Technique Critique Please!

[j6uk]

cool man you seem like your really into it. 7hrs a week aint too bad, as long as your not spending more time on here instead of on the table..
i see some mannerisms off others, maybe a bit of robo as well as the best payer in the club, do you play many people better than you?
the presure of competion really shines a light on your alround game so league an comps is a must

I could honestly see me playing snooker for the rest of my life. I have played other sports to a high level, but never have I found a sport so enthralling as snooker, even when I play badly I still wake up the next day wanting to go and practice/play. Trouble is, I study an intensive course at university (Mechanical Engineering) so don't get too much time to play, I probably only average 6-7 hours a week (3 solo practice, 3-4 frames vs others) during term time. I really want to play more and looking at ways I can increase this. I also want to play proper tournaments/leagues in the future, but don't know where to look for things my level. