self-help for under 30 break players ...

[Maverick54]

I used to worry more about winning the game and was always playing the safety option. This is a negative approach that stops you getting better at break building. I often refuse reds now where balls are hanging ova the pocket if I know I'm not going to be on a colour. I prefer to take a more difficult red and keep the break going.
My game has deffinately improved now and my playing partners still play the negative game and and havn't improved. By not worrying about losing the game I now find I have to be on really crap form and not in the mood for it before I do actually lose an odd game.
By playing positive you become more confident and the game appears much easier than it used too. Dont worry about losing even the pros do it.

[cyberheater]

Managed to get a good 25 yesterday. My positioning is definitely getting better

[damienlch]

Managed to get a good 25 yesterday. My positioning is definitely getting better

Indeed, I find that breakbuilding is all about positioning. The ability to recognise the shot that yields the best outcome, for e.g. getting to the correct side of the object ball, coupled with the technical knowledge on how to get there in a most straightforward manner. That for me, is the key to making breaks.

There's no magic or mystery to it. It's no sleight of hand. It's there in plain view whenever you see a good player in action. Just need to understand how and when to play what shots, then loads of practice. Be brave and don't worry about missing. Play the shots. It's more fun that way.

As for putting side to the cue ball, I think it depends on the skill level. Not all below 30 breakbuilders are the same. A player may not have hit a 30 break yet, but if he is technically rather sound and hits the ball sensibly, I don't see why he can't incorporate that aspect into his game. In fact, I think it would aid him in moving up to a higher level of play.

[nrage]

Mine is also 31. I find my problem is one day I make everything and then the next day I cannot make anything. I bought the Snooker Gym in Nov and I have my own table and have been practicing at least 2 hours a day and I feel like I am getting worse. I guess you could say I am just plain frustrated.

I am super jealous. I wish I had the space to have a table at home, then at least I might manage to get 30mins of practice a day or something. As it is I barely ever get down to the club to practice and I just about never play frames - the consequence of having an 8 month old son

Are you following the snooker gym method exactly, or using it as a reference and doing your own thing? The snooker gym, from what I have seen, is a very methodical approach and I can imagine some people might not get on with it, or be as disciplined as it requires (at least not all the time).

IMO, for a sub-30, or just on 30 break player (like you and I) the best practice you can do is to get as much table time as possible and just pot balls. Once that starts to become consistent i.e. you can line up 9 reds from black to blue and pot more than 1/2 of them before missing, then start to worry about position.

In order to pot 4-5 balls in a row in a line up like that, you have to manage some very basic position i.e. pot a red and leave the white on one side of the table, not too close to the cushion and not too close to the middle - but you don't have to get it to any specific part of the table, for example.

To pot more than 4-5 balls in a line up like that you have to be able to select the right shots and make more specific position i.e. get from the ball on the blue to the ball on or near the black using more than just a little run through. So, for a 30 break player I would say start with this until your potting and basic position is comfortable and you're confident with it.

The next exercise I would recommend is blacks off the spot, playing them so the white goes on then off the top(black end) cushion. Play the black, replace it and play the next from where you've left the white, continue till you miss. Make a game of getting more and more in a row before you miss.

Extend this by adding 3 reds below the black and the pink and play the mini-lineup red/colour/red/etc.

IMO, for a 30 break player potting is an issue, position is an issue, and everything else is not really relevant until those 2 things improve.

[lesedwards]

I am following the GYM page for page. I just seem to find some days I see the angles and make the shots and some days I cannot see anything. Weird for instance I played a best of 3 match against my son yesterday which I spot 30 and I made 5 reds with no colors all game.

[pottr]

Side is only difficult if you are using it without knowing that the cue ball deflects when struck which has to be compensated for and there are many posts on the coaching threads explaining this.

It can't be explained. Only experience can teach you this. I don't wish to offend anyone but if you cannot top 30 then please don't worry about side. It's a touch above your capabilities at the moment.

