I would appreciate some feedback on my cueing please

[iNko]

I have been reading the forums for a around a week picking up tips and advice from other posts.

I'm 32 and have not played snooker for quite a few years although I played pool socially.

I recently played snooker again about 1 month ago and am incredibly rusty but have been putting in some hours over the last 4 weeks. Anyway I'm totally hooked and am trying to improve my game. I will look to get some snooker lessons in the near future hopefully when I come back to the UK later this year, I have been out in Abu Dhabi for the past 4 years.

I am still quite inexperienced at potting but have been trying to improve. My highest break so far in a game is 22. I have been practicing my positioning by potting the black off the spot (max 4 blacks so far) and also the red line up (max so far 3 reds, 3 blacks). While practicing I have cleared the colours until the Black but can't yet do this consistently.

I know there are some great players on here and would really appreciate if you could give me some constructive feedback on my cueing action. I apologise for the weird camera angles, I was a bit Billy no mates with my camera phone today

http://youtu.be/Vts2115N0Gs

[Blanchon147]

First thing to work on is your bridge hand. The base of your bridge hand is slightly raised off the table.
So place your hand flat on the table, spread your fingers, raise your knuckles keeping the base of your hand on the table and bring your thumb up to your index finger.
Having a solid bridge will mean you are more likely to hit the part of the cue ball you desire.

[j6uk]

A lot of upper body tension going on there. You seem off balance, your bridge hand being flatter on the table would help. After that a gentle four point contact, smooth cue action, hit from the elbow and get some coaching enjoy

[iNko]

Thanks for the feedback. Will definitely work on those points.

I think ultimately I will try and get a few hours coaching session to ensure I have the basics right.

[nrage]

Some things I saw.

1. There is a little movement on the shot, a little bit of bobbing up and down with feathering and a slight judder on the shot itself. Practice a relaxed motionlessness on the shot, don't force it but be aware of any movement and try to reduce it.

2. The grip hand is nice and loose for most of the delivery, it does appear to (IMO) a bit tight on completion of the shot. You really don't need to grip it very hard at all even at completion. Try a few shots where you consciously avoid tightening the hand.

3. The elbow drops down and away from the body, this could send the tip of the cue to the left. Do you find you miss pots to the right of the pocket more often than the left? It could be that this movement happens too soon in the delivery and causes this. It may be you're dropping late enough that it doesn't matter, but it's just better if you can drop the elbow directly down all the time. The key here is that the drop must happen after you strike the white or you can have problems.

4. As said above your bridge may be slightly high - this will mean a slightly steeper angle on the cue itself. The steeper the angle the more chance you'll strike with a bit of side by accident. Yours didn't look too bad, it's only very slightly angled. So, you get it lower/flatter but I wouldn't be too worried at this stage.

5. Your shot speed is perhaps a little fast. Compare yourself to the pros, sit watching a frame and hold your cue and pretend to feather along with a pro and you'll see what I mean. You're not ridiculously fast or anything but a little less speed might give you a little more control. If you find adjusting the speed ruins your "timing" then ignore this advice

IMO, the big things to work on at a 20-30 break stage are potting and basic positioning. Basically get as much time on the table as you can and just pot balls till you can feel the angles and have confidence in your ability to pot them. At the same time, try to play for some basic positions using varied power, top spin and stun. (more on screw below)

For example line up 9 or so reds from black spot to blue spot and try to pot them all, as you clear balls you will have to make basic position on the fewer and fewer balls. This is easier than playing for colours where the position is harder to achieve. In this case position sometimes just means not leaving the white on the cushion or in the middle of the table, so the target area is nice and large. As you clear more balls it gets smaller and as you get better at this start adding black, pink and blue and play for colours as well.

Another variation is to play with black and pink and 3-4 balls and concentrate on/around the black spot.

Screw back is also important for position but depending on your ability and control of it, it may be worth a specific practice routine of it's own. You want to set up a nice easy pot and concentrate on getting the power and control and consistency of screw back required to make it useful as a positional technique. It's no good only being able to screw back if you play with power, because not all situations will need that exact shot.

Basically you're trying to expand your selection of shots you can play with consistency, so as you play matches with mates and get into different situations if you find yourself with a shot that you're not confident or comfortable with, note it down and spend 5-10 minutes practicing it next time you get a chance.

Best of luck!

[iNko]

Nrage,

Thanks for the concise points you've mentioned, I will definitely work on those when I'm next at the table.

One last thing if I am right handed I should set up with my right leg which remains straight pointing down the line of aim, is this correct?

[nrage]

Nrage,

Thanks for the concise points you've mentioned, I will definitely work on those when I'm next at the table.

One last thing if I am right handed I should set up with my right leg which remains straight pointing down the line of aim, is this correct?

That's the orthodox stance of the modern game. It is thought that having the right foot on the line of aim, with the grip hand directly above the laces on the shoe is beneficial.

The right leg should be straight (no bend in the knee) but the angle from foot to hip is not straight up/down. The hip shifts left to get out of the way of the grip hand - you'll be doing all this automatically/already.

I find I have to turn my foot so the toes point outside the line of aim to be comfortable, to get my hip out of the way, and to allow me to turn my upper body so that the cue runs in the right place for me - I seem to naturally sight with the cue slightly to the left of my nose. Turning the foot out is ok, provided some part of the foot (the laces) stay under the hand - or so they say

[lennon11]

Cueing is quite steep,I would say get yr body more down on the shot,easiest way to do this from yr stance would be to move yr left foot slightly more out/to the left,will help cue more level and be easier to sight.

[iNko]

Thanks again for the advice and pointers.

I decided to have a couple of hours coaching which I booked with John Woods at the Hurricane room in London. He was very good and helped me to get a better understanding of where I was going wrong, which is pretty much what you all said. It really helped to have someone show me the correct way and I definitely had a few eureka moments and feel a lot more comfortable in the basics.

I now just need to practice and drill out my bad habits but at least I'm on the correct path.

[j6uk]

I played John to qualify for the English Amateurs a few years back.. If its the same lad he's not a bad player, you'll always get good tips off players who are knocking in regularly 70+

[john woods]

Good coaching session you took everything on board and im sure you will improve a lot!

[john woods]

hi j6uk who is this? hope you didnt beat me too badly!!

[j6uk]

4-1 Woking, scrappy and tense

[john woods]

scrappy and tense doesn't narrow it down. i've had too many of those! ha ha! must be quite a long time ago! cant even remember the last time i played at woking! sounds like you played a lot better than me though!