Professionals instinctively know what the potting angles are but how do they do it? It's basically hours and hours of practice. Potting the colours might help...
How long have you been playing? And any tips that helped you the most? I at 43 right now, but find it hard to make over 30 consistently. I ve been playing for 1.5 years.
@@marcentian1246 I’ll put it like this- I’ve been playing a lot longer than 1.5 years! By the time you’re my age you’ll be making much higher breaks than I’m making! It’s all about repetition and practice, when I was younger there was no one to teach you anything, there wasn’t even internet! It’s amazing now to have lessons from some of the best players around available at the click of a button. Michael has taught me the value of using a trace of side on shots to help with position. But it takes a bit of practice to learn how to allow for it in how you line up the shot. Practice makes perfect. I’ll never be great but at least I feel like I have an idea of what I’m supposed to be doing. Best of luck.
Ty for replying, I don't really know where to start with playing shots with sidespin. My coach says I should play almost every ball plain ball, because sidspin only affects shots on the cushions. But in some videos I've seen that it even helps to aim normal shots and you should play every shot with a bit of side. It's kind of hard for me to find a way to start using it. On which shots are you using side? And dies it even affect the cueball if the cueball doesn't hit any cushion. Sry for bad English, I'm from Germany
@@marcentian1246 I’m not highly skilled enough to give you a definitive answer regarding when to use side- and even the professionals probably would give different answers. I’d definitely be using it for more than just shots where the cue ball hits the cushion. There are some great channels on UA-cam ( like this one ) Barton Snooker, Barry Stark, Stephen Hendry’s Cue Tips- I find I pick up good information from all of them.
@@marcentian1246 until you are making regular 30s and 40s, concentrate on committing potting angles to memory. Think about your missed pots and practice them. During a match there’s usually at least one missed pot that plays over in my mind. On my next solo session I’ll recreate the shot and play it over and over to hopefully avoid repeating that mistake next time out. Side is definitely useful but so is finding centre white which you should be aiming for most of the time.
Couldn't agree more. There is no magic formula to learn potting angles other than plenty of practice and naturally some are just better at it than others.
Thanks for keeping it simple Michael. It's a complicated game, so any method that makes it more complicated should be binned. What's your thoughts on cut induced throw (a term I'd never heard till recently). Does it actually exist???
Hello Michael! Got a question, today when I was playing, as I strike the ball, I noticed that the cue ball does a little hop off the baize, is that normal?
Problem with practicing snooker is it’s quite expensive to play in a club nowadays. Who’s got the money to pay just to practice solo, rather than having a game with your mate and sharing the costs?
I agree but solo practice will pay off pun intended. Playing drills especially. Look for deals and specials. I remember one time I joined a league I got free play on Sundays and day of the league 😁
@@maxmaxwell3787 Absolutely you can do that but solo practice is a must for improvement even if it is just an hour or two a week. It depends on your goals.
Hi Coach, Would buying The rocket method by Ronnie be better than investing on a coach here in India?Please answer your thoughts. Open to other comments too. My first priority for coaching is with you 100% as you see i always ask/comment & email you but I Don’t have my own table yet, but soon hopefully.
Hello, hope you are well. I’ve not seen the rocket method and I don’t know who your coach in India would be so it’s impossible for me to say. Sorry. Watch some videos of top professional players and wait until you get your table. 👍
Haha your class Michael you don’t rate anything lol I agree it’s just practice and confidence at the time of playing and potting the high blacks with left I can’t miss em now 😂😂😂
when I was a kid (circa 1967) snooker was 25 cents a game in our small Canadian town and the game didn't start until the reds were broke. The old guy who racked the balls (and collected the money) had known my dad since he was a kid and he let me shoot the colours off when it wasn't busy. He knew I didn't have much money so as long as I didn't break the reds there was no charge. if the boss came in or it started to get busy I would have to put the cue away. It was a while before I would shoot the black or pink for fear of breaking the reds up during these "practice " sessions. Fond memories of a different world.
I start my trainingsession with this. Al the reds from the bleuspot, then on to the black. Pink in al pockets. Then al reds in yellow, green and brown. this takes a while, but by the time you finish this, you had a good warming up for other exersises. I like it, works for me.
To be fair the ghost ball method is just a way to get you started - then you start to feel it …..by the way just home from winning a local shoot out competition. That makes two of us !
My tip is to start off every session you do with a five minute series of set angle pots on the blue; full ball, three-quarter ball, half ball, quarter ball, and finally a sharp cut(repeat on both sides). First with decent pace so there's not much throw, then at maximum rolling pace and finally floating them in slowly so they just reach the pocket. If you like to use it, do an additional run with helping side at the end. Helps me calibrate my brain and eyes before I start playing, because I don't get to play very often these days and I need to find my aim again.
