This is just for Les Edwards

[ace man]

Want to cheer yourself up? Go to a club, rent a US pool table (there must be a few) for a while and then try line up on that equipment. It is just like 15 reds between black and blue spots, but this time use all striped and solid pool balls between foot spot and head spot on a 9ft table.
Try to clear up without any cannons.

[itsnoteasy]

Told you we would have to tune in next week lol, what a bummer, I bet you were fair looking forward to it.

[lesedwards]

Told you we would have to tune in next week lol, what a bummer, I bet you were fair looking forward to it.

Yes it really sucks.. I went up to see Terry today so he could a put new ADR tip on my Parris Cue, listen to me I might as well be aging with a hardware store special.... We played a few games and I have to say his table plays much better then mine as far as the size of his pockets. Right now it would not matter how big the pockets where my game has gone to an all time low. My high break was 11 Red, Green, Red, Pink. How exciting..... Terry helped me out with my grip but everything feels foreign to me like I have never played before. I had everything going wrong from missing the rack off the break, missing dead in blacks from 2' away to total miss cues. I have developed so many bad habits over the past 6 months it's hard to know where to start. Some how I have to gain back confidence with simple Kindegarden drills and I am open to suggestions. I really never asked Terry what I should do. I think by the time we finished he actually felt sorry for me. Maybe I should just hang up the cue until I get my pockets fixed and start fresh but we have a big qualifier this weekend that I am 0 and 9 to this point and would really like to win a game even. Thanks for the afternoon Terry I really just wish I could pot a few and give you some competition.

[itsnoteasy]

Les during all of this saga I thought you just liked a whinge, but from that post I can really feel you are down about all this, it's only a game fella, and you might have to face the facts it could be a game you won't be any good at, look at the thousands of members on here, most have played for years and years , a few are outstanding ,some are excellent ,some are good most are average(obviously that's why it's called that lol) and some are poor, how many as a percentage on here are or were pros? One percent if your lucky, but they all play it because they love the game, if it genuinely gets you down ,it's not good for you, we all get frustrated but you can't let it get to you, if nothing else this will stop you improving. There are a few basics to this game I'm sure you know by now and they MUST be followed, they are not easy to do altogether but that's why we are not all pros, it's like rubbing your belly and patting your head, or take the driving analogy, when we learn we are shown the peddles, the gears, the stearing , told to look where we are going and the car will go there , but what do we do, we look at our feet when working the peddles, we go into the wrong gear, the car doesn't seem to go where we want. Then we come home and say it's impossible, we will never be able to do it, but we persevere , then after a lot of practice, it clicks, we do all of those things without thinking, and we do them right, and we are drivers, but we will never be Lewis Hamilton, or Sebastian Vettel , because they have a natural talent for it, in fact we will never be any kind of racer as we are not good enough, but we can still enjoy driving and be a good driver, and as with snooker that's about as high as most of us will get, so my advice is just enjoy it, even the misses, go down on your table relax pull your cue back relaxed push it right through straight ,relaxed, stay down until the balls have stopped and ask yourself, is my grip as relaxed at the end as at the beginning, did I move, did I hit the ball with my body or just the forearm,did I hit the object ball where I wanted, as that's the most important part, doesn't matter if you miss as that is just an aiming issue and can be sorted, getting that cue ball to go in a straight line and hitting where you are looking that has to be number one priority ,for me anyway. For years the answers could be no, doesn't matter, it's still what you have to do ,no fiddling no looking for excuses, just doing it right,because one day fingers crossed it will click, and this is what you ,me and all us learners are after, so head down bum in the air and get back to work fella, best of luck.

[Catch 22]

^everything he said .

And also ....just enjoy potting some balls for a while...go to the table and enjoy your practice . Don't beat yourself up about it .

My form has been shocking lately ...I was really starting to feel like I was getting somewhere and then BOOM ...back to square one . My mate was up from Manchester and wanted to play a few frames ( he is not a player , just plays for social reasons . He has no stance , no proper grip etc etc ) . I went with him and played a few frames and had a laugh . When I missed a shot I didn't even think about it . Just laughed and made fun of each other for missing easy ones .

By the end of the night I was smashing in some really nice shots without really realising it .

