So I've been hearing/reading a lot of conflicting things about the back pause and I'd like to know what you guys think about it.

Some of the benefits I've heard was it gives you one final chance to focus on the aim point or stand up and readjust if it's necessary. I've actually done that a few times before. It's also said that the pause allows you to shoot without 2 different muscle groups in the upper arm working in two directions at the same time. I find that when I do it, I visualize my stroke becoming straighter.

The cons I've heard was that it's confusing and feels very unnatural. It's adding an unnecessary step. I've heard someone say that unless you're in the top 10% of snooker players, the back pause is completely unnecessary and you're just doing it to show off and that no pool player should ever need it.

A little background about my stroke and stance. I play pool, have played snooker a little and would love to play more snooker if only there was more than 1 snooker table available near me that didn't cost $20/hr. When I started off learning seriously, I watched a lot of youtube tutorial videos, using pool and snooker videos liberally since I figured the technical skill sets must carry over. Because of that I have a lot of snooker player mannerisms. I use the open bridge almost exclusively, only using the closed bridge if I'm using extreme draw or force follow. I chalk like a snooker player. My stroke is somewhat stabbier than a normal pool stroke but still smoother than a snooker stroke.

Some time after I started playing and practicing more seriously, I ran into a coach who was an ex-hustler. He converted me to the hybrid snooker stance (kind of like how Alex Pagulayan shoots). His reasoning was that your feet and upper body would always be square to your shot because he saw that when I used the classic pool stance, on shots from certain parts of the table, my upper body would be twisted and that would make me shoot crooked. So now I look even more like a snooker player since I've already been using the back pause by then. I really enjoyed the conversion because it felt so much more natural and simpler. I never did any formal coaching with him because I can't afford his rates but we played together sometimes and he would give me pointers and tell me hustling stories. He never said anything about me using the back pause and once told me that my stroke was as good as any professional's so I'm certain the back pause can't be harming my game.

Now, when my friends ask me for pool pointers, I'd teach them the hybrid snooker stance because of simplicity. I'd tell them to do everything I did stance and stroke wise except for the back pause for fear I'd be confusing them.

So yeah, what's the verdict on the back pause? Is it something people should learn from the very start or wait a while? Is it up to personal preference? Did any of the pros and cons for it I've heard over the years make no sense at all?

It worked for Doug Mountjoy in 1988. He won the UK Snooker Championship against Stephen Hendry (cheesily and almost eerily calling Hendry "my number one"" afterwards) and the back pause was a big (and new) part of his game.

It worked for him. I use it when I'm cueing badly and it works for potting but the white ends up where it ends up.

Every stroke has a back pause in it. The pause length is the variable that is different from person to person. You can't take your arm back, and then have it go forward without a pause, even if it is a miniscule one.

Also, you should NOT be re adjusting/aiming when you start your back stroke. All decisions on the shot, speed, spin etc, should be made prior to addressing the cue ball. If you find yourself changing your mind when you get down to the cue ball, then stand back up. Do NOT try to change your mind or adjust your shot while doing the backstroke as this is very bad.

We all pause between the back stroke and then going forward with the shot. As for the length...do what is most comfortable and fluent making sure you follow through on the shot and keep your head down while you finish the stroke. I could go on but hopefully that is a start in the right direction.

I don't adjust in stance. I stand up and redo everything.

OK, every stroke has a pause but there's still a difference between a distinct back pause and a technical back pause because your arm can't be going two directions at the same time.

Seems a little nit-picky to say that every stroke has back pause. Could equally say that every stroke has follow through. Or every cued ball has spin.

This is true...I am just saying from a physics viewpoints. In terms of the length of the pause, I stand by what I said though. If you are thinking about switching shots, how to hit it, or even how to realign the stroke/body at the pause, then this is a fundamental mistake. All that thought process should be done prior to getting down to address the cue ball on the shot.

In case anyone wants to know my credentials I am an amateur nationally locked 7 in APA in 8 ball (yes lol APA) with a lifetime win loss record in league of about 81% over 200 matches.

No, you are being pedantic for the sake of it. Physics doesn't say that at all. If anything, physics says that a pause and a non-pause are indistinguishable. Which would necessitate defining the back pause as something more than an effect of reversing directions.

I personally think any conscious pause on the back stroke is bad fundamentals. Your arm should flow smoothly on a pendulum. The same method is used for putting in golf.

Antagonistic muscles are muscles that work in direct opposition to each other. The triceps and the biceps are two such muscles. The triceps bring the cue back and the biceps bring the cue forward. If you bring the cue forward without disengaging the muscles that have brought it back, they will fight each other. The pause cleans up the forward stroke and allows the biceps to work uninhibited. You should not be changing your aim or anything else at the back pause. At first, the "back pause" seems really difficult to put it in your game. You just have to force yourself into good habits daily for a few months and it will feel like second nature. Pythagoras said, "Choose always the way that seems the best, however rough it may be. Custom will soon render it easy and agreeable.”

The pause (for whatever length) should definitely be without thought. OP, look up a SPF instructor to help with breaking down your fundamentals. AZ Billiards is a great website full of information (including instructors) as well. Good luck.

It worked for Mountjoy. It might have been a muscle thing or it might have all been mental and just a way for him/his coach to deal with another issue but it did work. If it helps you play better you can stick with it or adjust it/dump it later.

i'm inclined to agree with you--but by the same token if you actually look at some amazingly successful players you will definitely see a noticeable pause. even watching the same players you will see some shots that are completely fluid and others that aren't.

worse thing in sports is to try to emulate someone else. it doesnt work. you have to find your own stroke that comes naturally and you can repeat it.

put a coke bottle or two pieces of chalk the width of your tip apart on the table and stroke into it or between the chalk over and over until you never hit the sides even with your head turned to the side.