Break building in matchplay versus practice

[dpdubai]

Now I know line-up’s are easier than scattered reds but I find it frustrating that I can put in regular 80’s-90’s on a line-up with half centuries almost every other time I set the balls but then break down around the 20s & 30s in a frame. I know its not related to shot selection or anything theoretical because like most on here I know most of the textbook theory.

So where am I going wrong?
I know its hard to say without seeing my game but based on the line-up scores I would think getting into the 40s and 50s in matchplay would be entirely achievable?

With the recent thread about mindset at the table Im starting to think it may be about my mentality at the table, am I putting too much pressure on myself to make a big break? Is it because the balls aren’t set easily the extra thought to find position is detracting from the foundation of getting down and delivering the cue straight.

Anyone who experiences anything similar or how you’ve overcome it I’d be glad to hear it.

[spike]

It happens to me as well dpdubai. I think it's a case of putting too much pressure on one's self and is very common problem amongst players.

I am in a similar situation to you in the fact on the line up i can make regular 50 to 60 breaks but when i play in a match i seem to normally break down in the 30 to 40 bracket.

My problem is in a match or even a friendly i'm left with a good opportunity but invariably break down on about 30 or so because i'm thinking too much about wanting to play well and knock in a decent break.

I maybe wrong and it maybe something else as to why you cant make the same kind of breaks in a match as you do in practise but i wish you luck all the same..

[noel]

Funny how that seems to work spike.

Pressure.
The fear of missing. Knowing that your opponent will scoop up the points you've left behind.
The fear of losing. The dread at realizing, no Noel, you will never be WC.

Curiously, for the pros this match pressure seems to make them shoot BETTER!
For me... WORSE!
I wonder why that is and how to change that in my own game... ?



=o\

Noel

[bongo]

Line-up is completely different to match play situations. Line-up is about the easy pots and positional shots (soft screws and stuns etc.). In line-up there is no variation in the position of the balls and you may be making 80s in line-up but that makes no difference when it comes to match play as it's completely different. You will be able to play the shots but you need to put them together. Line-up is my favourite routine but you still need the match play practice.
__________________
Originally posted at Http://www.thesnookergym.com/forums

[dpdubai]

Thanks for the response so far everyone.

Spike if you figure out how to break this barrier before me let me know and if I show an up turn in standard at any point Ill let you know as we do seem to be shooting around the same level.

Bongo, I hear what your saying. Right now my table time is around 50% practice and 50% friendly match play. So hopefully Im balanced to be moving in the right direction. Also I dont spend alot of time on line-ups, specifically because it doesnt represent my aim in achieving big breaks in a frame. I like it for cue ball control and finding the flow but my practice sessions are more varied including exercises in potting the black, scattered reds, colours from the spots and various other things to try and improve my all round snooker.

Thanks for your input as always

[RocketRoy1983]

When I figure this problem out for myself ill let you know as im in EXACTLY the same boat.

[Forman]

Thanks for the response so far everyone.

Spike if you figure out how to break this barrier before me let me know and if I show an up turn in standard at any point Ill let you know as we do seem to be shooting around the same level.

Bongo, I hear what your saying. Right now my table time is around 50% practice and 50% friendly match play. So hopefully Im balanced to be moving in the right direction. Also I dont spend alot of time on line-ups, specifically because it doesnt represent my aim in achieving big breaks in a frame. I like it for cue ball control and finding the flow but my practice sessions are more varied including exercises in potting the black, scattered reds, colours from the spots and various other things to try and improve my all round snooker.

Thanks for your input as always

I use to practice the line up alot and was getting frustrated as i could clear it quite often but it wasnt translating into breaks in matches.

I reacently started practicing a different break building excercise, its the one where you put 5 reds in a pack below the pink and 5 reds scatered around the black spot, the shots you face in this practice routine are much more like what you face in a match during a break.
Ive seen a notable improvement in the breaks im making in matches after switching to this routine and its given me alot more confidence, (another bounus is if you take high value colors you can make a pretty realistic practice century if you clear the table)
i still like the line up but i just felt id overdone it and wasnt learning anything new anymore.

hope this helps, it did for me

[dpdubai]

I use to practice the line up alot and was getting frustrated as i could clear it quite often but it wasnt translating into breaks in matches.

I reacently started practicing a different break building excercise, its the one where you put 5 reds in a pack below the pink and 5 reds scatered around the black spot, the shots you face in this practice routine are much more like what you face in a match during a break.
Ive seen a notable improvement in the breaks im making in matches after switching to this routine and its given me alot more confidence, (another bounus is if you take high value colors you can make a pretty realistic practice century if you clear the table)
i still like the line up but i just felt id overdone it and wasnt learning anything new anymore.

hope this helps, it did for me

I've never cleared the line-up though and that is still one of my goals. Did you find anymore of a learning curve on the line-up from making 80s and 90's to when you were then clearing it?

