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Ever played in a tournament and just couldnt play well at all but you know inside that you are a very capable player and you read the game very well but just cant not hit the balls good at all? this happened to me. not once.
It might not sound such big-a-deal for you, but I am so happy to FINALLY find myself smooth and CONSISTENT form.
I tell you, I watched just about ANY available video of snooker coaching, read all the books I could find, and tried MANY basics-variations.
None were actually effective for me. I always seemed to wobble as I pushed the cue back and forth (I have my own cue for 3 years now, so I dont adujst myself to a different cue each time), no matter how hard I tried to get rid of it. This did not allow me to simply push the cue in a straight line.
I was working and analysing almost every aspect of my basic technuiqe at home and at the club. It was frustrating sometimes to be unable to find whats wrong.
what I can recommend is (I didnt start the fire - these are all taken from coaching serieses):
1.Find out what is your dominant eye! only after this will you be able to continue building your basics since it will vary depending on your master eye (stance for instance).
2.try to find yourself a partner that really cares and UNDERSTANDS about snooker and basic-techniques to help you discover faults you are having. (If you cant find someone serious enough[i couldnt] - try shooting video of your cue action at home/club and see whats going on).
3.Im sure everybody does that (just as I did) - DOT TRY TO PLAY LIKE ANY OTHER PLAYER! (Jack Karnehm RIP). This is VERY TRUE. You will have your OWN style and thats why every player in the tour plays differently.
WORK HARD ON THE BASICS AND SEE WHAT IS GOOD FOR YOU! DONT TRY TO IMMITATE A PLAYER BECAUSE HIS CUE ACTION LOOKS VERY NICE AND SMOOTH ON TELEVISION. IT WILL PAY OFF EXTREMELY LATER ON.
4.Try practising on a SNOOKER table as much as you can.
I was practising quite a lot on my kitchen table since it has the same height of a snooker table, BUT it is REALLY NOT THE SAME and you wont get much benefit from it.
My cue action now seems very similar to Spethen Hendry's, even though I had no intentions in doing so.
I can now deliver the cue ALMOST PERFECTLY straight (needs some polishing).
I was trying many times to play by angles (1/2 ball, 1/4 ball ...) but I just couldnt because I couldnt deliver the cueball where I was aiming. Now its much better.
To conclude, this is the way I approach ANY shot now:
1.I always keep my eyes on the line of aim.
2.As Im fixed on it, I rotate my body slightly to the right to sort of 'lock' my right leg so it doesnt move at all. This way I also put most of my weight on the right side of my body.
3.my left leg points slightly outwards of the line of aim to lock my left side of the body. the distance between my legs is more or less about my body width.
the angle created between my body and the line of aim is around 90 degrees.
at this stage im totally rock solid, and in my back swings i have no wobbles what so ever.
now the goal is just to preserve and continue with that form.
Best of wishes.
It might not sound such big-a-deal for you, but I am so happy to FINALLY find myself smooth and CONSISTENT form.
I tell you, I watched just about ANY available video of snooker coaching, read all the books I could find, and tried MANY basics-variations.
None were actually effective for me. I always seemed to wobble as I pushed the cue back and forth (I have my own cue for 3 years now, so I dont adujst myself to a different cue each time), no matter how hard I tried to get rid of it. This did not allow me to simply push the cue in a straight line.
I was working and analysing almost every aspect of my basic technuiqe at home and at the club. It was frustrating sometimes to be unable to find whats wrong.
what I can recommend is (I didnt start the fire - these are all taken from coaching serieses):
1.Find out what is your dominant eye! only after this will you be able to continue building your basics since it will vary depending on your master eye (stance for instance).
2.try to find yourself a partner that really cares and UNDERSTANDS about snooker and basic-techniques to help you discover faults you are having. (If you cant find someone serious enough[i couldnt] - try shooting video of your cue action at home/club and see whats going on).
3.Im sure everybody does that (just as I did) - DOT TRY TO PLAY LIKE ANY OTHER PLAYER! (Jack Karnehm RIP). This is VERY TRUE. You will have your OWN style and thats why every player in the tour plays differently.
WORK HARD ON THE BASICS AND SEE WHAT IS GOOD FOR YOU! DONT TRY TO IMMITATE A PLAYER BECAUSE HIS CUE ACTION LOOKS VERY NICE AND SMOOTH ON TELEVISION. IT WILL PAY OFF EXTREMELY LATER ON.
4.Try practising on a SNOOKER table as much as you can.
I was practising quite a lot on my kitchen table since it has the same height of a snooker table, BUT it is REALLY NOT THE SAME and you wont get much benefit from it.
My cue action now seems very similar to Spethen Hendry's, even though I had no intentions in doing so.
I can now deliver the cue ALMOST PERFECTLY straight (needs some polishing).
I was trying many times to play by angles (1/2 ball, 1/4 ball ...) but I just couldnt because I couldnt deliver the cueball where I was aiming. Now its much better.
To conclude, this is the way I approach ANY shot now:
1.I always keep my eyes on the line of aim.
2.As Im fixed on it, I rotate my body slightly to the right to sort of 'lock' my right leg so it doesnt move at all. This way I also put most of my weight on the right side of my body.
3.my left leg points slightly outwards of the line of aim to lock my left side of the body. the distance between my legs is more or less about my body width.
the angle created between my body and the line of aim is around 90 degrees.
at this stage im totally rock solid, and in my back swings i have no wobbles what so ever.
now the goal is just to preserve and continue with that form.
Best of wishes.
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