its a whole new game and i dont like it

[itsnoteasy]

Hi, I have been lucky enough to be picked to play in the premier league, for my clubs team(must be desperate) and i scraped a win in the first game, but last night i played a chap who(and this rant is all about my failings not his)was so slow, and played so tight, i got very frustrated, as i say that is my problem not his, but it didnt half show me that i actually cant play snooker at all, i can pot balls, but i havent learned how to play snooker, so two questions,1,how do you learn to play match snooker.safety .shot to nothings etc and 2. how the hell do you stop yourself getting so bored you give up lol
Oh learned something else as well, i will never ever take a frame for granted again, thought i was far enough a head switched off, fifty snookers later(slight exaggeration)hes won grrr

[The Statman]

Yep, the best way to learn is experience, and I think last night was officially your first lesson!

[steveflanuk]

Welcome to the frustrating world of local league snooker!!!

Another piece of advice - if your league uses handicaps, never, ever take them as an indication of ability!!!! I learnt this the hard way after a +35 player knocked in a 40-odd break against me with high standard positioning, etc.

[itsnoteasy]

Are there any practice routines for safety etc, like you have the line up for potting.
Statman you are so right ,it was a harsh lesson, but one i needed, the only trouble is it put me off playing a bit, i am still at the stage where i just want to pot balls lol.

[nrage]

1. How not to be bored. Don't watch him play his shots, instead imagine something else interesting. The key here is to stay relaxed and just let him do whatever he's going to do.

2. How to get better at snookers. This requires knowledge of angles off cushions, off the object ball, etc. So, anything you can do to practice these skills will be useful.

This very basic game helps with power/control:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w8lRrLVBUVs

This drill will help with carom angles:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h4gvd1swf1o
(but is more about break building TBH)

The best thing is perhaps to play a game of billiards.

The version I know is one where each player has a cue ball, and there is a single object ball. The object ball starts on the spot and one player starts by playing from in hand and continues until playing a non scoring shot. The opponent then plays from in hand and continues until playing a non scoring shot. And so on.

When the object ball is potted the opponent places it anywhere they like at the top (black) end of the table, typically they freeze it on the top rail. If a players cue ball is potted it remains off the table until their next shot where they play from in hand again.

The game continues until one player reaches an agreed upon score, i.e. 21 for starters but you can go as high as you like.

Scoring goes as follows:
1 point for potting a ball (object or opp-cue)
2 points for cannoning both balls (object and opp-cue) with your cue. By this I mean you play into one ball, it caroms off into the other ball, or a cushion then the other ball, etc.
3 points for playing your cue ball in-off another ball.

Your "break" continues as long as you play a scoring shot.

The reason this helps with safety is that you have to know the angle your cue ball will take off a ball to make 2 or 3 points, and because these are worth more it encourages that and discourages simply potting balls (because if you pot the opponents ball you can't make 2 points any more).

One you know the angle the white will come off an object ball you will see more shot to nothing opportunities, and you'll be better able to play snookers.

[steveflanuk]

If you're wanting to pot balls all the time - expect almost every opponent to play safety-first snooker against you.

When I used to play League snooker, a couple of teams were made up of young lads who just wanted to pot balls. It was so easy to beat them just by playing ultra-safe snooker and getting them frustrated because you weren't leaving easy pots for them, and then pick them off when they made their mistake. Actually, it was quite funny to watch and play in!

[mattyshinobi22]

just practice on your own clipping of the pack from balk, and try different shots out. i learnt from the working mens club, where the old blokes loved to lay a snooker more than pot a ball. so i learnt the safety first before i learnt to pot.

[itsnoteasy]

Nrage the second video is exactly what i was shown as the "fan system" by Jim Donnely moving down the cue ball from top to bottom "opening the fan" i practice this by lining ten reds across the table at pink spot level, and potting the black and get the white to hit gently on to each red by working my way down the white from top to very bottom,helped my game no end as you go through follow through, stun, and screw shots to get your position.
Steveflanuk, yes ,yes i know its called snooker and not potting, but lets bust them open and see whats what lol,
Mattyshinobi, yep the old boy taught me a lesson alright ,he will have forgotten more than i will ever know about angles and how balls bounce off cushions, i wish i could find this part of the game interesting, but i just cant , maybe after a few more beatings it will sink in that i just have to do it.

