back to basics

[snookered122]

i played snooker for a number of years. then gave it away for a few years. and when i went back it wasnt the same my stance, my cueing, couldnt get my chin on the cue like before just felt stiff..how do i go about fixing this problem.thanks

[maddocks]

Hi,

I'm not exactly a qualified coach but I have had coaching and can give you a bit of an insight.

Obviously, the first part of your game that needs to be correct before you carry on else where is your stance. I guess the main thing is that you are comfortable but there are some basics you can follow. I was always taught to get my right leg (Assuming right handed) under the line of the shot vertically straight, this is the line from the object ball, cue ball through to the end of your cue and while doing so, taking your chest TO the cue, and not the reverse. I do this by standing behind the line of the shot, right foot on the line parallel to the line and placing the cue on the table as close to the white along your line of aim. Once you've done that, place your right foot under the cue at a slight angle say 20-30 degrees off towards the right. Then, place your left leg a few inches in front of your right leg bent, parallel to the cue, shoulder width apart and lower your body onto the cue (Placing your bridge under the cue as you go down).

Your bridge should be firm and players generally have a slight bend in the arm. You should aim for about 10-12 inches overhand from the V of your bridge to the cue ball.

When feathering, use about half this overhang (5-6 inches) ensuring your feathers are not fast. On the final backswing, I always use a pause of half a second or so, focus my eyes on the object ball and move my arm forward ensuring you finish at your chest.

A few pointers:
- Don't grip the cue too tight
- Don't have too much of a wide stance else you may be moving down off the line of aim
- When you play the shot, don't grip the cue on the way through, concentrate on a pure pendulum and simply move your arm forwards.
- Keep your strokes nice and slow, not rushing and don't hit the ball hard, play at a nice firm pace finishing the cue at your chest.

Hope some of this helps

[Manu147]

In relation to the foot on the line principle, unless you bend your upper body over to the right while standing behind the shot(assuming you are right handed), you will not be looking directly behind the line of aim, but you will be coming onto the line of aim somewhere on your drop down, this will mean usually some slight checkin of between cueball and object ball on this drop down(ronnie), or you can have the body facing squarely behind the shot with the right leg stepping inside onto the line of aim ,where the eyes on the object ball where you want to hit draws your head directly down on the shot, with the cue coming under your body onto this line, though steve davis and others are not as stringent with the right foot on the line principle, davis believing that you dont hit the balls with your legs so stance positioning might be overrated, and as long as your comfortable and your stance is not intefering with your cueing, then this is more important.