Shot making in practice vs. Shot making in a match

[Byrom]

Absolutely - For a beginner -if you don't mind me calling you that Les - seeing a snooker coach or just getting help off a good player is a like taking a short cut to practising the right things and it can save you plenty of time and stop you from developing bad habits if you see them at the start and see them often enough - I think he gave you some great advice and quite a lot to work on - You do have to keep it up now with your practice and pop back and see him quite regular at the start and don't try and get him to move on and show you more and more stuff all the time until perhaps HE thinks you have completely mastered the things he is telling you. - Later on maybe once you get better it will become like an MOT on your car when things go astray.

All depends what a person wants out the game I think - be interesting to see how you get on.

[j6uk]

Yes, it needs to be crystal! A long and short term plan so as, to max the trajectory of improvement. There are no shortcuts unfortunately, many people play this game and call themselves snooker players but, the reality is, very good players are a breed apart.

All depends what a person wants out the game I think - be interesting to see how you get on.

[lesedwards]

Sounds like Terry has given you a lot of things to work on there Les.

Just remember, it will take time. But as long as you practice the things Terry has shown you, you will see steady improvement in your game. Good luck. Look forward to hearing about your progress.

Well I played in our Qualifier today and it was a complete disaster loosing 4 to 1 and the only game I won was do to my opponent snookering himself in the pack and missed the blue 5 times, I guess I could have kept telling him to take it back but there has to be some sports man like at some point so after 5 I told him I would go a head. Terry did see me make a few shots and said I was jabbing at it like I was afraid to hit it. i find me doing this evertime I go to these qualifiers. I would say my nerves are taking over which causes me to jab at it and I am also probably tightening my grip. Thats the first two problems and the next is a major one, I freeze when there is a few reds in the open and I am lucky if I run more then 2 balls. I just do not see the shots and before I know it I am totaly out of shape and runing for saftey. My high break is 43 but that was with runing a couple blacks and the colours. 31 is my high runing reds and colours. I keep searching for some majic routine that will teach me position but nothing works. I have been up to Terry's where he has helped me through a few shots and I am fine, its like I need a caddy....LOL maybe I need to start doing the line up which I never do. I know one thing you learn to play better by playing with players that are better then yourself but I live out in the country and there are no snooker players out here...LOL. Maybe a few shots of whisky before before each qualifier.

[tedisbill]

First of all, it's sounds like you're a little frustrated with your game, but it's only been days since your coaching with Terry. It's going to take time. Although Terry has pointed out the things wrong in your game, it will be a while before the correct things become normal.

Secondly, what I tell myself when I'm under pressure, is I still must do all the things I know to be correct. So, walk into the shot, nice and smooth etc. I'd rather miss having done everything correctly, than miss and think "I rushed, I jabbed". So for now, on each shot, just say "I don't care if I miss, or lose, but I need to do these certain things correctly on each shot".

And finally. Set yourself up a routine with some reds in the open. Maybe film in with a camera. Then, try a few shots, if you get one wrong, put the white back, and see if there's a better shot you could have played. Also, because you've filmed it, watch it back from a different angle. Have a look to see if you can see any better shots when you watch yourself back. You could even try and set the camera up so it's similar to the way you see it on the TV.

Don't expect results too quickly though. It's a long learning process. You will improve all the time, but it won't happen in days or weeks. You might look back in a few months and suddenly realise you have improved.

[lesedwards]

Thanks for the input, todays match really hurt. I said to Terry I felt good going into today and everything that could go wrong did. I logged over 30 hours on my table practicing this week.

[mythman69]

Don't expect results too quickly though. It's a long learning process. You will improve all the time, but it won't happen in days or weeks. You might look back in a few months and suddenly realise you have improved.

I agree with this comment. It takes some serious practice time on the table (months) to see real improvement. Keep at it and you will get better.

