The Les Edwards Snooker Challenge Thread

[Leo]

Here's two videos of me completing the newest challenge! After reviewing the video I'm unhappy with how quickly I raise up on the deep screw shots (also unhappy that I had to play them at all!). I'd greatly appreciate any other comments and criticisms.

#1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VmYapF99M3U
#2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZSiDdd8-Nn0

You cleared them yes but for me you're still quite trigger happy with the cue ball which is unnecessary at times. For me this routine is not all about clearing them but to control the White accordingly and make the clearance as easy as possible. When we break build we pick an area on the table where we know where most points will be scored thus using the simplest shots possible.

[cyberheater]

Don't give up Les. When you watch vids of folks completing the challenges, what you don't see is the loads of attempts it took them to finally complete it.

Sometimes, it can take me 45 mins to clear the colours. I find the 4 red challenge easier. If you can clear the colours, you can do 4 reds and black/pinks.
One thing that others have mentioned. Do you practice the stun shot. It's key to easier positioning.

One good exercise I do from time to time is just put the pink on it's spot and pot the pink into any of the 4 pockets (black and middle pockets) such that you get good white position to pot the pink again. It's a great exercise to learn soft screws and stuns.

Here's a vid explaining the stun shot.

[alabadi]

Thanks. I have had the same problem since I started playing two years ago and TD has told me more times then I can remember you must walk before you can run......��

don't worry about it, we all forget to put practice into use in games. so many times I have practiced certain routines and got it down to a tee, then a similar shot turns up in a match and I forget to apply the same rules and either miss or get bad position.

this game requires a lot of focus and concentration, and as we get older this gets harder and harder. that's why we see the older pros struggling.

what I would say Les, look back at when you started playing snooker all them years ago. do you consider yourself a better player now. I am guessing you do, therefore you have improved, even if a little.

when I started 5 years ago, the first week I picked up a cue I made a 22 break, then I thought this game is easy. after playing for a year or so just the one day a week I hadn't moved on much and was getting hooked on the game. so I started to take it seriously. I had coaching read the books seeked advice from this forum and others.

now when I look at my game, its unrecognisable to the one when I started, I understand all the shots, I recognise angles, I have a cue action....etc, etc.

now during this time my break building hasn't come on as I thought it would, I have only managed a 48 highest break in a match, but overall my match play is competitive and I have defeated many a player who have more talent than me.

so I consider myself going on the right path, albeit slower than some however moving forward and that's what's important.
I realise I'm not going to be a pro no chance at my age, but I still believe that I will reach a very good standard of player, maybe it takes me another 5-10 years who knows. as long as I have the ambition, determination and the will to learn I feel I can get there.

so Les take it one day at a time don't expect miracles, be realistic and lower your expectations in what you can achieve and don't run before you can walk. it will all come good in the end pal.

[tedisbill]

Here's two videos of me completing the newest challenge! After reviewing the video I'm unhappy with how quickly I raise up on the deep screw shots (also unhappy that I had to play them at all!). I'd greatly appreciate any other comments and criticisms.

#1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VmYapF99M3U
#2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZSiDdd8-Nn0

Good work Sammy!

I will just echo what Leo has said basically. The cue ball could still be doing much less distance, and staying much closer to the next ball. That makes the pot easier, and also makes it easier to get perfect position again on the next ball.

[itsnoteasy]

And an hour later he's on the yellow ball! What a clearance!

You want to speed up a bit Terry

[pottr]

Learning takes time.
Plus you will always have days when you can't hit the side of a bus. Performance is not linear. Your average will slowly improve but you will still have days of brilliance and days of absolute rubbish.

Absolutely... smart words.

[fractivsammy]

Good work Sammy!

I will just echo what Leo has said basically. The cue ball could still be doing much less distance, and staying much closer to the next ball. That makes the pot easier, and also makes it easier to get perfect position again on the next ball.

Thanks so much for the feedback Leo and Ted. I completely agree with your analysis...

The "non simple" shots I played where the white has to travel a distance, for example at 0:12 and 1:15 in the #2 video, I felt forced to play those because of the position I left myself from the previous shot. I definitely don't WANT to play those shots because I realize I run the risk of missing or running completely out of position.

