group lessons at his website: www.abilliardacademy.com. Previous columns are available here.
	"Assume your Position & Relax: Results=Consistency" BY ROY "Sensei" YAMANE, MASTER BCA Certified Instructor A good comfortable stance result's in proper cue alignment and a straighter stroke which allows you to concentrate longer on aiming more accurately. Not everyone positions their body in the same manner as you because of differences in Height, physical weight, proportional differences, distortions or deformity, and mainly comfort. The stance should allow you to keep the cue as level as possible by adjusting the span of your feet and stroking comfortably straight with a relaxed natural swing. When you are uncomfortable, human intuition informs you to get out of this discomfort or tense disarrangement so you tend to shoot quicker which may cause you to miss more shots. "Relaxing," being comfortable and well balanced, provides the foundation of being able to play better and for longer periods "Consistency" is like a bouncing yo-yo attached to a rubber band tied around your finger. Imagine the yo-yo being the level of your playing capability. One would like to keep the yo-yo at its highest consistent level of play when needed and limit the radical changes on the low side. The more irregularities you have varies your shooting processes, the more down-side bounce you create causes the worst days. Let us analyze how one could shorten the stretch of the rubber band of the yo-yo and become more "Consistent" in your stance. On a typical shot, place an object ball on the foot spot and the cue ball near the head string and get into position to pocket the object ball. As you get into a position, do you adjust and readjust 'till you're comfortable, or do you step into a set pattern and position your body consistently shot after shot? Let's take a picture or video of you and look for some important factors once you have assumed a comfortable position. Look at your (1) feet (Stance) location, (2) bridge distance from the cue ball, (3) grip location on cue, (4) body angle position and elevation. Draw a map in your mind on what you would look like from a picture taken straight above and from the side of you. In order to pocket the object ball, the cue has to be in a direct line of fire. Mark your feet (stance) location by using "reinforcements," (Pressure sensitive polyvinyl labels) in front of your toes and behind your heels once you assume your position. Back away from the position and without looking down on the floor to reposition your feet to the markers, walk up to the same shot and position yourself again. Check to see if your feet are within plus or minus two inches of the markers and if you are not close, you need to find a way to reference this stance related to your cue stick angle and direction. Use your cue stick as a measuring device by checking your feet location directly below the cue. See where your back toe to heel relationship is to the butt end of the cue. Measure your front toe-to-heel relationship directly below to the joint of the cue. Embed in your mind how you could relocate your footing in the same position on every typical shot. Another factor to remember is that there are locations that have different table heights so adjust your distance of feet wider for lower tables and closer together for higher ones. Don't try to adjust to table height by bending lower with your back for lower tables or straightening up for higher tables because you are not conforming to a constant body position and consistent back elevation angle. Adjust by spreading your legs wider for lower tables and close together for higher ones. Pool table heights are normally 29 1/4" high from the bottom of the leg to the top of the playing surface. Again, use your cue stick and measure 29 1/4" from the butt rubber bumper end up to the joint of the cue as a reference and check each billiard room's table height to see if they are all the same. Let me know your results. Rectify any problems through the keen eyes of an instructor who is familiar with the use of a camcorder and review a video-taped analysis of your body mechanics. Another simplified way would be to look at yourself in a mirror as you stroke your cue. You can resolve or change instantly by reviewing yourself through visual and physical relationship. Remember, being relaxed is an important factor. If it feels good.....DO IT!!!   All copyrights are owned by Roy Yamane. No duplication is allowed without his permission.