I'm an absolutely awful potter so having an easy ghost ball visual method really helped my potting improve but general practice and angle recognition has also contributed.
while standing up you find the line of aim right, then you watch at the cueball then object ball and then walk in and get down. so from standing position to getting down how many times do you flick your eyes to white or object, and until your bridge hand hits the cushion, which ball you look, do you have to lock to either white object ball as you are getting down? tnx
What works for me is. I just recognize how the spheres of the QB and OB should meet , In second thought when i was a child i used to play "snooker" with ping-pong balls on the floor :-) . maybe the above look on the spheres tought me that .
It's really cute, seeing you so happy to be back on the tour again ;-) Looking forward to watching you play. I tried Ghost Ball, didn't think it helped at all. I mean it's a good visual representation to understand how this works on an intellectual level. But in actual play I don't think it's of any use. I mean, you need to "imagine" that ball. Then you need to imagine it in the right place, then you need to imagine the contact point between your imaginary ball and the object ball and THEN you need to imagine getting your cueball to where you imagined the ghostball. Imagine getting all of that right. No, really... all jokes' aside I thing you're absolutely right. It's more about practice than anything. Learning to recognize the potting point on the ball that's actually there and learning where to aim when you want to hit that potting point. I still have difficulties with very thin shots because there's nowhere to aim, I feel like. Do you have any tipps on that? like, do you kinda find a spot on the rail to aim to instead or do you aim into the air next to the object ball?
@@user-if1de8pt2j Yeah... it's the lining up of the cue that's a problem for me on thin shots. I aim them to thick because the aiming point is no longer somewhere on the object ball but outside of it.
@@user-if1de8pt2j Muscle Memory basically, yeah. No doubt about that. But you still need to train your brain. And from experience (other sports...) I know you can significantly speed up that process if you know what to work on and in this case, where to look.
Always love the videos Mike. I usually have a very quick glance at the potting angle, even after 40 odd years playing at a decent level. I see the Pros doing it all the time on TV. Is it just confirmation for your brain? Thanks Bruce
Thanks M.I use blue,pink and black.Set cue ball for straight shot,then have 3 reds either side to position cue ball so it’s the same place.Defo feeling more confident.
Michael brilliant buddy,your videos and so laid back,but extremely effective your snooker tips, great guy,you dont put any added pressure on your teaching of angles in snooker,sharp and too the point.You will go along way sir in coaching, speaking of which,how do i contact you for lessons Michael?
Hi Michael, another great video thanks, very helpful. Just a quick question, if you only had 15-20 minutes to practise before a league match, what would you do?
How more important is it to play with quality Aramith balls as opposed to the balls the club handed out? I'm considering buying a set of Aramith balls, hoping it might help improve my game
Yeah - Love Mike but personally i don't think this advice is Michael's best coaching advice it feel like he trolling us ha ha - just hit here pot this etc ...pot a million balls yeah wtf do we need a coach for then? - I think there is more than a few secrets he ain't sharing here and maths does come into it - not that you need to know it but you can learn stuff and it may help although yeah it can jangle your head too.. There are a few things he don't mention here - hitting up n down centre for position - using traces of helping side - strength of hit to widen or narrow the potting angle etc .Obviously you learn by repetition but there are some short cuts n secrets too. The main one people gloss over learning a solid repeatable technique.... psr ...I...mean is it better to practice potting balls and playing people or would it be more useful to hone a good technique and PSR first? Cos I think the latter.... There is not one size fits all for snooker. This is why its good to see a coach and iron out your own PSR i think early days before those bad habits creep in...
Made a break of 50 today. Well chuffed. Thanks to you, Barton Snooker and a few others. I’d never have got there without all these good tips.
How long have you been playing? And any tips that helped you the most? I at 43 right now, but find it hard to make over 30 consistently. I ve been playing for 1.5 years.
@@marcentian1246 I’ll put it like this- I’ve been playing a lot longer than 1.5 years! By the time you’re my age you’ll be making much higher breaks than I’m making! It’s all about repetition and practice, when I was younger there was no one to teach you anything, there wasn’t even internet! It’s amazing now to have lessons from some of the best players around available at the click of a button. Michael has taught me the value of using a trace of side on shots to help with position. But it takes a bit of practice to learn how to allow for it in how you line up the shot. Practice makes perfect. I’ll never be great but at least I feel like I have an idea of what I’m supposed to be doing. Best of luck.
