No consistency in my play

[ianomac]

Hi guys over the last few months iv seen my game get worse an worse,now an then i seem to play well but it could go just as fast. I could start to play well in a competition then a round later its all gone to pot (sorry about the pun lol). So im wondering what can i do to fix this never had any coaching an there not many coaches in Ireland so im at a loss there. I dont really know if im cueing rite even though i was told i cue fairly straight very fustrating as when i play well 40+ is not a prob but im struggling to get a 10 break yes bad i know. I seen that 360 training cue online never heard of it but seems interesting would it help me?. I think my stance is ok an holding cue ok but im only going by what i taught myself. I also play with a 8mm tip should i go up 2 a 9mm. Any advice would be great cause at times lately i think of packing it in even though i dont want 2 but im getting no enjoyment at the moment please help as man do i need it.

[coomsey76]

I would say you'll definitely need to increase your tip size, the trouble playing with a small is you only need a slight deviation in your cuing and you'll putting unwanted side on the cue ball which could be causing you too miss.....

Secondly, post up a video of yourself on here there's some very knowledgeable coaches on here who will point you in the right direction.....

Hope this helps mate.

[Dave Walton]

8mm is definitely too small for snooker, somewhere between 9-10mm with 9.5mm being the standard size is ideal. I would suggest you should try using a bigger tip

[sberry]

As above, 10mm tip is standard for snooker and you cannot play any shot with a smaller tip that you cannot with a 10 and a 10 will help minimise the errors that happen when you're not playing (cueing) well. When you get to a high standard and can knock in fifty plus breaks one after the other you can experiment with smaller but no need to go below 9.5, it really doesn't bring anything positive. Buy a book, go through the basics and practice and try and play with better players. Try not to worry too much about it and enjoy the game, there are no magic gimmicks, not everyone gets it.

[Removal man stevie]

Yes as above go up to a bigger tip try to slow down your game dont rush and just enjoy the game

[ianomac]

Cheers guys i might put up a short vid an see can ye see something wrong in my game. Thanks for advice guys but as iv said i cant play with 10mm tips iv tried but cant pot anything with it i dont feel comfortable using them would 9mm be good size to use.

[Terry Davidson]

ianomac:

9mm is still a bit small so try and get up to 9.3mm or 9.4mm if you can.

The only coach in Ireland I know is PJ Nolan but he is a very good coach. I'm not certain where he is located but I think it's in Eire somewhere. Also, posting a video here should help and you will get good advice from the coaches on here (I'm biased a bit as I am one of the coaches).

If you do post a video make sure the camera covers from the top of your elbow down to just in front of the cueball if you can. I use long blue shots with my students and put the camera over the top pocket for 5 and then have the camera to the grip hand side for 5 shots although sometimes you need some extra lighting for the shot from the grip side.

Terry

[Removal man stevie]

I was going to try put a video up my self eny pointers how to put one up ?

[SouthPaw]

I was going to try put a video up my self eny pointers how to put one up ?

Set up a youtube account and upload them there first then use the video link option in the reply settings on here copy and paste from the youtube video file text...

[Removal man stevie]

Set up a youtube account and upload them there first then use the video link option in the reply settings on here copy and paste from the youtube video file text...

Thanks al set up acount now

[sfmcar]

ianomac:

9mm is still a bit small so try and get up to 9.3mm or 9.4mm if you can.

The only coach in Ireland I know is PJ Nolan but he is a very good coach. I'm not certain where he is located but I think it's in Eire somewhere. Also, posting a video here should help and you will get good advice from the coaches on here (I'm biased a bit as I am one of the coaches).

If you do post a video make sure the camera covers from the top of your elbow down to just in front of the cueball if you can. I use long blue shots with my students and put the camera over the top pocket for 5 and then have the camera to the grip hand side for 5 shots although sometimes you need some extra lighting for the shot from the grip side.

Terry

PJ Nolan normally coaches in the ivy rooms in Carlow. He has a website 147 academy

[AzureFlyer]

Hi Ian,

Where in Ireland are you based? Im from Northern Ireland myself.

As for your questions on tips, I once tried to play with a 9mm tip and felt I lost a lot of control with it, I have since returned to a 9.5mm tip which I find is excellent. Handy to get a tip for aswell, just buy 10mm and trim them down.

James

[ianomac]

Hi sfmcar ya i know about PJ Nolan but as im living in Galway so its really 2 far to go for some coaching.

[ianomac]

Hi AzureFlyer im living in Galway i used to work in a snooker hall so i know about putting tips on an shaping them. My problem is i used to have a Master Cue lovely cue but tip was 9.5mm an i could not pot anything with is so i changed back 2 my 8mm cue i bough off ebay years ago an my potting improved so much more but my form gone so bad lately it driving me mad an im playing in ALL Ireland Club Championship in Killarney in 4 weeks an worried ill let team down.

[ianomac]

Hi Terry

I used to have a Master Cue really good cue but i struggled to play with is so i sold it on few weeks ago the tip was around 9.3mm to 9.5mm. I found tip way to big an had no confidence at all an could never seem to pot 3 balls in a row so i revirted back to a cue i bough off ebay wit a 8mm tip an my form improved hittin a couple 30+ an few 40s. But now i cant seen to get even 1 break over 15/20 break an its driving me mad. I really want my game to improve as im fairly competitive so im wondering is it all in my head or its it my stance an cue action thats letting me down but being consistent has always been my problem. Im not as confident on the snooker table as i am when i play football an it fustrates me no end.