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    POD, May 2012: How Important Are The Shoulders?

    getagrip Posted on
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    The original post is available here for members to discuss:
    viewtopic.php?f=5&t=928

    Hi!
    I am not new to the GTC throw but I am still learning every day I practice this toss and I think I always will. In the last few months I have become aware of just how important the shoulders are to my GTC throw. I was already aware of the importance of not closing my front shoulder during my toss and of having my shoulders relaxed instead of tense but I have found that proper shoulder alignment helps cure many of my other slight problems or at least greatly affects each element. If my shoulders are not squared up when I pick up the dice then my grip is often affected. My front middle finger or thumb is then off slightly, usually angled a little bit one way or the other. I am talking about a small amount but we all know how being off so slightly is magnified by the time the dice reach the end of the table. Also, if my shoulders are not squared up when I am doing my backswing and forward pendulum swing then the angle of my hand on follow through is not perfectly straight across so my dice have not come out exactly square to the table. If I hold my hand out on the follow through and it is angled slightly one way or the other then I can raise or lower a shoulder and watch it come into straight alignment so I know which way I have to adjust my shoulders on my next throw. This is during my practice sessions of course.

    Maybe this isn’t a problem for some like it is for me since I hereditarily have very poor posture which my mother also had. You military guys may not have a problem with this at all. Lucky you!! 🙂 You may be able to tell in a mirror if your shoulders are parallel but a mirror did not particularly help me. If you have a spouse or roommate, even if they do not play Craps, have them stand directly behind you and let you know if one shoulder is higher or lower than the other when you are ready to throw. I got really creative and taped a level to a long broom stick and had my husband stand behind me and let me know what was actually level with regards to my shoulders. :geek:

    I hope this post will help some out there who have not yet considered how their shoulders are affecting their toss. I would also really appreciate hearing from other members and instructors about their own shoulder work with regard to the GTC toss. What problem were you having and how was it affected by a shoulder correction?

    Thanks for reading! 🙂 😎
    Getagrip

    Replies:

    Posted by: ThomasH on February 23, 2012, 9:47 pm

    Can you edit this post so it is easier to read.

    Great info but hard to read.

    Posted by: getagrip on February 23, 2012, 9:52 pm

    Thanks for the suggestion Thomas!

    I separated the paragraphs so hope that helps all who are trying to read this. 🙂 😎

    Posted by: Dr Crapology on February 23, 2012, 10:44 pm

    If you have a craps table, take a mirror, mine id 24" by 36" and place it across the table from you where the dealer would stand. As you throw look at yourself in the mirror during the entire throw. For this drill you do not need to look at the landing spot. You will see a lot. This can be a great learning tool.

    Give it a try.

    Doc

    Posted by: Set44 on February 24, 2012, 1:20 am

    I have a throwing and receiving station. Sometimes during practice I spent time watching the back swing and dice rather than the target. It is like putting in golf – the target (hole) does not move – so we watch the ball as we stroke it. Well, during throwing practice by watch the dice and back swing and then follow the throw you will may see the quality of the throw. When your throwing muscle memory has kicked in you will be surprise with the dice looking great and landing right on your target.
    I have also used this method as a way of seeing how my shoulders are during practice. Just my .02 cents worth. Good Luck today. Isn’t GTC the greatest thing to happen to craps. 😀

    Posted by: brothelman on February 24, 2012, 3:54 pm

    Shoulders smoulders they don’t mean cr@#$%$% lmao.

    See you soon.

    Okay set44 has the idea where ever you point the shoulder the dice will go just like in putting, well if you have a pendjulume swing it will follow the plain of the shoulders.

    Posted by: sevenout on February 27, 2012, 6:07 am

    I remember during the Refresher, Pit Boss had me watch my arm during the swing instead of the target.

    Unfuckingbelievable how much better my dice looked when I did that. I need to work more drills into my practice routine.

    getagrip
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