Poor technique, Is it too late

[surcha]

Hi,

I started playing snooker 12 years ago, all casual games with friends, never competitive or league. When I started, no coaching, didn't know about techniques etc, just got on with it. My highest break was 36 good few years ago. Consistently, I can get around 18 breaks but not more than that.

After I started reading this forum, tips and advice, I feel I have major flaws in my technique. My stance in wrong (both legs are bent), bridging distance, grop etc. I sometimes feel I am not even cueing staight.

Few people at my work play in the local club and have asked me to join them but I've been refusing, I don't want to embarass myself. My question is, can I get better my getting advice/coaching from someone who knows the game or have I left it too late. Old habits die hard..

Thanks
Surcha

[nrage]

I think the breaking old habits is hard work, but possible if you want it and put the effort in. The older you are the harder it is. The less consistently you play, the harder it is. They say multiple short practice sessions frequently is better than longer sessions less frequently.

Both legs bent is not necessarily "wrong" see Peter Ebdon and Ricky Waldon. It's ok provided you are stable and don't move on the shot. If you do move on the shot, you have to be sure it's caused by the stance, and not something else, before you look to change it. Basically, if your stance is comfortable and stable, don't change it.

Cueing straight, consistently, is the goal so always keep that in mind if you're thinking about changes. If you decide to change something, do one thing at a time and keep at it over several sessions/weeks to be certain you've adopted the change and then evaluate whether it is better/worse/or no different overall.

[vmax4steve]

I have found that most players of your ablity do one thing wrong that stops them getting better. That one thing is that they look at the cue ball when playing the shot instead of looking at the cue balls point of contact on the object ball.
Keeping your eye on this point of contact tends to keep the cue action straight for the hand will follow wherever you are looking. It also helps you to keep your head still.
Practise this first and see if it makes a difference.

[snookerdad]

Never too late.

Tim Dunkley (World Snooker coach)

[sydneygeorge]

Never too late.

Tim Dunkley (World Snooker coach)

I agree with you Tim and may I say

" you can teach an old dog new tricks " it just takes longer.

[Terry Davidson]

I came back to snooker in 2005 after a 10-year lay-off and at age 60. I had a really bad technique and I couldn't get anyway near back to how I played in Britain in the late 80's. In 2007 I went to Nic Barrow and took a 10-day Master Coach certification, the primary intention being I was going to be my own primary student.

Nic picked up 12!!! basic flaws and I have worked on those over the past 7 years and everyone on here is absolutely correct, as you get older it takes a very long time to break old habits. However, with a table at home and a lot of perseverance I think I've reached a spot where I see some improvement almost on a daily basis and I'm slowly getting back to where I was 25 years ago, but it's been a real slog.

So to answer the question, as long as you have your health then it's never too late to correct those faults but you have to recognize you need a coach to help you and a lot of determination but it can be done.

I think Stephen Lee is proving this right now.

Terry

[DeanH]

as others have said, never too late
I know personally
Where abouts are you based? I ask because to answer part of your OP, it would be good to get coaching "from someone who knows the game" and we can point you towards a good coach hopefully close to you

[surcha]

Many thanks to everyone for the replies.
@nrage - As suggested in this forum, I tried yesterday to check my cue action by trying to hit the cue ball from brown spot, straight towards the black spot with 2 reds on either side of the black spot and just enough width for the cue ball to pass through. Although I could send the white without touching the reds, couldn't avoid hitting a red on the way back after the cue ball hits the cushion. Most of the times, the cue ball was hitting the red on my right, so I am guessing somehow I might be putting a bit of side when I strike the cue ball. I am trying to work on this...
@vmax4steve - You are correct, I used to look at the cue ball when striking (still do sometimes) but trying to change that habit.
@snookerdad, sydneygeorge & Terry - Thanks for the advice.
@DeanH - I live in Rochdale, just outside Manchester. Any recommendation would be great.

Thanks again, your advice has given me beleif. I am going to work on one thing at a time and see how I get on.

[DeanH]

I had a quick look at World Snooker coaches listing (http://www.worldsnooker.com/page/Officialcoaches) and see the following coaches that are reasonably close to you
Barry Broadbent - Blackburn
Craig Harrison - St. Helens
Chris Lovell - Whalley
Jim Meadowcroft - Rossendale
amongst others
you seem to live in an area surrounded by coaches - lucky you
of course there can be other coaches in your area that are not on this list and maybe someone else on TSF can shed some light on these or if anyone has had personal experience of any of these coaches...
all the best

[thelongbomber]

Never too late. Ya, it's easier to change when you are 20 vs 60 but everyone is different. Who's to say a 60-year-old semi-retired genius Alex Higgins carbon copy isn't sitting in some pool club in China (or wherever) knocking centuries in ever day thinking they could be the next world champion? It could happen.

I took 5 years off and started playing again. With hard work, practice time, and good tips from a coach, you can improve. Knowledge + Determination + Hard Work = Progress. Determination alone doesn't make you better, Knowledge alone doesn't make you better, and Hard Work alone doesn't make you better. You need knowledge from a coach or expert, mixed with your own dogged determination and hard work to make the progress that you wish to make.

[Sidd]

I'ts simply never too late. Look at Terry's devotion, we can all learn from him. Look at Steve Davis: the way he competes these days... I have had a bad bad technique for years and years but then when I started learning technique from Terry I started to realise that it would take years of practice and discipline. Doesnt matter. If you ask me; rather than getting frustrated now, I tend to get involved in the fine art of mastering technique for the love of this game that I have. I might not even turn pro... couldn't simply but even then endeavouring to play like a pro is what I have in mind and hence am loving the process... believe me, do what I did if and only if your love for the game is pure... take is as an art and love the process of development you will improve and enjoy at the same time!!!

Best of luck!