Selby vs Appleton

[Canny Tim]

Hi. After watching this video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3uSgG...D08487BAE975F4 I notice that Selby doesn't really feather at all during the game. Is this because there is no real point to feathering when playing pool as it is easier? He has a very consistent feathering routine when playing snooker .

[DeanH]

Remember this is 2006 so he could have changed his style.
I don't think the statement that you don't need to feather in pool because it is easier, works for me.
Or maybe he did as he felt he didn't need to, Also I notice he does not do that sideways swaying he was famous for
I see many pool players feather like mad

[Canny Tim]

Yeah I was just wondering if it was a pool thing for him as he'll find the potting much easier. He keeps everything smooth still so it doesn't seem to affect him.

[Csmith]

Must be a change in technique since then. There are no feathers, but his backstroke is pretty deliberate.

[thelongbomber]

In pool (UK and American) potting the ball isn't something you have to expend a lot of mental focus and energy on because the balls generally go in. As long as you are reasonably accurate, there is some margin of error. Cue ball control, however, is much more important because slightly overhitting can put you into a bad position given the small spaces you are playing in.

In snooker, Selby is out of his "potting" comfort zone because potting is generally more difficult, but cue ball control actually has a larger margin of error (you can play in zones). So Selby feathers more and expends a lot of energy trying to "pot" the ball. You can see this when he is under pressure and is willing to sacrifice some (and often any) cue ball control. It's partly why, under pressure, he won't make many high breaks because he basically makes sure he pots the ball.

And before you say that Selby made some breaks in the final session, yes, he did, but he was no longer under pressure from ROS by that point because he sensed ROS breaking.