I changed my stroke yesterday……… again
Yesterday, my coach asked me the classic, ultimate question, “Are you ready and willing to do whatever it takes?”
“YES!” The answer, of course, was YES.
I had a GREAT session with Bob yesterday after nearly four months. The last time we worked together was in July and before that it was March.
We reevaluated my 2007 goals that I had set for myself. One was to finish the year in the top 10 of the Hunter Tour which will not happen. By the end of the year, I will have missed two stops and finish around 13th. Another was to win a pro qualifier which will also not happen.
We also talked about a big unexpected setback in my life this year and how it much it affected the original 2007 training goals we had set. Bob was very understanding. “You’re human,” he said. Yeah. Sometimes I wish I was a little less human.
Our first line of business was to do some “fine tuning” on my mechanics. At the beginning of the year, I made a, what turned out to be pretty HUGE, adjustment to my stroke.
I’d realized after watching some old practice videos how incredibly into-my-body my stroke arm was. It was really quite painful to watch. I was always aware that my arm was not perfectly perpendicular from behind, but I had gotten away with it because I had developed a bit of a slip-stroke.
What happens is, and I explain this in my clinics all the time, when you shoot into your body, it’s almost like putting a governor on your stroke. It’s nearly impossible to shoot certain power stroke shots when your arm is hitting your body and unable to accelerate and follow through as much as it needs to.
So, at the beginning of the year, I started with this: 
And gradually evolved to this: 
I initially believed that it would just be as simple as bringing my hand out and tucking my elbow back. Nuh-uh. As it turned out, in order for me to keep my stroke straight, I had to completely open up my stance. I couldn’t stay as square as I was. I had to turn my body in order to follow through straight. So, that’s what I did.
Since the beginning of this year, I’ve been working to perfect (at at least get comfortable with) this new adjustment in my arm. Honestly, it’s taken me only up until the past couple months to truly feel comfortable with this change. With all that I practice and compete, it was still a lot more challenging than I had anticipated.
When I met with Bob yesterday, only after I answered “YES!” to his delicate question, he suggested I straighten my wrist, still keeping my back arm perpendicular, but just rotating my wrist so it’s straighter. Here’s the final outcome: 
Side by side evolution:
This change completely changed the contact points of where my cue rests in my hand. It feels pretty different but as part of my commitment I’m willing to do whatever he tells me to. I trust my coach and know he would never suggest anything unreasonable. So, without ever having any chance for regret later, I want to make sure I give myself the best chance at succeeding by having faith in everything he’s teaching.
On a side note, my friend Robert and I won a scotch doubles tournament today. Well, we were really supposed to. I brought him out of temporary retirement for the day for this tournament. He’s such a champion bar table 8 ball player and I always learn something when I play with him. He strung together a few nice runs. He said he liked the new stroke. I’m glad I was playing scotch though - haha.
Anyway, I’m meeting Bob at 9 in the morning for another practice session. Better get some sleep. Catchya on the flip side!
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Comments
Um, by the way,I am concerned someone might confuse your coach “Bob” with me whenever I leave comments. Does his last name have a different initial than mine?
Samm,
Just another quick note by me. I thought that this was a very informative and “right-on-the-money” blog. I have watched your mechanics and think that this change is one of the strongest you can make, the last picture looks perfect! Just because Bustamante can swing from the side with that cocked slip stroke, that doesn’t mean that it is the most efficient and consistent.
And for what it is worth, I think that your game and consistency would improve your game a half-ball to a ball if you corrected the overly-limp wrist on your backswing. Just a thought, and one mentioned by others as well.
You are very dedicated and I’d like to see you continue to improve on your journey to becoming the best that you can be.
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I sometimes have great trouble figuring out my stroke. I fuss over the bend in my back wrist. I sometimes think I need my left foot more forward so I can swing straighter. I try not to have my elbow out, but it seems to happen if I get my head down too far. I notice if I tilt my head slightly left 5 or 10 degrees then I seem to hit follow and draw a little better, rather than at 12:30 and 6:30. I might have this BCA guy (certified advanced) analyze my stroke again… It’s killing me! The Joe Tucker 3rd Eye Trainer can help, but my stroke needs fixing before I address my eye dominance.