This is just for Les Edwards

[lesedwards]

Haven't heard any updates from your lately Les. What's going on?

Played in Our Open Provincial Championship with Round Robins which started Thursday into Friday. We had 21 guys 3 groups of 5 and 1 with 6. I was in the group with 6 and needed to win two matches but only won one. Had a good chance in most of my matches but I get half way thru the game and fall a part. I still know my biggest problem is missing an easy pot and leaving my opponent in the balls this happens when I put doubt in my head which also happens part way through each game. This weekend coming up is our Amature Championship.

[j6uk]

Played in Our Open Provincial Championship with Round Robins which started Thursday into Friday. We had 21 guys 3 groups of 5 and 1 with 6. I was in the group with 6 and needed to win two matches but only won one. Had a good chance in most of my matches but I get half way thru the game and fall a part. I still know my biggest problem is missing an easy pot and leaving my opponent in the balls this happens when I put doubt in my head which also happens part way through each game. This weekend coming up is our Amature Championship.

this happens to us all our age. remember you'll kill yourself trying to get good at this now

[alabadi]

Played in Our Open Provincial Championship with Round Robins which started Thursday into Friday. We had 21 guys 3 groups of 5 and 1 with 6. I was in the group with 6 and needed to win two matches but only won one. Had a good chance in most of my matches but I get half way thru the game and fall a part. I still know my biggest problem is missing an easy pot and leaving my opponent in the balls this happens when I put doubt in my head which also happens part way through each game. This weekend coming up is our Amature Championship.

I think you playing in a tourney is great, you are getting so much experience, I wouldn't dare enter at the current level I am at from fear of embarrassment.
just keep at it and don't get disheartened that you lose. we all learn from your mistakes, it makes will make u stronger and more determined to do better.

I have stopped bothering or worrying now when I lose and this in a way is part of my development/improvement, I use to get so wound up when I lose a frame I then lose the next 2-3 frames it took this long for me to calm down and start playing my own game.

now I just put it down as one of those things, I can't win every frame so I try and learn from the previous frame and stay positive for the remainder of the match. which helps because I am winning more than I lose now.

[lesedwards]

this happens to us all our age. remember you'll kill yourself trying to get good at this now

Thanks for the vote of confidence...LOL I am determined to play this game at a very good level. I was told yesterday that you have to want to win be hungry for a win. I think my trouble is I treat our qualifiers like a friendly game instead of tournament. When I first started playing in our qualifiers I thought it was great I knew I had a game once a month. We will see what happens this weekend.

[itsnoteasy]

Take the positives Les, you won a match ,and you are getting the chances,I bet you would have grabbed that a few months ago, you also seem to have found a bit of self analysis ,so you have given yourself something to work on.

[lesedwards]

Take the positives Les, you won a match ,and you are getting the chances,I bet you would have grabbed that a few months ago, you also seem to have found a bit of self analysis ,so you have given yourself something to work on.

You are defiantly right. My first match first game I was up 19 with only colours left. I played a great Snooker behind the Briwn and left him dead on the yellow so he took a full swing at the cue ball which went about 5 cushions and hit the yellow and left me tight to the pink with no shot. I tried 6 times 24 points later and down 5 he ran yellow, Green, Brown & Blue this really took the wind out of my sail then the second game went down to the black ball which he banked to the top end for a safety and it went in the corner pocket and the rest was history.

[itsnoteasy]

You are defiantly right. My first match first game I was up 19 with only colours left. I played a great Snooker behind the Briwn and left him dead on the yellow so he took a full swing at the cue ball which went about 5 cushions and hit the yellow and left me tight to the pink with no shot. I tried 6 times 24 points later and down 5 he ran yellow, Green, Brown & Blue this really took the wind out of my sail then the second game went down to the black ball which he banked to the top end for a safety and it went in the corner pocket and the rest was history.

Now that's unlucky, sometimes you don't get what you deserve.

[lesedwards]

Now that's unlucky, sometimes you don't get what you deserve.

