Let's start the New Year off right

[lesedwards]

Hi guys I might as well start the new year off right. I through 15 Reds up in the black end and then tried to pot them. I have posted the video below for everyone to hurt my feelings....LOL but you guys know I can take it... I know this will be interesting.

https://bambuser.com/v/5191221

[pottr]

You've improved from the last time I saw you Les.

I think the new pocket templates have helped your state of mind. You're actually getting through the ball.

You still don't look comfortable on approach to me, a bit robotronic but there's definitely improvement.

Just keep at it pal. I have no doubt this time next year you'll mop them up with ease.

[Byrom]

better than I saw last time les - you getting there -

Had a quick look - I think you are a bit hesitant at getting down and don't drop straight down on the cue - you sort or salter in and get down cue and body together trying very hard to be perfect which is a common mistake and not such a good thing sometimes as you can pull the cue off line at the back as you get down. Seems like you put too much thought into it too I don't know what goes through your mind but it looks hard work.

Might be other ways of doing it but I move my body to the cue slightly before concentrating on keeping the cue on the line - also you are not so consistent in the feathers - try and keep the same cue action or develop one that keeps consistent and stop feathering before you are down in the shot properly - your are improving though - some nice stun shots eh - go on Les - nice table by the way - so much better than Terry's

[lesedwards]

You've improved from the last time I saw you Les.

I think the new pocket templates have helped your state of mind. You're actually getting through the ball.

You still don't look comfortable on approach to me, a bit robotronic but there's definitely improvement.

Just keep at it pal. I have no doubt this time next year you'll mop them up with ease.

Thanks for the encouragement. Going to play a match with a guy I have never seen play this afternoon. I will let you guys know how that goes later.

[Leo]

I admire your dedication to improve Les and that in itself should get you where you want to be in terms of breaks etc. I personally still see a less natural approach which with time will come. Keep it up.

[jrc750]

Well from the very first shot you made it hard for yourself !! why didn't you play to get onto a red into the middle rather than leave yourself a long pot into the corner ??

[Terry Davidson]

I admire your dedication to improve Les and that in itself should get you where you want to be in terms of breaks etc. I personally still see a less natural approach which with time will come. Keep it up.

Some things I noticed:

1. Still don't like the configuration of that grip. Let the cue just lay in the bed of the 4 fingers (or any number of fingers).
2. Saw some shots, especially little soft shots where you are stopping the cue at the cueball and not driving through to your chest.
3. Something looked off with the stance on a few of the shots but I couldn't really see what was different or wrong.
4. On some of the hand-on-the-table shots your forearm was behind the vertical.
5. On a few of the shots where you did punch through the cueball the tip of the cue was rising as you delivered, meaning you sometimes are dropping your elbow a little early. Try and keep the cue on the same plane and try and use the elbow joint and forearm as a piston.

[Leo]

Some things I noticed:

1. Still don't like the configuration of that grip. Let the cue just lay in the bed of the 4 fingers (or any number of fingers).
2. Saw some shots, especially little soft shots where you are stopping the cue at the cueball and not driving through to your chest.
3. Something looked off with the stance on a few of the shots but I couldn't really see what was different or wrong.
4. On some of the hand-on-the-table shots your forearm was behind the vertical.
5. On a few of the shots where you did punch through the cueball the tip of the cue was rising as you delivered, meaning you sometimes are dropping your elbow a little early. Try and keep the cue on the same plane and try and use the elbow joint and forearm as a piston.

I think most of us see these faults Terry but with Les's confidence at a low I personally didn't want to point out to many faults incase it knocks him back

[Catch 22]

Hi les

Great to see another one of your videos

Just a couple of questions ...

Are you happier with the new table ?
Are you enjoying your practice now ?
Has your confidence improved because the table is not in your head ?

[lesedwards]

I admire your dedication to improve Les and that in itself should get you where you want to be in terms of breaks etc. I personally still see a less natural approach which with time will come. Keep it up.

Thanks, and yes I agree I look a little robotic.

