This article is the third of a monthly collection of the best writing on pool called PoolSynergy. This month’s theme is on “Life Lesson Application” (some activity, training, or experience outside of the world of billiards and how that could be applied to help a person’s pool game).

My good friend and local fellow instructor, Tom Ross, used to teach at Shakespeare’s downtown before they closed. For many years, it was located in the heart of the city and not far from the Boettcher Concert Hall where our Colorado Symphony Orchestra performed. Often times, a few string players would roll in for his free weekly pool clinics.

The one thing I always recall Tom saying was, “String players have the most natural pool stroke.” Of course we do.

I was a concert violinist for 15 years and was consistently second or third chair in the first or second violins. I was never the best, but always had a lot of ‘natural talent’ and probably could’ve been one of the best had I only practiced. Unfortunately, I was blessed with the ability to sight-read music very well. Therefore, at age 14 or 15, when I really could’ve made some life-changing decisions, I found more fun and important things to do than to practice, especially since I was playing well enough to keep up with everyone.

Anyway, that’s for another article. This post is about the correlation between the evolution of my violin stroke and my pool stroke.

When I first picked up the violin at age 9, I learned the beginner bow hold. I became very comfortable with this hand position. I didn’t know of any other way to hold the bow and was enjoying the noise I was making with my new instrument. I didn’t start taking private lessons until much later in my musical career. Otherwise, I might have understood the importance of the bow hold.

The Beginner Bow Hold

The Professional Bow Hold

As a fifth grader, I returned to music class with my violin rental, enthusiastic and ready to learn. It was then that we were introduced to a new, advanced bow hold. I refused it. Why do we have to change? I don’t understand. This other way works just fine for me. (Sound familiar?)

It wouldn’t be until middle school, when Mrs. Baumgardner pushed us to learn more challenging pieces did I understand the value of my new bow hold. I could move the bow more freely. I could play faster notes and more advanced music. That year, only a handful of us 6th graders were selected to perform in the concert orchestra with the 7th and 8th graders. I was one of them.

I resisted the new hold initially, but once I got used to it, I couldn’t go back. I believe there’s a similar phenomenon that occurs with our pool grip.

According to TheHeartString.org (an organization that promotes education and awareness for junior string players), “When the hand strengthens and becomes consistently rounded, stable, and relaxed, the student can move to the professional bow hold by bringing the thumb in to the stick.” [photos from TheHeartString.org]

As an instructor these days, I always suggest my students refer to their “grip” as more of a “cradle” where, in theory, they could essential remove their thumb from the cue and still be able to rest their cue in their fingers. Generally, beginner players have a tendency to squeeze their cue too tightly, particularly when they really want to hit the ball. By the time we learn that we get more action from a loose, relaxed grip, we have to spend another ten years breaking ourselves from the death grip. Can we blame the beginner player? It’s called a bow “hold” but a cue “grip.” If you think about it, “LOOSE GRIP” is kind of an oxymoron.

It wasn’t until I learned to apply the ‘less is more’ element to my pool stroke, was I really able to hit the ball…

Less Tension = More Smoothness

Less Squeeze = More Pendulum

Less Pressure = More Relaxation

The Less and Lighter the Grip = The More Effective and Powerful the Stroke

Just as children do when the muscles in their hand strengthen, they are able to become relaxed and fluid. I would not be half the player that I am today had I never applied this concept to my pool stroke. Every once in a while, I still catch myself at times squeezing a little too tightly. Those are the times that I either miss or don’t get the desired action on the cue ball.

When I learned to apply this concept was when I learned to power-draw and force-follow the cue ball. It’s impossible to shoot those shots with a firm grip.

The Bow Stroke

The Cue Stroke

As you can see, the actual way you hold both instruments in your hand are different. However, both strokes require smooth, fluid, relaxed movements to achieve the best results. That understanding is very much the same.

Just out of curiosity…

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This article is the third of a series of posts written in coordination with other pool bloggers entitled "PoolSynergy".
This month's theme is LIFE LESSON APPLICATION.
To see others, go to: http://www.billiardcoach.com/home/2010/01/15/poolsynergy-volume-iii

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