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Apologies if this discussion is a repeat
Recently, I was on a big break. I asked my opponent for my current score and found it to be 57. I then counted two reds left and realized my first century was 10 shots away. It would have been my first!!! Sadly, I got distracted at that moment with my own thoughts and blew it
. It happened again during another session on a 58 break with 4 reds left - all of them on the cushions and I couldn't complete the break with those reds tied up.
Prior to reaching that memorable 57 break, I was playing superbly and was looking at 2 to 3 shots ahead each time. Here are some handy rules on break building and aspiring for your next century break that I can share from these recent experiences:
1. Before shooting a red, look for the next red - 2 shots ahead
2. Before shooting a color, look for the next color - 2 shots ahead
3. If you get an opportunity to take reds/colors off the cushion (and still continue scoring) early in a break, do it. The first 50 points in a century are pretty straightforward - the last 50 are much harder when reds are on cushions.
4. When you approach the table, count the reds and tell yourself you are going to win at that visit to the table. Tell yourself you are going to make a big break and clear all the balls. Fully expect the frame to end at that table visit.
5. Look to bring the pink/black into play as soon as you can - frame winning breaks rarely happen with low value colors early on in a frame.
6. If there are reds in baulk, ignore them in favour of reds near the pink/black where more points can be earned. Take reds in baulk as a secondary option because scoring is more limited there.
7. Instead of navigating "around" balls and through gaps, play cannons into balls if you can force reds/colors to open which give you a chance to make a frame winning break. A good example is when the black is tied up with a red after the break. As soon as you can, look for a way to open the black and still be on a red. If you wait until all open reds are cleared, you will probably be leaving the table without winning the frame.
The mental philosophy and attitude you need to start making big breaks is this: make so many points that the frame is won at your visit to the table - anything less isn't good enough and allows an opponent to control the game instead of you.
One of the objectives of practice is this: build up a full toolbox of shots that you will need in order to win frames at one visit - stun, screw, stun run, cannons, blacks off the spot, pinks in all pockets, blue into all pockets, playing baulk colors to get into position in the top half of the table again, etc etc. The list is endless really but it's one the objectives you need to work on. Working on having a good stance, grip, stroke, etc is the foundation upon which all the other shots above are built. I'm no coach or expert on the subject, so if you are looking for some proper help, Terry Davidson (on the forum here) is an excellent resource and coach. In the UK, I don't know anyone apart from Griffiths. I was lucky enough to read the books and acquire a dead straight stroke early on so haven't had to work on my stance/cueing action as much as others - although I'm sure it needs improvement in some area.
Hope that helps!
Recently, I was on a big break. I asked my opponent for my current score and found it to be 57. I then counted two reds left and realized my first century was 10 shots away. It would have been my first!!! Sadly, I got distracted at that moment with my own thoughts and blew it
. It happened again during another session on a 58 break with 4 reds left - all of them on the cushions and I couldn't complete the break with those reds tied up.Prior to reaching that memorable 57 break, I was playing superbly and was looking at 2 to 3 shots ahead each time. Here are some handy rules on break building and aspiring for your next century break that I can share from these recent experiences:
1. Before shooting a red, look for the next red - 2 shots ahead
2. Before shooting a color, look for the next color - 2 shots ahead
3. If you get an opportunity to take reds/colors off the cushion (and still continue scoring) early in a break, do it. The first 50 points in a century are pretty straightforward - the last 50 are much harder when reds are on cushions.
4. When you approach the table, count the reds and tell yourself you are going to win at that visit to the table. Tell yourself you are going to make a big break and clear all the balls. Fully expect the frame to end at that table visit.
5. Look to bring the pink/black into play as soon as you can - frame winning breaks rarely happen with low value colors early on in a frame.
6. If there are reds in baulk, ignore them in favour of reds near the pink/black where more points can be earned. Take reds in baulk as a secondary option because scoring is more limited there.
7. Instead of navigating "around" balls and through gaps, play cannons into balls if you can force reds/colors to open which give you a chance to make a frame winning break. A good example is when the black is tied up with a red after the break. As soon as you can, look for a way to open the black and still be on a red. If you wait until all open reds are cleared, you will probably be leaving the table without winning the frame.
The mental philosophy and attitude you need to start making big breaks is this: make so many points that the frame is won at your visit to the table - anything less isn't good enough and allows an opponent to control the game instead of you.
One of the objectives of practice is this: build up a full toolbox of shots that you will need in order to win frames at one visit - stun, screw, stun run, cannons, blacks off the spot, pinks in all pockets, blue into all pockets, playing baulk colors to get into position in the top half of the table again, etc etc. The list is endless really but it's one the objectives you need to work on. Working on having a good stance, grip, stroke, etc is the foundation upon which all the other shots above are built. I'm no coach or expert on the subject, so if you are looking for some proper help, Terry Davidson (on the forum here) is an excellent resource and coach. In the UK, I don't know anyone apart from Griffiths. I was lucky enough to read the books and acquire a dead straight stroke early on so haven't had to work on my stance/cueing action as much as others - although I'm sure it needs improvement in some area.
Hope that helps!
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