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Snooker is a game of high skill and precision. At it's highest professional level, any outside noise or unprofessional conduct is kept out of the match. It's done this way because professionals know that the best snooker is played when nothing breaks your focus and concentration.
In clubs or local tournaments, however, how do you overcome the environment, rude players that talk when you shoot, opponent interruptions or noise, opponents that get in the way, or just generally unsportsmanlike conduct?
Here are a few strategies you might try:
1. If your opponent gets in your way once, let it go. If it happens again, be straightforward and ask for them to stay out of your shot, and away from the table. If they don't comply, end the match and pay the green fees. You are there to have a good time, become a better snooker player, not get into arguments or deal with frustrations. If you are gambling, you face an additional problem. See next point.
2. If you gamble with opponents, and it's someone you haven't played with, ask for an outside neutral observer that won't tolerate inappropriate behaviour - from you or the opponent. Often, it's the house pro or senior player that will step in when needed. Don't gamble in new clubs where you haven't learned the "lay of the land" yet. Get to know regulars first and respect the unwritten rules. You are asking for trouble stepping into a new club on your own and gambling. At the very least, the loser will be watching to break/steal your cue (yes I have seen this happen).
3. If your opponent is generally chatty, tries to use negative comments when you miss or tries to throw you off your game - just ignore them and don't get into conversation. If they persist, tell them to talk with someone else and to play the game with respect. Not respecting the game is the same as not respecting you. Some people are just ignorant and don't understand what it takes to play snooker at a high level. Most, however, know exactly what they are doing and take great delight in finding ways to throw you off your game. The rationalize poor behaviour by saying that all options are on the table in order to win.
4. If your opponent has friends that gather around the table and create noise, ask your opponent to deal with their friends or end the match prematurely. Remember, you are there to have a good time, play your best, maybe make a big break, and if the skills are superior, win the match.
5. Noisy clubs are rarely in your control. If you don't like the club, the music, or the management, find a new one. If you have no alternative options (my problem here), then wear headphones (I have seen this in tournaments before) or earplugs. You can try and take your concerns to the club manager, but unless you have a basis for your complaint, you aren't going to get very far.
6. Work on your shot making and table approach so that it's mechanical, predictable and consistent. If you approach the table, feather, and strike in the same structured way, it becomes a routine you can use to maintain focus. I have seen this work for me. I'm so focused on alignment, feathering, shot making, lining up, and shot execution that I'm less prone to off table remarks and noise.
7. Watch the cue ball. This tip a friend gave to me to maintain focus and concentration. When you aren't at the table, focus on the cue ball of the opponent. Watch what they do, not what they say. Doing this helps you remain calm when you see your opponent getting ahead in the frame or approaching the winning line.
8. If you leave the table after missing a shot, pause momentarily to determine why you missed. Put that shot into a mental filing cabinet for something you need to work on in practice or watch out for it happens again. I know that certain cuts and shots are harder for me and so when they come up, I can focus more on making them.
9. Watch the scores and play by the numbers. The more focus and concentration you can give to non-human inputs like your cueing, your tip, the chalk, your shoelaces, the balls, the cloth, the points, the number of ice cubes in your drink - the less likely you are going to be disturbed by people and environments.
10. Invent a cueing/feathering routine unique to your game or adopt one from the pros (See Selby, Higgins, Murphy for ideas). It's something you do each and every time and if you do it long enough, it becomes a way for your brain to ignore input signals (from your ears) that aren't important and spend energy on ones that are (your cue action).
Thoughts? Comments? Would love to hear them!
Thanks for reading!!
In clubs or local tournaments, however, how do you overcome the environment, rude players that talk when you shoot, opponent interruptions or noise, opponents that get in the way, or just generally unsportsmanlike conduct?
Here are a few strategies you might try:
1. If your opponent gets in your way once, let it go. If it happens again, be straightforward and ask for them to stay out of your shot, and away from the table. If they don't comply, end the match and pay the green fees. You are there to have a good time, become a better snooker player, not get into arguments or deal with frustrations. If you are gambling, you face an additional problem. See next point.
2. If you gamble with opponents, and it's someone you haven't played with, ask for an outside neutral observer that won't tolerate inappropriate behaviour - from you or the opponent. Often, it's the house pro or senior player that will step in when needed. Don't gamble in new clubs where you haven't learned the "lay of the land" yet. Get to know regulars first and respect the unwritten rules. You are asking for trouble stepping into a new club on your own and gambling. At the very least, the loser will be watching to break/steal your cue (yes I have seen this happen).
3. If your opponent is generally chatty, tries to use negative comments when you miss or tries to throw you off your game - just ignore them and don't get into conversation. If they persist, tell them to talk with someone else and to play the game with respect. Not respecting the game is the same as not respecting you. Some people are just ignorant and don't understand what it takes to play snooker at a high level. Most, however, know exactly what they are doing and take great delight in finding ways to throw you off your game. The rationalize poor behaviour by saying that all options are on the table in order to win.
4. If your opponent has friends that gather around the table and create noise, ask your opponent to deal with their friends or end the match prematurely. Remember, you are there to have a good time, play your best, maybe make a big break, and if the skills are superior, win the match.
5. Noisy clubs are rarely in your control. If you don't like the club, the music, or the management, find a new one. If you have no alternative options (my problem here), then wear headphones (I have seen this in tournaments before) or earplugs. You can try and take your concerns to the club manager, but unless you have a basis for your complaint, you aren't going to get very far.
6. Work on your shot making and table approach so that it's mechanical, predictable and consistent. If you approach the table, feather, and strike in the same structured way, it becomes a routine you can use to maintain focus. I have seen this work for me. I'm so focused on alignment, feathering, shot making, lining up, and shot execution that I'm less prone to off table remarks and noise.
7. Watch the cue ball. This tip a friend gave to me to maintain focus and concentration. When you aren't at the table, focus on the cue ball of the opponent. Watch what they do, not what they say. Doing this helps you remain calm when you see your opponent getting ahead in the frame or approaching the winning line.
8. If you leave the table after missing a shot, pause momentarily to determine why you missed. Put that shot into a mental filing cabinet for something you need to work on in practice or watch out for it happens again. I know that certain cuts and shots are harder for me and so when they come up, I can focus more on making them.
9. Watch the scores and play by the numbers. The more focus and concentration you can give to non-human inputs like your cueing, your tip, the chalk, your shoelaces, the balls, the cloth, the points, the number of ice cubes in your drink - the less likely you are going to be disturbed by people and environments.
10. Invent a cueing/feathering routine unique to your game or adopt one from the pros (See Selby, Higgins, Murphy for ideas). It's something you do each and every time and if you do it long enough, it becomes a way for your brain to ignore input signals (from your ears) that aren't important and spend energy on ones that are (your cue action).
Thoughts? Comments? Would love to hear them!
Thanks for reading!!
).
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