I'll prob not give up on line-up till I clear it, but I might start with similar exercises to those you mention to spark a bigger learning curve again.

Cheers Forman.

Also thanks to Roy, I'll be expecting a post or a PM when you crack it and likewise I will do the same :snooker:

[Mike P]

I mostly did line up for the longest time. I found that it was great for all the reasons already mentioned, but there are some draw backs. Remember that all your shots are coming from the centre of the table and obviously this is not the case in a game. Take note to see if you are consistently breaking down on the same type of shot. Sometimes it is not only the angle of the cut that should be looked at, but also the stuff (English) you are trying to put on the cue ball.

When nearing your high break, step away from the table to wipe your hands, take a drink or whatever. I know that when you return to the table, you are still aware of your run total, but it does help to relieve some of the pressure that has built up inside of you.

Imagery is very important in sports. When you are away from the table, picture yourself making the shot that puts you beyond your high run. I know to some it might sound foolish, but it does work.

Mike

[Terry Davidson]

The line-up is only meant to get your cue action going as you always have an easy pot into an open pocket. High breaks in the line-up to not translate to high breaks in match situation as all the shots in a match are mostly into closed pockets with different requirements for position.

If you want an exercise which will improve your break building in matches then pot the black off its spot as many times as you can in a row. When you get to 100 times in a row consider playing in PIOS

When you get bored with the black, try the pink or even better the blue, which goes into all 6 pockets easily and you will end up coming off the top and bottom cushions to try and maintain position, which is more realistic than the line-up.

That said, I practice the line-up each day for 10 attempts and I make that first red really difficult, say about 1 inch off the top cushion and stun/screw back out for a black from a 1/4-ball cut. Sometimes I start my 10 attempts by missing that first shot 2 or 3 times. However, once I get rolling then I usually clear the table or at least have a ton.

(I am at 37 blacks off the spot in a row which doesn't seem like much, but try it sometime.

The other exercise you can try is to place 10 reds in a zig-zag pattern between pink and black so only 1 red at a time will be pottable and the pink is not available and you must play black. This one is VERY frustrating as you are always spotting balls. When you master it, go play in PIOS too.

Terry

Terry
__________________
Originally posted at Http://www.thesnookergym.com/forums

[dantuck_7]

I had thoughts on this issue as well. Let's say you started playing quite young and at some point early on had say an 80 break. These players that have had that break then don't feel any nerves going through 40's and 50's....

I think this has a lot to do with it, the number of times I messed up in the 40's...I once has 2 reds sitting over the pocket after playing a cannon, with a very realistic chance of beating my hb, all colours on their spots, and I end up snookering myself on both reds!!

I guess its only how difficult you make it out to be.

[noel]

Imagery is very important in sports. When you are away from the table, picture yourself making the shot that puts you beyond your high run. I know to some it might sound foolish, but it does work.

Mike

SUPER Important point Mike!
... and it's more than "power of positive thought" stuff!
If you can write yourself a mental "script" in which you see yourself as effortlessly making a high break and act it out with faith in that image... you have a much greater chance of actually achieving that.
Sounds crazy. It isn't.



=o)

Noel

[checkSide]

Try this routine, it is way better than the line up for true variation.

Three or four reds in small pack under the pink. One loose red near the black. Cue ball in baulk. Pot the red with a long stun to gain easy position on the black for a split. (High or Low). Pot the black to split the pack, then clear up with the colours. The table will be different every time.
This routine is v.hard and you can add more reds to the pack as you advance.

[poolqjunkie]

You can be a champion in line-up with a very limited range of shots.

In a real game, you need to able to move the ball a lot more and be able to make thin cuts, cushion shots, long shots, jack up, with balls very close to each other...etc, which you do not usually practice/need in line up.

Line up in my opinion is great in warming up your arm and eyes for a match, but if that is all you do, you are lacking a lot of practice in other important shots.

I would suggest that you find some time to practice your thinner cuts, and your angles with the object balls close to the cushion.

Also, to find some time to practice moving the ball around the table rather than just stun shots. I like Terry's suggestion of practicing the blue, especially if the baulk colors and pink/black are on the table, very good routine.

Fergal O'Brien has a lot fo good tips on his web site.

Hope this helps.:-)

[Thomas_Mc_147]

The T-Shape

Hi m8
I Started Playing Snooker 4 Years Ago When I Was 11 Years Of Age And When I Turned 13/14, I Was Hitting Regular 40's And 50's In Matchplay And Then I Improved On My T-Shape Breakbuilding.
The T-Shape Is Just A Simple Breakbuilding Routine With The Balls (Obv) Set Up Into A T-Shape And Just Pot Them As If U Were In A Frame - (Red,Colour,Red,Colour...),
It Also Helps U With Ure Rest Shots Because U Always Get Rest Shots During That Routine.
Since I Started The T-Shape Routine, I Am Hitting Regular 60's And 70's In Matchplay Now So.. I Have Improved Quite A Bit Since Last Year
Hope This Helps Pal