Should I switch hands?

[exolon]

This might sound ridiculous, but I've been feeling really bad about my whole game which hasn't improved much since I started playing regularly around 2005 (my high break is still less than 30, and that practically a fluke - it's rare for me to get a 20 break these days).

I've been making many small changes and 'tweaks' to my cue action over the years, and while some have helped, some have certainly not - for example, I felt that my back elbow was sticking out, so tried to hold it in, but today my girlfriend watched me practice and said that I was pulling my whole back arm in from the shoulder during the shot - no wonder I can't pot the balls!

A few months ago I got so frustrated that I started playing right-handed for a couple of hours. It immediately felt much simpler, cleaner and straighter than my normal left-handed action, and I was actually potting more balls once I learned to form a good bridge with my left hand.

So after another awful practice session today, I've been seriously considering just switching to right-handed play. This feels really extreme though, like I'm throwing away years of investment in my left-handed cue action (even though it's terrible).

Is it possible that my body just suits right-handed play - maybe being right-eyed lends itself to this? Or have I simply spoiled my left-handed action with all those 'tweaks'?
Should I switch, or am I being crazy??

[Luke Hooper]

i know this sounds a little ronnie-fied...but sometimes i feel that when i cue really badly with my right hand, if i start cueing two or three balls with my left, suddenly i start playing a little better...

i think its just down to concentration levels in my situation...however in yours, i would probably recommend seeing a coach..

no disrespect to your girlfriend, but unless her name is reanne evans, or some other top female snooker player, you shouldnt really listen to her advice, or let her advice get to you in any way, regardless of whether she is right...you should seek professional help buddy

some practice with your opposite hand is not a bad thing though, and it does come in handy, ive really been working on my left handed cueing recentlyu and have felt it pay off a number of times as i go through stages of being pretty much useless with a rest, especially when im trying to force an angle or screw back etc

i would recommend you get yourself to a coach and get him to iron out your faults buddy..


all the best

[exolon]

no disrespect to your girlfriend, but unless her name is reanne evans, or some other top female snooker player, you shouldnt really listen to her advice, or let her advice get to you in any way, regardless of whether she is right...you should seek professional help buddy

For sure - it took me about 5 minutes to explain what I wanted her to look for

"Was my elbow hanging out?"
"Eh... I guess, it looked like you did something with your wrist..."
"Like what?"
"I dunno"
(etc)

As soon as I can afford it, I'll try to get some pro assistance.

[visionaire]

You could just give it a shot for a couple of weeks.

[lennon11]

i have a high break of 41 left handed(opposite hand) ,when i first started messing about left hande it felt good,i think the reason some people feel the opposite hand to be comfortable/better is because they concentrate more on playing the simplist shot&the easiest way(ie;slow back swing, smooth follow through...etc),however knowing good techniques will help hughley anyway.

[bongo]

I would also recommend seeing a coach. Without the assistance of somebody like that it can be very difficult indeed, at least it will put you on the right path. Although there are very knowledgeable people on this forum and you can learn a lot from reading the posts here, there is nothing quite like the assistance of a GOOD coach.

[nevets]

Just wondering, are you strong with your right hand in other sports?
I'm right-handed and I can't hold a cue at all with my left, just feels totally wrong. Same with golf clubs.
If I tried to play a few shots left handed it would endanger the cloth!

[exolon]

Just wondering, are you strong with your right hand in other sports?
I'm right-handed and I can't hold a cue at all with my left, just feels totally wrong. Same with golf clubs.
If I tried to play a few shots left handed it would endanger the cloth!

That's an interesting question... come to think of it, I also play golf and guitar right-handed. But I write and usually mouse with my left-hand. What a mess I might indeed try it for a couple of weeks.

About my left-handed play, I had a minor epiphany: it may be easier right-handed (apart from because, as lennon11 suggested, I purposely simplify the shot and play it smoothly because it's the wrong hand) because I'm predominantly right-eyed, which lends itself to right-handed play (and makes left-handed play more difficult) due to body alignment, at least in my case.
When I stand neutrally behind the shot, I'm automatically in a position to drop almost straight down into a right-handed stance which seems to be lined up correctly.

If I drop down to play it left-handed, my torso is in the way, so I cue across my body and end up jerking my shoulder and arm in to foolishly try to compensate - instead of fixing the problem that my body shouldn't be blocking the cue in the first place.
Perhaps this can be corrected by making sure to step my left foot onto the shot line, but I'm having trouble keeping my head and eyes locked in position while I get my feet and body out of the way!

Do any players sight with their left eye while playing right-handed, or vice versa?

[nrage]

Do any players sight with their left eye while playing right-handed, or vice versa?

I think I might .. I am not entirely sure. I suspect my right eye is more dominant at short distances and my left on long, according to the various eye tests I have found and tried.

At one stage I was consistently missing a long straight blue to the left of the yellow-side black-pocket. I thought it was sighting, as my cueing appeared straight. I was experimenting with placing the cue on either side of my chin, or turning my head slightly one way or the other (right from when I was standing above the shot) but nothing seemed to work consistently well.

In the end I decided not to think too much about what I was doing, but just do it, and lately my long potting has been much better. So, either I have changed something, but it's become 'natural' or I didn't need to change anything, just practice more

[exolon]

In the end I decided not to think too much about what I was doing, but just do it, and lately my long potting has been much better. So, either I have changed something, but it's become 'natural' or I didn't need to change anything, just practice more

Thanks for your comments! I am probably committing the sin of trying different things without taking enough practice time to stop consciously thinking about the new way I'm standing/holding the cue/etc (which I naively imagine might cure all my problems).
It is a bit silly to expect that trying out a major change in my cue action/stance/sighting etc could produce massive results immediately - I'll try to put in a decent practice session after my next attempted tweak, so that my natural unconscious game (i.e. smooth and relaxed) gets a chance to pick up what I'm trying to do consciously (i.e. jerky and forced).

[Terry Davidson]

exolon:

First of all, you are likely trying to 'tweek' too many things at the same time and as a result you aren't certain of what individual bit of your technique is messing things up.

My first and best advice is to go see a coach and have him take you right back to basics again (left handed) and work back from there. This way you won't lose everything you've learned over the years.

My second best advice is, if you feel you are knowledgeable enough regarding technique, then work on ONE thing at a time, and from the sounds of it you should start with standing behind the shot and getting your LEFT foot (straight leg) starting out in the correct position and work up from there until your whole set-up puts you correctly on line and aiming the cue correctly.

Terry

[exolon]

My second best advice is, if you feel you are knowledgeable enough regarding technique, then work on ONE thing at a time, and from the sounds of it you should start with standing behind the shot and getting your LEFT foot (straight leg) starting out in the correct position and work up from there until your whole set-up puts you correctly on line and aiming the cue correctly.

Thanks Terry, I will try this more systematic and measured approach to tinkering with my game, rather than experimenting with unrelated things simultaneously and haphazardly

[wildJONESEYE]

i think what this thread is proving Ronnie aint that talented if any tom dick and harry can switch hands

[nevets]

Any Tom, Dick or Harry can try switching hands. Knocking in centuries with either hand is a bit different!

[exolon]

Any Tom, Dick or Harry can try switching hands. Knocking in centuries with either hand is a bit different!

Yeah Ronnie is special because he's a supremely skillful and creative player that can knock in a 147 in some 5 odd minutes.

On the other hand, there's lots of people like me who are equally bad with both hands. This isn't exactly something to be proud of, hence me looking for advice to fix fundamentals of my game