playing the screw shot

[nrage]

Right okay, now what does the Master Coach say about why a short back-swing would involve shoulder movement?

More or less the same thing I reckon .. lets see.

You're "new" around here but I've been listening to Terry for years now, and had coaching with him.

[j6uk]

I reckon I maybe ignored
I don't feel new, this coaching area on tsf is starting to take its toll..

More or less the same thing I reckon .. lets see.

You're "new" around here but I've been listening to Terry for years now, and had coaching with him.

[ace man]

Every player who has played a bit knows that this jabbing, jumping up, tensing up muscles business is a big no-no...on any shot, not just the screw shot. We have all seen pro players. However, players still do it, especially on big shots. Why? Would it not be easier to simply be relaxed, free flowing and without excessive movement on the shot like the pro players?

Well, I'm afraid it is not that easy. It is most likely human instinct to get anxious and tensed up before a big shot, at least to some degree. Many players who try to play in a more relaxed manner (grip, shoulder...etc) for the first time get shocked by the amount of cueing errors, unwanted side, wobbling...etc. Instead of continuing with it, they quickly revert back to their old tensed up adrenalin bomb cue actions.

[nrage]

Many players who try to play in a more relaxed manner (grip, shoulder...etc) for the first time get shocked by the amount of cueing errors, unwanted side, wobbling...etc. Instead of continuing with it, they quickly revert back to their old tensed up adrenalin bomb cue actions.

I know you know this already..

The problem is the term "relaxed" and what that means to people. Also the term "grip" and what that means. "Grip" is a bad term because it implies tension or some sort of active pressure from the hand onto the cue, so lets use the term "hold" instead. "Hold" implies the cue is in the hand but does not imply that the hand is applying active pressure on the cue.

If you hold the cue correctly, it will be stable and not wobble around in the hand. If you relax the hand too much it will fall out. So, don't relax, instead hold the cue with only as much pressure as you need to keep it stable. On the stroke, continue to hold the cue with the same amount of pressure, no more, no less.

The same goes for the shoulder, don't relax it, just hold it in the desired position and keep it there for the stroke. It's easier to keep something stationary if you decrease tension to the minimum amount required, this is self evident - just hold your hand out in front of you and try to keep it still, now tense all the muscles in your arm and see how still it stays..

I think everyone should do the exercise Nic had a student do in one of his recent videos. He asked the student to decrease the pressure of his hand by 5% for each shot, playing shots with power ~8+ until the cue finally flew out of his hand on the stroke. The student was surprised to find out how little pressure was required to keep the cue in the hand.

Once you find the pressure required, practice playing strokes with that pressure throughout the stroke. It's as simple as that.

[nrage]

I reckon I maybe ignored
I don't feel new, this coaching area on tsf is starting to take its toll..

You just need to relax and remember that if someone disagrees with you they're disagreeing with an opinion and not you personally. Too many people take criticism of an idea or opinion as criticism of themselves, they get worked up and angry and lash out at the other person or people and the discussion devolves into school yard name calling. It's hard not to react to that, but it's easier if you're less invested in your own ideas and don't use those as a basis of your own self worth - because they're really not.

[humperdingle]

I know you know this already..

The problem is the term "relaxed" and what that means to people. Also the term "grip" and what that means. "Grip" is a bad term because it implies tension or some sort of active pressure from the hand onto the cue, so lets use the term "hold" instead. "Hold" implies the cue is in the hand but does not imply that the hand is applying active pressure on the cue.

If you hold the cue correctly, it will be stable and not wobble around in the hand. If you relax the hand too much it will fall out. So, don't relax, instead hold the cue with only as much pressure as you need to keep it stable. On the stroke, continue to hold the cue with the same amount of pressure, no more, no less.

The same goes for the shoulder, don't relax it, just hold it in the desired position and keep it there for the stroke. It's easier to keep something stationary if you decrease tension to the minimum amount required, this is self evident - just hold your hand out in front of you and try to keep it still, now tense all the muscles in your arm and see how still it stays..

I think everyone should do the exercise Nic had a student do in one of his recent videos. He asked the student to decrease the pressure of his hand by 5% for each shot, playing shots with power ~8+ until the cue finally flew out of his hand on the stroke. The student was surprised to find out how little pressure was required to keep the cue in the hand.

Once you find the pressure required, practice playing strokes with that pressure throughout the stroke. It's as simple as that.

You just need to relax and remember that if someone disagrees with you they're disagreeing with an opinion and not you personally. Too many people take criticism of an idea or opinion as criticism of themselves, they get worked up and angry and lash out at the other person or people and the discussion devolves into school yard name calling. It's hard not to react to that, but it's easier if you're less invested in your own ideas and don't use those as a basis of your own self worth - because they're really not.

