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Patience, Hard Work, Progress

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  • Patience, Hard Work, Progress

    Hello everyone,

    I have been playing pretty well for more than two weeks now with a purple patch of only two days. This is indeed good progress as per my ever inconsistent standards. I was always in to technique problems or over-thinking about technique but now that i have practiced hard and got myself back in to a good solid technique cemented in to my game; I feel much relaxed and ever confident.

    Breaks of 55, 40, and countless 30 and 40 odds mean I am being consistent if nothing else. I am sure that if I can retain this form, breaks would come to me. The great thing about being in form is that everything starts to work right for you and you can do everything. whether its a drag shot for the black, or a straight long blue as a dead weight roll or a medium range stun run through for the black, or even escaping a three-four cushion snooker- I have bene having a great time indeed !

    I was over thinking and having technique related question marks but I knew once i sorted myself out i would be happier. I have noticed that when I used ot miss in the past I would curse technique deep in mind and start experimenting during the match and fall in to pieces but now if i miss I have in mind that I am a human and not even a pro so i will miss every now and then and hence keep myself relaxed.

    This is my routine these days:

    1. While in the club and before the start of a match I try to relax myself from the anxieties and stresses of the busy day by just closing my eyes and doing a very good breathing exercise. It really relaxes my tensed muscles. A simple breathe in hold it for 12 secs then breathe out full and repeat 5 times. After this I am a changed man ready and fit for snooker

    2. While standing behind the shot I grip my cue as per my latest identified configuration that works the best for me. I would greatly thank Terry for his efforts in helping me find something that suits me well. I have a small tip for myself whenever I do so. I hold my cue while standing up in a way that it allows the back of my knuckle to touch the butt and that puts my forefinger at a slight angle on the butt and the butt goes more towards the first finger pads of my last three fingers thats it ... I know all this happens but I now dont think of it cuz I know its happening... i only concentrate on holding the cue in a way that allows the back of my palm touch the butt....!

    3. While on the shot I try to keep a relaxed loose grip as it helps eliminate any kind of jerk and hence my cue action is smooth. The only thing I keep in mind while making a shot is to lock the eyes on the back of the ball (potting spot on OB) and i deliver perfectly.

    4. not really on medium range and short range pots but on long range pots i intentionally try to keep my elbow up as high as possible and my ear lobe and neck in to or as near to my bridge arm as possible... !!! This really helps and I think I might not be dropping the elbow too much as at least before the contact on the CB.

    Another thing: those who have seen my previous video would know what am I talking about here. I have a heavy chronometer Seiko watch with a steel strap that used to be pretty loose as I wore it on my grip hand wrist. Terry once asked me to loose it. I tried wearing it on my right hand but it felt like being an alien- I just could not do it. Habit problems for an OCPD anyway I went to the market and changed the strap and put on a leather strap. Now it is fixed to my wrist and yes Terry was right it helped me making my cue butt and grip hand as a singular unit

    I have noticed lately that the only real thing to me is something that i thought I always had with me and it would not be a problem but surprisingly I noticed that while on front pause i lock my eyes on ob and then the final back swing and delivery.... I do not seem to have a good little back pause anymore how can that be the case whereas I always used to have one .... Any ideas on this please...???

    I will try my best to go to the club early this weekend and do the video with the improved Sidd I promised

    Cheers mates (Jiggers) !!!
    Last edited by Sidd; 20 August 2013, 03:45 AM.
    "I am still endeavouring to meet someone funnier than my life" - Q. M. Sidd

  • #2
    Sidd:

    I've found with students and myself regarding the rear pause that it really helps if you slow the final backswing right down This way just in the past few days as I've been working on something that I now have a short and definite rear pause. However, with a very slow backswing it doesn't matter a whole lot as that rear pause is there to smooth out a rapid transition from backswing to delivery and with a very slow backswing the change is never very abrupt anyway.

    I am going to put up some videos of myself looking for suggestions on correcting a fault I have which I just picked up, well in fact 2 separate flaws which I am trying to analyse and find the root cause. The first is I'm moving my upper body about 2mm to the right (I'm right-handed) just at the time of strike which is very bad for accuracy and the other is just after the strike my tip goes to the left or in other words my grip hand moves out from my body.

    I'll be looking forward to what corrective action the members on here recommend.

    Terry
    Terry Davidson
    IBSF Master Coach & Examiner

    Comment


    • #3
      Excellent idea.. Slower back swing is always helpful in any case and if it would help the back pause it will double the benefit... ! I normally play with full back swing on almost all shots except for those dead weight rolls and slower slower shots so I have to keep it slow in any case for having a straighter back swing. I will concentrate on keeping it slower than normal and see what happens...

      But this is amazing that when you concentrate on one area and get better in that you find out something else is tuned out crazy this game isn't it ?

