Solitary discipline

[The Statman]

...and why do I have none?!

I called at the snooker club last night, although my friend cancelled, because I was sure I would get a game against someone. Alas, though, being Valentine's Day and apparently some football match was taking place, there was hardly a soul in the place.

There were two tables of the thirteen in use, it was dead quiet, and as I sat there sipping my tea and tucking into a delicious sausage roll, I thought someone was trying to tell me to knuckle down and get practising in these ideal conditions that I found myself unusually in.

Thing is, I can't play on my own. If I'm playing well I just go for everything, regardless of whether it would be the choice shot in a 'live' situation, and if I'm not playing well I just bash the balls about. Either way, it is counterproductiveness itself.

Anyway I started out, just smashed the pack and started potting. It was quite good. And then I decided to try out the line-up. This is something which in milliseconds reveals my indiscipline.

I did eventually (after ¾ hour) make an 80-something, but not before it took me three attempts to even get the first red in (!) and numerous 16s and 24s. It winds me up so much, and I don't know why.

Years ago I just accepted that solo practice was not for me. If I'm playing a mate I can take it quite seriously, quite naturally, playing the 'right' shot and resisting the urge to go for shots of outlandishness in a game of no importance. (In fact, I stopped playing one guy who insisted on playing for £1 a frame to guard against it becoming a stupid knockabout – not because I couldn't afford it but because I didn't fancy playing someone who couldn't play a proper game unless there was an incentive more than the satisfaction of playing a good game. Anyhow, I digress.)

But I would like to know why I am so indisciplined in this respect. I am reasonably well disciplined at work, at home and in all other aspects of playing snooker. So why not this?

[dantuck_7]

Hello,

I too had a decent practise yesterday - no one else around! I managed to pot 12 reds and colours in 3 breaks. Which is good for me.

Maybe you should work on a particular shot that you have had problems with.

Dan.

[The Statman]

Hello,

I too had a decent practise yesterday - no one else around! I managed to pot 12 reds and colours in 3 breaks. Which is good for me.

Maybe you should work on a particular shot that you have had problems with.

Dan.

I did do a load of blues off the spot from the D. I didn't get them all in - nowhere near all of them! - but they did tend to at least threaten the jaws and I do find I am able to concentrate on a particular shot like that.

Thing is, I don't struggle with any particular shot – I struggle with all shots consistency-wise!

[gingerale]

To me it sounds as if you need the competition, Statman.
I noticed that discipline as a guideline doesn't work out for every player. Like dantuck_7 already wrote, I'd suggest to take shots/positions you've had difficulities with in matches before as a challenge and work on them when you're lucky to be able to pratise under that great conditions of an empty club again.
Maybe the night before next year's Valentine's Day/any football match of great importance/release date of the Lord of the rings ultimate ultimate collection DVD you'd meet up with someone you consider a very tough opponent and go practising on your own the next day.

[Juza]

Set yourself targets like clearing the line-up so you have something to motivate you.

I try to clear line-up once in a day if i practice on my own so every time i go to practice table i have a goal to achieve and that keeps me concentrated.

After making the line-up i practice something else...

[PaulTheSoave]

Negative play paid off!

I dont want to start another thread and thought of posting it here. Last thursday i changed tactics and went back to basics concerning giving your opponent the smallest of chances potting a ball. Its only a friendly game but i lost the last 3 encounters where I normally win 7 out of 10. I decided to leave the cue ball as much as possible at the baulk end / cushion if i did not get a straight forward potting chance. As i have played continental billiards starting at the age of 15, I am pretty good at controlling the cueball. The first frame my concentration was 100% and forced my mate into errors giving me chances to pot consecutive reds and colours. (not high breaks). and gave me a 53-3 lead. I won the first frame with 2 reds left, which is really a rare occassion as we are not big scorers. It normally comes down to the last few colours. The second frame went the same way but slightly more difficult as i could not hold my concentration. I had a 2-0 lead and did not care about the last frame. I lost it with only pink and black left. Obvious my tactics frustrated my mate a lot as i added also some bummers of snookers to my repertoire! Should I hold on to these tactics and risking a bit of tension or just play freely, which frustrated me by missing half chances and letting my mate on to easy pots.

[PaulTheSoave]

I was overwhelmed by all the reactions I had on my last comment. As another match is coming up tomorrow evening I would like to have your sincere advice whether i should hold on to my tactics. Come on, give it go.

[Nugget]

I was overwhelmed by all the reactions I had on my last comment.

LOL

I think that you should play more positively, even if you are successful when playing tight or negative. The game is all about scoring and to continue to improve your potting and breakbuilding, you'll have to practise it!
I think you should take on any reasonable chances, even if they are a bit risky, because for me that's the right way to play the game.
You could still have safety in mind when going for shots, leaving the cue ball on a colour but not a red, but whenever you play them you should commit fully and not concern yourself too much with missing. And not get too frustrated when you do...
In the end, if an agressive policy leads to a higher standard of play, you won't have to make this decision anyway.

[dantuck_7]

Hi there, sorry its a bit late - but you're probably after a mix of the above. Knowing when to attack and when to defend is what snooker is all about.

A quick coaching question for you also. I've had probelms with my cue action recently (particularly when to play the stroke). I have found that sometimes I can take far too long on a shot. I haven't really got a rythm sorted out. Soemtimes when I'm playing well I'll play the shot thats needed without really thinking about it. But, when playing badly I find myself struggling without thinking properly about what is needed.

Maybe the answer is to have a set routine that I should stick to time and time again. So, does anyone have a routine that works for them.

Any help would be appreciated.

[PaulTheSoave]

Thanks a lot for your reactions. I agree with nugget that scoring and breakbuilding are the goals to set out. To take any reasonable chances last few months, meant I missed them and let my opponent in and lose the game. I have also noticed that playing tight actually resulted in a very concentrated way of play which resulted in potting much more confident. For dantuck, I also committed myself to The Drill (which was posted on The Beeb forum). lining up in a straight line behind the cueball has helped me a lot.

[whirlwind87]

I know what you are talking about statman; I am the same. The line up definitely helps but I often find myself just getting down on shots and hitting them without even thinking about where I am going. I often find it hard to concentrate on the line up, I think it is just because it is practice and there seems to be no real incentive to pot the balls(apart from making a break,to prove to yourself that you can do it). I must learn to concentrate on the line up!All I can say is that it has helped my game,whether that is down specifically to the line up or just table time, Im not sure.