Screw back from distance

[Straight strike]

I can play screw back shots OK if the white ball and the target balls are within reasonable distance. But if they are apart from over half a table's distance, I can only screw back for a couple of inches. Can someone share your experience pls?

[fredkite]

I'd say that it's the most difficult shot to play but with a lot of practice you might master it. I'd play a screw shot with cueball and object ball 12 inches apart and gradually increase the distance, just follow the basics - keep your head still, follow through with cue etc...Good luck

[Straight strike]

I can screw back within 1/3 of a table's dstnce Okay, only have problem when beyond that. I noticed that the pros put their bridge hand pretty close to the cue ball and renain still for awhile begore they make the shot. But I just can't do it. Have I played with excess power I don't know.

[magicman]

To get the reaction you are looking for requires years of practice for the average person. You need to keep your head still, relax your arm and grip, try not to hit it hard but get through the white as much as you can, maybe even drop your elbow. This shot is so seldom required you shouldn't really be bothered by not being able to play it. You'd be better off practicing cueing well over shorter distances and wait for the natural progression of your game.

[Harv]

This is one of my fav shots, big long straight pots and screwing back for blue of baulk colours. I hold my cue very loosly and concentrate on my technique rather than hitting it really hard etc, they go in more often than not.

[snookerfan91]

To get the reaction you are looking for requires years of practice for the average person. You need to keep your head still, relax your arm and grip, try not to hit it hard but get through the white as much as you can, maybe even drop your elbow. This shot is so seldom required you shouldn't really be bothered by not being able to play it. You'd be better off practicing cueing well over shorter distances and wait for the natural progression of your game.

That is exactly correct, something like this is not going to happen overnight.

[Bigmeek]

I can play screw back shots OK if the white ball and the target balls are within reasonable distance. But if they are apart from over half a table's distance, I can only screw back for a couple of inches. Can someone share your experience pls?

Just noticed this post so thought I'd add my comments. Like you I can screw back OK ish when the balls are close. I also have a bit of difficulty with distance but my BIGGEST problem is with distance when the object ball is right over the pocket. Most times the white ends up in the same pocket as the object ball!!! I avoid playing this shot if at all possible.

[cueball22]

I think the pros make this shot look easy due to the thin cloths they play on. I think even they'd struggle on some of the club tables you get sometimes.

[BoBnoGG!n]

i find if i move my bridge hand closer, draw back a touch more, and follow all the way through cleanly, i can get about 3 to 5 feet backspin at around a distance of 6 feet. one time i got about 4 feet of backspin from behind the baulk line, hittin in a rd sitting about 2 inches away from the pocket. hav never been able to do that since =[ lol otherwise, anything less than 6 feet, 5 feet, or so, i can get enough backspin for white to come back to exactly where it was. i think wen i move my bridge hand in closer, it might keep the cue on path for longer, increasing contact time when following through. also, i lean in a bit when i do this, so i put a bit more weight on my bridge hand, and i find it helps stabilise the rest of my body, and keeps me 'locked' in that position for the shot. otherwise i can sometimes cue lazily n move my head moment the cues made contact with the ball. -_-

[dpdubai]

I could always screw the cue ball back reasonably well even over distance. But after a few months of going to a former pro and arguably top coach in scotland I find that if I place the white on the baulk line go for long blue for a straight shot, within 2-4 attempts I can pot the long blue and put the white straight into the green pocket like the old billiards shot.

Technique wise:

Loose grip.
Get through the white.
Stay down on the shot.

The most important part though 2 generate maximum reaction for least amount of power I believe is timing the shot, which is very hard to explain on an internet forum and possible only a proper coach could show you how.

I'm sure Terry will be along soon to add in a better explanation.

[dpdubai]

I think the pros make this shot look easy due to the thin cloths they play on. I think even they'd struggle on some of the club tables you get sometimes.

I think the balls make a difference too. Which has been stated on other threads recently.

But its really all technique. Someone like Ronnie or Neil Robertson could go on any club table with any set of balls and bring the white back half or full table length without a problem. The biggest difference in playing conditions though would be that the cueing wouldn't be as true all the time cause they'd be hitting alot harder than on the strachan cloths.

[brendan147]

Practice like mad. That's the only answer I can think right now...

[Freddie Ng]

Play with good balls and good cloth on a good table

[tcollick]

I've been practicing this shot myself when I want to have a bit of fun, (I say bit of fun because as said here it's not really needed...more of an exhibition shot but very satisfiying when it comes off (which isn't very often!)
I think an exaggerated cue action is required for this shot where the elbow drops and the hand goes through past the chest and up towards the collar bone. Similar to Ronnie's regular cue action but exaggerated with more "drive" to ensure maximum contact time on the cueball, enough to create sufficient spin on it for a decent amount of screwback, even over a long distance from object ball.
For my money it's the toughest shot in snooker because the lower arm is "on its own" towards the end of the follow through. It doesn't have the elbow acting as hinge to guide it to stay on the line of the shot. This is why I only play it in practice or casual frames with a mate