Star Snooker Academy

[David Pleym]

Anyone have any first hand experience of the academy? Thinking about treating myself to a week there next summer instead of a holiday. I know it won't be cheap and I wonder if it would be beneficial for an average club player or is it aimed more at very good players? Or would I be better get to g some local coaching instead. All thoughts welcomed.


Cheers

David

[jim evans]

Think it depends if your thinking of having coaching,one of our team plays there a couple of times a week, he admits he can do things on there tables he can't do on the league tables we play on.

[CoachGavin]

Star Snooker Academy

depends what you want from it. As a coach I usually look at working on one or two areas at a time so players have a lesson then go away and work on it and then return to work on something else. A week might be too much and too intensive. However the experience of playing in those conditions and against top players would be great.

[mythman69]

I don't have any experience with Star Snooker Academy, but I did go to Melbourne for a week of snooker and billiard coaching with Robby Foldvari.

I would get a 1 or 2 hour lesson each day and then practice what I was told each lesson for say 4-5 hours per day. I really did get a lot out of it, but if I was going to do it again, I would probably rather break it into 2 parts (say 4-6 months apart). This way I would get more time to really practice the lessons and then get a check-up to see how I am going.

Note: There is no magic bullet supplied, but coaching does help! Practice, practice and practice lots more is the key.

[David Pleym]

Thanks guys

I was thinking specifically about working on positional play/ break building. I certainly dont mind the intensive side of things and it would be amazing to get a few frames in with some top players (well fish the balls out of the pockets for them) but I could also go down the more local coaching route - Chris Small is within a daily commute for me for instance. Im serious about getting better and prepared to work on this and am currently playing ~ 20-25 hrs per week both in solo practice and in games with other players of varying abilities.

So Im not sure what route to take? Intensive in Sheffield or more measured approach locally?

Cheers



David

[alabadi]

i go there at least once a week been going for the last 4 years. tables are in tip top condition, the layout is great. all the pros and top amateurs practice there but you do get the odd club player like myself go there too.

prices £10 an hour but if you stay 3 hours its £20, 5 hours would cost you £30 and all day (8 hours) £40.

you can also book coaching with there resident coach.

you would have to book your days though because it can get quite busy at times, there are quite a lot of Chinese and Thailand players who are resident plus other European and world players who come for a couple of weeks from time to time.

[David Pleym]

Thanks Alabadi

If I go I'm thinking about a full week (5-7 days) and would be booking within the next month for summer/ autumn 2015. I must say, looking at the website, it looks like an absolutely top drawer facility but then returning back to my local Rileys may be quite a come down lol.


Cheers


David

[tedisbill]

Can't say I think spending a week at the academy will benefit your snooker much. The tables are a lot different. Faster cloth, cushions react differently to a normal club table, tight pockets. They're lovely tables, but don't really offer anything special to somebody that's looking to improve their game.

Coaching is what I'd do, and then hours and hours on the practice table.

[golferson123]

get yourself some good analysis software and film yourself you can then import some footage of top players and compare side by side its more self satisfying to do it yourself, and cheaper

[David Pleym]

Thanks Guys

I'm starting to gravitate towards coaching more locally now having read the replies. Sounds like it would be more benefit for me/ what I'm looking for. In any case I can always do the 1 day experience at the Academy more as a treat than anything else.


Cheers


David

[David Pleym]

Golferson


Can you recommend any from personal experience? Analysis software is not something I'm familiar with.

Cheers


David

[Stupree]

Golferson


Can you recommend any from personal experience? Analysis software is not something I'm familiar with.

Cheers


David

Their are some apps, such as Quikcoach, that will do the job from a phone or tablet but it is better done with a larger screen and laptop or desktop if you are wanting to grab some footage of pros from YouTube. Kinovea is a fantastic tool and is completely free!

[Leo]

Get a few hours with a coach to show the basics and where you are going wrong, then it's upto you to show determination and willingness at the practice table, it's a hard and tough game and many people drop out because they think there is a quick fix which of course there is not. Many of us started young where we left school & still lived with our parents swerved getting a job had no bills and the money we did manage to get was spent on hours and hours on the practice table.

[David Pleym]

Thanks Stupree

I'll check them out. Free is always, well mostly always good


Cheers


David

[Stupree]

Star Snooker Academy

You're welcome

A good video to checkout of a pro is Shaun Murphy 140something break at Gdynia 2014 there is a video taken by a spectator that gives good insight in to his alignment and technique