Video of me potting some balls.

[j6uk]

So you don't play anyone better than yourself, are you bashing the league players and what kind of handy-caps you giving out?

[CoachGavin]

Agree. You need to perhaps develop your game by playing opponents better than yourself. Although I notice you said you play league players and that doesn't mean you are playing weaker players as most leagues I've played in have some good players in. Some leagues even have pros or former pros playing for them. Always good practice :0)

[j6uk]

Yes some leagues are very strong, not just in premier and first divisions ether, though the twice a week social drinking players not so much.. Be good to get hold of an aspiring young wanna be premier player that's practicing and improving a lot..
Otherwise tough routines and 50+ handy-caps

[gem]

So you don't play anyone better than yourself, are you bashing the league players and what kind of handy-caps you giving out?

The person I usually play is of a similar standard and we have some good games. In the league it is handicap so sometimes I get a small start but mainly I have been giving around 5-20pts of a start.

The league night is normally the only chance I get to play someone and this is usually from around 4-6.30pm then the matches start at 7.30pm.
I play on my own in the golf club for 1-2 hrs over the weekend if I can manage. It is shut weekday evenings as it is not the golf season.
Not ideal at all but I am just glad to play again after stopping playing for around 14 years. I have picked up the cue for the last 2 1/2 years apart from the summer months when I cycle and golf.

I was up the golf club again last weekend and tried some potting with the intention of keeping my head down as much as possible.
As with any change it felt awkward concentrating on this but I did move a bit less.
I put the video on again and on the whole I kept the head movement to a minimum although as the break was mounting I was concentrating more on potting and position rather than my head.

It was a decent break and on the whole I kept position well and should have cleared up but the meter light went off when down on the brown ball and after sticking in a pound I potted the brown but missed the blue after. Just broke my concentration.

105 was still OK though.

I will just need to try and make the adjustments when practicing and just play when in a game. Will do some other routines as well in future.

Here is the link to the break; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f6ug5j5zcGw

Any comments are welcome. I know the shot on the last red was silly but I just fancied checking it back for the blue although not in the corner!

[j6uk]

So you've been in around the game for a long time and your now taking time to videoing all your practice sessions, whats next, what is your ambition?
Oh nice break, keep one eye one the meter next time

[gem]

So you've been in around the game for a long time and your now taking time to videoing all your practice sessions, whats next, what is your ambition?
Oh nice break, keep one eye one the meter next time

I have not really thought about the future other than being more consistent and make improvements.

I have only taken the video up the last two Saturdays and a couple of times over a year ago.
This was mainly because I have been playing well in practice but not nearly as well in games. I know practice will always be better but I felt there was too much of a gap. I wanted to see if I could spot anything in my technique that could contribute to this.

I was interested to see what forum members thought as well because sometimes others can spot something we miss ourselves.

There are a couple of things to work on over the coming weeks.

[j6uk]

What will you work on? Because I don't think you've got much to work on at all, I mean for someone who plays casually a few hours a week your doing really well.. If you had some clear goals I would have only suggested that you put yourself under pressure with strict routines or sparing and post those, so then we could see how you really play.

[brydon10]

Very good! Great cue action and timing

[gem]

What will you work on? Because I don't think you've got much to work on at all, I mean for someone who plays casually a few hours a week your doing really well.. If you had some clear goals I would have only suggested that you put yourself under pressure with strict routines or sparing and post those, so then we could see how you really play.

I am very easily distracted when in a busy club. I usually play well on the golf club table as it is in a room on it's own and not much distracts you. (except forgetting to keep the meter full).
I think I will work on doing some practice around the black by trying to pot it as often as possible. This demands good concentration and should help me there.

One of the things I noticed, mainly on the first video, is that when I play a soft screw shot I don't really follow through much. This is fine but some days when my timing is slightly off I can miss some shots when I decelerate slightly when doing this shot type. If I happen to be using side then the white will start to swerve slightly due to being under hit and I can either miss or throw the position off a bit.

Another thing the videos have shown was that the ball I missed in each had a couple of options. I was still deciding when down on the stroke. The one on 105 I was going to run the white of the top and side cushion but changed my mind to a slight check of the cushion. Slightly rushed the shot and missed.

I never really played much competitive snooker before I gave it up other than league matches but I know from playing a lot more competitions in golf that the only way to improve is by putting yourself in a position to win. Often you lose but the more you do it the more you start to really enjoy playing well when you feel the nerves. There is no better feeling than following up a good shot by your opponent by playing a better one.

I might look to play some events next season as I think you are correct in saying that this is the best way to improve.

One thing I was fairly pleased with in the videos was my positioning during the breaks. I didn't really have to pot too many tough shots to keep the break going and seemed to work my way around the pink and black pretty well.

Thanks for all the comments from yourself and the others.

[j6uk]

Your welcome gem and well done, I watched a couple of minutes of the first video and a minute or so in the last and really, don't worry yourself, the rest is in the mind Hope to see you playing competitive in a few videos some day soon. Enjoy

[poona]

Cloth looks like you're playing on carpet. Good hitting though.

[gem]

Cloth looks like you're playing on carpet. Good hitting though.

It is pretty slow and not that easy to shift the white around if there isn't much of an angle. Pockets are tight up the rails as well so not a good combination if you have to force it.
On the plus side it is a nice table with the ball only going with the nap and no drifting at all.

I think it is an old cloth and never ironed although it is brushed often.

I am just glad to have somewhere close for a game as I need to get a couple of buses to go into Edinburgh for the league games.

[ashbash]

great stuff mate. i don't see anything wrong with your game at all just time at the table is all you really need in my opinion as for playing more competitive snooker the masters tour(Scottish over 40s amature tour) could be good thing i would like to try it myself if i can get out of my bed lol supposed to be a good bunch of lads and a good standard of players in it as well . im sure the next tournament is up the lacarno club at the end of the month. now lets see one of these brakes in the league before the end of season. also mind stick some money in the lecky meter before you start next time lol

[gem]

great stuff mate. i don't see anything wrong with your game at all just time at the table is all you really need in my opinion as for playing more competitive snooker the masters tour(Scottish over 40s amature tour) could be good thing i would like to try it myself if i can get out of my bed lol supposed to be a good bunch of lads and a good standard of players in it as well . im sure the next tournament is up the lacarno club at the end of the month. now lets see one of these brakes in the league before the end of season. also mind stick some money in the lecky meter before you start next time lol

Cheers Martin.
The Masters events might be worth a try. Early starts though, not good on a Sunday morning!

I just find it tough to get enough time to play, usually only 3-5 hrs a week all in unless I get through for an early game. Can't manage that if we are playing a league match though.

[j6uk]

Your over 40 gem?! I was thinking late 20s
Very high standard..