Using a snooker coach

[martj]

How many of you on here use or have used a snooker coach to help improve your game?
I'm interested in having a few lessons myself, I don't play in any tournaments just the West Midlands league in the lower divisions, it's my first season. My highest break is only 67 (in a practice match), i don't even knock in 30's regularly in practice, maybe every few frames or so. I would like to improve my game as much as i can, do you think coaching would benefit me?

Also how many coacing lessons do you usually have? Obviously if i'm not playing in tournaments then there's no need to see a coach all the time but just a few lessons to start me off and make sure i have the basics right?

The nearest coach to me is Andrew Highfield, anybody ever used him?

Thanks,
Mart.

[Theflyernow]

A good coach will be able to assess what your doing now, and give you ways to improve on it. It's best to mix lessons, practice & matchplay, so you can absorb the new info, get used to it in practice, then test it out on the match table!! Always good to set a 'level of expectation' when your having lessons, meaning it could actually get worse before it gets better, which is a natural process of learning........So don't beat yourself up if you don't get it right straight away!!

[martj]

Thanks for the reply mate, i think i'm definitley going to see a coach when the league season ends. Could do with him having a look at my cue action, sometimes it feels good but other times i just feel uncomfortable with my stance and grip. I don't feel as though i'm consistent with it, sometimes i'm quite lazy with it if that makes sense. The best example of a good cue action i've seen is neil robertson, everything is consistant with him, the way he walks into the shot and sets himself.

[Theflyernow]

I went to see Del Hill a couple of years back & he's very strong on having the same routine for each shot, so that you have a consistent approach!! It does make a difference but will take time to sink in & set.
Good luck with it!!

[martj]

Saw some of Del Hills coaching videos with his son, he approaches his shots just like Robertson. Thanks mate, definitley going to have a few lessons. Hopefully there is a century break in me somewhere

[bretty]

Hi Martj, my name is Andy Brett and I am a WPBSA snooker coach based in Solihull, West Midlands so I would be more than happy to offer my services although if you play in the West Midlands league it maybe the case that Andy Highfield is a little closer and I can definately recommend him.
Please get in touch if you require any details?

[martj]

Hi Andy, thanks for the reply, Solihull maybe a bit too far for me but PM details anyway please mate.
Cheers.

[astle_the_king]

Hi Mart i recomended Andrew Highfield to a member at my club and he was very pleased with lessons andrew worked on stance and delivery ,i know he put tape on butt of his cue where he should grip and marked shaft where his bridge should be .also gave him print out of things to practice.he had lesson at bilston golden cue .who do you play for ?

[martj]

I play for Willenhall liberal c in division 5 of the west mids league, do you play yourself mate?

[armstm]

i've seen 3 coaches - terry griffiths, nic barrow and patsy fagan. they're all useful in different ways and it will force to you think about wot you're doing rather than practicing your mistakes etc.

terry - distance of the bridge hand to the cue ball. position of the back elbow.
nic - slide left hand rather than place it, 1-10 system and feathering closer to the cueball.
patsy - position of the back elbow, head movement, smooth cueing, cueing across (i wasn't aware i was doing unconsciously)



my experience is that they have a set drill that they want you to go through and so if you have got specific difficulties (e.g. with the rest) - make sure you ask them specifically to work on this beforehand.

i'd also recommend "inner game of golf", it has a lot of tips to be more aware of what you're body is doing. i had loads of bridge hand movement as i approached the table (ie bridge wouldn't be approaching the centre of the cueball i'd unconsciously adjust so the hand did get to the centre of the cueball, introducing errors). once you become more aware of what you're doing you'll be able to coach yourself.

[johno]

Can you explain what nic means by 'slide the left hand rather than place it and the 1-10 system' ?
cheers

[armstm]

when i was getting down to the cueball i'd reach out with my left hand and place it on the table whereas if u look at professionals they all glide the left hand and slide it on the table. watch ronnie getting down to pot a black from standing up.. he glides left arm/ body down gradually to the cueball (in a straightline... not the zigzag i was doing!)

1-10 1=lowest possible striking of cueball without jumping it 10 - highest. so we did a lot of line up shots where he'd ask us before the shot ok where on the cueball due you want to hit 1-10. quite useful as it forces you to predict where the shots going with an exact level of spin on the cueball, i spose it accelerates learning.

[johno]

good stuff, thanks for the explanation.

[justalex81]

i'd like to know of any coaches in south london/kent area.

[martj]

Very useful info mate thanks, i tend to slide my bridge hand onto the table too rather than place it, helps me feel my way into the shot better i feel.