Can't get through the lineup - tips and ideas

[itsnoteasy]

Sorry Vmax but not being able to pot two balls with position in practice isn't down to flicking your eyes off the prize, I know your trying to get one thing sorted then move on to the next and you may well be on to something but I feel you are trying to cure the patient with a sticking plaster when he really requires open heart surgery.
I don't agree with Ace Man either I think Les is worse than what he thinks, I genuinely think he plays like someone who has just picked up a cue and until he faces this ,goes to Terry and says let's start again Tel, I'm lost, and then goes and practices exactly what he's been shown, not make up his own things after five minutes, because he's not made a 147, I don't see any way forward, he has to accept there is a way to play snooker(within a range but the fundamentals are all the same) and you have to fit yourself into this the best way you can, you can't reinvent the wheel, that's round an rolly because that's the best thing for it, snooker basics are what they are because that's the best way to do it ,plain and simple.

[ace man]

No he doesn't, he misses a lot because he takes his eye off the object ball, especially when playing matches, and it's this he's working on at the moment. Those sntaches come as a result of taking his eye off the object ball, first the eyes move, then the head and body twitches as the hand follows his eyes to watch the object ball into the pocket before he's even hit the cue ball.

I know you mean well but Les will never, ever improve until he keeps his eyes on the object ball at the moment of the strike. This has to happen first before anything else is tackled. I have other ideas myself that will definately improve his game but I'm keeping them to myself until he learns to pot balls and improve his cue ball control by practising the line up,

Try the line up with colours Les but don't constantly replace balls that you miss, and if you don't get on a colour after potting a red, pot another red, but go through the line up until only the black is left and count how many times you missed and use your misses as a marker for your progress.

We all mean well, but fact of the matter is that only Les can ultimately help Les.
I agree he's punishing himself too much during practise...

[lesedwards]

No he doesn't, he misses a lot because he takes his eye off the object ball, especially when playing matches, and it's this he's working on at the moment. Those sntaches come as a result of taking his eye off the object ball, first the eyes move, then the head and body twitches as the hand follows his eyes to watch the object ball into the pocket before he's even hit the cue ball.

I know you mean well but Les will never, ever improve until he keeps his eyes on the object ball at the moment of the strike. This has to happen first before anything else is tackled. I have other ideas myself that will definately improve his game but I'm keeping them to myself until he learns to pot balls and improve his cue ball control by practising the line up,

Try the line up with colours Les but don't constantly replace balls that you miss, and if you don't get on a colour after potting a red, pot another red, but go through the line up until only the black is left and count how many times you missed and use your misses as a marker for your progress.

I like that idea Vmax, count the misses for a bookmark. The line up has always discouraged me so I really never did it very often. Even the way I did it yesterday helped because I was not actually keeping track of and kind of break. I would have to play it back and count I missed to see if I had any high break of more then 16. Back at it later today.

[vmax4steve]

Sorry Vmax but not being able to pot two balls with position in practice isn't down to flicking your eyes off the prize, I know your trying to get one thing sorted then move on to the next and you may well be on to something but I feel you are trying to cure the patient with a sticking plaster when he really requires open heart surgery.
I don't agree with Ace Man either I think Les is worse than what he thinks, I genuinely think he plays like someone who has just picked up a cue and until he faces this ,goes to Terry and says let's start again Tel, I'm lost, and then goes and practices exactly what he's been shown, not make up his own things after five minutes, because he's not made a 147, I don't see any way forward, he has to accept there is a way to play snooker(within a range but the fundamentals are all the same) and you have to fit yourself into this the best way you can, you can't reinvent the wheel, that's round an rolly because that's the best thing for it, snooker basics are what they are because that's the best way to do it ,plain and simple.

Les is severely hamstrung by his right arm and will never be able to play classic snooker as taught by Terry's coaching manual. He has to find his own way and the first thing he needs to do is simply let the natural human hand and eye co-ordination lead him forward.
That's why I posted that Steve Mizerak video to show what can be done by someone who doesn't have a classic snooker stance but can still pot very well. There is something about Mizeraks stance that Les can learn from but for now I'm keeping that to myself until, that is if, Les continues to improve.

