Bad back while playing snooker ? (While i bend down...)

[DarrenReeder94]

Hello, This is my first question and i am hoping someone can help me out as i cannot find help for this anywhere on google or on the search function with this forum...

Basicly i have just started playing snooker in my own time (before i played once in a year on holiday in hemsby and sometimes pool in pub about 2 years ago).. Although i am having a lot of trouble with my back...

I am a 15 year old boy and when i bend down my lower back usally really Aches and it makes it very uncomfortable to play the game. Also i sometimes get my shoulder with my cueing arm (right now) aching as well.

At the moment i only play during sessions because i am watching the world championship nearly constantly (aspecially this weekend) although after half an hour its unbearable to play anymore (although my back hurts once i bend down just once but i push myself through the pain because i wanna play snooker, lol)...


I remember i had this trouble last summer when i was on holiday and its not really sorted itself out and i am not sure what to do to fix this problem. I am hoping my body will adjust itself if i just play snooker more but i want to know if anyone knows how i can make myself better or if its somthing that happens to everyone...

-Thanks for your time..

(sorry if i haven't made sense anywhere in this question. I have been up since half 10 watching snooker and i am really tired...thats really early for me as i stayed up all night )

[snookersnookersnooker]

height/weight?

[DarrenReeder94]

Well i am roughly 10 Stone on scales, maybe a tiny bit higher on some days. And i am roughly 6ft although i do not have a exact measurement for that. I am defently around that height near to a few CM

(I am very slim)

[Souwester]

Does any other kind of activity give you back ache?

[DarrenReeder94]

Mhmm, only sitting down i somtimes get back ache.

[korn_its_on1]

With out trying to be rude its most likely due to bad stance/technique. When I first started playing I was the same then i bought my own cue and my whole stance changed overnight and all was fine(lucky me). I would suggest trying different stances... terry Davidson will probably be allong at some point and will offer very good advice.

[DarrenReeder94]

With out trying to be rude its most likely due to bad stance/technique. When I first started playing I was the same then i bought my own cue and my whole stance changed overnight and all was fine(lucky me). I would suggest trying different stances... terry Davidson will probably be allong at some point and will offer very good advice.

Okay thanks I dont consider myself a good player so i dont mind anyone being rude lol.

At the moment my stance is basicly Knees bend, stomach and chest push towards floor a little bit so my back is straight...and thats basicly it.. lol

[damienlch]

i suffer from chronic lower back pains/aches/stiffness and have tight hamstrings... whenever i bend down with my right leg straight (i'm right-handed), the tension in my hamstring aggravates my back problem... hence i've altered my stance somewhat with my right leg slightly bent and it eases the pressure on my back... i will also do lower back and hamstring stretches everyday...

yes, one usually encounters some aches when first starting to play snooker due to your body not being used to the stance and you put too much tension on parts of your body, e.g. shoulders, back, neck etc... but when it starts causing persistent discomfort or even distress, it's best to get an opinion from an orthopaedic medical practitioner... back problem can have a most adverse effect on your daily lifestyle if not treated early.

[mick.hinde]

Must agree with damienlch on getting medical advice as you don't want to start off with back pain and therefore end up stopping playing eventually. That said, most medical staff wouldn't understand the effects of the stance unless they play themselves, whereas a good coach will have a good understanding. It is probably worth your while paying for one session with a coach (go for a properly qualified one). They come across these problems on a daily basis and have the experience of knowing what has worked for others. However they are unlikely to wish to "diagnose"over the internet as they cannot see your stance.
Good luck
P.S. it's probably the most expensive option of all but Terry Griffiths has suffered with his back for years and is very aware of back problems.

[Luke Hooper]

i suffer from back problems quite badly due to a massive car accident about 5 years ago...

however you must have a good stance..my stance is not quite the same as a text book stance but its the best way to me to keep completely still on a shot an it keeps my back nice and straight...if your 6ft your about the same height as me so this may work for you too

assuming you are right handed (if not switch right to left) stand with your right leg completely locked straight, lean forward and bend your left leg to help support you but all your weight is on your right leg.. try to keep your back straight (one thing i try to do is copy stephen hendry) he seems to stick his bum in the air (forgive me for noticing im not that way inclined) which i find if i do that it keeps my lowre back more comfortable...

try that, also one thing i have tried is to join the gym and do a few light back excersizes, even lifting weights and doing lifts to improve the muscles in my back, which has helped quite a bit..

my advice would be to see your GP and get them to refer you to a specialist but you can always try this in the meantime..

[Terry Davidson]

The best advice I can offer is get your doctor to refer you to a good physiotherapist who does sports physio. My wife is a physio and is also trained in a system called 'Fit for Golf' where she can develop a golf stance and swing for people with leg or back problems.

The next best advice is unless you have a physical problem, like a crushed disk in your spine or torn ligaments in your back the snooker stance should not give you any pain at all. I can only assume you are standing and getting down to the shot incorrectly.

See if you can find a decent coach who charges a reasonable amount and get him to square off your stance, bridge arm, back and grip arm and hand. Once you get into the proper set-up you shouldn't feel any actual pain, even after playing for 4 hours, however initially you might get a little stiffness as your muscles won't be used to those positions and use.

Depending on where you live, someone on here may be able to recommend a good coach in your area. I can recommend Nic Barrow in Milton Keynes or else Terry/Wayne Griffiths in Llanelli, South Wales. Also, Neil Johnson who is I believe in Liverpool or that area, but there are many others. If you are in Scotland I also know a couple of good coaches in Glasgow

Terry

[TobyMc]

Why don't you go to a physio and show them how you stand and just ask what exactly is hurting your back, they should be able to give you the right stretches to do daily and it will help you get better. I saw a physio after I hurt my back when I had a bad motocross crash in a race lol. Im a lot better now. So yeah, try that.

Now I feel stupid because the guy above just said about a physio too haha.

[Bigmeek]

Forgot to add stay away from physiotherapist's and gyms until you get the results from the MRI, they can really stuff your back up completely, take this message sreiously because I have been there and done that.

You're bang on blinky88. No-one can advise what to do with a back problem untill an MRI scan determines what the problem is. The spine/back is a very complex area with discs, vertebrae, muscle, ligaments etc. I had a lot of back trouble 10 years ago and was almost crippled by enthusiastic physiotherapists! I'd also be very wary of surgery. My mate had an operation to fix a problem disc but all that happened was the problem moved to the next disc up. Always best to get a second or third opinion before going down the surgery route.

[Quackers]

My back leg is straight in my stance. Unless you are reeeeeeeeeally tall maybe you could try that.

[mick.hinde]

You may have to pay for your mri privately as imo not may gp's would send you for it before physio. (due to your age). From what blinky88 has said, I would recommend it, although evidence shows something like 90+%of all back injuries resolve themselves without intervention. That said is it worth taking that risk when an mri is so clear?