help please :(

[Belloz22]

right..... ive had coaching on and off for several years with no improvement.... coaches have always said i have pretty good technique.... but i dont see any improvment.

after playing today i noticed that some of the shots i missed i felt like my eyes were unfocused and couldnt focus on an imaginary spot.... when i missed the shot it felt like my eyes were moving

after playing i played 8 shots off the blue spot with my eyes closed and potted them all ..... normall id miss at least 2....

so my questipn..... if my eyes are unconciously moving due to an inability to focus on imaginary spots and balls.... wats the next option that will allow me to see angle and stop my eyes moving during the final stroke

[Siz]

help please

Can you post a video?

[sealer]

It sounds like the way you are aiming is causing you a bit of trouble. From what you say I can understand that on a fine cut you would try to focus on a point let say half an inch next to the ball. If that is the case I would suggest changing the way you aim. Type 'bob' -back of ball, have a read on thatas well as terry's posts about aiming in coaching section, this method will enable you to always focus on a point on the ball wich is easier that trying to focus on a point in the air. As I say I only think that is what thhe problem may be. The change itself is quiet easy done it myself. So if you want more iinfo just poist here or pm.

[stewart31]

your sighting and timing not in sync, i would say, at time off delivery eyes focused elsewhere probably causing movement, if you can pot with eyes shut, what else can it be, i have had this prob i just slow backswing down give your eyes time to get where they need to be,

[Belloz22]

i have a slow backswing and a pause... so plenty of time to adjust my eyes..... but i find it hard to focus on an imaginary shot.... even when the spot should be on the ball, say 3/4 ball. its like my eyes are doubting my brain and thus causing me to move on my final stroke.

[Tred]

Sorry if this sounds a bit obvious, but have you been to see an optician?

[Belloz22]

yes i have.... 20-20 vision..... i think its more an ability to not being able to keep my eyes focused on a spot

[stewart31]

me thinks you are maybe thinking to much, recently i have been trying to change a few things at the one time, can't be done.this game will kick you in the snooker balls once you start to over analyze . if you are not confident of making the pot your eyes are going to come away from object ball,and you will miss, concentrate on keeping eye on ball and stay down on shot

[stewart31]

are you walking in to all your shots from behind in the line of shot, i don't really get your imaginary shot, it is a real shot you are looking at,

[Belloz22]

ive been told not to walk into my shots from to far back by my coach as it will mean i will walk off line due to the distance i have to walk. he told me look at the line from behind and just get down on the shot.... but to me this often means i feel like im not online :s

ive tried BOB for last hour and its helped alot... but sometimes i think im not getting down on right line. cant understand why my coach hasnt noticed this. could it all be due to me put ever so slight side on the ball??

[sealer]

If you can pot straight balls with frightening efficiency it would suggest that you are lining up properly and what is important I think you deliver straight and with no side mate. Change your aiming to bob first it will help I know it for a fact. It will give a better point to focus on your brain will learn the necessary adjustments between where you are looking and where you are pointing your cue and it will fall in place. However the best you could possibly do is to go and see Terry Davidson at SWSA in couple of weeks this Canadian based coach is coming to SWSA to play, learn and do a bit of coaching, I have read loads of his posts and mate he knows what he is on about, very reasonable and praised by many, gentleman and the rates a good, it is not guaranteed but of you ask him nicely I bet he ll take you for a couple of hours and believe me someone like him will save you loads of time and frustration, he will tell you what looks ok and what you are doing wrong because there is nothing worse than trying to implement wrong technique into your game, have a read in http://www.thesnookerforum.com/board...SWSA-This-Year and since you live like round the corner from there it is golden op mate. Good luck

[Belloz22]

yes that was the plan..... once i can find out when im next down that area seeing family, il email him to arrange something. the only thing that puts me off is that over past 8 yrs ive seen 3 different coaches.... and they all struggle to find any serious faults..... so im wondering if its more psychological??

[sealer]

Go see him, do video analisis, write down what you are doing well and do not touch it during practice do a list of things to work on and try to work out a way of checking if it is being implemented and stop over analysing, honestly the coaches you have seen before aren't too hmm brilliant. Better hurry cos he is there to work on himself rather than on others

[Belloz22]

how do you figure the coaches i seen are not to brilliant?? i think i will try go see terry.... intrested in video analysis so i can see the errors myself

[nrage]

Nic has some good videos on stance and how to walk into the shot:
http://www.youtube.com/user/nicbarrow/videos

You should start by standing on the line of the shot (the line the cue needs to be placed upon) with your nose on the line and feet equal distance either side. You should be far enough away that you can walk in with just two steps, back foot onto the line, then front foot in place ahead and roughly shoulder width apart (exact position is a matter of comfort and stability).

Terry has posted more detailed descriptions of the above if you do a search on these forums.

So, finding the line of aim is the next important thing. Personally, I let me brain do this semi unconsciously. I stand behind the shot as described above, find the "back of ball" spot and shift left/right until my brain tells me I'm standing with my nose on the required line of aim. Then I walk in.