Open heart surgery starts with the first cut and the first cut is to find the contact point on the object ball before the stance is taken and keep your eye on it at the moment of the strike.
The difference between the two videos Les has recently posted is vast and is something he can hold onto. It will do him no good at all to go back to having twenty things in his mind when at the moment he only needs one.

[thelongbomber]

Les is severely hamstrung by his right arm and will never be able to play classic snooker as taught by Terry's coaching manual. He has to find his own way and the first thing he needs to do is simply let the natural human hand and eye co-ordination lead him forward.
That's why I posted that Steve Mizerak video to show what can be done by someone who doesn't have a classic snooker stance but can still pot very well. There is something about Mizeraks stance that Les can learn from but for now I'm keeping that to myself until, that is if, Les continues to improve.

Open heart surgery starts with the first cut and the first cut is to find the contact point on the object ball before the stance is taken and keep your eye on it at the moment of the strike.
The difference between the two videos Les has recently posted is vast and is something he can hold onto. It will do him no good at all to go back to having twenty things in his mind when at the moment he only needs one.

Well spoken vmax. Les has shown real improvement.

[lesedwards]

Well spoken vmax. Les has shown real improvement.

Thanks, as I look back on the video I can see the short jab in my stroke, looks a little odd but I think it will straighten itself out as I get more comfortable with potting balls. Yes my arm really causes problem in this game. Something I have had to live with since I was 4. There are many shots where the palm of my of my right hand is no where near the table, balancing the bridge in mid air for the simple reason my arm and wrist will not bend, so at times in fact most of the time I look totally unorthodox at the table. This is nothing new you should see me at address when I am golfing....LOL I look like a beginner also and usually not till I play a couple holes that my opponent realizes this guy can really play. Even at 50 I can still move the ball out about 290 off the tee, hit 8 iron from 150 and have a great short game. Another game where if you have hand eye coordination and feel you can do it. Look at Calvin Pete if you guys can remember back that far. He had the same problem but with his left arm. Check the link and go to 3:00
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=df2xAVE6tAg

Nic Libbit who played for the Detroit Red Wings with my Uncle Roy Edwards. Another great sportsmen with a fused arm.

[thelongbomber]

147 in the lineup with a 4-6-5 configuration (of the reds below black/pink/blue respectively).

[itsnoteasy]

Les is severely hamstrung by his right arm and will never be able to play classic snooker as taught by Terry's coaching manual. He has to find his own way and the first thing he needs to do is simply let the natural human hand and eye co-ordination lead him forward.
That's why I posted that Steve Mizerak video to show what can be done by someone who doesn't have a classic snooker stance but can still pot very well. There is something about Mizeraks stance that Les can learn from but for now I'm keeping that to myself until, that is if, Les continues to improve.

Open heart surgery starts with the first cut and the first cut is to find the contact point on the object ball before the stance is taken and keep your eye on it at the moment of the strike.
The difference between the two videos Les has recently posted is vast and is something he can hold onto. It will do him no good at all to go back to having twenty things in his mind when at the moment he only needs one.

Yes agreed on most things there, I really don't want to come across as putting Les down, but I see nothing different in the two videos all the major flaws in his cue action are still there,there is nothing natural to it, it's too short, it's too quick on the way back ,there is no back pause it just explodes on the way forward, ( no gradual acceleration)his grip doesn't open , he dips the tip and pulls the butt up on screw shots( hence the chipped white) he drops his shoulder and his elbow on follow throughs see sawing the cue, there is head and body movement, chin isn't on the cue, although his chest is which is a big improvement, his cue is not on a level plane it's too steep so he's striking down on the white even on follow through shots,( possibly because the grip doesn't open)If I can spot these flaws god knows what a coach can see, all I'm saying is how will he learn to pot balls with technique like this, that's why I said go right back to the start, but I did forget about his arm and it must be a hinderamce and when I read what Les had to say about his bridging I understood a bit better as I originally didn't think it affected him that badly so sorry about that Les, bit I still think he has to go back to go forward but I do understand what you are trying to do with him and I wish yous both all the best! I just don't agree with it, but I will leave it at that I have said my bit and it's genuinely how I see the situation, it's not been said through malice. P.s. That's impressive numbers on the golf though Les, one day I will put up a film of me swinging a golf club and you can let rip on me lol, because believe me it ain't a pretty sight.

