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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[@poolhub89]

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.

[@gee2891]

"You must unlearn what you have learned" - Master Yoda

[@coderz4life]

@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.

[@nayanchoudhary4353]

What I've seen is that sometimes we don't have great table and has bad slopes. A slow shot doesn't make the ball go as intended. On such tables, players shoot harder to compensate for unintentional roll. Then it creeps in into habit. 😢

[@wilkvanburen]

This usually happens more when you are playing in a bar setting than in a pool hall (unless the pool hall is going downhill financially and they can't afford to maintain their equipment). If you can find a pool hall, that's almost always better than a bar table, but not everyone can get to a pool hall. I've seen what you're talking about, quite often. It happened to me. As a teenager, when I first started playing pool, it was always on a table at the bowling alley, or skating rink, or somewhere like that, and slow shots rolled off from the path you shot them on. And when I turned 21, it was always bar tables, until I went to my first real pool hall. After that, I had to spend years deprogramming my brain from thinking every shot had to be hit like a home-run baseball swing.

[@josephsmith4540]

Biggest thing I’ve learned from playing league in bars if the shot calls for shooting it soft do it. If you catch a roll you catch roll.

[@Darkslide2AR-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.

[@Sadie04074]

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

[@nickcordero8484]

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

[@javelinzamot9907]

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

[@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.

[@tomaszsosnowski9279]

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!

[@xeyedsurfer]

The bigger pocket from shooting slow equals out the the roll off you might get vs hitting hard. Hitting hard is like putting your head in the sand, do you even see if you hit right or left point of pocket.

[@bptraveler6608]

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.

[@ERDG516]

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,

[@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.

[@markevenson987]

Always enjoy your videos. Keep ‘em coming!

[@chackoulahannan6991]

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

[@joachimfuchs7061]

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

[@MPL_14.1]

Great video Chris!

[@chackoulahannan6991]

Very valuable. Thanks.

[@yes2crypto]

Great tips as usual, Chris

[@WorldofPoolandBilliards]

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

[@mhf1979]

Nice video Chris 🍻🍻🍻

[@rossmarino7977]

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

[@SenseiNatePlaysPool]

Good work buddy! 💪🏼

[@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.

[@JimJones-kk8pb]

On an older table with newer cloth I use a toi and a medium stroke.

[@BackwardsBilliards]

Great video!!

[@zanethind]

Hope you had a good new year and Christmas man

[@robertallison9838]

Great video, Just made a Teammate watch it.

[@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.

[@Bri_bees]

i always do better when i shoot soft but in some tables it backfires. Whn the table is not perfectly level or the felt is old the slow ball can wander. 😢

[@zanethind]

Lil Chris coming in with the beard man

[@genodean5935]

Hi Chris...you analyzed my play last year which I appreciated very much. I am an elderly player rated 6 APA but am trying to fix a stroke flaw which has hurt me for years..would you consider looking at a short video and making a suggestion as how to fix the flaw?

[@dougquara6302]

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.

[@MrTwool]

Good advice, I see this way too often

[@woza2023]

Hey Chris. Used to watch you all the time. Been away from the channel and just came back. All I have to say is …. Wow what a beard😂

[@richardstott16]

Hitting too hard is a difficult bad habit to change - for me! I think it comes from my confusing a few cueing concepts 1. (smooth) acceleration vs.speed, 2. Less power results in deceleration 3.Imparting spin on cue ball requires pace vs. correct contact point, and lastly 4. Fear that missing at slower pace will set table up for opponent! Interesting explanation of how dropping shoulder also flicks shoulder out as well but is the cause of this not getting chin low to the cue as you do?

[@RichardsWorld]

I am trying to get over hitting too hard also. The reason I need to hit harder is because I'm often times subconsciously playing position to shoot the next ball straight in. I end up with very little angle to move the cue ball around.

[@user-jc1ie3hd4h]

Tutorial 3 Rail, please..🙏🏻

[@anthonykeller5120]

I like watching Han Yu play. She has one of the purest strokes I’ve watched. Her stroke appears to be the same no matter where she wants the cue ball to end for shape. It’s hard to tell if she is going to draw a few inches or a full table draw. I’ve learned to shoot softer just watching her and the great Efren Reyes. I live in the Philippines now. There is a definite difference in the shooting philosophy between American and Filipino pool players. This is a gross generalization I’ve noticed. Americans shoot controlling power, while Filipinos shoot controlling spin. Of course Americans shoot and control spin, just as Filipinos shoot and control power. The difference can be seen by watching Shane shoot vs. Efren shooting.

[@HxtedEwo]

wish i had a teacher like him lol

[@ronthepoolstudent]

#1 It’s amazing how many players bang at balls.

[@bird80]

Another video! 😃

[@qqlllc]

Hey Chris! I JUST discovered you. Have you ever discussed/presented regarding the position of the forearm of the hand holding the stick? I see so many players holding the very end resulting in a death grip. I believe it should be perpendicular to the floor when in a neutral position. But hey, that's just me... Thank you for the great videos... I'm still catching up )

[@billteager3618]

Do you have a video with respect to throw at softer speeds?

[@ianjamison5460]

Have always said, much like driving... Speed kills.

[@williammcdowell3718]

I hit the ball hard because I play on slow cloth in high humidity area.

[@marksoncarty7747]

U do on bar tables, the wind out on the beach will push the ball 2 to 3 inches. Bahaaha

[@mohdaltamimi8233]

Hi bro, May I know which tips you have on SMO shaft and what kind of hardness?

[@LilChrisPoolPlayer]

SMO comes with a Taom Fusion tip, which is medium hardness in the center and softer around the edges.

[@veejayasuncion8519]

Hello! Which do you prefer light or heavy pool cue?

[@LilChrisPoolPlayer]

My cues are typically 19 - 19.5oz

[@shortymack340]

Why lil cris look like lil were wolf 😆

[@Rubster760]

Second ✌️😅

[@ronthepoolstudent]

Gotta be quicker Ruben 😉

[@Rubster760]

Happy New Year Lil Chris 🥳👍

[@wdd6864]

That beard. lol jk. Great videos

[@BROU-bb2uc]

You can only shoot soft on a fast level table.

[@coderz4life]

I agree with you in the basic sense but to what degree? On a slower, not-so-level table, how fast does an object ball (not the cue ball necessarily) need to be in order compensate for these flaws? How clean or dirty are the balls? Is there any holes, dirt or chalk on the table surface? Which direction does the cloth's knit pattern go? What's the weather like? In short, all of these minute factors matter to some degree, correct? So, at any arbitrary playing time, there is always a "sweet spot". I just think the answer is never that cut and dry.

[@troyberber2324]

Umm…

[@greg4254]

Have some pride in yourself and cut that beard. This isnt the 70s. Stop being lazy.