Point is ...I was having fun . I LIKE solo practice but the relaxed frames with a novice was fun and made me remember why I decided to try and take the game further

[lesedwards]

^everything he said .

And also ....just enjoy potting some balls for a while...go to the table and enjoy your practice . Don't beat yourself up about it .

My form has been shocking lately ...I was really starting to feel like I was getting somewhere and then BOOM ...back to square one . My mate was up from Manchester and wanted to play a few frames ( he is not a player , just plays for social reasons . He has no stance , no proper grip etc etc ) . I went with him and played a few frames and had a laugh . When I missed a shot I didn't even think about it . Just laughed and made fun of each other for missing easy ones .

By the end of the night I was smashing in some really nice shots without really realising it .

Point is ...I was having fun . I LIKE solo practice but the relaxed frames with a novice was fun and made me remember why I decided to try and take the game further

After diner last night I was right back down on my table. I love the game and cannot leave it alone so instead of doing any big drills and frustrating myself I took 6 reds and started potting them from each colour. 6 off yellow spot from slight angles making position as if I was going to green next then Greens and so on just relaxing. I finished with running pinks off its spot playing the cue ball where it lies and I ran 9 in a row with some very good pots to the side pockets. I think I will just do this the rest of the week and build confidence before my qualifier on Saturday. RELAX and ENJOY the GAME you guys are right I have to learn to relax and enjoy.

[Catch 22]

Good to hear .

Enjoy it for a while , make some easy Potts , get confidence back and then get into proper practice later when you feel better .

On the other hand ..... I suck .....so don't listen to me hahaha

[lesedwards]

Les during all of this saga I thought you just liked a whinge, but from that post I can really feel you are down about all this, it's only a game fella, and you might have to face the facts it could be a game you won't be any good at, look at the thousands of members on here, most have played for years and years , a few are outstanding ,some are excellent ,some are good most are average(obviously that's why it's called that lol) and some are poor, how many as a percentage on here are or were pros? One percent if your lucky, but they all play it because they love the game, if it genuinely gets you down ,it's not good for you, we all get frustrated but you can't let it get to you, if nothing else this will stop you improving. There are a few basics to this game I'm sure you know by now and they MUST be followed, they are not easy to do altogether but that's why we are not all pros, it's like rubbing your belly and patting your head, or take the driving analogy, when we learn we are shown the peddles, the gears, the stearing , told to look where we are going and the car will go there , but what do we do, we look at our feet when working the peddles, we go into the wrong gear, the car doesn't seem to go where we want. Then we come home and say it's impossible, we will never be able to do it, but we persevere , then after a lot of practice, it clicks, we do all of those things without thinking, and we do them right, and we are drivers, but we will never be Lewis Hamilton, or Sebastian Vettel , because they have a natural talent for it, in fact we will never be any kind of racer as we are not good enough, but we can still enjoy driving and be a good driver, and as with snooker that's about as high as most of us will get, so my advice is just enjoy it, even the misses, go down on your table relax pull your cue back relaxed push it right through straight ,relaxed, stay down until the balls have stopped and ask yourself, is my grip as relaxed at the end as at the beginning, did I move, did I hit the ball with my body or just the forearm,did I hit the object ball where I wanted, as that's the most important part, doesn't matter if you miss as that is just an aiming issue and can be sorted, getting that cue ball to go in a straight line and hitting where you are looking that has to be number one priority ,for me anyway. For years the answers could be no, doesn't matter, it's still what you have to do ,no fiddling no looking for excuses, just doing it right,because one day fingers crossed it will click, and this is what you ,me and all us learners are after, so head down bum in the air and get back to work fella, best of luck.

Today I had Terrance over. For you that don't no him he joined the forum about a month ago and I found out he lived about a half hour away from me so we finally got together for an afternoon of snooker at my place...LOL Now he he is an average player making breaks of 30's and 40's and you all know how I play.... We started off and Terrance won the first game on the Pink with a high break of 16 that was it I won the next 4 with a high break of 11. By the time we where done Terrance was just shaking his head and all the confidence he had when we first started was gone. This is the first time I have had an average player come by for a few games.....not sure if he will be back. I think he left wondering what hit him...LOL he did not no he was entering my Snooker Prison as Cliff calls it.....

