Pool Lesson: The Benefits To Shooting Softly

What's going on everybody?!? It's 2024 and I finally have some free time to give you some content! This video is a practical lesson that I have given EVERY APA teammate of mine and I've watched them get better than others quicker. So if it can help them, then I figure it can help you!

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[Sadie]

I appreciate your videos for the masses of people out here who are beginners or intermediate players.

[javelinzamot]

I like the way you explain things very comprehensive.an easy to understand the point that you're trying to teach.

[DarkslideAR-FE]

This was one of the biggest lessons I've learned as a player. I noticed professional players would shoot soft and still make position so i started doing the same. I noticed an increase in accuracy and getting the actual english I want on the ball to get into the position for the next shot.

[wilkvanburen]

Great video. I wish we had something like this when I first started playing about 40 years ago. I've had to spend time replacing bad habits with correct form in order to shoot better.

[ThePoolTryHard]

LETS GO CHRIS. ALWAYS LEARN FROM YOUR VIDEOS EVEN STILL.

[nickcordero]

Fantastic video, I do that a lot of times with bad results. If I shoot softer, shots are more accurately. Thanks a lot Chris.

[coderzlife]

@lilchrispoolplayer 3:30 A few things to also consider. When coaching players, I often tell players that one key thing for their accuracy is to keep the cue horizontal as much as possible. Even a small approach angle of 15 degrees or so can exaggerate their inaccuracies with unintentional spin.

One common thing I see that also causes their cue tip to rise during follow through is the "iron grip" they have on their cue. This could be a caused by a person "forcing the cue foward", instead of using the cues weight to create linear momentum. As a cue moves forward, the "iron grip" leaves no play at the point where you are holding the cue. As you arm moves forward, the "iron grip" forms a rigid connection. Since a bridge is a fulcrum, the cue tip has little choice but to move up as the cue moves forward.

Most players, as you mentioned, would drop the elbow, causing the wrist to move more. However, I am too old to be doing that, so I one technique I learned a long time ago was to simply loosen my grip. I typically hold my cue by pinching it (almost like my fingers are a yoke). I have recommended in the past to have players form an "OK" sign 👌 with their hand and use the hole for the cue. It generally would give enough play to help the cue move linear.

[tomaszsosnowski]

Practicing the lag with multiple balls along the kitchen line will fine tune your softer side. Playing the brain-wash drill will make you play with finesse. But a power shot is the great test of your stroke, as you can find out doing the mighty x drill while drawing along the whole diagonal line. Good video!

[LopingCSF]

Happy New Year, Chris. Glad you got some free time.

Took a bit for me to learn to stop hitting the balls like they stole something, but when I did I leaned too far the other direction and starting throwing my purse at all of em. Been learning to find the middle ground between the two, lol.

[markevenson]

Always enjoy your videos. Keep ‘em coming!

[poolhub-]

What I have discovered with players shooting "too hard", is that they shoot harder than necessary in order to not compensate for throw at softer shots. Either they don't know about throw or can't properly compensate for it.

[ERDG]

My mechanics are bad, I can’t roll most of the shots in the videos. I know I shoot much harder than I should. Great video,

[raelynnclinard]

I was actually explaining to someone at league the other day to use their lag as a judge for distance when figuring out position on a shot. Works best for thin cuts/etc, obviously not accounting for any sidespin. The thicker the hit on the object ball, of course, the more force you may need to apply depending on the leave you are looking at getting and the spin being applied. Good to see you talking about the same type of thing in this video. Good stuff, Chris.

[GaryWorster]

Thanks for the detailed reasoning behind why I should do something and the examples showing outcomes from various speeds. This helps a lot!

Now I'll have to see how well I correct myself. I'm always afraid of shooting too soft when shooting softer than my normal fast.

[bptraveler]

A good drill from Anthony Beeler is to shot from the spot and try to get the ball to come back off the back rail out to the spot. This speed is good for 75% of all shots. Then it's a matter of low or top to control the speed. It's helped me slow it down and increased accuracy.

[chackoulahannan]

No see for a long time. Happy that you are back.

[rossmarino]

Yeah sometimes I do shoot too hard when is not necessary and yes I missed the shoot. Good video well done it makes sense to me

[joachimfuchs]

So youre back and healthy!! Fine. Happy new year 🤘

[WorldofPoolandBilliards]

Happy new year. Made some good points when shooting those stop shots from soft to hard.

[dougquara]

Thanks, Chris, good stuff. Maybe out of scope for this video but I would like to mention something about the angle of the shot. A half ball hit will transfer energy to the OB such that the OB and the CB will then travel the same distance. Less than half ball hit (thick) will transfer higher percentage of energy to the OB, and greater than half hit (thin), will transfer very little to the OB. This must be taken into account when predicting the speed the CB will travel.

(Even farther out of scope is how much additional speed that sidespin adds or reduces when hitting cushions. Too far away from this “back to basics” video.)

Love your stuff, and thanks.