Snooker is doing my head in. I have 2 personal goals and 4 months on from my 26 year hiatus, I feel I haven't improved and no closer to my goals. My biggest break in my 30s was 99, and I have never cleared up a line up. My biggest break playing someone in my restart is 36 and my best run on line up is 13 reds with colours 92. I watch you every week and very pleased you met Hendy, can I please have a pin? Brett from Stowupland Suffolk. Watching you and finding a local place to play really has rekindled my love of snooker. Thank you.
One thing that has helped my aiming is a tip I am attributing to Cliff Thorburn. I was told his tip was/is, "Hit the point on the object ball that is furthest from the pocket."
@@AJsVIEW okay... But I think my explanation might be muddled without graphics. If you set up an object and ghost ball as a shot into a pocket, and where the 2 balls contact will be the point furthest from the pocket. Now a method of aiming that can be used (everyones' opinion will vary) 1. Find the contact point on the object ball furthest away from the pocket 2. Find the equivalent spot on the opposite side of the cue ball 3. Align your cue going through those 2 spots 4. Parallel shift your cue to the center of the cue ball Now take a firm shot and if all is done correctly the object ball will go into the pocket. Now shot speed and cue ball spin will cause the object ball to take a slightly different path due to spin and deflection when the object ball and the ball contact each other. My biggest problem is seeing the parallel lines. I'm not a great player. My highest break is about 40. But when I use the method of aiming above in training, my shot making improves. Right now my focus is alignment and stroke. I'm trying to perform stop shots with the results being a pocketed ball and a cue ball that stops with zero roll or spin.
I tried this today and it worked for me. Think I was overthinking angles etc and this just simplified it for me and my long potting game which is non existent was really not too bad today and I made my biggest event break today in practice. @@SomeGuy-tz8dz
Love this page. Im a top amateur player, play on the world seniors tour and English counties, been playing 40 years and a regular 100 break player (obviously). A bit like golf tuition some methods of coaching resonate. You did an old video about aiming and cueing through to the target point on the object ball which really helped me a few years ago. I keep taking long breaks out of the game and after my last 9 months off Im really struggling to find any form at all. Going to try this, especially with the bridge hand and more consistent aiming. Sometimes having so much knowledge and skill ingrains terrible habits and rather than aiming correctly or even walking into shots I get down and just use side to correct poor alignment. Keep doing the videos, for me they are really different, and first class.
1:50 Yes that's exactly what I was thinking! Focus on the cue ball reaction not the object ball, to help not hit the object ball in the wrong place. You're "willing" the cue ball's motion. I'm rubbish but at least I can understand how I should think while playing. Pt 4 too, so often you get down on a shot, think ah my angle is wrong and adjust while still down there, turns out you had it right from above when you first got down on the shot... if you need to adjust you have to stand back up and clear what you were thinking, then get down on the shot fresh again.
Ah it seems you've changed your tip! Gone to a traditional one again have we? Loving the videos and congrats on the Cue Tips videos. Joe from Tooting london
My problem was side spin and still keeping the ball on target. Top and bottom spin I'm fine with, but as I've not played for some time I just immerse myself in mostly watching you showing "How To" for which gets remembered if I ever do play again. Good to hear about the new cloth 👍 stay well
Great video. Since I started filming my practice, I've also noticed flaws in my technique, but I feel that making such big changes is not a good idea.We all watch the pros, and I would say keep your game as natural as possible having a technique like a robot is unrealistic
The reason you don’t go through the ball is because you hold your cue far too far forward at the back. When you get down to do your feathers your elbow looks like it’s already delivered the cue before you even hit the cue ball, and then when you do actually hit the cue ball and deliver the cue you have to drop your elbow massively because there’s not enough cue being used on the shot. Hold your cue much further back and you can push more cue through without dropping your elbow and you will have much more cue power effortlessly. Look at how judd trump is on the shot his elbow is much further back before he delivers the cue through, he doesn’t need to drop his elbow because there’s no need to as he’s pushing more cue through as his arm is further back on the cue. This will help you massively because you have a really bad seesaw action you don’t keep your cue parallel with the table because you hold your cue far too forward at the back causing you to drop your elbow a lot
• The first one is usually to so with a back arm that isn't perfectly vertical. Ensuring this, really helps. • Bridge wise, grip the cloth with your fingertips. •As for the "drill" which is the walk up, and prep for the shot, you HAVE to _drill_ this in.. i.e. practice, practice practice..make this as second nature as possible, and exactly the same each time.