Ty for replying, I don't really know where to start with playing shots with sidespin. My coach says I should play almost every ball plain ball, because sidspin only affects shots on the cushions. But in some videos I've seen that it even helps to aim normal shots and you should play every shot with a bit of side. It's kind of hard for me to find a way to start using it. On which shots are you using side? And dies it even affect the cueball if the cueball doesn't hit any cushion. Sry for bad English, I'm from Germany
@@marcentian1246 I’m not highly skilled enough to give you a definitive answer regarding when to use side- and even the professionals probably would give different answers. I’d definitely be using it for more than just shots where the cue ball hits the cushion. There are some great channels on UA-cam ( like this one ) Barton Snooker, Barry Stark, Stephen Hendry’s Cue Tips- I find I pick up good information from all of them.
@@marcentian1246 until you are making regular 30s and 40s, concentrate on committing potting angles to memory. Think about your missed pots and practice them. During a match there’s usually at least one missed pot that plays over in my mind. On my next solo session I’ll recreate the shot and play it over and over to hopefully avoid repeating that mistake next time out. Side is definitely useful but so is finding centre white which you should be aiming for most of the time.
Couldn't agree more. There is no magic formula to learn potting angles other than plenty of practice and naturally some are just better at it than others.
Thanks for keeping it simple Michael. It's a complicated game, so any method that makes it more complicated should be binned.
What's your thoughts on cut induced throw (a term I'd never heard till recently). Does it actually exist???
Just watched you on Stephen Hendry channel :)
Hello Michael! Got a question, today when I was playing, as I strike the ball, I noticed that the cue ball does a little hop off the baize, is that normal?
Problem with practicing snooker is it’s quite expensive to play in a club nowadays. Who’s got the money to pay just to practice solo, rather than having a game with your mate and sharing the costs?
I agree but solo practice will pay off pun intended. Playing drills especially. Look for deals and specials. I remember one time I joined a league I got free play on Sundays and day of the league 😁
You could still partner up but just share practice time. Spot for each other. Turn the practice routines into mini competitions.
@@maxmaxwell3787 Absolutely you can do that but solo practice is a must for improvement even if it is just an hour or two a week. It depends on your goals.
Hi Coach, Would buying The rocket method by Ronnie be better than investing on a coach here in India?Please answer your thoughts. Open to other comments too.
My first priority for coaching is with you 100% as you see i always ask/comment & email you but I Don’t have my own table yet, but soon hopefully.
Hello, hope you are well.
I’ve not seen the rocket method and I don’t know who your coach in India would be so it’s impossible for me to say.
Sorry.
Watch some videos of top professional players and wait until you get your table. 👍
Thank you! ❤️
when hit the cue ball by little english side it will go swerve. then it will miss the exactlly point to contact with object ball
Haha your class Michael you don’t rate anything lol I agree it’s just practice and confidence at the time of playing and potting the high blacks with left I can’t miss em now 😂😂😂
He doesn’t mention, unless it’s a straight shot, the point of aim isn’t the point of contact.
Hey Michael, did you just turn Professional from an amateur?……..
Just kidding……see u on the big occasion.
Did I not mention it? 😂
Michael, rumour has it that your kitchen plays better than you. 😀
when I was a kid (circa 1967) snooker was 25 cents a game in our small Canadian town and the game didn't start until the reds were broke. The old guy who racked the balls (and collected the money) had known my dad since he was a kid and he let me shoot the colours off when it wasn't busy. He knew I didn't have much money so as long as I didn't break the reds there was no charge. if the boss came in or it started to get busy I would have to put the cue away. It was a while before I would shoot the black or pink for fear of breaking the reds up during these "practice " sessions. Fond memories of a different world.
I start my trainingsession with this. Al the reds from the bleuspot, then on to the black. Pink in al pockets. Then al reds in yellow, green and brown. this takes a while, but by the time you finish this, you had a good warming up for other exersises. I like it, works for me.
To be fair the ghost ball method is just a way to get you started - then you start to feel it …..by the way just home from winning a local shoot out competition. That makes two of us !
My tip is to start off every session you do with a five minute series of set angle pots on the blue; full ball, three-quarter ball, half ball, quarter ball, and finally a sharp cut(repeat on both sides). First with decent pace so there's not much throw, then at maximum rolling pace and finally floating them in slowly so they just reach the pocket. If you like to use it, do an additional run with helping side at the end. Helps me calibrate my brain and eyes before I start playing, because I don't get to play very often these days and I need to find my aim again.
Perf advice.
Great tips! Michael, could you do a vid about cue power for extreme screw backs? How do they do it? Thanks.
I'm an absolutely awful potter so having an easy ghost ball visual method really helped my potting improve but general practice and angle recognition has also contributed.
while standing up you find the line of aim right, then you watch at the cueball then object ball and then walk in and get down. so from standing position to getting down how many times do you flick your eyes to white or object, and until your bridge hand hits the cushion, which ball you look, do you have to lock to either white object ball as you are getting down?
tnx
Is helping side generally check side?
