practice set up for 20 odd break player

[damienlch]

Since I am quite new, my practice includes only 2 reds between the black ball and the pink spot (pink ball not spotted), and the blue on its spot (in case I am out of position to go to black). I start with black (not red-just to make it harder), 4 out of 10 attempts I would say I was able to clears 3 blacks and 2 reds. The main problem is the number 1 you mentioned above (dead straight on black ball), I wish I could screw back longer. If this happens then I just screw back a little (or follow through) good enough to play a red to the middle pocket. I think I have good understanding of number 4 though that I didn't really face the problem number 3 in this sort of practice.

Good for you!!... I think you can be a bit more ambitious and throw in a couple more reds... It's more fun that way too. It'll feel like you are clearing up the table. You can even try to get good on a colour with the last red and go up for the yellow to do a clearance. If you are confident of mopping up the last few reds with high colours plus the colour clearance, what's a 50 points deficit to you?

The main lesson I try to get from this exercise is about positioning in a real frame situation. So, it's important that the reds are positioned at random, i.e. not a line-up, and preferably colours on their spots in order for this to work better (plus I am biased against line-ups, balls don't line-up like that during matches... plus I find lining up the balls bothersome). Spread the reds wider for easier clearance, tighter reds if you feel like a challenge. If I do line-ups, I'm more likely to do the reds in sequence. Much more productive that way. It forces you to learn how to manouvre the cue ball that much better.

The straight-ish screw back from the black off one cushion is a tough shot on slower tables, nigh impossible to do on some really bad ones, what with the slow cloth and dead cushions. Pick a nicer table if possible. Then again, you should ask yourself, how did you land dead straight? Got careless? Would it be better if you had bounced the cue ball off a cushion to ensure an angle instead of a slow roll? or etc, etc? Food for thought...

[jim evans]

If you're only making 20 breaks I don't advise a 15 red line up. Realistically you are not going to clear it up and it's better to set small goals. Start off with the colours on the spots and maybe one red above the black spot. Pot one red and one black then restart the drill but add an extra red so there are now two reds above the black spot. Repeat potting two reds and two blacks. Then add a third red and build your way up until you have all 15 reds on the table one day (don't have to always play for blacks). This helps with having mini goals to set and break. Maybe aim to get to 4 reds and consistently pot 4 reds and blacks which is a 32 break. This is a better way to go about the line up drill for someone who is making 20 breaks as it gives you small attainable goals that you can improve upon.

Think I have to agree with this method.

[j6uk]

just 15reds without colors is the way to go, you clear that then your a 45-55 break maker. then go for a ton on the full lineup with colors, then clear the lineup. always have a bit of mix in your training

[ste bed]

thats fine, and we know most/all of what you say comes from someone else. i could pull you up all day with the so called stuff you know. you wanna get your nails done to have a dig at me for my rep on here.. don't make me laugh sugar, i know my stuff

Just finished reading this thread. Thats somthing i picked up on ages ago.

[j6uk]

Just finished reading this thread. Thats somthing i picked up on ages ago.

dunno how it worked out for you but i said to myself i should be able to clock just 15reds at leased x3 times before i moved on to the proper lineup. worked out really well for me.. then i went x3 proper lineup, then max and so on.. thats why iv been promoting ever since

[cyberheater]

I've been practicing all week and made a 35 against my mate today and it was a very solid 35 with great position throughout.

[bolton-cueman]

I've said it before and I'll say it again....

J6 please post a video of yourself doing these routines for the OP - a (moving) picture is worth a 1000 words....

'< it'll never happen >

I would post a video of me doing them - but I cant clear a line up or even do the 15 reds routine, as I'm pretty rubbish at snooker.

the challenge has been thrown down.... in fact I feel a poll should be created Let the forum air their thoughts!

[damienlch]

I've been practicing all week and made a 35 against my mate today and it was a very solid 35 with great position throughout.

Good for you... keep it up!!

[lesedwards]

T

To TS:

What I'd do is get all the colours on their spots, leave 5 or 6 open reds between pink and black spot area and try to clear the reds with any colour.