I think aiming (and hitting) has 4 elements that have to align 1. knowing where the white has to hit for the object ball to go where it is supposed to (theoretical understanding) 2. actually looking at that point and not shifting to somewhere else (visual imagination ability) 3. actually pointing the cue to that point, and not just believing you do (knowing/controling your physis 1) 4. delivering the cue in a line such that the white actually goes to that point and not sending it on another path (knowing/controling your physis 2)
@breakfromlife the opposite happens to me. When i think about the cue ball I end up steering the cue in the direction of the cue ball path and overcutting the shot.. 😂
This is an interesting idea. I wonder if this one reason why we might play better when confident - if you don't think you're going to miss, you don't look at the object ball, you look at the white and start immediately thinking about the next shot. Also, it would explain why missing shots quite quickly turns into playing worse and worse. I do think snooker is game played in the head more than technique (which obviously is still important).
Missing thick is because your brain is drawn to want to hit as much of the ball as possible, you have to fight against that part of the brain that's betraying you.
@Cycle.every.day. I agree, and this seems to be the mystery of helping side. It is far to easy to rely on helping side that corrects the error, until you need to use plain ball and miss every time.
The explanation makes sense and is very reminiscent of the cautious warnings I've always heard about motorway drivers drifting into side of the road distractions. Pretty eye opening on my end, I'll have to take that onboard.
"you have to fight against that part of the brain that's betraying you" No, you do not "fight" your brain ffs... You learn and understand, then practice and get used to more consistent technique. You are not fighting yourself, that's not a good way to approach life and learning anything. For example, addicts try to fight with themselves to stop indulging in something and it causes more and more neurosis and difficulty completely quitting. You have to understand what's going on, learn and see why you have to approach things differently, then you just do and the more you keep at it, the more that becomes your new normal mode. In the exact same way, human beings are not in combat with nature as people so often talk about it, that's a misunderstanding of life and causes more and more problems.
I am about as consistent as runny custard! Thanks so much for the content you produce. It's super helpful. I have also spent years trying to become more consistent with various elements of my technique, but as soon as i feel I'm making progress, something else seems to go wrong and it's back to square one. As a league player and obsessive practicer, i have always struggled with accuracy and cue delivery. This video highlights all the parts of my game that i struggle with, so, i am going to work through them too. Could i possibly get a pin on your map? (south Birmingham, West Midlands, United Kingdom). Keep up the good work. 👍
Snooker is doing my head in. I have 2 personal goals and 4 months on from my 26 year hiatus, I feel I haven't improved and no closer to my goals. My biggest break in my 30s was 99, and I have never cleared up a line up. My biggest break playing someone in my restart is 36 and my best run on line up is 13 reds with colours 92. I watch you every week and very pleased you met Hendy, can I please have a pin? Brett from Stowupland Suffolk. Watching you and finding a local place to play really has rekindled my love of snooker. Thank you.
All the technique issues in this video crept in to my game yesterday one by one as my technique left me 😂
Listen to ronnie’s audiobook Unbreakable. It’ll give you a good sense of perspective and the lessons in there are gold.
One thing that has helped my aiming is a tip I am attributing to Cliff Thorburn. I was told his tip was/is, "Hit the point on the object ball that is furthest from the pocket."
Can you elaborate please.
@@AJsVIEW okay... But I think my explanation might be muddled without graphics. If you set up an object and ghost ball as a shot into a pocket, and where the 2 balls contact will be the point furthest from the pocket. Now a method of aiming that can be used (everyones' opinion will vary)
1. Find the contact point on the object ball furthest away from the pocket
2. Find the equivalent spot on the opposite side of the cue ball
3. Align your cue going through those 2 spots
4. Parallel shift your cue to the center of the cue ball
Now take a firm shot and if all is done correctly the object ball will go into the pocket. Now shot speed and cue ball spin will cause the object ball to take a slightly different path due to spin and deflection when the object ball and the ball contact each other.
My biggest problem is seeing the parallel lines. I'm not a great player. My highest break is about 40. But when I use the method of aiming above in training, my shot making improves.
Right now my focus is alignment and stroke. I'm trying to perform stop shots with the results being a pocketed ball and a cue ball that stops with zero roll or spin.
I tried this today and it worked for me. Think I was overthinking angles etc and this just simplified it for me and my long potting game which is non existent was really not too bad today and I made my biggest event break today in practice. @@SomeGuy-tz8dz
Congrats on 400K subs. Been with you since you only had a few thousand,
Love this page. Im a top amateur player, play on the world seniors tour and English counties, been playing 40 years and a regular 100 break player (obviously). A bit like golf tuition some methods of coaching resonate. You did an old video about aiming and cueing through to the target point on the object ball which really helped me a few years ago. I keep taking long breaks out of the game and after my last 9 months off Im really struggling to find any form at all. Going to try this, especially with the bridge hand and more consistent aiming. Sometimes having so much knowledge and skill ingrains terrible habits and rather than aiming correctly or even walking into shots I get down and just use side to correct poor alignment. Keep doing the videos, for me they are really different, and first class.
1:50 Yes that's exactly what I was thinking! Focus on the cue ball reaction not the object ball, to help not hit the object ball in the wrong place. You're "willing" the cue ball's motion. I'm rubbish but at least I can understand how I should think while playing. Pt 4 too, so often you get down on a shot, think ah my angle is wrong and adjust while still down there, turns out you had it right from above when you first got down on the shot... if you need to adjust you have to stand back up and clear what you were thinking, then get down on the shot fresh again.
3:06 that was smoothly satisfying
Gona try these tips out this evening 👌
This is exactly what i needed. What an amazing diagnosis
Keeping your head still and committing to the shot even if it looks wrong will help your potting tenfolds
Ah it seems you've changed your tip! Gone to a traditional one again have we? Loving the videos and congrats on the Cue Tips videos.
Joe from Tooting london
Thanks for the video! Greetings from Tallinn, Estonia.
My problem was side spin and still keeping the ball on target. Top and bottom spin I'm fine with, but as I've not played for some time I just immerse myself in mostly watching you showing "How To" for which gets remembered if I ever do play again. Good to hear about the new cloth 👍 stay well
Greetings from Dakhla, Morocco 🇲🇦
Great video. Since I started filming my practice, I've also noticed flaws in my technique, but I feel that making such big changes is not a good idea.We all watch the pros, and I would say keep your game as natural as possible having a technique like a robot is unrealistic
Should do one on how to calm your nerves, you definitely needed it playing stephen hendry
Ahmed Wajeeh from Lahore,Pakistan. love your informative videos
The reason you don’t go through the ball is because you hold your cue far too far forward at the back. When you get down to do your feathers your elbow looks like it’s already delivered the cue before you even hit the cue ball, and then when you do actually hit the cue ball and deliver the cue you have to drop your elbow massively because there’s not enough cue being used on the shot. Hold your cue much further back and you can push more cue through without dropping your elbow and you will have much more cue power effortlessly. Look at how judd trump is on the shot his elbow is much further back before he delivers the cue through, he doesn’t need to drop his elbow because there’s no need to as he’s pushing more cue through as his arm is further back on the cue. This will help you massively because you have a really bad seesaw action you don’t keep your cue parallel with the table because you hold your cue far too forward at the back causing you to drop your elbow a lot
Have a go at some of the selby / Allen safety shots from yesterday 👍
This video was very helpful THANKYOU
Thats sontrue thanks for sharing this its a massive plus for every player
• The first one is usually to so with a back arm that isn't perfectly vertical. Ensuring this, really helps.