      But overall I am extremely happy and am enjoying my game after a long long time I have got my full swing back ... but there is one thing... i used to play well long before coming to this forum and finding about technique... then I learnt about technique and got so much in to it that I started over thinking and tinkering... This costed me 2-3 years of patience and anguish and frustration ... but I kept on. Now that I am confident of my technique ... I am back to how i used ot be except for the fact that I am a much much better player now

      Thanks for the tip Terry.. Will practice that hard but I would still like to have my 1-2 sec back pause back will work that out
      "I am still endeavouring to meet someone funnier than my life" - Q. M. Sidd

      Comment


      • #4
        Good post Sidd.

        Keep at it!!

        My favourite players: Walter Lindrum (AUS), Neil Robertson (AUS), Eddie Charlton (AUS), Robby Foldvari (AUS), Vinnie Calabrese (AUS), Jimmy White, Stephen Hendry, Alex Higgins, Ronnie O'Sullivan, Dominic Dale and Barry Hawkins.
        I dream of a 147 (but would be happy with a 100)

        Comment


        • #5
          Originally Posted by mythman69 View Post
          Good post Sidd.

          Keep at it!!

          Thanks a lot my dear... !!! Keep me encouraged mate
          "I am still endeavouring to meet someone funnier than my life" - Q. M. Sidd

          Comment


          • #6
            Still waiting for your next video Siddiqui.



            Originally Posted by Sidd View Post
            Thanks a lot my dear... !!! Keep me encouraged mate

            Comment


            • #7
              Originally Posted by j6uk View Post
              Still waiting for your next video Siddiqui.
              Coming up soon Sire! Coming up soon
              "I am still endeavouring to meet someone funnier than my life" - Q. M. Sidd

              Comment


              • #8
                Ok guys show me the hardest material so I can break my cue in to pieces on it so hard that I can fracture my hand in the process in such a way that im not able to play again. This seems to be the only explanation of my current state of mind since the last three days.

                I did not update anything cuz I thought one bad day is for everyone in this game. But right now im certain im flushed again and down the drain. This isnt fair really I mean im not good I know bit not tjat bad either.

                Just when I was sure I am playing better and felt happy and started enjoying ... this bad form sucked me in to the hole and I feel suffocated. I was talking about breaks and what not ... since the last three days I have been in a mess... cant pot anything decently... what just happened.

                All those thoughts of not being able to hold the grip correctly and stance being wrong and elbow drop crept in again and I felt tonight as if I have forgotten how to grip... I was a laughing stock. When I play proper I beat em all so when I play like this as if its my first day they all enjoy... forget them but what the hell is wrong with me. The whole night I was struggling to remember who I used to grip three days ago and what am I doing wrong??? No answer just frustration.

                I noticed today that I wasnt probably having a nice back pause as I normally do and maybe the back swing was a bit fast too but could that put so huge a difference on my form?

                No bloody idea.... is it Alzeihmers? ????? Am I forgetting everything how to grip oh its such a tough question right now .... what the hell guys what the hell ... im broken literally broken.

                P.S. I have noticed that since my form went away like this since last three days; another thing happened. I was wondering if this is linked to how im playing like an arse, well the thing is that I am having real bad pain iny bridge arm shoulder and right side of my neck (im a lefty) ... could this be linked??? The right side of mu neck at the point where it is connected to my bridge arm shoulder is stiff and im in pain real bad..
                Last edited by Sidd; 25 August 2013, 08:00 PM.
                "I am still endeavouring to meet someone funnier than my life" - Q. M. Sidd

                Comment


                • #9
                  Originally Posted by Sidd View Post
                  P.S. I have noticed that since my form went away like this since last three days; another thing happened. I was wondering if this is linked to how im playing like an arse, well the thing is that I am having real bad pain iny bridge arm shoulder and right side of my neck (im a lefty) ... could this be linked??? The right side of mu neck at the point where it is connected to my bridge arm shoulder is stiff and im in pain real bad..
                  Hi Mate,

                  I think you have things reversed here: I think that since, and because of "the thing happened" your good form went away.
                  My advice to you is to get this medically examined ASAP. I have exactly the same symptomes. It started about 4 months ago. I haven't been able to practise ever since, just played an occasional frame with friends. During the past 4 months, I played maybe 50 frames, whereas it used to be up to 120 frames and 20 hrs solo practise per month, before the injury.

                  I have had several treatments, without result, and finally underwent an MRI scan. It's is now determined that I have a hernia in the cervical spine, and I'm seeing a neurological surgeon in early September to discuss further treatment.

                  I've had this pain every once in a while for several years, but it always went away after a few days and I didn't care to have it investigated/treated. Up to the point when the pain didn't go away anymore, and possible permanent damage has occured. Stupid me!!!

                  So, please, in your own best interest: don't hesitate and have this treated as soon as possible.

                  Best regards,
                  GR.
                  Last edited by Jetmech; 25 August 2013, 10:55 PM.