Both great bits of advice!

I've just recently started playing again after a long absence, and it's amazing how quickly - despite having watched lots of coaching videos, all telling much the same thing - one can go back to 'old habits', just because the new way doesn't work straight away.

Sometimes it's a lot to learn for an old dog But i'm determined to do things 'properly', so it becomes a natural part of my game.

The frustration factor is really important, as you suggest. It simply cannot help to be angry after every miss.

[nrage]

Both great bits of advice!

Thanks for saying so. You can actually click the star at the bottom of the post(s) if you want to improve my rep, tho it seems that no-one really uses this system on these forums

I've just recently started playing again after a long absence, and it's amazing how quickly - despite having watched lots of coaching videos, all telling much the same thing - one can go back to 'old habits', just because the new way doesn't work straight away.

Sometimes it's a lot to learn for an old dog But i'm determined to do things 'properly', so it becomes a natural part of my game.

The frustration factor is really important, as you suggest. It simply cannot help to be angry after every miss.

It's hard work improving and you do have to be a little detached sometimes so as to accurately observe what you're doing. Getting too invested in any given shot, break, frame or match can get you all worked up and ruin the positive and clear state of mind you really need to play good snooker.

So, you have to practice a bit of the old "Accept the things you cannot change..". Once a shot is done, it's done, you cannot go back. Learn from it and take the next chance as/when it comes.

[j6uk]

I haven't offered an opinion only a question

You just need to relax and remember that if someone disagrees with you they're disagreeing with an opinion and not you personally. Too many people take criticism of an idea or opinion as criticism of themselves, they get worked up and angry and lash out at the other person or people and the discussion devolves into school yard name calling. It's hard not to react to that, but it's easier if you're less invested in your own ideas and don't use those as a basis of your own self worth - because they're really not.

[j6uk]

I'm 43 with a growing family so I am quite cool about my time here don't worry

You just need to relax and remember that if someone disagrees with you they're disagreeing with an opinion and not you personally. Too many people take criticism of an idea or opinion as criticism of themselves, they get worked up and angry and lash out at the other person or people and the discussion devolves into school yard name calling. It's hard not to react to that, but it's easier if you're less invested in your own ideas and don't use those as a basis of your own self worth - because they're really not.

[nrage]

I haven't offered an opinion only a question

T'Was a general statement, not a specific reply

I'm 43 with a growing family so I am quite cool about my time here don't worry

Good to hear.

I was generally replying to your comment..

I don't feel new, this coaching area on tsf is starting to take its toll..

implying, to me, that posting here was wearing you out, and we don't want that.

Not with you there

Have my edits ^ helped?

[humperdingle]

You just need to relax and remember that if someone disagrees with you they're disagreeing with an opinion and not you personally. Too many people take criticism of an idea or opinion as criticism of themselves, they get worked up and angry and lash out at the other person or people and the discussion devolves into school yard name calling. It's hard not to react to that, but it's easier if you're less invested in your own ideas and don't use those as a basis of your own self worth - because they're really not.

Ah sorry, didn't read this right - Didn't realise it was about the forum lol... Still valid when playing snooker

My playing partner and I are of the understanding that if we see the other doing something wrong 'technically', we tell each other, as sometimes only an onlooker can see such issues.

[j6uk]

Not with you there

General statement, not specific reply

[nrage]

My playing partner and I are of the understanding that if we see the other doing something wrong 'technically', we tell each other, as sometimes only an onlooker can see such issues.

That's a good system/idea. It does require that both parties are open to criticism, and take it in the manner it was meant - to help.

[cyberheater]

I think everyone should do the exercise Nic had a student do in one of his recent videos. He asked the student to decrease the pressure of his hand by 5% for each shot, playing shots with power ~8+ until the cue finally flew out of his hand on the stroke. The student was surprised to find out how little pressure was required to keep the cue in the hand.

Once you find the pressure required, practice playing strokes with that pressure throughout the stroke. It's as simple as that.

I'll try that out tonight.

[Tiger800]

Correct, contact time is approx 1/1000 sec. The only thing the cue ball cares about is where it is struck and with how much force.
The reason acceleration is good is that it is the opposite of deceleration which requires tension in the muscles, this is bad because it can pull the cue off the line of the intended path causing you to strike in the wrong spot. Same as tension in the grip will cause the tip to rise and why the loose grip gives the illusion of adding energy, it doesn't its simply more accurate by allowing the cue to travel along it's intended path.