Er....now what?!

[sixofclubs]

So, you're playing a match...you start a little slowly but don't worry unduly, as your opponent is also a little sluggish.

But it doesn't take long to realise that all is not well. You are missing simple balls and are clearly not cueing well.

So what do you do?

Do you just carry on doing what you are doing and 'hope' it fixes itself?

Do you start delving into technical thoughts to try and work it out?

Or do you start adjusting your aim or maybe put a little hint of side on the white to counter the problem?

I know it seems a trite thing to ask but I come from a golf background where it is possible to not strike the ball particularly well ,yet still score decently with a solid short game. It seems to me that snooker doesn't offer this - or does it?

[cuemick147]

your about too enter the black snooker hole, where all the demons live. DONT GO THERE, YOU,LL NEVER COME BACK LOL

[Gerry Armstrong]

So, you're playing a match...you start a little slowly but don't worry unduly, as your opponent is also a little sluggish.

But it doesn't take long to realise that all is not well. You are missing simple balls and are clearly not cueing well.

So what do you do?

Do you just carry on doing what you are doing and 'hope' it fixes itself?

Do you start delving into technical thoughts to try and work it out?

Or do you start adjusting your aim or maybe put a little hint of side on the white to counter the problem?

I know it seems a trite thing to ask but I come from a golf background where it is possible to not strike the ball particularly well ,yet still score decently with a solid short game. It seems to me that snooker doesn't offer this - or does it?

Keep it as tight as you can and don't go for anything even remotely risky.

[Deepscrew]

your about too enter the black snooker hole, where all the demons live. DONT GO THERE, YOU,LL NEVER COME BACK LOL

Listen to this man!!

[itsnoteasy]

Coaching, the only way to go, its not that expensive, couple of hours can be had for about 40 pound if your lucky, and that will get the basics in place so you know where you are heading to.
Adding this, Look at Nic Bs videos on here about line of shot etc, also Terry ,coach gav and others give great advice on here, also try watching snooker pro tips on youtube with Neil Maxman(think thats his name) hes very good, but the biggest thing to do is fix the problem dont try and play round it (with side etc)

[sixofclubs]

Coaching, the only way to go, its not that expensive, couple of hours can be had for about 40 pound if your lucky, and that will get the basics in place so you know where you are heading to.
Adding this, Look at Nic Bs videos on here about line of shot etc, also Terry ,coach gav and others give great advice on here, also try watching snooker pro tips on youtube with Neil Maxman(think thats his name) hes very good, but the biggest thing to do is fix the problem dont try and play round it (with side etc)

I kind of guessed this would be the answer so I went for some coaching last night. It made a massive difference and I am now on the road to redemption. Hallelujah!

I'm pretty sure that you can't play around the problem in snooker when the margins are so tiny..

[alabadi]

i played a match in the league yesterday, i lost obviously..ARRGHHH

anyway, there was a point in the game the i needed a snooker with 4 colours left on the table, my opponent just missed the green into the black top left pocket, the green 6 inches away from the pocket, 1/2 inch off the back cushion and the white in inch below it, pink and black a in line with the green a foot below 3 inches apart and the blue just below making a great big triangle target.

easy yeah just stun the green off the back cushion around the table to the baulk end and leave the white where it is an easy snooker opportunity.

wrong, brain freeze , all i thought about at that moment was how to get the white down the table and leaving the green where it was, it was difficult to keep the green there because cutting it thin would make it come away from the back cushion and the white was not going to go down the table without plenty of side.

took me a couple of minutes looking at it, and eventually tried to play that shot and could only manage to get the white half way down the table, the green came off the cushion and you guessed it my opponent knocked it in frame over.

the moral of the story was to stand back look at the situation and assess all possibilities, however because of my thoughts to move the white down the table i never gave the green any consideration. but knew as soon as i played it after, i'm still seething from it because there was an opportunity to win the match.

big lesson learnt, a coach told me look at and analyse every ball and think if i played that one where would it go and where would the white go. and when you have looked at them all chose the shot that gives you the most opportunity in the game.

wise words that i should have remembered

Alabbadi