Some pointers?

[jono*]

After a long time I managed to get a short video of the lineup today. Would like to get some pointers or advice on things I need to change/ improve. It short but I hope its enough. I've been looking at my game seriously for about 20 months.

This was after about 6 hrs play already so its not great... my highest on the lineup is 79, 59 in a match.

I already have some things I would like to change, not sure if you agree on or not.

1. Would like my bridge hand an inch or so closer to the cue ball.
2. Line up the shot more consistently, walk in to every shot.
3. My backswing and final pause isn't consistent. I do it some shots but not all.

Thanks for any help.

[bolton-cueman]

How you've only had a break of 59 when you can cue like that escapes me!

[Terry Davidson]

I didn't think there was anything wrong and agree with the above by bolton. I think you should keep doing what you're doing and get all the practice you can.

Terry

[j6uk]

hi jono,
probably better next time your videoing your practice do it after maybe one hours warm up not 6hrs.
but you look like you could be a really nice player and technique wise its all there. i really like your one or two feathers, slow back and let the cue go, could see maybe your follow through being a bit more dynamic but you had been on there for six hours so..
i could see by your shot selection that your breaks are still quite low. you played a lot of pinks and one black when it it could of been the other way around. instead of playing that last red that you missed into the middle, you had four reds and blacks there below the pink asking to be potted.
how long have you been playing and how often do you practice?

[jono*]

Thanks for the feedback. I've been playing for a few years But No serious practice maybe 2hrs play a week. Then knuckled down over the last couple years looking at my game technique wise and It's starting to come together only a few months ago with my grip particularly. I get around 6hours hard practice and 4hours match a week now. I played the red in the middle thinking if I overscrewed I could get on the black, under and take pink to the middle.

[Byrom]

Well I think there is a lot right with your game - you sight quick and you time it nice.

However if I was being critical I don't think you get down parallel to the table properly (need to get lower at the back) because you scoop at the ball sometimes and you also get up too quick -

No point in getting up and shaking your head when you miss you don't learn anything stay down keep your cue forward until the ball has gone in or missed and you will learn why you missed.

If you get down flatter to the shot at the back and drive through the ball straight you will cut out the unintentional side you are currently putting on the ball on occasion.

Hope this helps

[jono*]

I agree. Sometimes I feel my stance is a little awkward and that might be down to not walking in properly. That puts more stress on my arms and I feel pain and tension in my arms. If you look when I play with a bit more power, my elbow moves into my body. Is that fine as long as I cue straight? Or should I try and make sure my elbow and forearm are in a straight line when cueing? Is that considered elbow drop or am I thinking too much?

[biffer]

We’ll all I can say is, that you can play, you look good down on the shot, you time the ball well from what I’ve seen. And if I saw you playing down my club I would definitely think you have made a ton. Impressive, I’m sure the elusive century is just round the corner if you keep playing like that. I would not be so critical about your game, I watched the clip about 5 times to see if I saw anything that stood out, and the only thing I thought was shot selection, a couple of time you took on different shots from what I thought. Like the last red you took, I would have taken one of the ones above the black, you looked in perfect position to roll through or drop down stun. Just make sure you survey the whole table before you commit to a shot, as I think that could help with building breaks. Best of luck with the game.

[thelongbomber]

Can immediately tell that your technique is very good overall. Some minor changes can be made as suggested but they are only slight flaws that can be improved. Regarding the lineup, you should NOT be overusing it. The lineup is very good for fundamental issues like stun/screw/angles but it's not the complete game. In match play you will not be doing the lineup. I like the lineup for working on overall cueing issues, but it doesn't help you in ball selection and break building as much as you think. The lineup fools you because your hand is always in comfortable position and the reds are in the middle of the table. When in match play, you will be on/near cushion and sometimes bridging over balls. If you focus too much on the lineup, match play will seem foreign to you. You need a complete game of long balls, potting from cushions, cannons, and using the rest to develop your overall game.

Work on cluster drills as well. If you miss, you MUST start from the beginning - no compromise. Doing this will build up your nerves. Setup 3 reds between pink and black (not lineup) in random positions. Clear the table at least 3 times in a row. Then move on to 4 reds, then 5 then 6. When you get to 7, setup a 3-ball cluster below pink that requires at least one cannon. Then 8,9 and then 10. When you get to 10 setup a 5 ball cluster that requires one or two cannons. At 10 reds, you are on a tonne. If you can clear 10 reds, 3 times in a row WITHOUT missing once with this drill system, then go to 11, 12 all the way to 15. A lot of different shots and angles will be played. TAKE YOUR TIME. If you miss a specific shot consistenly, practice that one aspect of your game as needed. Monitor your misses VERY VERY closely as they are indicators of dysfunction somewhere in your game. The game is your teacher.

I talk more about tonnes and practice here: http://www.thesnookerforum.co.uk/boa...665#post782665

Also, read my articles here: http://snookerdelight.com/snooker-articles/

[j6uk]

Can immediately tell that your technique is very good overall. Some minor changes can be made as suggested but they are only slight flaws that can be improved. Regarding the lineup, you should NOT be overusing it. not once you're able to clear it a few times The lineup is very good for fundamental issues like stun/screw/angles but it's not the complete game. and alinement/technique/cue ball control/shot selection/concentration.. In match play you will not be doing the lineup. no but you will be doing what we've been saying so far right? I like the lineup for working on overall cueing issues, that also another good reason for doing the lineup but it doesn't help you in ball selection and break building as much as you think. why wouldn't it if your planning to be high or low on a color or play on just a few reds, and your thinking two shots ahead? The lineup fools you because your hand is always in comfortable position and the reds are in the middle of the table. i don't think it does because keeping the cue ball in the first 1/4 of the table is an art, good break building demands good cue ball control When in match play, you will be on/near cushion and sometimes bridging over balls. If you focus too much on the lineup, match play will seem foreign to you. lol not really because now you really do know how to work the white You need a complete game of long balls, potting from cushions, cannons, and using the rest to develop your overall game. no no harm in combining this practice too, but once again you'll pick all this up easy enough because you've the hard graft, the discipline and focus you need in this game on the line. plus you've completed it. and that will pay off no end

