The Les Edwards Snooker Challenge Thread

[itsnoteasy]

Well I can't say I never held a cue before, I played snooker for two months when I was seventeen, played the odd game of killer on the pub pool table with my pals but it was always darts for me, even when I went to the club at 47 I only went for something to do with my son but I got hooked, I got my very first cue a few months latter, so I think it's fair enough for me to say I didn't start till late but I hope to make a century ( not in solo practice) before I pack in. Of course I'm more than willing to admit I could be deluded but I enjoy trying.

[tedisbill]

You can get anyone to watch you play to see if you're moving your head or taking your eye off the object ball, no coach needed for that, and there's no one in the world who can tell you exactly how to play this game, no matter what they charge by the hour, that comes from within, and if you haven't got the hand/eye along with the dedication, the focus, and the time needed to go with it then simply accept your standard and get on as best you can.

Well that's pretty much right. Although, it won't be your hand/eye coordination that's stopped you making a century break.

Well I can't say I never held a cue before, I played snooker for two months when I was seventeen, played the odd game of killer on the pub pool table with my pals but it was always darts for me, even when I went to the club at 47 I only went for something to do with my son but I got hooked, I got my very first cue a few months latter, so I think it's fair enough for me to say I didn't start till late but I hope to make a century ( not in solo practice) before I pack in. Of course I'm more than willing to admit I could be deluded but I enjoy trying.

You can make a 100 break if you really put the work in. And you need to get your arse kicked by the best player you know, session after session. Watch and learn.

[markz]

I agree to a point. I know there is no way I will ever reach the standard of Floyd or Terry as they know they will never reach the standard of me on the golf course. They have 40 plus years on me and like wise. When it comes to coaching yes I have had the best of the best and your right little to no change. I find this game so much like golf and the only way to get better is to play piles and piles of matches no matter how good your opponent is. I may not have known as much about the game two years ago but I know I was playing better
. Reason I believe is my oldest son was living with us and every night without fail we would play a best of 5 and some nights a best of 3 and the odd match during the day. Like golf I never practiced I just played and played seven days a week and most days 36 holes. You find what works and you just know what to do when each circumstance comes along. So maybe age will limit me but I still feel like I can improve to a decent standard meaning the odd 50 break and lots if 30's and 40's.

Totally disagree Les, develop your match play during competitive games, friendly frames develop your natural game and practice is to develop and improve your skill level. As it says on your banner, practice to improve not just to waste time.

I played from 16-18 then gave up till I was 38, 42 now and it took me 3 1/2 years to get my first game century. I'd say 95% of my time is in solo practice and I play one to three times a week. Even if it would work for you, you don't have the chance to play regular games so you have to move on and try something different, no good keep comparing to golf or you will be saying the same things again this time next year and this thread will be 400 pages long.

[itsnoteasy]

I have no one and I mean no one to play Ted, the very odd person I can play now( sorry if this sounds bad) but I'm better than them now, my old sparring partner who was a cracking player ( twice singles champion )and brought my game on, fell out with the owner so never comes in now, I then struck up a great little patch with an ex county champion and he really opened my eyes and made me pick some balls out lol, but he's not too well so he doesn't come in much either, I really miss playing them both and my game has gone backwards a bit as I start fiddling around during practice as I get bored, when I was playing them I just had to concentrate and play instead of thinking.

[thommo335]

The Les Edwards Snooker Challenge Thread

les, just curious, what's your golf handicap?

[markz]

I have no one and I mean no one to play Ted, the very odd person I can play now( sorry if this sounds bad) but I'm better than them now, my old sparring partner who was a cracking player ( twice singles champion )and brought my game on, fell out with the owner so never comes in now, I then struck up a great little patch with an ex county champion and he really opened my eyes and made me pick some balls out lol, but he's not too well so he doesn't come in much either, I really miss playing them both and my game has gone backwards a bit as I start fiddling around during practice as I get bored, when I was playing them I just had to concentrate and play instead of thinking.

Itsnoteasy, similar to Les. If you haven't got the opportunity to practice the way you think you need to you have to move on and work out a way that will help you. It's a game that's so much easier to play when you stay positive and keep negative thoughts away. I could write a book of all the excuses I've heard in just a few years playing.

[lesedwards]

les, just curious, what's your golf handicap?

