Stephen Mulliner suggests a method to overcome hoop running problems:
There is another way of improving hoop-running that some may find helpful. It consists of experiencing the success of the pendulum method and so providing support for introducing a degree of "pendulumosity" into one's own hoop stroke to the extent that you feel comfortable doing so.
Place a ball 6 inches in front of a hoop and grip the mallet with the forefinger and thumb of each hand only. The first point of interest is that it may well make surprisingly little difference whether you adopt an Irish (both thumbs in front), Standard (lower [dominant)] thumb in front, other one behind), Reverse Standard (the reverse of standard) or Solomon (both thumbs behind). Then try running the hoop by a few inches a dozen or so times using gentle casting1 a few (say three) times over the ball. It is very easy to run the hoop cleanly and you will become aware that the mallet is acting as an almost pure pendulum.
Then repeat the exercise with eyes closed, then with the gaze on the hoop and, finally, when looking to one side (as if you were conversing with an onlooker). You will soon be able to convince yourself that, once you have aimed yourself and taken your stance, the hoop is for all practical purposes already run (it is just that the ball is unaware of the fact) and all you have to do is to set the swing in motion to bring about this certain result.
This is a simple and effective Inner Game technique and once you can do it at 6 inches, do it at 12 and the 18 and then 24. Then introduce modestly angled hoops and then more angled hoops. The method works for all.
It is a minor party piece to show beginners how you can set up to run an angled hoop from 2 or 3 feet out and then look at them while you are talking and casually set the mallet off and, hey presto, you run the hoop as cleanly as can be.
Obviously few of us would be prepared to run hoops for real with only four fingers on the mallet but once you realize how effective the pendulum method is, it is easier to relax the wrists in the hoop stroke when using your normal grip and to avoid stabbing or mallet-lifting.
Stephen Mulliner
24.i.7
1). Casting: the swinging of the mallet over the striker's ball one or more times before making a final swing in which the mallet hits the ball.
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