2 Schools

[Master Blaster]

There are always at least 2 schools of playing/thought in snooker. I've just looked at Ronnie's 5min maxi., a video Eden Sharav and also Stephen Lee. They all have lovely cue actions that flow very naturally they all play at a good pace and I've noticed some similarities. They're all foot pointing out and they don't have their bridge shoulders clamped to the table as some coaches recommend. What are the advantages and disadvantages of this general set-up compared to foot-in-line and bridge shoulder down please?

[cyberheater]

and they don't have their bridge shoulders clamped to the table as some coaches recommend.

You're going to have to expand on that. I don't know what you mean?

[Master Blaster]

You're going to have to expand on that. I don't know what you mean?

Thanks, I mean that they don't have their armpits on the table, you know, the shoulder is slightly above the table, their forearms are on the table flat but their upper arms are slightly above the table if that makes sense? A lot of coaches recommend shoulder all the way down, which then lowers the body a tad and leads to the cue being more level to the table. Ronnie's butt is a bit up from the rail level so he cues quite high for a pro, as does Selby.

This cropped up today in session and it has left me wondering which is most advantageous. I've been playing foot in line, shoulder down so the other set-up looks and feels strange. It was recommended but I'm not sure. I know Hendry/Davis/Higgins are all foot-in-line, Ronnie, Lee etc foot pointing out so there is no magic set-up it seems.

[tedisbill]

Foot on the line of the shot, doesn't matter where the actual foot is pointing though. So basically, heel needs to be on the line.

[Terry Davidson]

I preach both feet pointing outwards slightly, maybe 20* for both stability and comfort and to take the strain off the knee joints. I also recommend getting the bridge are shoulder down as low as comfortably possible which I feel helps stabilize the shoulders and keeps the grip arm shoulder up high along with the elbow.

But you're correct in saying there is no one set-up that is 'correct' although somewhere near that ideal should be the target.

[LittleMissAlexa]

I think natural players have a natural cue action if you tamper with it too much they could lose a lot I dont know if Terry will back me up on this

[Terry Davidson]

I think natural players have a natural cue action if you tamper with it too much they could lose a lot I dont know if Terry will back me up on this

It would have to be on a case-by-case basis. A very young player might have a good natural cue action and be able to pot a lot of balls but he might have too many moving parts which he can coordinate when younger but once that excellent coordination goes he might find he has difficulties. For instance, Hendry used to drop his elbow into his back on his backswing and obviously he was able to coordinate his delivery perfectly when younger but as he got older he became unable to coordinate it and lost some of his long potting ability.

My 'ideal' technique that I teach is to remove any of those extra moving parts which require coordination and also with most players, even very good ones, there may be some very minor points which could be corrected but that might not be necessary. In any case I would discuss it with the player and inform him of what I'm observing and leave it to him to decide if he wants to work on correcting them.

I don't like to force the supposed 'ideal' technique on any player because every player will have some parts of his technique which are natural and for the most part it's very difficult to change something which is natural to the player. I would only point them out if I feel it's costing him.

[Master Blaster]

TD, here's an even more radical thought, does foot-in-line lead to a power loss. Certainly, there seems less room underneath to cue freely and the cue is very cocked to the right of the body which may not be a natural position for anything except gun-slinging. What do you think?

Robbo and Trump have max cue power amongst the pros, how do they stand bud?

[Terry Davidson]

TD, here's an even more radical thought, does foot-in-line lead to a power loss. Certainly, there seems less room underneath to cue freely and the cue is very cocked to the right of the body which may not be a natural position for anything except gun-slinging. What do you think?

Robbo and Trump have max cue power amongst the pros, how do they stand bud?

I don't think so as power comes from the length of backswing and the rate of acceleration. I don't often get to see how the pros are standing and I don't think it matters much as long as the straight-leg foot is on the line of aim. As Steve Davis once told someone 'you don't shoot with your feet'. I like to see the arch on the line of aim as that will normally mean it's easy and simple for the player to keep his hip over towards his bent leg and not impede the backswing.

This is another one where I don't think there is a one 'ideal' fits all.

[Master Blaster]

I don't think so as power comes from the length of backswing and the rate of acceleration. I don't often get to see how the pros are standing and I don't think it matters much as long as the straight-leg foot is on the line of aim. As Steve Davis once told someone 'you don't shoot with your feet'. I like to see the arch on the line of aim as that will normally mean it's easy and simple for the player to keep his hip over towards his bent leg and not impede the backswing.

This is another one where I don't think there is a one 'ideal' fits all.

Cheers TD. My thinking was that Davis, Hendry and Higgins are the strongest and most successful example of the foot-in-line set-up and alignment. Obviously, I can't slag it off given their 16 world titles but I think they'd stuggle on 6811 T as they all lack a bit of cue power compared to those who are foot to the right, Jimmy, ROS, Stephen Lee, Mags. Steve was strict foot-in-line so I'm surprised that someone who has obsessed with technique thinks that.

Personally, I think there is an accuracy-power trade-off between the two stances because the freedom to deliver the cue is different as well. Foot pointing out seems to be more power but more freedom to also go offline with the cue so less accuracy sometimes. I find I can take the cue back further with foot pointing out.

Have you tried both Terry and found a difference?

[Terry Davidson]

Can't agree with you on this one. When you consider alignment I believe it's necessary to start with a good foundation and that is having the straight-leg foot on the line of aim. When standing behind the shot and then getting into the address position the first thing you should do is place the straight leg foot on the line of aim and build the bridge, elbow, chin etc. from there.

I would think having that foot outside the line of aim would possibly cause 2 problems, the first being having the hip in the way of the backswing and the second is not having everything aligned on the line of aim.

The other factor to consider is this is getting right down into the real nitty-gritty of alignment and technique and is it really worth worrying about? Sometimes players will get far too involved in the minor things and this detracts their mind from what they should be thinking about, i.e. - potting and cueball control.