1.2 at end of this season.

[thommo335]

1.2 at end of this season.

Great stuff, so how many years and how many balls did you have to hit to a) get to that level and b) maintain it?

[lesedwards]

Great stuff, so how many years and how many balls did you have to hit to a) get to that level and b) maintain it?

As a junior starting out and all through my career I never hit balls. Back then at the club I was a member at they had a range but you had to use your own balls and go pick them up. I was not interested in practicing I just loved to play. Now I need to hit a small bucket, hit a few wedge shots around the green a couple putts and I am ready to go. I always kid the guys with my famous saying, " it doesn't take long to warm up a Rolls Royce" ...LOL I am sure if I could get lots of fun snooker matches I would improve quickly. Somehow I have to make fun matches against myself.

[Shockerz]

As a junior starting out and all through my career I never hit balls. Back then at the club I was a member at they had a range but you had to use your own balls and go pick them up. I was not interested in practicing I just loved to play. Now I need to hit a small bucket, hit a few wedge shots around the green a couple putts and I am ready to go. I always kid the guys with my famous saying, " it doesn't take long to warm up a Rolls Royce" ...LOL I am sure if I could get lots of fun snooker matches I would improve quickly. Somehow I have to make fun matches against myself.

At least you can't lose too many snooker balls. God, pro v1's are expensive with my swing!

[Ramon]

As a junior starting out and all through my career I never hit balls. Back then at the club I was a member at they had a range but you had to use your own balls and go pick them up. I was not interested in practicing I just loved to play. Now I need to hit a small bucket, hit a few wedge shots around the green a couple putts and I am ready to go. I always kid the guys with my famous saying, " it doesn't take long to warm up a Rolls Royce" ...LOL I am sure if I could get lots of fun snooker matches I would improve quickly. Somehow I have to make fun matches against myself.

Les , could be you have mentioned this already in ur pvs Posts and I've missed it !!
I wonder is there any snooker player in your neighborhood? someone who you can play a match a few times a week?
And how about clubs ?
Would be Nice if you have a opponent to play few times a week .

[lesedwards]

[/B]

Les , could be you have mentioned this already in ur pvs Posts and I've missed it !!
I wonder is there any snooker player in your neighborhood? someone who you can play a match a few times a week?
And how about clubs ?
Would be Nice if you have a opponent to play few times a week .

That's the problem. No such thing as clubs here and most pool halls have dumped the snooker tables for pool tables. As for friends that play I have a few but they are not very close and if I am lucky I might get a few games in one day in a month. I like to get up to TD but he is two hours away. I am going to have to concentrate on playing matches against myself and now my youngest son is moving into the new home I built him and his mom. He has two tables setup and he is only five minutes away so we will make it a weekly match. This should help.

[Shockerz]

That's the problem. No such thing as clubs here and most pool halls have dumped the snooker tables for pool tables. As for friends that play I have a few but they are not very close and if I am lucky I might get a few games in one day in a month. I like to get up to TD but he is two hours away. I am going to have to concentrate on playing matches against myself and now my youngest son is moving into the new home I built him and his mom. He has two tables setup and he is only five minutes away so we will make it a weekly match. This should help.

Maybe your son can encourage friends to play and as they develop you might be able to get a some other matches off the back of this.

[lesedwards]

Maybe your son can encourage friends to play and as they develop you might be able to get a some other matches off the back of this.

Possibly, my son is much like me he could play 24/7. I hope to get him playing in our tournaments but it's tough because he has a learning disability and he finds it hard to follow all the rules. He just knows how to pot balls.

[markz]

That's the problem. No such thing as clubs here and most pool halls have dumped the snooker tables for pool tables. As for friends that play I have a few but they are not very close and if I am lucky I might get a few games in one day in a month. I like to get up to TD but he is two hours away. I am going to have to concentrate on playing matches against myself and now my youngest son is moving into the new home I built him and his mom. He has two tables setup and he is only five minutes away so we will make it a weekly match. This should help.

I thought you said earlier you play a regular game every Tuesday night at a friends that has an old Brunswick table. That was the reason you were opening your pockets up. Playing frames can only help you so much, majority of professionals and good players on here have all progressed with solo practice. So much easier to learn the skills on your own then take that to your game.