[lesedwards]

Yes thats what everyone keeps telling me. I put a table in my basement about a year and half ago and spend at least an hour and usually two hours a night and I really am having a tough time seeing any improvement. I guess all I can do is keep practicing.

[j6uk]

Nerves take over when your not used to play in events and, the more experienced player smells it in the air like a shark does claret in water

But in all truth, its time to get real!! I can't believe you don't do the line up, This is bread and butter. Come on fella wake up, i mean, you got your own table.......................

Well I played in our Qualifier today and it was a complete disaster loosing 4 to 1 and the only game I won was do to my opponent snookering himself in the pack and missed the blue 5 times, I guess I could have kept telling him to take it back but there has to be some sports man like at some point so after 5 I told him I would go a head. Terry did see me make a few shots and said I was jabbing at it like I was afraid to hit it. i find me doing this evertime I go to these qualifiers. I would say my nerves are taking over which causes me to jab at it and I am also probably tightening my grip. Thats the first two problems and the next is a major one, I freeze when there is a few reds in the open and I am lucky if I run more then 2 balls. I just do not see the shots and before I know it I am totaly out of shape and runing for saftey. My high break is 43 but that was with runing a couple blacks and the colours. 31 is my high runing reds and colours. I keep searching for some majic routine that will teach me position but nothing works. I have been up to Terry's where he has helped me through a few shots and I am fine, its like I need a caddy....LOL maybe I need to start doing the line up which I never do. I know one thing you learn to play better by playing with players that are better then yourself but I live out in the country and there are no snooker players out here...LOL. Maybe a few shots of whisky before before each qualifier.

[lesedwards]

Nerves take over when your not used to play in events and, the more experienced player smells it in the air like a shark does claret in water

But in all truth, its time to get real!! I can't believe you don't do the line up, This is bread and butter. Come on fella wake up, i mean, you got your own table.......................

Yes your right, Terry sent me a long email this morning in regards to the line up and other things like shot selection before I get down over my shot. When I think back to my match yesterday I cannot remember once when I was in the balls planing out where I was going to leave the cue ball, how hard I was going to hit it or where I was going to hit it. That I think is where the jabbing
/ tentative stroke comes from because i really have know idea where I want the cue ball to end up. My safety play was pretty good
because I did plan out each shot. Time to get serious with the line up. The main reason for no line up drill is anything from the black and below does not go unless it is exact and if you use any power at all forget it. Terry found this out when he was down. The pockets are cut all wrong with no under cut. I am having new rubber installed Tuesday and I have the IBSF templates here to make them perfect. This is also not good for my confidence. I am watching the International right now and I see shots to the corner going that would not have a chance of going on my table.

[j6uk]

No excuse. If the balls fit, crackon. :snooker:
You can play long pots all day long and make 99% of them but, if you can't pot more than 3 balls when your in, your wasting your time.

[lesedwards]

No excuse. If the balls fit, crackon. :snooker:
You can play long pots all day long and make 99% of them but, if you can't pot more than 3 balls when your in, your wasting your time.

I agree, I am at it right now as I type.

[j6uk]

If you really value peoples opinions on here and you would like my input then, lineup 15 reds from black and blue, film half a dozen attempts and stick it up

[lesedwards]

Yes i will do that tomorrow. I am trying the line up now and my best is 10 after 4 attempts.....LOL and I wonder why I cannot run more then two or three balls when I get in the balls....duh yet I can run the colours no problem mainly because I practice it non stop. Time to stick with the line up like I have with the colours.

[lesedwards]

35 after a half hour. Back at it later tonight.

[Terry Davidson]

Les:

Did you take my advice and place a spare spot where you want the cueball to end up and also when you miss are you re-setting the shot and playing it until you get it right?

You must train your brain and you must decide what you're going to do before you get down and you must think 2 shots ahead in order to increase the size of your breaks unless you become a player who can pot anything that will go in.

Stick with it and you have 2 weeks until the next tournament.

Terry