[sealer]

But the basics are not what you think.

Yes agreed on most things there, I really don't want to come across as putting Les down, but I see nothing different in the two videos all the major flaws in his cue action are still there,there is nothing natural to it, it's too short, it's too quick on the way back ,there is no back pause it just explodes on the way forward, ( no gradual acceleration)his grip doesn't open , he dips the tip and pulls the butt up on screw shots( hence the chipped white) he drops his shoulder and his elbow on follow throughs see sawing the cue, there is head and body movement, chin isn't on the cue, although his chest is which is a big improvement, his cue is not on a level plane it's too steep so he's striking down on the white even on follow through shots,( possibly because the grip doesn't open)If I can spot these flaws god knows what a coach can see, all I'm saying is how will he learn to pot balls with technique like this, that's why I said go right back to the start, but I did forget about his arm and it must be a hinderamce and when I read what Les had to say about his bridging I understood a bit better as I originally didn't think it affected him that badly so sorry about that Les, bit I still think he has to go back to go forward but I do understand what you are trying to do with him and I wish yous both all the best! I just don't agree with it, but I will leave it at that I have said my bit and it's genuinely how I see the situation, it's not been said through malice. P.s. That's impressive numbers on the golf though Les, one day I will put up a film of me swinging a golf club and you can let rip on me lol, because believe me it ain't a pretty sight.

[itsnoteasy]

I know they are not the basics but if he went back to them it would solve a lot if not all of the faults.

[sealer]

Cannot agree with you.

I know they are not the basics but if he went back to them it would solve a lot if not all of the faults.

[itsnoteasy]

What will help Les then ? Carrying on the way he's going? After all the coaching and hours on the table he himself says he's worse than when he first started.

[sealer]

Vmax is on the money here. I know because I have checked.

The objective is to hit white for it to hit object at a certain spot. Forget the pockets, this spot is the answer.

You are right in saying that greater consistency in sending white straight is desirable, however it is not the goal.

First. Change your ways so you line up, get down and strike looking where you should and off you go. Every one knows the feeling of not remembering where one looked when missing. Get rid of that.

Second stillness on shot.

Third sweetness of the stroke.

Cheers.

What will help Les then ? Carrying on the way he's going? After all the coaching and hours on the table he himself says he's worse than when he first started.

[itsnoteasy]

Vmax is on the money here. I know because I have checked.

The objective is to hit white for it to hit object at a certain spot. Forget the pockets, this spot is the answer.

You are right in saying that greater consistency in sending white straight is desirable, however it is not the goal.

First. Change your ways so you line up, get down and strike looking where you should and off you go. Every one knows the feeling of not remembering where one looked when missing. Get rid of that.

Second stillness on shot.

Third sweetness of the stroke.

Cheers.

Totally agree with the second sentence which starts ,The objective........
Third sentence ? Sending the white in a straight line isn't the goal, how do you hit where you are looking without being able to send the white in a straight line ?
Then change your line up ways, I take it this is stance, walk in ,head drop, cue online, the basics ?
Stillness on the shot ,again totally agree, I said he had head movement, again one of the basics is to stay still.
Third sweetness of the stroke, how do you achieve this? Jabby jab jab, or smoothly smooth smooth? Slow back swing and nice smooth long follow through or fast backswing no pause and an explosive follow through, closed tight grip or open the hand keeping the cue level and letting the cue do the work. To me these are the basics, could be wrong but that's what I call them, but Vmax is right(he usually is, he knows his stuff) all of the above is pointless if your eyes wander, on the flip side though you could have great lock on but you will miss if you don't do the rest of the basics as well, they go hand in hand, and really at the end of all this that is all I have been trying to say, these things must be done altogether.

[lesedwards]

I had no idea a video could cause such a controversy.... wait till you see my next video. I have taken everything you guys have said and I totally agree. I look at my back swing and I guess you could call it my down swing...I am so fast you can hardly see it. Reminds me of the guy on the driving range with a driver in his hand back real quick and then take a wicked lash at it and wonders why it goes all over the place and no distance. All in keeping good tempo. new video comming stay tune.