You got that right. This weekend is going to be different. I am not taking on a shot unless I am 75% sure I will make it and if I have an easy shot but do not fill comfortable with again I will play safe. My safety play on the average I would say is very good but I use it very seldom which in turn leaves my opponent in the balls laughing at me. This game is a waiting game, waiting for your opponent to screw up. I am finished being the screw up. I am going to take charge of the table this weekend.

[jrc750]

... left me tight to the pink with no shot. I tried 6 times 24 points later ...

Sounds like the ref was being too harsh, or maybe you shouldn't be playing the miss rule at your level ???

[lesedwards]

Sounds like the ref was being too harsh, or maybe you shouldn't be playing the miss rule at your level ???

No Ref and it was a straight bank from the pink across the table to the yellow on side cushion beside the blue. I was cueing directly over the pink and was very hard not to get a touch if side on the cue ball and it kept missing on one side or the other. Not too mention dead wood rail tables that the ball seemed to come off different each time.

[j6uk]

Thanks for the vote of confidence...LOL I am determined to play this game at a very good level. I was told yesterday that you have to want to win be hungry for a win. I think my trouble is I treat our qualifiers like a friendly game instead of tournament. When I first started playing in our qualifiers I thought it was great I knew I had a game once a month. We will see what happens this weekend.

i feel your pain les.. off the cuff i would say try changing your diet and/or sticking your finger in a different hole

[lesedwards]

i feel your pain les.. off the cuff i would say try changing your diet and/or sticking your finger in a different hole

Hi guys yesterday was my final tournament our Amature Provincial Championship. Once again out in 4 games straight. My safety game was very good in fact I would say it was grear. In turn my opponent left me in the balls more times then I can count. My high run for the match was 11. Just sad for all the practice I put in. It has become very frustrating and now I am left thinking where do I go from here. 16 matches this season 1 win, 60 games 6 wins. Any suggestions for routines? No smart comments, I not up for bull s?;:t.

[Terry Davidson]

Les:

I still think you have some technique problems and in a match and under pressure these become worse. The only thing I can suggest is for you to set up your video camera at the top end of the table and have it so it will see you no matter where you are at the table. Then record about 3 normal frames right from the break to the last black and then either download that to a DVD and get it to me or else upload it to youtube or similar and send me the link.

As a favour to you I will review the video free of charge and let you know what I see. It's VERY important you play these frames as if you were playing a match against yourself, playing safe. What I need to see is WHY you are going astray so actually the pots you miss will be more important than the shots you make. If you can get an opponent and play an actual match is even better but then make it a best of 5 or 7 so I get to see you a good amount of time.

You also might derive some benefit from the 3hr video session you were talking to Nic Barrow about. He might be able to see something basic which the rest of us have missed however Nic is going to be very busy as I believe he is in negotiations to move overseas to coach a country somewhere and organizing that will take up a lot of his time.

Terry

[lesedwards]

Thanks Terry, I actually have a video if the match I played against Barry in London if that is any good? Floyd came down to watch my match yesterday and his comment was it did not look like I was there to have fun and enjoy the match. He could not stay for the whole match so he called me last night I think he thought I was thinking about commuting suicide...LOL I told him this is not fun anymore. Until I can learn to run 20's & 30's and the odd 40 I am finished with the qualifiers I am just beating myself up.

[itsnoteasy]

It's a tough game Les, that's for sure, I'm sorry it's all getting to you and believe me I know how you feel, sometimes no matter how hard you try it just doesn't come that day. I don't have any answers for you, I think it's all been said, and it's just applying it now. Maybe now you will realise you have to conform to the basics and you can't invent your own way, if you know what I mean, if it were me I would watch snooker pro tips right from the start (as it's free and on tap any time you want it)and do exactly what he says ,to do with stance and grip and contact points and cueing etc, and just practice it,you are lucky ,you could hook the computer up to the big TV, and watch and copy him on your table as you go along, got to be the next best thing to having a coach with you. I don't know what else there is to do, chin up though, and best of luck.