Thinking about your next shot.

[monkey]

Still cannot look at the ball im wanting to pot when striking. When i take my eyes off of the white before hitting it i always seem to miss the pocket by miles, even on simple pots. Its annoying me

[RGCirencester]

Still cannot look at the ball im wanting to pot when striking. When i take my eyes off of the white before hitting it i always seem to miss the pocket by miles, even on simple pots. Its annoying me

For a start the first advice you were given is just plain wrong imo. Looking at the white or object ball does not matter. Its down to your personal preference. 90% of players will look at object ball last, however the other 10% look at the white.

Doesn't John Higgins look at the white when strking the cue ball?

Technically you should be on your line of aim and not adjusting when down on the shot. You aim while standing and then if you are not sure when down get up and start again. The only thing that actually matters is what you do with the white, hitting it at a specific level at a desired strength. So imo its OK to look at the white because the pot happens effectively automatically assuming you aimed correctly and cued the ball the way you intended.

Personally I can't pot a thing if I dont look at the object ball but I dont think it is wrong to do otherwise.

EDIT: 6min 20 best example I can find atm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=41yij...eature=related
You can see which ball hes looking at best by his eyebrows but he definitely looks up just after he strike the white, but is looking down at the white when he actually strike it

[magicman]

Well not only have I never ever heard of any decent player who looks at the white on delivery but as far as I'm concerned in the example you've given us John is also looking at the object ball.

[monkey]

today i forced myself to look at the object ball and it worked pretty well. I didnt miss too many shots by doing it and i actually think it improved my pots a little. Still getting used to it though

[RGCirencester]

Well not only have I never ever heard of any decent player who looks at the white on delivery but as far as I'm concerned in the example you've given us John is also looking at the object ball.

Well looks to me like he looks at the white as he is delivering the cue. And I have met both Chris Henry (who makes acuerate cues) and Nic Barrow (both I have met in person and talked about it) have agreed on it not being wrong for some people to look at the white if it works for them when delivering the cue.

For one thing you should be on your line of aim as soon as you get down, you should not make adjustments and the only thing you need do is deliver the cue in a straight line to pot the ball. Be it looking at white, object ball or with your eyes closed.
If you feel your aim is not right you get back up, take a step back and begin again you do not adjust when down on the shot.
Try playing with your eyes closed... You might be surprised how many you pot...

[brendan147]

Still cannot look at the ball im wanting to pot when striking. When i take my eyes off of the white before hitting it i always seem to miss the pocket by miles, even on simple pots. Its annoying me

Good for you. In my experience, here are few basic simple things you need to apply in your game:-

1) Take your slow final backswing with a pause before you strike the cue ball. After a slight pause of the final backswing is the moment you should move your view from CB to OB; &

2) Be sure your grip hit your chest during the cue delivery. This is to make sure that follow through is for real...

All the best...!!!

[snookerfan91]

Try to play easy shots but play the same shot until you are very confident. Spreading balls and playing will not help you, it is just rolling balls.

Agreed. :snooker:

[steve147king]

the easiest way too screw back the ball is this.Firstly dont hit too low down on the cue ball as you will miss cue or jump the cue ball.lower you bridge so you will strike lower naturally,,and bring the cue back around 3-4 inches depending how far back you choose and deliever the cue striaght through the shot,.A common problem when first learning the scew shot is people tend to want to hit the ball hard just deliever the cue smoothly and let the cue do the work.As for shot selection id suggest thinking of the next easiest shot and the least distance also id concentrate puerly on top middle and bottom leave side out of it until you start hitting 30 plus breaks,i myself hardly use side and make regular 100s breaks so get the basics right.If you want to learn fast id suggest going too see del hill the guys a legend ive been and it be money well spent!

[choy]

Playing snooker is like archery, only the cue is your bow and the cue ball is your arrow. You don't look at the arrow when shooting a bow, you look at the target.

Well said!

[brendan147]

Out of topic

If you want to learn fast id suggest going too see del hill the guys a legend ive been and it be money well spent!

Del Hill was ROS coach when he became world champion in 2001. Am I right about this?

[cally]

Del Hill was ROS coach when he became world champion in 2001. Am I right about this?

Yes..............

[Freddie Ng]

Another informative thread.. Thanks all .

[WeBz]

monkey..you should take a look on utube for someone called "neilmaxman". His snooker videos are really good, a step by step easily explains every shot you could think of.

also, he's a grade A coach.