power.

[hatterboard]

was hoping for help an ideas here. i dont play snooker i play 8 ball. (county A) in the last 14 months ive become terrible, ideas about missing popping into my head whilst cueing. last night went to see a snooker player that does a bit of coaching, between us last night we worked out the when i use power that when all my body moves into a shot. bridge hand up head moves shoulder chucks it. i played 5 blues from the sopt with a straight white on the baulk line. topping through i followed white into the corner 3 times (was what i was trying to do) however, when attempting the stun shot or screw shot i didnt get any. any ideas on what i should be doing to try correct this. i reckon i put too much ump into the snooker shot an move.

[RocketRoy1983]

If your placing the white on the baulk line to pot the blue into the top pocket and you pot both balls 3/5 your not doing too badly I can tell you cos the cueball must be close to the cushion or rail as you pool boys say. Just remain still on all shots.

[Terry Davidson]

hatterboard:

As Roy says, you must stop all head/shoulder movement on all shots but I'm sure your question is 'how in 'ell do I do that?' So here are a couple of tips which might help you.

In explanation, the movement is likely caused by a too-rapid change of direction in the cue when you are attempting stun or screw shots, although you seem to be doing fine when the cue is more level on run-through shots. (Believe me, making 3-out-of-5 of blue off spot and putting both balls into the top pocket is a very, very difficult thing to do - congratulations).

Now, we know you have a straight cue delivery on run-through so try this with stun and screw shots (in fact all shots). (In practice) Slow down your backswing until you feel it's much TOO slow (and then slow it down some more). If you have a rear pause then that's good as that overcomes the rapid change in direction.

The other thing that could be causeing this is your backswing may not be perfectly straight (I suspect this is what's happening when your cue is tilted up a bit more than a run-through) and a slower backswing will correct this.

In addition (I have had this same problem for 3 years by the way and I am a certified Master Coach) keep one 'swing thought' in your mind as you play in either practice or in a match. I give you permission to use mine if you wish. It is 'keep that f%$#@&g chin on the cue'. This has helped me.

One more point, and I realize pool tables are lower than snooker tables, but try and get your left armpit (if you're right handed) down as far as you can while still keeping comfortable. This has a tendency to lock the right shoulder socket in place and makes the elbow movement feel more fluid and smooth.

Terry

[denden]

hatterboard:

As Roy says, you must stop all head/shoulder movement on all shots but I'm sure your question is 'how in 'ell do I do that?' So here are a couple of tips which might help you.

In explanation, the movement is likely caused by a too-rapid change of direction in the cue when you are attempting stun or screw shots, although you seem to be doing fine when the cue is more level on run-through shots. (Believe me, making 3-out-of-5 of blue off spot and putting both balls into the top pocket is a very, very difficult thing to do - congratulations).

Now, we know you have a straight cue delivery on run-through so try this with stun and screw shots (in fact all shots). (In practice) Slow down your backswing until you feel it's much TOO slow (and then slow it down some more). If you have a rear pause then that's good as that overcomes the rapid change in direction.

The other thing that could be causeing this is your backswing may not be perfectly straight (I suspect this is what's happening when your cue is tilted up a bit more than a run-through) and a slower backswing will correct this.

In addition (I have had this same problem for 3 years by the way and I am a certified Master Coach) keep one 'swing thought' in your mind as you play in either practice or in a match. I give you permission to use mine if you wish. It is 'keep that f%$#@&g chin on the cue'. This has helped me.

One more point, and I realize pool tables are lower than snooker tables, but try and get your left armpit (if you're right handed) down as far as you can while still keeping comfortable. This has a tendency to lock the right shoulder socket in place and makes the elbow movement feel more fluid and smooth.

Terry

Cheers for that tel..... sound like you know your onions and can express it in terms not to fancy or technical...

thanks again mate and to the tread starter......usefull tips here!! I'm suffering with power shots myself

[hatterboard]

thanks. am off to stu green at tables on tuesday. i actually struggle with seeing what iam doing wrong an possibly need showing.
trevor
thanks for all the advice, i have a phrase that i use to try rid my head of the demons over missing. as i cue i try saying to myself "i just want to cue this shot nicely"

[Mr O]

Sounds like your cueing is ok , you're cueing straight enough , to generate the power necessary to stun or screwback from distance you need to be a bit looser . I find that to get screwback from distance I need a bit of wrist action into the shot aswell, not sure how the coaches view this maybe terry will comment. But it's a fine line between a solid action (keeping still) and being loose enough to get power into a shot

[Terry Davidson]

I wouldn't recommend using the wrist unless you're absolutely sure you can control it and have no sideways movement, just forwards. However, the recommended method is to have the wrist relaxed but stable.

What I would recommend is a loose grip. The correct grip should be loose enough so that a friend can grab the end of the butt and pull it out of your grip but not so loose that there's a gap of air visible below the web area between the thumb and forefinger of the grip hand.

Also, ensure you are gripping the cue late in the delivery and only to stop it sliding out of the grip at the end of the shot. Most players will grip the cue too tight and too early when trying screw or stun

Terry