What works for me is. I just recognize how the spheres of the QB and OB should meet ,
In second thought when i was a child i used to play "snooker" with ping-pong balls on the floor :-) .
maybe the above look on the spheres tought me that .
Great video Mike. I use the ghost ball but have never been consistent.
It's really cute, seeing you so happy to be back on the tour again ;-) Looking forward to watching you play.
I tried Ghost Ball, didn't think it helped at all. I mean it's a good visual representation to understand how this works on an intellectual level. But in actual play I don't think it's of any use. I mean, you need to "imagine" that ball. Then you need to imagine it in the right place, then you need to imagine the contact point between your imaginary ball and the object ball and THEN you need to imagine getting your cueball to where you imagined the ghostball. Imagine getting all of that right.
No, really... all jokes' aside I thing you're absolutely right. It's more about practice than anything. Learning to recognize the potting point on the ball that's actually there and learning where to aim when you want to hit that potting point.
I still have difficulties with very thin shots because there's nowhere to aim, I feel like. Do you have any tipps on that? like, do you kinda find a spot on the rail to aim to instead or do you aim into the air next to the object ball?
@@user-if1de8pt2j Yeah... it's the lining up of the cue that's a problem for me on thin shots. I aim them to thick because the aiming point is no longer somewhere on the object ball but outside of it.
@@user-if1de8pt2j Muscle Memory basically, yeah. No doubt about that. But you still need to train your brain. And from experience (other sports...) I know you can significantly speed up that process if you know what to work on and in this case, where to look.
Michael, your videos are awesome. I like the fact that you focus on one single thing e.g. the pause, how close to chest etc.
Thank you. 😃
I've been doing this a lot. Think im starting to see the benefits. It also gives me a idea of challenge for you on our next session
I’m looking forward to the challenge…
Thanks, Michael. I'll give this a go.
I don't think you need expensive balls, mate.
Do you play with them when you play at the club..
NO.
So what is the point.??.
Always love the videos Mike. I usually have a very quick glance at the potting angle, even after 40 odd years playing at a decent level. I see the Pros doing it all the time on TV. Is it just confirmation for your brain? Thanks Bruce
Thanks M.I use blue,pink and black.Set cue ball for straight shot,then have 3 reds either side to position cue ball so it’s the same place.Defo feeling more confident.
Makes a lot of sense, something I have started to do on a regular basis, I might just do it a bit more after watching this.
Why still no STEPHEN LEE
Thank you Michael
Michael brilliant buddy,your videos and so laid back,but extremely effective your snooker tips, great guy,you dont put any added pressure on your teaching of angles in snooker,sharp and too the point.You will go along way sir in coaching, speaking of which,how do i contact you for lessons Michael?
Thank you, appreciate it.
Email me on
Michaelholtsnooker@outlook.com
Cheers.
So good at explaining shit , big up yourself 👊🏼🙏🏼
Thank you. 👊
Hi Michael, another great video thanks, very helpful. Just a quick question, if you only had 15-20 minutes to practise before a league match, what would you do?
Just a line up. Pot a few balls and feel a some shots.
Then focus on winning. 👍
Thanks Michael
What tip do you use Coach? I’m looking to try century g1 softest tip. Any suggestions?
I use a legends medium. I’ve only ever used an elk master other than that. 👍
Thank you for the reply ❤️
How more important is it to play with quality Aramith balls as opposed to the balls the club handed out? I'm considering buying a set of Aramith balls, hoping it might help improve my game
@highwaytohelles4561 I definitely agree. I'm just wondering from a top pros point of view, if it can help advance your game?
Then again maybe it's the table so why not buy a new snooker table or it's your cue so go out and buy a John Parris cue
@@garrygibbons2989 What a stupid and ill informed reply. It this does is highlight that you absolutely no idea what you are talking about
Yeah - Love Mike but personally i don't think this advice is Michael's best coaching advice it feel like he trolling us ha ha - just hit here pot this etc ...pot a million balls yeah wtf do we need a coach for then? - I think there is more than a few secrets he ain't sharing here and maths does come into it - not that you need to know it but you can learn stuff and it may help although yeah it can jangle your head too.. There are a few things he don't mention here - hitting up n down centre for position - using traces of helping side - strength of hit to widen or narrow the potting angle etc .Obviously you learn by repetition but there are some short cuts n secrets too. The main one people gloss over learning a solid repeatable technique.... psr ...I...mean is it better to practice potting balls and playing people or would it be more useful to hone a good technique and PSR first? Cos I think the latter.... There is not one size fits all for snooker. This is why its good to see a coach and iron out your own PSR i think early days before those bad habits creep in...