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    X2 good post

                    Originally Posted by Jetmech View Post
                    Hi Mate,

                    I think you have things reversed here: I think that since, and because of "the thing happened" your good form went away.
                    My advice to you is to get this medically examined ASAP. I have exactly the same symptomes. It started about 4 months ago. I haven't been able to practise ever since, just played an occasional frame with friends. During the past 4 months, I played maybe 50 frames, whereas it used to be up to 120 frames and 20 hrs solo practise per month, before the injury.

                    I have had several treatments, without result, and finally underwent an MRI scan. It's is now determined that I have a hernia in the cervical spine, and I'm seeing a neurological surgeon in early September to discuss further treatment.

                    I've had this pain every once in a while for several years, but it always went away after a few days and I didn't care to have it investigated/treated. Up to the point when the pain didn't go away anymore, and possible permanent damage has occured. Stupid me!!!

                    So, please, in your own best interest: don't hesitate and have this treated as soon as possible.

                    Best regards,
                    GR.

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Originally Posted by Jetmech View Post
                      Hi Mate,

                      I think you have things reversed here: I think that since, and because of "the thing happened" your good form went away.
                      My advice to you is to get this medically examined ASAP. I have exactly the same symptomes. It started about 4 months ago. I haven't been able to practise ever since, just played an occasional frame with friends. During the past 4 months, I played maybe 50 frames, whereas it used to be up to 120 frames and 20 hrs solo practise per month, before the injury.

                      I have had several treatments, without result, and finally underwent an MRI scan. It's is now determined that I have a hernia in the cervical spine, and I'm seeing a neurological surgeon in early September to discuss further treatment.

                      I've had this pain every once in a while for several years, but it always went away after a few days and I didn't care to have it investigated/treated. Up to the point when the pain didn't go away anymore, and possible permanent damage has occured. Stupid me!!!

                      So, please, in your own best interest: don't hesitate and have this treated as soon as possible.

                      Best regards,
                      GR.
                      Yes I guess this may seem something not too bad to be able to ruin my whole game but then who knows it might have; I am talking about the fast backswing and no back pause here after all. I will go tonight and try to play with a slower backswing and a back pause and see if it works for me or not.

                      I dont know about the pain mate. Its more like sharp and pointed. I have had tendinitis of the bridge arm shoulder before but I self cured it with exercise and a few pain killers... This seems to be the same thing but is in the neck / shoulder joining area this time. Last time it was only the shoulder. But I shall take caution and have it examined if the need be.
                      "I am still endeavouring to meet someone funnier than my life" - Q. M. Sidd

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        OK I am back in business and back to my usual form again this time pretty soon indeed.

                        the problem was the same i.e. my eyes rhythm on OB at the time of strike wasnt proper and I had lost the flow. Apart from that what greatly helped me in doing it right were two main elements i.e.

                        1. grip wasnt correct and/or tight a bit. as soon as I relaxed it I got my flow back

                        2. Most importantly in this regard I think was: faster back swing and no back pause. When I started doing this wow everything started working well again. I slowed my back swing and introduced my usual normal back pause.

                        I have learnt another thing that with slower back swing and back pause I played some GREAT safety shots. I used to hit the OB a fraction THICKER than required ALWAYS but with slow back swing and back pause I have started hitting them INCH PERFECT and this has considerably improved my safety play now
                        "I am still endeavouring to meet someone funnier than my life" - Q. M. Sidd

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          Just goes to show how important the little tweaks can be... After all, if every pro used the 'ideal' setup, they'd all play in an identical way. As it is there is a huge variation in styles.

                          Comment


                          • #14
                            I'm new but in my opinion 'part' of the problem is that you got excited and talked up your achievements.

                            I used to do that, get so happy I did whatever and then expected it. The breaks are in frames for us mere mortals when they are there. Relax a bit, don't put pressure on yourself. If your practicing by yourself, every half hour say, yeah ok, I'll see what my pot rate out of 20 shots is. I find that when I've got what I'm trying to learn, I will be hitting around 18 or 19. But, I if I miss the first 4, well, just not the time to do it.

                            When I hit the practice table tomorrow for an hour and a bit, I'll just be thinking, "Be good if I can string 3 together." No pressure.

                            Comment


                            • #15
                              Originally Posted by SonicWave View Post
                              I'm new but in my opinion 'part' of the problem is that you got excited and talked up your achievements.

                              I used to do that, get so happy I did whatever and then expected it. The breaks are in frames for us mere mortals when they are there. Relax a bit, don't put pressure on yourself. If your practicing by yourself, every half hour say, yeah ok, I'll see what my pot rate out of 20 shots is. I find that when I've got what I'm trying to learn, I will be hitting around 18 or 19. But, I if I miss the first 4, well, just not the time to do it.

                              When I hit the practice table tomorrow for an hour and a bit, I'll just be thinking, "Be good if I can string 3 together." No pressure.
                              Good advice. Many thanks. Will take in to consideration.
                              "I am still endeavouring to meet someone funnier than my life" - Q. M. Sidd

                              Comment

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