The Les Edwards Snooker Challenge Thread

[tetricky]

Make sure your grip is right. I know when I work on all sorts of other things, I can get a bit out of shape on my grip. If I let a gap develop at the top of the grip (ie thumb and forefinger not snug around the cue), then one of the symptoms is jumping the white on a deep screw. I'm not saying over-grip...but it's critical gaps don't develop in the thumb-forefinger ring around the cue.

[lesedwards]

Make sure your grip is right. I know when I work on all sorts of other things, I can get a bit out of shape on my grip. If I let a gap develop at the top of the grip (ie thumb and forefinger not snug around the cue), then one of the symptoms is jumping the white on a deep screw. I'm not saying over-grip...but it's critical gaps don't develop in the thumb-forefinger ring around the cue.

Thanks I will check that. Could be just a simple thing called work. I have a house closing on Dec 21st. I have millions of things going through my head that need to be done and I spent three hours yesterday with another home owner I built for two years ago that is trying to hang me out for the wolves. Oh and a Government Audit with another company I own on Wednesday. Stressed to the max. Probably not a good time to be trying to run the colours.....LOL But then there is never a good time for me to run the colours....

[tetricky]

I do think a big issue is that you put yourself under a lot of pressure. I mean on the table, rather than in life. Practice, relax, enjoy the game for what it is. Some of us are better than others.....your level will only improve if you enjoy it, and get time in on the table. You have the opportunity to play with some amazing playing partners. I would happily pick the balls out for a few hours with Cliff, while chewing the fat with him. It's not reasonable to expect that you will be competitive with a World Champion when you have taken the game up late, and only for a few years. Cut yourself some slack, relax, execute your shots to the best of your ability. Eye on the process, not the ultimate aim. One shot at a time. Make the shot selection, hit it the best you can, make the next shot selection. The rest will come. If you don't enjoy it, don't do it.

[tedisbill]

Make sure your grip is right. I know when I work on all sorts of other things, I can get a bit out of shape on my grip. If I let a gap develop at the top of the grip (ie thumb and forefinger not snug around the cue), then one of the symptoms is jumping the white on a deep screw. I'm not saying over-grip...but it's critical gaps don't develop in the thumb-forefinger ring around the cue.

Why is it so critical gaps don't develop? What problems arise from gaps developing?

[tetricky]

Why is it so critical gaps don't develop? What problems arise from gaps developing?

I don't know the actual definitive reason. Whether gapping allows increased deflection of the cue, because it isn't held solidly from above at the butt end, or whether on coming through there is a tendency to pull the butt up into the gap, which sends the tip downwards and under the cue ball. What i do know is that it's a fault that i periodically exhibit, and it leads to an inconsistent strike. With a loose grip, and a gap, it adds an unwanted plane of possible movement to the cue.

Particularly evident to me on a deep screw (power and hitting the ball low), so I suspect tightening the grip as the cue comes through, pulling the butt into the gap between thumb and forefinger, and dipping the tip lower than intended, causing a jump....but I don't know for sure.

[Ramon]

Thanks Nic, I have bought your how to break a 100, I have bought your Hypnosis CD, I have bought your training ball and I have downloaded your new app from I tunes. I also have Dings App, JP Nolan, Jimmy White App and a bunch more. I go to see Terry Davidson for coaching when I get a chance and also Cliff Thorburn. This has all been over the past three years. Now I am running high breaks of nine.

To be honest, i did'nt know about this Nic B's app.
just downloaded yestrdy.
very useful app indeed.

[sealer]

Try to think about the game rather than technique. There is no golden setup. The game is simple. Use white to pot balls and try to keep it going. Think what shot to play and trust your ability to execute. Stop overthinking it. The moment your think where you are looking and what you are doing you are lost. Try to just want to pot the balls. Everyone has a different way of doing it. You are forcing yourself out of your own natural way.

[lesedwards]

Try to think about the game rather than technique. There is no golden setup. The game is simple. Use white to pot balls and try to keep it going. Think what shot to play and trust your ability to execute. Stop overthinking it. The moment your think where you are looking and what you are doing you are lost. Try to just want to pot the balls. Everyone has a different way of doing it. You are forcing yourself out of your own natural way.

Tonight I went to friends house for a fun match and ran all kinds of balls with my high break being a 28 2 blues and 2 blacks. Time to open up my pockets. His are just a hair over 3-1/2" and you should see me pot balls with confidence. Mine are a hair under 3-3/8". It's amazing how I start to see shots a head of time when I have some confidence. My table all I can think about is trying to make one ball.

[Leo]

Tonight I went to friends house for a fun match and ran all kinds of balls with my high break being a 28 2 blues and 2 blacks. Time to open up my pockets. His are just a hair over 3-1/2" and you should see me pot balls with confidence. Mine are a hair under 3-3/8". It's amazing how I start to see shots a head of time when I have some confidence. My table all I can think about is trying to make one ball.