On a given shot I always have in mind where I want to put the white, but then I'll run 2 inches this way or that way, and be forced to play a tough shot.

I was looking at Nic Barrow's line up videos yesterday, and feel like he focuses on playing shots that minimize the risk of leaving yourself a hard shot. That's something I just don't have in my head yet. I'd love any tips that could help me along that path.

[fractivsammy]

I'll put it another way, sometimes it feels like every shot I'm playing is a recovery shot. The #2 vid is actually a pretty good example of that, heh.

[tedisbill]

I'll put it another way, sometimes it feels like every shot I'm playing is a recovery shot. The #2 vid is actually a pretty good example of that, heh.

Yeah. In your second video, the last black for example, it's a good job it was the last black, because it would have been very difficult to get on another red.

BUT, You hit the ball nicely and can play. So it's just about tightening up your positional play a bit. Keep you focus on trying to get close to the next ball, with angles that make it easy to get to the next one after that!

[lesedwards]

Well no video yet but I spent the day with Floyd and he gave me two routines to get hitting the ball instead of rolling it. Along with great cue ball control. First one pot the yellow in the middle green side from behind the yellow and make shape on the black then pot back and get up for green and so on until you have cleared all colours with a black. He did it twice in a row. Next one pot all colours off their spot in the yellow pocket. He did it once. Both he says are good for driving through the ball and learning cue ball control and where it is going. Just the yellow alone has to be struck well to get down for a black. I got to the blue once...

[guernseygooner]

Well no video yet but I spent the day with Floyd and he gave me two routines to get hitting the ball instead of rolling it. Along with great cue ball control. First one pot the yellow in the middle green side from behind the yellow and make shape on the black then pot back and get up for green and so on until you have cleared all colours with a black. He did it twice in a row. Next one pot all colours off their spot in the yellow pocket. He did it once. Both he says are good for driving through the ball and learning cue ball control and where it is going. Just the yellow alone has to be struck well to get down for a black. I got to the blue once...

Lol, that's a bit too advanced for you Les! I'll say it again, film yourself trying to do 10 blacks off its spot and then people can let you know what wrong shots you play, like the black in your last vid.

I don't understand when you see people like this and TD, why you don't do this exercise and get them tell you what spot to hit on the cue ball for each shot. You will learn quicker like that shots you never thought possible.

[cyberheater]

Well no video yet but I spent the day with Floyd and he gave me two routines to get hitting the ball instead of rolling it. Along with great cue ball control. First one pot the yellow in the middle green side from behind the yellow and make shape on the black then pot back and get up for green and so on until you have cleared all colours with a black. He did it twice in a row. Next one pot all colours off their spot in the yellow pocket. He did it once. Both he says are good for driving through the ball and learning cue ball control and where it is going. Just the yellow alone has to be struck well to get down for a black. I got to the blue once...

They sounds like really tough routines.

[tedisbill]

Well no video yet but I spent the day with Floyd and he gave me two routines to get hitting the ball instead of rolling it. Along with great cue ball control. First one pot the yellow in the middle green side from behind the yellow and make shape on the black then pot back and get up for green and so on until you have cleared all colours with a black. He did it twice in a row. Next one pot all colours off their spot in the yellow pocket. He did it once. Both he says are good for driving through the ball and learning cue ball control and where it is going. Just the yellow alone has to be struck well to get down for a black. I got to the blue once...

Haha!! Way, way too advanced for you Les.

[lesedwards]

Haha!! Way, way too advanced for you Les.

Come on have faith in me....LOL No they are not for me especially the colours all in one pocket. Floyd just wanted to get me hitting the cue ball. Right off the bat the yellow takes a very solid follow through with tops to get down for the black then the black takes a real solid stun to get back up for the green. He says to keep doing it if for nothing else to get warmed up. Forces me to hit instead of my tentative roll the ball shot. Now someone mentioned the pink off the spot in four pockets. Love that one all stun shots and my record is 26.

[tedisbill]

Erm..... ahem..... hate to interrupt all these lovely exercises you've got planned Les, but, erm, you've got a challenge to complete this week.