self-help for under 30 break players ...

[throtts]

I think the question is, how often does one get near his high break. Alot of players that knock in 30's on a very consistent basis can beat a player with a much higher break.

[nrage]

I think the question is, how often does one get near his high break. Alot of players that knock in 30's on a very consistent basis can beat a player with a much higher break.

Very true. In fact when I was playing in a regular weekly comp I was beating players which much higher breaks as often as not. Why, because in most cases their high-break was a long time ago, or a one-off and because while my high-break is only in the 20s, I tend to make a break in the 20s fairly regularly and they were less consistent.

[ace man]

ace man ... I'm not a beginner, I've been playing once a week for 10 years now ... oops, sorry ... just realised you were being condescending calling me a beginner ...

maybe you should follow checkside's advice and call us 30 break players "deficient" as he does ... or maybe you two could compromise and call us "deficient beginners" ... whatever floats your boat ...

I'll still be happy enjoying playing snooker and trying to improve ... ya follow?

DandyA, sorry you took this the wrong way. In no way I was suggesting that you were deficient, and I'm sure neither was checkSide. At least now you gave more information. You probably lack table time, i.e. you need lots of solo practice several times a week. Playing only once a week for ten years with probably no solo practice at all...I don't know, 30 break would seem like a mountain to climb for me. So hats off to you. I know under the same conditions I would be very hard pressed to make one.

As for beginner...well, in theory you could play for 50 years at the same level as when you started and stay a beginner. Perhaps it was a wrong word to choose in this case, but really some people never put anything in the game and expect something in return. I'm sure you know what I mean.

I truly believe that anyone with a normal hand/eye coordination can achieve a 50 break in a game. But that will not come without some sacrifice.

[narl]

I only started playing since about December after not playing for approx 10 years, had a few 20+ breaks but still a long way off being comfortable in the balls. My long potting is decent but when it comes to blacks off the spot that im a bit high on i tend to overcut or undercut them, situations that should bring easy breaks of at least 30-40+, gets frustrating as you expect to go on a bit of a run but miss something stupid just after screwing around the table with a power pot that by all rights should take a miracle to cue right.

Just gonna have to do some practice potting around the black spot, i usually try and avoid the black and play around blue and pink instead.

[vmax4steve]

DandyA

Instead of playing competitive frames once a week with your friends, you can set up practise routines with your friends that would be more beneficial. Set up a line up and toss a coin to see who goes first, when the first player misses then the next takes over and so on until the table is cleared. Use a set of rules like the cue ball can't disturb any other ball in the line other than the one being potted, missed reds are replaced in their original position. Watch each other and point out to someone if they move their heads, snatch, drop the shoulder too soon or give it the old chicken wing.
Practise clearing the colours from yellow to black and play position for the yellow again off the black to start the process again, when one player misses the next takes over with the missed colour staying down and cue ball in hand anywhere on the table. Watch for cue ball reaction off the cushion to see whether either of you has played with unwanted side, again give advice and learn from each other.
That's better self help than you will get from other players of your standard on this forum who don't have a clue what you are doing wrong.

[checkSide]

good advice checkside if somewhat condescending ... let's talk about your comments "if you cannot make a 30 break you have serious deficiciences in your technique" so your advice is just to "practise delivering the cue in a straight line" ...

firstly, in my initial post on this thread, I did ask players with better breaks than us 30 break players to start their own thread so I have to ask, since you clearly imply from what you've written you are a better than 30 player ... are you dumb or just can't read? this thread is clearly titled as "self-help for 30 break players" ... ya follow?

secondly, and I'm not going to justify my lowly high break to you, but it may not be as black and white as you think ... I may not practise at all, I may only play with friends one evening a week and they may be even worse than me ...

I look really forward to and enjoy my one night playing snooker ... I'm actually proud of my high break of 31 and I will continue to try to try hard to improve it ... but you call me, in your own words, "deficient" ...

I don't think I am deficient, I am enjoying playing snooker at my level and continue to try to improve, please tell me what is wrong with that ...

do "ya follow"?