• Bridge wise, grip the cloth with your fingertips.
•As for the "drill" which is the walk up, and prep for the shot, you HAVE to _drill_ this in.. i.e. practice, practice practice..make this as second nature as possible, and exactly the same each time.
400k well done lad.
@@busterbuster1641 keep meaning to post about this but thank you
I think aiming (and hitting) has 4 elements that have to align
1. knowing where the white has to hit for the object ball to go where it is supposed to (theoretical understanding)
2. actually looking at that point and not shifting to somewhere else (visual imagination ability)
3. actually pointing the cue to that point, and not just believing you do (knowing/controling your physis 1)
4. delivering the cue in a line such that the white actually goes to that point and not sending it on another path (knowing/controling your physis 2)
Nice job! Congrats! From Brazil!
Thats funny, I booked a lesson in for this eve to address these exact issues
Can the cloth you play on effect the back spin?
@breakfromlife the opposite happens to me. When i think about the cue ball I end up steering the cue in the direction of the cue ball path and overcutting the shot.. 😂
This is an interesting idea. I wonder if this one reason why we might play better when confident - if you don't think you're going to miss, you don't look at the object ball, you look at the white and start immediately thinking about the next shot. Also, it would explain why missing shots quite quickly turns into playing worse and worse.
I do think snooker is game played in the head more than technique (which obviously is still important).
Missing thick is because your brain is drawn to want to hit as much of the ball as possible, you have to fight against that part of the brain that's betraying you.
@Cycle.every.day. I agree, and this seems to be the mystery of helping side. It is far to easy to rely on helping side that corrects the error, until you need to use plain ball and miss every time.
The explanation makes sense and is very reminiscent of the cautious warnings I've always heard about motorway drivers drifting into side of the road distractions. Pretty eye opening on my end, I'll have to take that onboard.
"you have to fight against that part of the brain that's betraying you"
No, you do not "fight" your brain ffs... You learn and understand, then practice and get used to more consistent technique. You are not fighting yourself, that's not a good way to approach life and learning anything. For example, addicts try to fight with themselves to stop indulging in something and it causes more and more neurosis and difficulty completely quitting. You have to understand what's going on, learn and see why you have to approach things differently, then you just do and the more you keep at it, the more that becomes your new normal mode. In the exact same way, human beings are not in combat with nature as people so often talk about it, that's a misunderstanding of life and causes more and more problems.
What do you mean by "to hit as much of the ball as possible" 🤔
My wrist is a big thing for me - also I need to move my bridge hand back a bit - and making sure I walk in on line correctly
I am about as consistent as runny custard!
Thanks so much for the content you produce. It's super helpful.
I have also spent years trying to become more consistent with various elements of my technique, but as soon as i feel I'm making progress, something else seems to go wrong and it's back to square one. As a league player and obsessive practicer, i have always struggled with accuracy and cue delivery. This video highlights all the parts of my game that i struggle with, so, i am going to work through them too.
Could i possibly get a pin on your map? (south Birmingham, West Midlands, United Kingdom).
Keep up the good work. 👍
Nice video👌
I am a beginner play on weekends only can I improve??
you cue PLATE is up, then its to the right after the delivery...........
yo bro I am from Bengaluru karnataka india
Would you be interested in doing some coaching? My teammates and myself are in need of a coaching day! Thanks 😊
Michael holt does team coaching workshops
I do coaching as well with guaranteed results
Morning..
When I strike my cue always move and won't go in the target so please help me out, from Nepal
yaay
bro you are the next legend of snooker after ronnie please go in cru cible and play championships
Yay