Well from the very first shot you made it hard for yourself !! why didn't you play to get onto a red into the middle rather than leave yourself a long pot into the corner ??

I ask myself these questions everytime I play. Why did I dio that and why I didn't I do that and before I know it my match is over and I am on my way out the door.

Some things I noticed:

1. Still don't like the configuration of that grip. Let the cue just lay in the bed of the 4 fingers (or any number of fingers).
2. Saw some shots, especially little soft shots where you are stopping the cue at the cueball and not driving through to your chest.
3. Something looked off with the stance on a few of the shots but I couldn't really see what was different or wrong.
4. On some of the hand-on-the-table shots your forearm was behind the vertical.
5. On a few of the shots where you did punch through the cueball the tip of the cue was rising as you delivered, meaning you sometimes are dropping your elbow a little early. Try and keep the cue on the same plane and try and use the elbow joint and forearm as a piston.

I knew Terry would not go easy on me....LOL yes your right Terry I think everything is screwed up which breaks down under match conditions such as today. This guy grabs a stick off the rack and made a few nice shots but I did not make one good shot. One shot that comes to mind was a dead in pink which I must have missed by 6" something is going on when I get in match conditions. I don't feel nervous, up tight, pressure or anything else and maybe that is the problem I don't want to win bad enough. Potting long blues at home one right after another but cannot make a straight in pink from 2' away.

I think most of us see these faults Terry but with Les's confidence at a low I personally didn't want to point out to many faults incase it knocks him back

Your right on that, what confidence. The only confidence I have is when I am potting balls by myself and just enjoying my room and table.

Hi les

Great to see another one of your videos

Just a couple of questions ...

Are you happier with the new table ?
Are you enjoying your practice now ?
Has your confidence improved because the table is not in your head ?

I love my table. I cannot wait to get down and practice I enjoy it so much. Now when it comes to confidence I have absoultly ZERO CONFIDENCE the minute I start a match or even the lineup by myself. I have been working on my Snooker Gym again and I can go through the drills with not much trouble so far but the minute I decide to do a line up everything goes bad. I am open to suggestions on ways to gain confidence. There is no way I should play like I do in matches with the hours I put in. Sorry if I sound so down but I just do not enjoy this game playing like I am.

[lesedwards]

Just read your points again. You mentioned when I did push through my tip of my cue came up. I find if I choke up where I should i can really strike the cue ball well but I cannot control the cue as it moves through because all the wait is behind my cue hand. Basically to feel comfortable I have to choke up about ten inches or more. This f........g elbow of mine is really starting to make me mad. Constantly aches and the more I pkay the worse it gets.

[Byrom]

starting the new year off right eh - we are on January 3 and you already shot to pieces

[lesedwards]

starting the new year off right eh - we are on January 3 and you already shot to pieces

Yea really....LOL I have to stop getting down on myself every time I miss a shot. I know the more I do the worse it gets. Besides my elbow my mental side of the game is my biggest crutch.

[Byrom]

it is - you are right - you need a re boot Les my man -

Try to see missing as a opportunity to practice the shots you missed - loose the fear of missing - speed up a bit getting down to the shot - if you miss when over thinking it give yourself less chance to think about it - see what happens?

Just keep working hard - practice new routines set some targets not just aimless potting - try and map your improvements keep note - I can see an improvement on the first time you posted a video so can everyone else - next year you will be better than last year takes time Les - small raindrops can become a waterfall though.

Stop trying so bloody hard - snookers easy - people are complicated.

Think about it - you build houses - if I had to do that for someone they would be pretty cold tonight - its only potting a ball into a hole with a stick and striking it in a way to get position on the next ball. what's hard in that- work on developing a stroke that is consistent and stick with it - keep tweaking you never going to get consistent. If you miss you miss but set a target of trying to feel consistent all the way through a game - because right now your shots are a bit varied.

And relax Les - tension in your are and shoulder means you not doing it right - relax the grip let the cue do the work.

[lesedwards]

Thanks Byrom, I will read your post back to myself tomorrow when I go down to practice.