Relax Mr. Dandy.

You seem to have got your knickers in a twist.

[LittleMissAlexa]

good advice checkside if somewhat condescending ... let's talk about your comments "if you cannot make a 30 break you have serious deficiciences in your technique" so your advice is just to "practise delivering the cue in a straight line" ...

firstly, in my initial post on this thread, I did ask players with better breaks than us 30 break players to start their own thread so I have to ask, since you clearly imply from what you've written you are a better than 30 player ... are you dumb or just can't read? this thread is clearly titled as "self-help for 30 break players" ... ya follow?

secondly, and I'm not going to justify my lowly high break to you, but it may not be as black and white as you think ... I may not practise at all, I may only play with friends one evening a week and they may be even worse than me ...

I look really forward to and enjoy my one night playing snooker ... I'm actually proud of my high break of 31 and I will continue to try to try hard to improve it ... but you call me, in your own words, "deficient" ...

I don't think I am deficient, I am enjoying playing snooker at my level and continue to try to improve, please tell me what is wrong with that ...

do "ya follow"?

just a point sub 30 means less than 30 31 is greater than 30 so you are also a non sub 30 breakbuilder

[Smiffie]

Sorry for the long post, but if you wanna learn you have to listen.
.................................................. ............................................ .

Lesson one.

Snooker is all in the head, as soon as you realise this you can move on.

You play in a pro – am and get drawn against Ronnie and you know you are going home.

Ken Doherty missed a sitter black off the spot for a televised 147, at home he would have knocked it in with a broom.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=adV39JXbcXg

Would Ginger have missed that black if it wasn’t for the title ?
Davis said “this isnt my cue, someone has given me another cue for this shot”.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=byYKrvDDgew

Would Willie Thorn have missed that blue in the middle if he was in his club ?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=raqJmNr3zaI

Would I have lost 3-2 at Prestatyn if I wasn’t on table 1 after being 2-0 up ?

Jimmy don’t miss in practice, but can’t qualify.

It’s all in the head, sort your head out and enjoy the game.

Once you are past that, ( this is not possible by the way ) it is a case of Simple physics.

The Encata Dictionary defines physics thus, - I have underlined the relevant parts here.

The scientific study of matter, energy, force, and motion, and the way they relate to each other. Physics traditionally incorporates mechanics, electromagnetism, optics, and thermodynamics and now includes modern disciplines such as quantum mechanics, relativity, and nuclear physics

Snooker is all about accuracy, if you are not accurate then you will miss.

The biggest problem with missing is hitting the ball too hard especially over a distance STOP HITTING IT SO HARD !!!.

Put the white 4 – 6 inches off the cushion behind the yellow spot, make it comfortable for yourself to hit the white.
Put the red 6-8 inches in front of the white in line with the pink pocket ( top left )

Now smash the red in the pocket hard, you will miss 9 out of 10.
Now drop the red in the same pocket, you will make 9 out of 10.

Hitting the ball hard will mean you will move your head, upper torso, shoulder and twist your wrist, Christ I am amazed you can even hit the white.
Now hit the white with just enough power to get the red to the pocket, you won’t miss.

When was the last time Ronnie had a smash out ?

Many years ago, Alex + Jimmy Vs Davis and Meo, ( ah, the good ole days when they had doubles matched on TV ) Jimmy said to Alex, “ you can only have one smash out per game” and Alex, at that time, was “Da man”.

If you hit the white hard you will miss 9 out of 10 times = Simple physics, if you want to win – don’t hit them hard.

Once you have mastered that.

Put the blue on its spot, put the white just inside the centre pocket and pot the blue.

You won’t, if you make 1 in 20 you are doing well, if you pot 2 in a row you can make a 30.

I thank you – I am here all week

[DandyA]

Relax Mr. Dandy.

You seem to have got your knickers in a twist.

yes you are right checkSide, I was feeling a bit rc last night ... my apologies to you and to ace man too ...

my point (which I expressed poorly) is that us lower break players may not be *that* bad, for sure our cueing action can't be perfect but whose is? I enjoy playing snooker and to me, that is what matters most ...

I personally like trying to improve and slowly am but even if I wasn't trying to improve, I still help to keep the snooker clubs open simply by visiting once a week ...

and the point of this thread is for us low-break players to share experiences and see if we can help each other ... I don't know if it will work but there's already some very interesting posts on this thread ... well interesting to me anyway ...

but yes, once again, my apologies to you and ace man

[DandyA]

DandyA

Instead of playing competitive frames once a week with your friends, you can set up practise routines with your friends that would be more beneficial. Set up a line up and toss a coin to see who goes first, when the first player misses then the next takes over and so on until the table is cleared. Use a set of rules like the cue ball can't disturb any other ball in the line other than the one being potted, missed reds are replaced in their original position. Watch each other and point out to someone if they move their heads, snatch, drop the shoulder too soon or give it the old chicken wing.
Practise clearing the colours from yellow to black and play position for the yellow again off the black to start the process again, when one player misses the next takes over with the missed colour staying down and cue ball in hand anywhere on the table. Watch for cue ball reaction off the cushion to see whether either of you has played with unwanted side, again give advice and learn from each other.
That's better self help than you will get from other players of your standard on this forum who don't have a clue what you are doing wrong.

that's a very good idea vmax, thank you for suggesting it ... I've spent about 20 minutes in the last 10 years practising (ie line-ups, straight blues, stuff like that) and it's boring and frustrating! your idea certainly would make it more interesting

[DandyA]

just a point sub 30 means less than 30 31 is greater than 30 so you are also a non sub 30 breakbuilder

yes you are of course right LittleMissAlexa ... I guess I call myself a 30 or sub-30 player cos I was that for 9yrs 8months of my playing career ... about 4 months ago, I hit a 31 ... and I've hit two 30 breaks since ... plus at least half a dozen 24's (only a red and black for 32) ... I also did have a shot on the black on 26 two weeks ago (ie for a 33) - bit of a cutback and just overcut it and it jawed ... not too disappointed, had done really well to get to 26 (9 pots) ...

so I'm really pleased ... although I doubt Ronnie is quaking in his shoes just yet ...

[DandyA]

Sorry for the long post, but if you wanna learn you have to listen.
.................................................. ............................................ .

Lesson one.

Snooker is all in the head, as soon as you realise this you can move on.

You play in a pro – am and get drawn against Ronnie and you know you are going home.

Ken Doherty missed a sitter black off the spot for a televised 147, at home he would have knocked it in with a broom.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=adV39JXbcXg

Would Ginger have missed that black if it wasn’t for the title ?
Davis said “this isnt my cue, someone has given me another cue for this shot”.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=byYKrvDDgew

Would Willie Thorn have missed that blue in the middle if he was in his club ?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=raqJmNr3zaI

Would I have lost 3-2 at Prestatyn if I wasn’t on table 1 after being 2-0 up ?

Jimmy don’t miss in practice, but can’t qualify.

It’s all in the head, sort your head out and enjoy the game.

Once you are past that, ( this is not possible by the way ) it is a case of Simple physics.

The Encata Dictionary defines physics thus, - I have underlined the relevant parts here.

The scientific study of matter, energy, force, and motion, and the way they relate to each other. Physics traditionally incorporates mechanics, electromagnetism, optics, and thermodynamics and now includes modern disciplines such as quantum mechanics, relativity, and nuclear physics

Snooker is all about accuracy, if you are not accurate then you will miss.

The biggest problem with missing is hitting the ball too hard especially over a distance STOP HITTING IT SO HARD !!!.

Put the white 4 – 6 inches off the cushion behind the yellow spot, make it comfortable for yourself to hit the white.
Put the red 6-8 inches in front of the white in line with the pink pocket ( top left )

Now smash the red in the pocket hard, you will miss 9 out of 10.
Now drop the red in the same pocket, you will make 9 out of 10.

