power shot

[pclam1981]

Hi, I am an enthusiast been playing snooker for about 10 years and my highest break is 101.

Recently, I found that how weak was my power shot, especially when I have to screw back the white for a long shot.
I try to put the white in front of two ball leaving a gap for me to hit the white. This experiment showed that my tip always go to the left after my follow through.

Having discussed with others, different people have different suggestion as follow:-

1. The cue should be free from anywhere of the body except the chin and the hands. The cue should not lean on the chest as a support during the cue action. Is that right?

2. My hand always strike to the chest during the stroke,that should be avoid. Is that right?

3. My friend pointed out that my cue always vibrate / not on a straight line. How can I improve this to act like a professional?

Moreover, I found that I always grip the cue tightly when I have to do a power shot. What method or practice can I do to improve this?

As I afraid I will be going into the wrong direction, anyone can point out what can I do to improve my power shot?

[nrage]

Hi, I am an enthusiast been playing snooker for about 10 years and my highest break is 101.

Recently, I found that how weak was my power shot, especially when I have to screw back the white for a long shot.
I try to put the white in front of two ball leaving a gap for me to hit the white. This experiment showed that my tip always go to the left after my follow through.

If you can, record yourself and upload the video to youtube then post a link here.

Having discussed with others, different people have different suggestion as follow:-

1. The cue should be free from anywhere of the body except the chin and the hands. The cue should not lean on the chest as a support during the cue action. Is that right?

Most coaches recommend the cue touches the chest, for stability, and to help keep it on the line of aim throughout the stroke. Even on a power screw shot. On a power screw the grip hand and elbow might drop, and the cue will drop off the chest, this is normal but should not happen until after the cue strikes the white. Search this forum for "elbow drop" for more info.

2. My hand always strike to the chest during the stroke,that should be avoid. Is that right?

Many coaches recommend that your hand should strike your chest on all shots, even slower ones. If you try to stop the cue, it will mean you are slowing down, and you will likely slow down before striking the white and therefore get less power/screw on the white.

3. My friend pointed out that my cue always vibrate / not on a straight line. How can I improve this to act like a professional?

When does it "vibrate"? On feathers? On the stroke? Before or after striking the ball? If the cue wobbles a bit after striking the ball, this is fairly normal and nothing to be worried about. Only worry if the cue wobbles/vibrates before striking the white.

Moreover, I found that I always grip the cue tightly when I have to do a power shot. What method or practice can I do to improve this?

All you can do is practice keeping the grip as relaxed as possible. The cue should rest in the grip, without excess pressure, only enough pressure to perform the shot. It should be loose such that you can slide the cue in the grip with the other hand and remain that loose for the entire stroke, or until after the white is struck.

Gripping tight will cause the cue to slow down, as any muscle tension will do this.

Practice with a simple shot, and concentrate on keeping the hand as relaxed as possible. But, don't relax the arm, or wrist as well.. you only want the hand/fingers relaxed and loose not everything.

As I afraid I will be going into the wrong direction, anyone can point out what can I do to improve my power shot?

Watch this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZqqakiKbhHI&feature=plcp

He talks fast, but knows what he is talking about. Basically, most people have a bad screw/draw shot because they are not hitting the white low enough, or not pushing the cue right through the white.

[pclam1981]

power shot

Thank you for your prompt reply. I will try to take a video and upload for your comment.

[FerruleFox]

Sounds like either your bridge is not stable enough or you are snatching during the stroke.

What happens when you hit the cueball up and down the spots?

[pclam1981]

I have taken 2 videos from different views

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fKiTA...ature=youtu.be

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fKiTA...ature=youtu.be

Looking forward to having your advice.

[nrage]

I have taken 2 videos from different views

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fKiTA...ature=youtu.be

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fKiTA...ature=youtu.be

Looking forward to having your advice.

Youtube reckons you've removed them..

[pclam1981]

THese 2 should be ok

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6LoryqdP8dk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dx806zcFFkg

[nrage]

THese 2 should be ok

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6LoryqdP8dk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dx806zcFFkg

Much better.

Ok, first thing I notice is that on the final back pause your bridge hand fingers curl up. Could this be the cause of the shivering/movement you're seeing?

Your back/grip hand and cue action looked very good, speed was nice, pause excellent. Your elbow drops very slightly on the full back swing and appears to come back up to the correct height on the delivery which is good/normal/expected. You have an elbow drop as you drive through, which is also expected/good provided it happens after the tip contacts the white, which it appears is the case.

I wonder, can you get a close up video of the cue from bridge to white, in particular the cue as it sits on the bridge at the back pause (where you get the shivering)?

[nrage]

THese 2 should be ok

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6LoryqdP8dk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dx806zcFFkg

In the 2nd video it seems your grip hand/elbow might be dropping a fraction early, just as the cue hits the white but it's hard hard to tell.

Something you could try is to download Kinovea:
http://www.kinovea.org/en/

Load the video and play it back in slow motion, with a zoom on the white/contact point to see if the elbow drop is lifting the tip before contact, or not.

[throtts]

The first thing I spotted was too much movement via the head, keep the head down longer after the strike of the cue ball..

[nrage]

In the first video, on the first shot your cue tip does not strike as low as it could. I start/stop/pause the video and play back several times and at about ~6sec you can see it could be almost 1 tip width lower. The 2nd shot is much better at ~23sec we can see you strike right at the base of the white.

[pclam1981]

power shot

Thank you for your advice. It is very interesting that my finger curl up at that moment, that I don't know actually. I will see if I have such reaction during soft shot.

As I am new to this forum, I am trying to hold my elbow during my friendly match these few days, that obviously enhance the long pot success and the white ball control. I will try to keep this change first to see if this is helpful to my power shot.

Regarding to my head movement, I think this is my actually reaction that developed through out my snooker life. I try to hold my head but the cue action usually strike my chin. I try if this can also be fixed if I lock my elbow.

I can tell I always have fear feeling when the two balls are of more that about 1m away and I have to screw back the white. I will take a video on that later.

I will upload the close up view of my bridge later.

[nrage]

Regarding to my head movement, I think this is my actually reaction that developed through out my snooker life. I try to hold my head but the cue action usually strike my chin. I try if this can also be fixed if I lock my elbow.

I had a similar problem of hitting my chin with the cue. I started to lift my head in reaction, as you do. The solution was to work on driving the cue through without lifting it. You can drop the elbow and lower the cue if you want, but only after striking the white. once you're driving the cue without lifting, you then concentrate on re-training yourself not to react and lift the head.

[pclam1981]

I had a similar problem of hitting my chin with the cue. I started to lift my head in reaction, as you do. The solution was to work on driving the cue through without lifting it. You can drop the elbow and lower the cue if you want, but only after striking the white. once you're driving the cue without lifting, you then concentrate on re-training yourself not to react and lift the head.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Itddy...ature=youtu.be

Here's the slow motion with some add-up.

1. The elbow drop a bit during the back swing and return to the same point when the arm went back to vertical.

2. I have playbacked and observed that the elbow drop after hitting the ball.

3. I seen that my follow through is quite short. How can I improve this. I think this is probably the reasons why I feel difficult when I have to screw back when the two balls become longer than 1 meter.

Looking forward to see anyone comments.

[pclam1981]

I had a similar problem of hitting my chin with the cue. I started to lift my head in reaction, as you do. The solution was to work on driving the cue through without lifting it. You can drop the elbow and lower the cue if you want, but only after striking the white. once you're driving the cue without lifting, you then concentrate on re-training yourself not to react and lift the head.

Moreover, What do you think the angle of the backswing and foreswing? Is that adequate??