[itsnoteasy]

Not long now Les, when is the man coming to open the pockets.

[lesedwards]

Not long now Les, when is the man coming to open the pockets.

This coming week, I can't wait. At least now I know it is just not me complaining.

[itsnoteasy]

Can you pick how big they will get, or is it just what the fitter can do with the table, if it's the former it must be tempting to go for the full four inches!! Sorry to ask this again but what are your pockets just now, and what do you think you will be happy at, and are you getting them re shaped as I have heard this can help them accept the balls better.

[lesedwards]

Can you pick how big they will get, or is it just what the fitter can do with the table, if it's the former it must be tempting to go for the full four inches!! Sorry to ask this again but what are your pockets just now, and what do you think you will be happy at, and are you getting them re shaped as I have heard this can help them accept the balls better.

Good question, as for the sides I am going to take at least 1/2" off the radius on both sides of the pocket. Corners right now are 3-2/" so we are going to try for 1/4" both sides to give me 4"

[Terrence]

I did come down and enjoyed a few games - tough pockets

Today I had Terrance over. For you that don't no him he joined the forum about a month ago and I found out he lived about a half hour away from me so we finally got together for an afternoon of snooker at my place...LOL Now he he is an average player making breaks of 30's and 40's and you all know how I play.... We started off and Terrance won the first game on the Pink with a high break of 16 that was it I won the next 4 with a high break of 11. By the time we where done Terrance was just shaking his head and all the confidence he had when we first started was gone. This is the first time I have had an average player come by for a few games.....not sure if he will be back. I think he left wondering what hit him...LOL he did not no he was entering my Snooker Prison as Cliff calls it.....

I have to admit everything that Les said is true. He told me the pockets were tight and I thought to myself "Yeah good tables always have tight pockets". This table was no exception, beautifully crafted and very very well maintained. Before the first game I hit a few balls around and the pockets seemed a little tighter than what I was used to but I managed to smack a few in with confidence. After a few practice shots we started up game 1 and went ahead. When sure of a shot, my first thought is always where is this cue ball going to finish... Well by the middle of the game 1, I started to think 'can I even make this shot?'

Game 2 - I completely started to just worry about potting a ball.

Game 3 - I started to run away a little looking for snookers when I could and learned the side pockets were merely for visual beautification.

Game 4 - Both Les agreed, toughest table ever made (maybe exaggerated, but I agree with you Les... extremely tough pockets, period.)

Game 5 - Turn off the switch that tells you this is tough and try to have some fun. If it wasn't for Les being a fantastic guy and great host, this would have been very difficult. But it was a great time for sure! It was a pleasure losing to you and I would definitely come back for another beating ... just once the pockets are changed over... lol kidding

Cheers,
Terrence

[lesedwards]

I have to admit everything that Les said is true. He told me the pockets were tight and I thought to myself "Yeah good tables always have tight pockets". This table was no exception, beautifully crafted and very very well maintained. Before the first game I hit a few balls around and the pockets seemed a little tighter than what I was used to but I managed to smack a few in with confidence. After a few practice shots we started up game 1 and went ahead. When sure of a shot, my first thought is always where is this cue ball going to finish... Well by the middle of the game 1, I started to think 'can I even make this shot?'

Game 2 - I completely started to just worry about potting a ball.

Game 3 - I started to run away a little looking for snookers when I could and learned the side pockets were merely for visual beautification.

Game 4 - Both Les agreed, toughest table ever made (maybe exaggerated, but I agree with you Les... extremely tough pockets, period.)

Game 5 - Turn off the switch that tells you this is tough and try to have some fun. If it wasn't for Les being a fantastic guy and great host, this would have been very difficult. But it was a great time for sure! It was a pleasure losing to you and I would definitely come back for another beating ... just once the pockets are changed over... lol kidding

Cheers,
Terrence

Hi Terrance I am glad you had a great time... even though you where getting very frustrated. I will be talking to the guys tomorrow at our qualifier and with any luck they will be changed next week. I am just heading down to practice in my Snooker Prison now....I think I will just round some cardboard and stuck them in the middle pockets and write on it OUT OF ORDER...

[jrc750]

Yeah but your mate had an 85 break on the table Les, that tells me that it is maybe tight but not unpayable