Hitting the ball hard will mean you will move your head, upper torso, shoulder and twist your wrist, Christ I am amazed you can even hit the white.
Now hit the white with just enough power to get the red to the pocket, you won’t miss.

When was the last time Ronnie had a smash out ?

Many years ago, Alex + Jimmy Vs Davis and Meo, ( ah, the good ole days when they had doubles matched on TV ) Jimmy said to Alex, “ you can only have one smash out per game” and Alex, at that time, was “Da man”.

If you hit the white hard you will miss 9 out of 10 times = Simple physics, if you want to win – don’t hit them hard.

Once you have mastered that.

Put the blue on its spot, put the white just inside the centre pocket and pot the blue.

You won’t, if you make 1 in 20 you are doing well, if you pot 2 in a row you can make a 30.

I thank you – I am here all week

that's a really good post Smiffie, please don't apologise for it being long ... very interesting, and yes I agree it's mostly in the head and yes, I even more agree that it's a good idea to hit the cueball no harder than necessary ...

particularly around the pink spot, it's amazing what you can do with soft stuns, rolls or screws ... did 3 red/pinks a few weeks ago and the cueball was never more than a foot (probably 8 inches from the pink spot) ... well pleased

looking at the vids, Doherty had hit a really nice green and brown under pressure so it's such a shame but as you say, it's all in the head ... and Matthew Stevens looked more nervous than Ken ...

Davis/Taylor ... I think it's well known their heads had gone at that stage but yes, once again, it shows it's all in the mind ...

what's Willie's excuse? he was 13-8 ahead, what was the pressure of the easiest of blues ... I'm not a WT fan but he wasn't on a 147 - just needed blue and pink to win the frame ... was it the frame that won the match? even if it was, even I at my lowly level would have fancied that (although I'd have rolled the blue in to leave the pink in the opposite corner) ...

[checkSide]

yes you are right checkSide, I was feeling a bit rc last night ... my apologies to you and to ace man too ...

my point (which I expressed poorly) is that us lower break players may not be *that* bad, for sure our cueing action can't be perfect but whose is? I enjoy playing snooker and to me, that is what matters most ...

I personally like trying to improve and slowly am but even if I wasn't trying to improve, I still help to keep the snooker clubs open simply by visiting once a week ...

and the point of this thread is for us low-break players to share experiences and see if we can help each other ... I don't know if it will work but there's already some very interesting posts on this thread ... well interesting to me anyway ...

but yes, once again, my apologies to you and ace man

Hi Dandy.

Thank-you for the apology!
I can assure you I meant no offence with my post, and certainly wasn't calling you "deficient" in any way, or passing judgement on anyone's ability.

In Stephen Hendry's book, "Snooker Masterclass", he states...

"Someone who plays on a regular basis and does not boast a run over 40 must either be a poor potter or have serious flaws in the positional side of his game."

I have found (in my humble personal experience) that inaccurate cueing is to blame for these two faults. (Something we all work on!)

That is the point I was trying to make, but seem to have phrased it in a way that antagonised/offended you....so I also sincerely apologise.

Cheers.

[Smiffie]

Different strokes...........

There are many ways to pratice, and every hour spent on the table will better your chances of making a break.

I enjoy practicing, although I don't do line ups, but I do put the colours on the spots, put all the reds between the pink and black with one to the left of the pack and one to the right, and another between the pink and blue. I then put one about level with the black in line with the pocket.

I play a long pot from the D and if I miss it, I set em up again, and I knock them in, if I miss one I set that shot up again and continue. If I don't have a pot I play a safety and play as if I was in a match.

Being semi retired and having a table at home means I can have a couple of hours every day, and to be honest, once a week isnt enough, but its better than nuffin - I do understand the frustration of practicing, my 14 year old would much rather play poxy X box

[Smiffie]

@ Danny A

This was the 1985 UK Final.

First to 16.

Willie was 13 - 8 up, this would have been 14 - 8 only needing 2 more to win it.

Davis won 16 - 14. ( typical Ginger doing what he did best )

It is all in the head you see