From Left Hand to Right

[Belloz22]

well this could be long ..... i am right handed, i do everything right handed, but i play snooker left handed. My dad plays left handed and i gather when i was a kid, i watched my dad, and obviously emulated him. Anyway, i have been playing snooker for 3 years, i have been told by alot of people i should be doing alot better than what i am, currently my highest break in a live game is 52, nothing even close since anyway, i decided to go to a professional coach to get my technique seen to, and so forth, he said i should be making 60's everytime im at the table, but for some reason i don't, i have got to the point of desperation because no matter what i seem to do, i can't improve myself, this is really making me depressed, i just can't figure out what the problem is.

I had a breaK from the game for a while, just to clear my head, and i came back in the new year fresh, however i am still struggling to improve, i still seem to miss shots i shouldnt, occasionally the white does not even go where im aimming, even though checking over the spots, i am cueing straight

I came up with the idea that maybe i would be a better player if i attempted to learn to play with my right hand, the hand i use for everything else, i spent about 2 hours today trying to build a perfect technique from the start, so i don't suffer in the future, however i am finding it really weird playing this way, everythin feels so different.... as anyone else ever learnt to play with their other hand and if so how did you go about it?


Any help would be extremely appreciated --- help me keep off the suicide hotlines lol

[The Statman]

I would think that if you've been playing left-handed for three years, you should continue that way.

Rather like when you see players with an odd stance or some unorthodox technique, you would never suggest that they change it if it works for them. I think your left-handed quirk is just your little unorthodoxy.

[Watford]

I personal am pretty ambidextrous but I'm rubbish and playing snooker with my left hand!
However I do have a friend who has his own 3/4 table and so a lot of time to practice and he is very good with his left. I believe he just practices it on his own a little and then plays games against friends. He's quite cocky with it now he tells everyone that he can beat them all left handed.
Like statman said I won't jump straight into playing with the other hand but I would start getting a bit of practice in then try playing a couple of friendlies with the wrong hand. It always comes in handy anyway look at Ronnie!

[dantuck_7]

he said i should be making 60's everytime im at the table, but for some reason i don't

Thats a lot to ask. Many professional players would take that! If you've been playing left-handed for three years stick with it. Maybe you're trying a bit too hard and should try and be a bit more natural.

[hegeland]

Mike Sigel is, just like you, a natural right-hander who playes with his left hand. And he's one of the most successful pool players in history.

[Belloz22]

i will practice with my right hand, just incase it comes in handy lol (no pun intended lol) i will keep with my left, maybe i am just trying to find excuses for my lapses in concentration .... well the game goes on lol

[davo_nffc]

I am naturally right handed and often try to use my left hand in practice and occasionally in matches but i tried to change my hand completely to left but it never worked, so i stuck to being natural woth my right and used my left on the occasions i needed/wanted to.

[snookersaint]

Stick to your left. If he said you should be making 60 every frame. you must be good . Any player would be happy with that . Including alot of pro's .

Least you dont have to use the Rest alot . You lucky man

[Gramayr]

I wouldn't say I'm ambidextrous but I usually play right handed (about 60/40 r-handed) but can switch to left handed as I hate using a rest. It makes no difference which hand I use as I'm equally useless with both..

But if anyone is that good using their left, then I'd stick to it.

On a different note, I knew a left handed lad who played guitar right handed as he said he got more control (and he was extremely good at it)

[dottcom]

Just stick with what works for you, left handed is fine. I am right handed/footed in all sports, snooker, tennis, cricket, soccer. But somehow i am left handed for golf.

[Scissors61]

I'd also say to stick with your left. I've never heard of something like this before. I suppose you learn from example, like your Dad. When I held my first cue, I was 8 years old, playing pool on my friend's 2 and a half foot table. He's a right hander, and I remember trying to cue like him. It felt so weird back then, much like my left feels now. I only really use mine if the ball's close to the pocket and I have to use the long rest(don't like it).
I think you should keep up the left hand. If you do manage to make 60 every visit, you'll be a match for anyone. Coming from me this sounds stupid, but you should just keep on practicing as much as you can and it will happen, don't get upset, just be determined. Changing to your right now would probably slow down your improvement. Ronnie's the only player I can think of who is excellent with both hands anyway. Hope I've helped you and good luck.

P.s playing tomorrow, may give the left a couple of shots myself!

[jimmymoller]

i play left and right handed

[MinnesotaSlim]

Excellent jimmy, i'm sure that helped him out a lot. Any tips to actually help him out?

[hegeland]

i will practice with my right hand