The Les Edwards Snooker Challenge Thread

[lesedwards]

I have plucked up the courage to play in a tournament next month, its a local tournament i think its 4 rounds to the finals, a knockout cup competition best of 5 played over several months.

I thought what the heck, i have been playing in the league for three years now and i have gained enough experience to move on to the next level. my form isn't bad this year i have played 9 won 7 and lost 2 one frame matches.

so i think its time to test myself over more frames now. at least it will be a new experience and will be an indicator where my game is, i'm looking forward to it. my first opponent is of higher standard and plays 2 divisions above mine so i will get a handicap.

i'm just hoping i play to my level and if so it should be a good game.

Hey that's great, I say go for it and enjoy it. You mentioned a league, wouldn't that be nice. There are no Snooker leagues around here anymore. Just talked to one of the venues about hosting a couple events and they are going to do some renovating and the Snooker tables are going. Sad but true no matter how much we try to promote Snooker Pool is here to stay and slowly Snooker is getting pushed out.

[tedisbill]

Here you go Les. Have a listen to Shaun.

[GeordieDS]

I totally agree. But not taking advantage of it in the summer puts me right back at square one in the fall. I must stay on the table next summer.

That was my point?

[lesedwards]

Here you go Les. Have a listen to Shaun.

Great video especially when Shaun is one of my favourite players. My grip is good, my stance is good but my bridge sucks and I cannot fix it. Because of my bad arm and a wrist that only moves about 15% of what everyone else's does any CB with in about 18" of the cushion going down the left side of table and up the right side I have to balance my palm of my hand in mid air. For example a long blue from the left side of the table my palm is in suspended off the table. Basically any shot where I cannot get my arm fully on the table my palm is not on the table either.

That was my point?

Yes I understand.

[lesedwards]

Okay I went down tonight with one thing in mind. Keep the bridge hand steady and stay down longer on the shot which I thought should help especially when my palm is not always on the table. Oh and Trigger Words, "I am good" " I can and I will" ...don't laugh.
I setup the four reds in between the Black and the Pink. Second attempt I ran three Blacks one pink then the Pink and the Black for 44. All very tight positional shots.
Heading tomorrow night for a few friendly games at a friends house on his Snooker table then I have Floyd coming Wednesday to look at a job I have him doing and some Snooker after. Really going to start searching for matches.

[Terry Davidson]

Okay I went down tonight with one thing in mind. Keep the bridge hand steady and stay down longer on the shot which I thought should help especially when my palm is not always on the table. Oh and Trigger Words, "I am good" " I can and I will" ...don't laugh.
I setup the four reds in between the Black and the Pink. Second attempt I ran three Blacks one pink then the Pink and the Black for 44. All very tight positional shots.
Heading tomorrow night for a few friendly games at a friends house on his Snooker table then I have Floyd coming Wednesday to look at a job I have him doing and some Snooker after. Really going to start searching for matches.

Les:

Two of the things I teach are a solid bridge and staying down on the shot at the end of the delivery (and I always use Shaun Murphy as an example on that one). I'm certain I emphasized both of these to you.

I have had one thought though...is there something you can wear on your right hand which would increase the depth of the back of the palm? I'm not really sure something like this exists but it would be worth looking into as the old test for the back of the palm was to try and slide a new 5pound note under it. If the note would go under it wasn't solid enough.

Think about it though, any movement in the bridge hand, even just 1-2mm will effect the aiming of the cue so the bridge must be as stable as possible.

[markz]

See, I personally would disagree about moving on and doing something else. Doing something else will keep the mind focused and stop you getting bored. You can't just keep hammering the same exercise day after day and expect to keep the same level of focus.

At the end of the day, getting good at hitting snooker shots is the goal. Once you're confident and can consistently hit shots well, you'll be a better snooker player.

You could not practice clearing the colours for a year, but practice other routines and exercises, get incredibly good at those, and then I'll guarantee you'll be better at clearing the colours.

Getting good at hitting snooker shots is the goal surely?

Les, this is a post from Ted in January. The last sentence hits the nail on the head. The reason you practice is to get good at playing shots.

You seem to think more matches is the way forward. How can you learn to play the game to a higher standard if your chipping the white around the table not knowing you will pot or gain position. If you play a poorer player than yourself you learn nothing, if you play same level as yourself you learn nothing and if you play Floyd, Cliff, Terry they won't give you any table time. Turns in to a few frames and progression is going to be really slow.