Work on cluster drills as well. If you miss, you MUST start from the beginning - no compromise. Doing this will build up your nerves. Setup 3 reds between pink and black (not lineup) in random positions. Clear the table at least 3 times in a row. Then move on to 4 reds, then 5 then 6. When you get to 7, setup a 3-ball cluster below pink that requires at least one cannon. Then 8,9 and then 10. When you get to 10 setup a 5 ball cluster that requires one or two cannons. At 10 reds, you are on a tonne. If you can clear 10 reds, 3 times in a row WITHOUT missing once with this drill system, then go to 11, 12 all the way to 15. A lot of different shots and angles will be played. TAKE YOUR TIME. If you miss a specific shot consistenly, practice that one aspect of your game as needed. Monitor your misses VERY VERY closely as they are indicators of dysfunction somewhere in your game. The game is your teacher. this is all good stuff you said here and your would be better set for doing the above if you've completed the lineup a few times

I talk more about tonnes and practice here: http://www.thesnookerforum.co.uk/boa...665#post782665

Also, read my articles here: http://snookerdelight.com/snooker-articles/

you've said some interesting things here bomber but i think your jumping the gun

[thelongbomber]

you've said some interesting things here bomber but i think your jumping the gun

You made some valid counter points. I, however, can never agree that the lineup gives you a complete taste of the real thing. It's good practice, but it will never appear in match play, so fundamentally, I can never agree that it's a good overall thing to accomplish. Sure doing the lineup and trying to complete is great and will help you to work on things, but I don't like falling in love with a practice routine that can't duplicate match situations.

Further to my case in point, if you look at Nic Barrow, he seems to love the lineup a lot. In his break building videos, you will see that he eventually gives up on the cluster routine and goes to the lineup instead. Of course, he is training so the focus isn't there, but nevertheless, cluster routines need to be done over and over until they become second nature.

Video 3, at the 3 minute mark he goes to the lineup instead.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BpVT...AqSL8z2wdS97xU

Are cluster setups harder? Of course they are. At least as difficult as a match scenario.

[j6uk]

You made some valid counter points. I, however, can never agree that the lineup gives you a complete taste of the real thing. It's good practice, but it will never appear in match play, so fundamentally, I can never agree that it's a good overall thing to accomplish. this would only be said by someone whos never accomplished it Sure doing the lineup and trying to complete is great and will help you to work on things, but I don't like falling in love with a practice routine that can't duplicate match situations. sorry but i don't believe you've understood what i was saying in my last post

Further to my case in point, if you look at Nic Barrow, he seems to love the lineup a lot. In his break building videos, you will see that he eventually gives up on the cluster routine and goes to the lineup instead. Of course, he is training so the focus isn't there, but nevertheless, cluster routines need to be done over and over until they become second nature. because the lineup is bread and butter

Video 3, at the 3 minute mark he goes to the lineup instead.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BpVT...AqSL8z2wdS97xU

Are cluster setups harder? Of course they are. At least as difficult as a match scenario.

i like working in this so called cluster way but thats because i know how to work the white

[itsnoteasy]

I know what you mean LB, about some being overly obsessed with the line up,(I have periods of obsession with it) but it is a very very good routine to learn potting angles, positional play, and plotting your way from ball to ball to leave you on the next ball, so you learn how the cue ball works. It's not the only routine to do but IMO it is a good one, and when I clear it, if I ever do, I will feel it's a real milestone achieved in my game.
When posting videos on here for others to look at, to me it's about the best as everyone knows what's going on, and can judge how someone is playing or what standard they are at pretty quickly, because of how they gain or lose position and use the white, shot selection etc, I also think you get to see their cueing technique easier with the line up as their hand is on the table more often, and they are playing in their normal stance nearly every shot, for me posting videos of you cueing awkwardly over other balls ,or other strange positions we find ourselves in matches, won't help the good players, give an accurate critique of someone's technique.

[thelongbomber]

I know what you mean LB, about some being overly obsessed with the line up,(I have periods of obsession with it) but it is a very very good routine to learn potting angles, positional play, and plotting your way from ball to ball to leave you on the next ball, so you learn how the cue ball works. It's not the only routine to do but IMO it is a good one, and when I clear it, if I ever do, I will feel it's a real milestone achieved in my game.
When posting videos on here for others to look at, to me it's about the best as everyone knows what's going on, and can judge how someone is playing or what standard they are at pretty quickly, because of how they gain or lose position and use the white, shot selection etc, I also think you get to see their cueing technique easier with the line up as their hand is on the table more often, and they are playing in their normal stance nearly every shot, for me posting videos of you cueing awkwardly over other balls ,or other strange positions we find ourselves in matches, won't help the good players, give an accurate critique of someone's technique.

Yes, very true. Good point. Good advice here from yourself and j6uk.

[j6uk]

Yes, very true. Good point. Good advice here from yourself and j6uk.

i don't believe you and i feel a tad fobbed of not that i mind. i see you have a hell of a lot to say about this game and you want to share all your knowledge and experience, so i won't keep you
but in the words of columbo 'just one more thing.. what do you make of these routines? http://fergalobrien.ie/practice.html