[steveflanuk]

When I play a friendly game in my local club against someone who I know isn't too hot potting balls - then I do the same, open the reds and try for a potting contest.

However, in League snooker, once word gets round that you're a potter first and a safety player second, then the majority of your opponents will play ultra-safe against you - so this won't be your last tight, slow frame. It is like playing Mark Selby sometimes!! (that's just a little joke Selby fans)

[Vic Flange]

When my Dad was teaching me to play the game years ago we used to have a 15 minute session where neither of us went for a pot. You were only allowed to play safe.
Really focuses your mind on getting your opponent into trouble.

I still occasionally have 5 minutes doing it while practising on my own.

[nrage]

Nrage the second video is exactly what i was shown as the "fan system" by Jim Donnely moving down the cue ball from top to bottom "opening the fan" i practice this by lining ten reds across the table at pink spot level, and potting the black and get the white to hit gently on to each red by working my way down the white from top to very bottom,helped my game no end as you go through follow through, stun, and screw shots to get your position.

Yeah, it's a better drill for break building and position than safety, really. The main thing I was suggesting was playing a game of billiards, as I described. This is both fun, and has you concentrating on angles rather than potting, which is exactly what you want for safety. Or, as Vic has just said, simply play for 15 mins with someone and only allow safety shots - no pots. Might be a good idea to do this with a table full of reds in a tight pack (initially) and also with only colours and a single red - as those are the most likely situations where you'll be playing safe in a typical frame.

[Jake O'Sullivan]

That's quite interesting to do Vic. Sounds like a good way to practice!

I've always tried to include both potting and safety play in matches every single game. I enjoy it when it's slow, boring and having safety wars with your opponent.

I also practice on my own with safety playing as well, moving the cue ball in really awkward positions on a table and try and get out of them leaving the cue ball safe etc.. There are loads of ways to combat it if you put your imagination to it

[pottr]

Don't worry about the drills too much. Just play, play and keep playing. The only way you learn what's correct is from making mistakes and getting beat in matches.

There is no secret routine which will tighten up your game, just keep playing. If you don't like to lose, you'll soon adapt.

[Terry Davidson]

Here is a Nic Barrow drill I do myself and also teach to my coaches when I train them. Place a red ball somewhere near where the end red of the triangle goes normally. Spot blue, brown, green and yellow on their spots. Now, pick ONE spot in the 'D' for the cueball and mark it with a little chalk mark. Use the same spot for the cueball every time.

The objective is to play the red and try and cannon the yellow, brown and green in turn by using 2, 3 or 4 cushions (don't worry about where the red is going yet). You will need to use some side on some of the shots similar to the break shot.

Once you've successfully cannoned the three baulk colours without hitting the blue then your target becomes to pick a spot on the baulk cushion and using the same set-up try and get the cueball there using the 2 or 3 cushions without hitting a colour ball. Again don't worry where the object ball is going.

The last drill is the hardest. Same set-up but now you have to both pay attention to keeping the red safe and using various amounts of side and power get the cueball back to the baulk cushion without hitting any colour. You can use either side of the table, coming up to baulk on either the green side or yellow side, similar to an actual frame.

Terry

[itsnoteasy]

Lots of great pointers , first off there are no handicaps just a one frame shoot out. Vic great idea will give that a go, but not for 15 mins ,think i would have a melt down.
Terry, that sounds like something i could do,the challenge of hitting the colours could keep me interested for a bit longer, quick question when clipping off a single red with the white, do you get a different reaction from the one you would get from clipping the last red in a tight pack
Pottr, i dont mind losing to be honest if i feel i have been outplayed, fair doos, but snookering and refusing pots is like cheating to me lol.