In the UK it's around £100 to open up pockets so not sure how much it is over where you are but if it's true that your pockets are really 3.3/8 on the fall then you really need to get them sorted ASAP Les.
You are never going to gain any confidence whatsoever playing on those pockets and TBH it's not worth you having that table if you don't change them.

[lesedwards]

In the UK it's around £100 to open up pockets so not sure how much it is over where you are but if it's true that your pockets are really 3.3/8 on the fall then you really need to get them sorted ASAP Les.
You are never going to gain any confidence whatsoever playing on those pockets and TBH it's not worth you having that table if you don't change them.

Thanks Leo I needed that. Everyone tells me they are fine but they have not played on my table. Cliff also told me on the weekend to get them opened up. He said I look like I am afraid to hit it, as he called it chipping at the cue ball.
Here is a photo as you can see I am actually hedging on 3-1/4". I watched a shot in the UK Champs that was a slight cut to the corner that Neil hit with the rest that was wide all the way and it still went in. I know they are tight but they are not that tight.

[Terry Davidson]

Thanks Leo I needed that. Everyone tells me they are fine but they have not played on my table. Cliff also told me on the weekend to get them opened up. He said I look like I am afraid to hit it, as he called it chipping at the cue ball.
Here is a photo as you can see I am actually hedging on 3-1/4". I watched a shot in the UK Champs that was a slight cut to the corner that Neil hit with the rest that was wide all the way and it still went in. I know they are tight but they are not that tight.

Not everyone says your pockets are fine Les. I'm glad to see I'm in good company with Cliff (and Leo even). Open them up and do it now before you attempt to practice more.

[DeanH]

Les,
hope not to confused the issue, but what you are measuring there is the pocket-throat (what I call it), I thought I read somewhere you were discussing the "fall" dimension.
the fall is measured tangentially at the point the fall starts/slate drop (in your picture, where you have the cue ball)
what set of dimensions are you trying to match? ISBF/WPBSA?
as you know TD has these measurements.

here are two diagrams: TD do you recall which is which set of templates?
To demonstrate the differences not to specifically say the dimensions you are after.

[Leo]

On that pic les it looks like they might even be smaller then you suggested

[lesedwards]

Les,
hope not to confused the issue, but what you are measuring there is the pocket-throat (what I call it), I thought I read somewhere you were discussing the "fall" dimension.
the fall is measured tangentially at the point the fall starts/slate drop (in your picture, where you have the cue ball)
what set of dimensions are you trying to match? ISBF/WPBSA?
as you know TD has these measurements.

here are two diagrams: TD do you recall which is which set of templates?
To demonstrate the differences not to specifically say the dimensions you are after.

I understood that the fall is where the back of the ball falls off the slate. The photo is taken directly behind the ball with the CB teetering on the edge of falling in. I have duplicates of TD IBSF Templates and my pockets are an 1/8" tighter then them. I am sure TD mentioned to me they have actually loosened then up since those templates where made.

On that pic les it looks like they might even be smaller then you suggested

Yes there are possibly a hair smaller.

[LucLex3119]

What is going wrong.
I went down stairs tonight to practice. I started with running the CB up and down the spots. I hit the tip of my cue about 95% of the time. Then I scattered the balls with colours on the spots and after a half hour 15 was my high. Then I thought I would run the colours and after 15 attempts I never got by the brown ball. I put everything away before I lost my temper and did something I would regret. Could be just the work load I have on my shoulders but I have no concentration, patience or confidence. I played Terry in the first round of our tournament on the weekend. I had a high break of 9 and I am not sure if I even made a colour. I remember making a brown and cue ball in the side at the same time. All three games where over before the colours. I think I have been told on here maybe this game is not for me and I am starting to think that way.

Les,

Have a look at this,,,
" Practice to improve not just to waste time "
" 43 Match - 52 Practice - 13 Reds in Line Up "

That is your best. Every time you get frustrated just go back to this and have a think about it. You must have been potting well to get these numbers. You have done it before and you can do it again. Believe.

Now, When I practice and get frustrated I go back to the very basics. This is what I do.

1, Pot easy blue's in the middle to allow me to get my cueing down. Stun, Screw, Top spin. (Once I have made around 20 pots I will move on to harder shots by potting the blue at slightly different angles)

2, I will line all the colours in any order from black to brown ball. I will then pot them in any pocket in any order. This again allows me to use all of the cue ball. I will also only think of the shot I am on to make sure I pot it hitting the correct part of the cue ball.

After doing these 2 easy routines for around 30 minutes I will ove on to more difficult routines from the Ding app or the Nic Barrow app.

It is very easy to get frustrated and some times it is easy to just put the cue away and come back to the table a few hours later.

I wouldn't worry about adjusting your stance or cue action for a while. I have seen people with terrible cue action and stances but they can still make breaks of 60+. I believe you can too.

Stick to the basics and don't worry about the bad days.

I can only advise what has worked for me and what I was told when I was feeling the same as you. Doing these routines have helped me and I am feeling more confident in my match play because my practice is getting better.

You can do it Les.