Looking for some advice before i decide to quit......

[vmax4steve]

So is the general consensus to ignore my coaching and follow what feels natural..... Or focus on doing what ive been taught ??

My consensus is that you have a high break of 58. You made a 58 and then missed, if you hadn't then another 58 could have been on the cards so you have the ability to be a hundred break player, but something made you miss and you have mistakenly told yourself that your whole technique is wrong, it isn't.
Obviously when you miss you are doing something wrong, it's that wrongness that you will have to find and put right. My own experience tells me that now and again natural concentration is lost and something isn't done that is a usual part of your routine that makes it work. It could be any number of things and it's up to you to work it out but what I'm asking you to do is to go back to the absolute basics of your natural technique and start from there.
Persevere and you will find it, I did, and it was something so simple it felt ridiculous that it made such a difference to how I played. No one else can tell you because they don't know what's in your mind or what you are looking at as you line up the shot and just how that affects how straight the cue is pointed at the target. If you line it up wrong then it doesn't matter a jot how you deliver the cue, what pauses you put into your action, what grip you have or how still you keep your head because you have pointed the cue in the wrong direction to start with.

[buddfridgeman]

Hi, a lot of things said so lots of different points of view, here is mine for what its worth...If you play at a better in practice while sticking to your technique then that is the way forward...the same technique in matches, if you can play for long periods in practice with out losing focus there really is no reason why you cant do so in matches..a little tip..when I am playing well I have a little routine of placing my left foot down in line with the shot very deliberatley..why becaues after this every thing else falls into shape...my point find one thing you know you do well and start right there in your matches..it may take some time but the routine should help.best of luck...

[Belloz22]

I feel like i should follow what my coach taught me..... As i know its right and accirding to him, helps me cue better, but it feels so unnatural in terms of rhythm, mental side etc. I seriously have to think when im taking my shot to make sure i do everything the way im asked..... Very counter to what feels like the way i should play

Again.thanks for the advice so far

[cally]

The best thing to do when feeling this way is have a little break away from the game. And sometimes when you get back on the baize everything feels better and you seem to play your own way and the demons seem to vanish. For a while at least....

[Zappafan69]

Expectations are premeditated resentments!!!

[nrage]

I feel like i should follow what my coach taught me..... As i know its right and accirding to him, helps me cue better, but it feels so unnatural in terms of rhythm, mental side etc. I seriously have to think when im taking my shot to make sure i do everything the way im asked..... Very counter to what feels like the way i should play

When you're learning a new technique, especially if it's a different way of doing something you already do, it can be very frustrating for several reasons, i.e. You will be worse at it, than you were before. You have to think about it more, and this distracts you from other things. It will feel 'different' and 'wrong' because it's similar, but not the same as you've already learned. Basically, it will make you worse before it (hopefully) makes you better. The trick is to keep at it until it feels natural, and to change one thing at a time - to avoid having to try and think about too many things at once.

If you concentrate on the technique in practice, then hopefully when it comes to match time you can ignore it and it will just happen like you practiced. Try not to think about technique in a match, it's hard especially if things aren't going well.

[cantpotforshíte]

Hi Belloz22

... I've remembered recommending this book to you before on a thread in which you mentioned fear creeping into your game: The book is 'The inner game of Golf' by W.Timothy Gallwey.

Did you get it and read it? I'm guessing not, otherwise I don't think you would have started this thread ... one thing it absolutely will do when read and properly understood is to get you enjoying the game again.
And when I say 'properly understood', I'm not trying to sound condescending; I'm currently reading it for the third time, and only now fully beginning to understand the power of what's implied within it. I think it's pretty mind blowing; I remember you are a psychology student so I'd expect you to appreciate it.

It will answer the question that you originally posted here once and for all.

Do yourself a favour and check it out, no point in paying to play something that makes you unhappy.

[alabadi]

Ok thanks for the info..... I think my concentration will be on cueing straight.... My fustration lies though in my coaching saying my technique is quite good but then struggling in games

i had a coaching session and the coach told me that my stance , bridge and backhand is fine, however since then i have changed my stance and grip and made improvements, so it couldn't have been that good.

you in a way are similar to what i used to feel like, i play with friends who have never had a coaching session, are never bothered , their technique is terrible yet they can beat me on occasions. i use to think that it should never happen and this really annoyed me, the more they had success the more i got annoyed and it effected my game.

so i had to change my attitude towards the game, and just played the game, i relied on my technique and practice and just relaxed and started not to bother what other people thought or what they can do or not.
the only thing you can effect is your game, you have no control over how your freinds play, so when they are at the table don't get bothered, only bother when you are on the table.
rely on your technique to come through naturally, don't think about it too much. A good coach told me once, if i am a player with a break less that 30 then i shouldn't go for shots that are more than two feet away from a pocket, and also don't go for shots that you can't pot at least 6/10 in practice.

Good advice this way your focus will be on what you know you can acheive and not trying to acheive the impossible, don't try to run before you can walk.
snooker is a hard game, if it was easy every one would be doing it, it is a mental game too, so enjoy the game because the more you enjoy it the more relaxed you will become, and this will transfer into your technique, you won't tense up on shots and introduce unwanted movement.

when practicing it needs to be for a reason and not just for table time and for practice sake, your routines need to have targets that have outcomes that you can measure, it should follow the S.M.A.R.T (Specific Measurable Acheivable Reliable and Time Bound) philosophy i have started taking notes of routines and success on each one so i can look at the notes and see where i need to focus.
if you can try and split your routines into sections which include, technique , cueball control concentration and tactical routines it would help you focus on specific aspects of your game, instead of just practicing everything then it lacks focus.

There are some great routine from PJ Nolan if you search here i am sure someone may help you where to get some pdfs of the routines, don't give up mate, just enjoy it and keep at it you will one day reach your goals

Alabbadi

[johno]

Good advice - re the last paragrath. If you search PJ Nolan snooker there are some good practice routines

[rovnos]

Hi Belloz22,
it's just my opinion, but i think you need to chill out abit. I think that if you started to enjoy the game more again, and try to relax a bit, this would help to take out any tension in your cueing arm which could be the reason why your finding it so hard to take your practice game to the match table. Try to play with a relaxed cueing arm and just concentrate on the pot/shot. It's so easy to concentrate on all the mechanics of your game that you never really concentrate on the shot ! Try it and i think/hope that it will help. ENJOY THE GAME !

[dpdubai]

As others have said mate take the pressure off and enjoy the game, we've all been there.
Snooker isn't easy, if it was you'd be bored by now.

Also I'd be willing to bet when your playing well in practice it's actually your natural game your playing. Video it and find out.

[spike007]

Thelongbomber

I am liking your website

[denja]

Dont wish to be rude but I think you are playing against yourself ! in any sport the most lethal opponent is the enemy within YOU ! I went through the same thing some of it pure vanity "I did not wish to to lose or play badly in front of others" tell your alter ego YOU ! "Look mate I can play this bloody game well so butt out" may sound a bit weird but step into the light side and get rid of the dark side.
I am sure someone out there will be able to explain better, but in the words of the guy in the film Kellys Heroes you must have positive vibes.

[sydneygeorge]

You probably wont like my advice but in my opinion coaching for anyone over the age of 16 is a waste of money.You should spend the money on practising,and just try to enjoy playing.Coaching is just putting pressure on you and raising your expectations and expectations are the biggest opponent to relaxing and playing to your own level.

Legend..... ???????
You have to f.....g kidding, read the the advice offered by others,you are so far off the mark your face must be inbeded in some ones back passage.

[the legend]

Sydneygeorge were all entitled to our opinion,i will back mine having been a good player for 25 years and also been involved in a snooker club for 30.