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Stance: The Big Secret!

By , About.com Guide

8 of 8

The classic stance applied

Bingo!

Photo (c) Matt Sherman
This photo is the same body position as the previous photo but was taken from a different angle to the table. Here you can better see my 45 degree stance, especially my legs as I've stepped forward to the table from the original standing position.

Try this method, it works for nearly 100% of my clinic students! Simply:

1. Place the cuestick on the line of the shot, your head in its typical position atop your trunk. Your head will naturally be off to one side of the arm holding the stick, which is resting on the shot line.

2. Take a step forward with the foot opposite your shooting arm, then bend down, not forcing your head over the cuestick, but with the better goal of bringing your head straight down, to one side of your shooting arm. As your head comes straight down, it will remain to one side of the shot.

3. Optional step. Bring your head in somewhat over the cuestick as you like. I allow my head to swivel on the neck, as I can still see with binocular vision easily, though my head has rotated somewhat on the axis of my spine.

Looks like my right arm is "out there" and away from my body, doesn't it? That's pool, the arm on its "own". Just as I "trust my arm" when it slides back out of my line of vision on the backswing, the shooting arm does its forward action, indeed, all its range of motion, while my body and head stay out of "interference range". Try my 1-2-3 method and see your game improve immediately!

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