cue action n stun shot

[nrage]

I do not disagree with what Nrage says in his posts, but as a coach, it is not anything I would say to any student of mine. If I did, they would all be playing golf in the future and snooker halls would be empty. Nrage's diction is fine for a snooker manual, for people who want the technical details of the pythagorus theory of the physical quantum theoretical dynamics of an Aramith snooker ball, but it is not for the average to good player who just wants to know what is wrong with their cue action. When I develop a problem, I get on the practice table, go back to basics, and with the knowledge I have am able to sort the problem out. I am never going to sort the problem out by reading a book, talking to a pro, or learning the dynamics of a spin shot. It just comes down to practice - keep it simple - keep it plain - and observe the ground rules of a good snooker shot ie keep head and upper body still, and your eye on the object ball before, during and after the shot - and give each shot 100% concentration.

I can't really disagree You certainly can't learn to play snooker from a book, nor can you learn it by over thinking while practicing.

But, it does help to eventually understand the physics of what is going on. If I were to actually coach someone I would adjust what information to give them based on what they needed at the time, and maybe talk about some of the physics over a pint, for example.

At the end of the day practicing correct technique is always going to be key, but the knowledge of the correct technique (at least in the coach, if not the player) is necessary for that to happen. So, the more you know, the better, provided it doesn't get in the way of (as you say) keeping it simple on the practice table.