Also I find it amazing that players who are sub 30 breakers will break off, which is a nine foot distance shot, using running side to clip the outside red of the pack taking the cue ball around the angles inside the blue and into baulk behind the green/yellow yet will not attempt a 1/2 ball black off its spot from two feet away using side in order to gain position because they feel its above their ability.

They may be playing for the outside edge of the pack but will rarely hit it. The benefit of using side with the break is that there is a massive margin for error providing you don't hit the pink of course.

As for putting side to the cue ball, I think it depends on the skill level. Not all below 30 breakbuilders are the same. A player may not have hit a 30 break yet, but if he is technically rather sound and hits the ball sensibly, I don't see why he can't incorporate that aspect into his game. In fact, I think it would aid him in moving up to a higher level of play.

No one with a high break of 30 is technically sound whatever they believe or their friends are telling them. Experimenting with side when in the balls is opening up a can of worms.
That is unless they are playing on their own, in which case they should try what they will.

The snookergym is a cracking example of how things should be done... But it's use as a practical implication for coaching yourself? Do me a favour! I have said this many times. You cannot learn a practical skill like a cue action from the written word. Sure the DVD's help. But there is too much collateral damage from changes in your action the DVD can't pick up on.

Unless you are a total beginner, i.e never picked a cue up before. Snooker DVD's will not help you, only a coach could.

My advice for sub 30 break players to improve would be to practice simple. Stick the black on the spot and see how many you can pot in a row without losing position. Ten is a fair target to aim for.

[cyberheater]

Ten is a fair target to aim for.

I'll let you know when I finally achieve it. For me it's quite hard.

And as for your comments about side on the ball. I totally agree. It's hard enough simply potting a ball, putting the correct amount of stun or follow thru at the correct strength then to complicate it further by trying side.

I'm leaving it well alone until I'm much more skilled in the basics.

I did hear an interview with Eddie Charlton the other day and he said that he was a center ball striker and never put side on the ball. He said if your positional skills are good you shouldn't need side.

[biggus stickus]

I found this on Youtube and whilst I realise it is more pool/8ball orientated I think the basics he goes through are excellent. How about his tip to just pot the cueball into a pocket 2-3 THOUSAND times with the correct technique and then you can have some confidence that you are actually cuing straight. I thought how true that is and a great beginning to ones game. Some other good ideas in here also but again being Pool some not relevant at all to snooker.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pm-VDuGzJS4

[ace man]

The snookergym is a cracking example of how things should be done... But it's use as a practical implication for coaching yourself? Do me a favour! I have said this many times. You cannot learn a practical skill like a cue action from the written word. Sure the DVD's help. But there is too much collateral damage from changes in your action the DVD can't pick up on.

Unless you are a total beginner, i.e never picked a cue up before. Snooker DVD's will not help you, only a coach could.

Sure, probably nothing beats a proper and regular coaching sessions. But not everyone lives in an area where decent coaching, especially advanced, is available. Shortage of quality snooker players is also a big problem for many. My only options for coaching were always snooker DVDs, this coaching section, Eurosport, BBC, hours of youtube matches and/or coaching clips...etc. It definitely helps.

[lesedwards]

I have the Snooker Gym and have been following page by page and has it really helped but nothing takes the place of a real coach and a lot of time on the table.

[pottr]

That's a fair argument Ace Man, I hadn't really considered that.

If the DVD is your only avenue for coaching then please only try to incorporate one step at a time.

Sight, stance, grip etc. Work on one at a time until it's imbedded.

[ace man]

Of course. One thing I would like to add is that if one wants to improve, he must love solo practice.
Fortunately, I love solo practice as much as actual games if not more. That's the primary reason why I was able to more than double my high break in last 3 years.

[lesedwards]

Practice makes perfect. Nothing like going down to my billiard room with a mission to perfect a certain shot. The time flies by before I know it a couple hours have gone by.

[pottr]

I'm now in a steady routine where I get through about four or five lineups without even thinking about it.

[lesedwards]

What line up are you doing?