Why can’t I cue straight?

[Billy]

Every Saturday morning I go for 2-3 frames at my local club with a friend of mine. We started about a month ago and it was the first time I’d had a cue in my hand for about 25 years or so.

However, I’m becoming increasingly frustrated (to the point where it’s starting to lose its appeal) by the fact I can’t manage more than the occasional single pot.

Now before I’m pictured as some hopeless case who doesn’t even know the basics, let me say I’ve always felt as though I took to the game pretty naturally. My stance, lining up, and approach all come instinctively, but when I delivery the cue I simply cannot push it through in a straight line. It feels like the distance between my bridge hand and cue ball is like a car on an icy road, and I would estimate a good 90% of my pot attempts are missed through unwanted side.

Other than the obvious ‘practice practice practice’ is there anything I can do to help this problem? I feel like that beginner golfer waiting for the magic ‘click’ where everything suddenly makes sense and his swing comes easy.

[Frankthered]

Hi Billy,

I feel like I'm in the same boat - started trying to play again about 18 months ago after 25+ years of not playing. More realistically, during the 25 years, I wasn't playing regularly and certainly didn't ever play on a full-size table. I also felt like things came fairly naturally to me, although I did also have a copy of Jack Karnehm's "Understanding Modern Snooker" on VHS. (Still have it somewhere, but now have nothing to play it on!)

I feel like I'm waiting for something to click too, just to get back to something like how I used to play.

Some things I have thought of that could be the issue for me:

• My body is a different shape now, when compared to 25 years ago. Yes, I am fat! I'm not suggesting you are, but there may be some difference that is getting in the way of something.
• My body also does not bend the way it used to. To really get down on a shot now, I have to bend my right knee, which I never did before. I think this helps sometimes, but I don't feel like I am consistent with the knee-bend yet, so I'm not consistent.
• My eyesight has definitely changed as well. In my case, I don't think my prescription has changed that much, but I think I used to be very right-eye dominant. I think it is less so now - particularly for distance vision.

My plan going forward will be to play pool next time I go to the club, to see if I can get a bit more consistent at that and then transfer it to the snooker table, and I'm also considering a coaching session at some point to see if there is anything they pick up on that I can then address and hopefully have that "click" moment!

Good luck!

[Billy]

That sounds all too familiar, and let’s say yes, I’m carrying more weight than I was 25 years ago! I also sympathise with the stiffness. Getting my chin on the cue for a couple of hours usually results in a headache from the stress on my neck.

All that said I’m not sure they’re the main problem. I remember playing all those years ago, and I was no better then at pushing the cue through straight, even with the suppleness of youth on my side.