The 4 reds with black or pinks was an exercise from January and you still use it, why not adapt it yourself and use 6 reds, 2 below the black spot as well. If you don't push yourself nobody else can.

[lesedwards]

Les, this is a post from Ted in January. The last sentence hits the nail on the head. The reason you practice is to get good at playing shots.

You seem to think more matches is the way forward. How can you learn to play the game to a higher standard if your chipping the white around the table not knowing you will pot or gain position. If you play a poorer player than yourself you learn nothing, if you play same level as yourself you learn nothing and if you play Floyd, Cliff, Terry they won't give you any table time. Turns in to a few frames and progression is going to be really slow.

The 4 reds with black or pinks was an exercise from January and you still use it, why not adapt it yourself and use 6 reds, 2 below the black spot as well. If you don't push yourself nobody else can.

Hi Markz, you beat me to the post I was just going to submit. I went over that video again of Shaun and something else triggered me. My stance is very narrow and if someone was to give me a little shove it would knock me off balance. So this afternoon I had an hour to spare so I worked on keeping my bridge hand still and keep it there till the cue ball finished and I widened my stance. I could not believe what happened. I tried the four reds between black n pink and ran it first time along with pink n black. Then I tried the T one red both sides of the pink and two between pink n black and cleared up everything on second try so I tried it again but added two more reds in between pink n black and I ran it on my first attempt. Taking my wife to her night school course tonight and then going to play snooker at a friends house. I will post later.

[tedisbill]

Bloody hell, Les! That was it then, stance was slightly out. Looks like you've cracked it now, all thanks to Shaun!

[lesedwards]

Bloody hell, Les! That was it then, stance was slightly out. Looks like you've cracked it now, all thanks to Shaun!

I wish that was it Ted but there is still a lot of work to do on my behalf.

[alabadi]

I'm surprised Les you are still fiddling with your stance and bridge after 3 years of playing. you have had plenty of coaching from Terry, surely these were the first things you would have practiced way back then.

if you keep changing you will just keep going round in circles. i have had first hand at this. you will find whenever you change something you will get instant success, then after a few sessions you are back again o where you were or worse.

the basics should be nailed at the start and not changed once you find a comfortable stance , bridge and grip you should stick to it.

[tedisbill]

I have plucked up the courage to play in a tournament next month, its a local tournament i think its 4 rounds to the finals, a knockout cup competition best of 5 played over several months

Good for you, Alabadi. It's all good fun playing in tournaments and is much better than one frame league snooker in my opinion. Make sure you let us know how you get on. Good luck.

[alabadi]

Good for you, Alabadi. It's all good fun playing in tournaments and is much better than one frame league snooker in my opinion. Make sure you let us know how you get on. Good luck.

will do :snooker:

[lesedwards]

I'm surprised Les you are still fiddling with your stance and bridge after 3 years of playing. you have had plenty of coaching from Terry, surely these were the first things you would have practiced way back then.

if you keep changing you will just keep going round in circles. i have had first hand at this. you will find whenever you change something you will get instant success, then after a few sessions you are back again o where you were or worse.

the basics should be nailed at the start and not changed once you find a comfortable stance , bridge and grip you should stick to it.

I don't consider these little changes starting over I consider them just fine little tweaks. Something like when your putting goes and you tweek your alignment a touch or you go with a touch longer back swing. Anyways we played tonight and I came into the night the underdog but I came with a positive attitude and with the first few safety's I ran a long red and continued with two blues and a brown. Then a little later I ran a 30 with three blacks and a blue. Won the first game easy but then I found old habits die hard as I started to think negatively which out doubt in my stroke and I don't recall running anymore then a couple balls at one time and lost. So we played a rubber match and I talked myself back on track with my Trigger "I am good" I then continued to run three blacks starting with a great long pot then a 18 and a 16 and won easy.

[Ramon]

O

I'm surprised Les you are still fiddling with your stance and bridge after 3 years of playing. you have had plenty of coaching from Terry, surely these were the first things you would have practiced way back then.

if you keep changing you will just keep going round in circles. i have had first hand at this. you will find whenever you change something you will get instant success, then after a few sessions you are back again o where you were or worse.

the basics should be nailed at the start and not changed once you find a comfortable stance , bridge and grip you should stick to it.

To be honest , I'm not the coach here but I think he gets to many diff advices from diff people around him and he trys all of them an each time sumthing new ,, witch is not good imo .
Not trying to offend anyone btw !!