Observe when and how your break falls apart. Chances are, you'd have one of these miserable things happening to you:

(1) Got too straight on the object ball therefore limiting your options to get to the next ball.
(2) Got on the wrong side of the object ball thus making it tough to get to the next ball.
(3) Got too near the cushion.
(4) Did not achieve the correct reaction off the cue ball. This can be due to you not understanding where or how hard to hit the cue ball, or simply not hitting the cue ball at the desired spot.

Remember the mistakes made and think how to avoid these awkward situations from cropping up in your subsequent shots. Don't be too concerned if you miss many balls at first. You'll miss less after you learn to position better. And when you start potting more balls in succession, you become more confident and the tougher shots start looking a wee bit easier.

My 2 cents worth... :snooker:

Very good 2 cents worth......

I have been working on three routines.
1. How many blacks I can make off the spot.
2. How many pinks I can make off the spot.
3. Put black on its spot and one red then go to two reds and so on.

Result is exactly the same as your two cents. It's not that I am not making good pots it's the fact that I am on the next ball in the wrong position and then it just gets worse. I think if I can master these three routines I should be very good when I am left in the balls. Now when I say master these routines I would say 30 blacks, 30 pinks and 5 reds with blacks. I think that is realistic.
Right now
10 Blacks
12 Pinks
3 Reds with Blacks

[damienlch]

T

Very good 2 cents worth......

I have been working on three routines.
1. How many blacks I can make off the spot.
2. How many pinks I can make off the spot.
3. Put black on its spot and one red then go to two reds and so on.

Result is exactly the same as your two cents. It's not that I am not making good pots it's the fact that I am on the next ball in the wrong position and then it just gets worse. I think if I can master these three routines I should be very good when I am left in the balls. Now when I say master these routines I would say 30 blacks, 30 pinks and 5 reds with blacks. I think that is realistic.
Right now
10 Blacks
12 Pinks
3 Reds with Blacks

Thank you Lesedwards...

Yes, we often think that it is tough to pot balls in snooker... it is. But with good positional play, we don't need to pot them off the lampshades every time in order to string a couple of reds together.

I have seen so many what I'd call "shot making" players breaking down after 1 or 2 colours when given their technical ability, they should be doing 20s or 30s on a more regular basis.

[simmo]

only problem is no sound

[cyberheater]

I find the 15 reds routine brilliant. I can now clear them within the hour. The other day I managed to clear them on my 3rd attempt.
The positional skills to nail the last 4 balls or so is quite a test and really forces you to work things out.

[lesedwards]

I find the 15 reds routine brilliant. I can now clear them within the hour. The other day I managed to clear them on my 3rd attempt.
The positional skills to nail the last 4 balls or so is quite a test and really forces you to work things out.

I agree with you. The 15 Reds is another good routine. Tonight I made it to 15 blacks in 14 minutes. The night before it took an hour to get to 10 blacks so I see improvement after only three nights. Also with my red black I could not make it to 32 but I made lots of 24's so also an improvement. I am sticking with these. Pink off the spot is the tough one on my table as the side pockets are very tight and from the pink spit there is not much to shoot at. When I get to my goal of 30 I really know I am improving.

[itsnoteasy]

Les is that thirty pinks without touching the White, so it's pot the pink and play the White from where it lands, that's quite hard IMO. I do the routine like that but you can't pot the pink into the same bag twice, so you kind of end up working your way round it in a circle , never managed thirty I don't think.

[RogiBear]

Les is that thirty pinks without touching the White, so it's pot the pink and play the White from where it lands, that's quite hard IMO. I do the routine like that but you can't pot the pink into the same bag twice, so you kind of end up working your way round it in a circle , never managed thirty I don't think.

Thats a practice routine I do to warm up, pot the pinks going round the pockets in a clockwise rotation by stunning round by 90 degrees to leave the next angle. I always end up straight on them eventually so you have to roll through and pinch a bit of the pocket and grow the angle again. Generally speaking I find the pink to be the most accessible during frames as the black is easily tied up so find the positional practice around it useful.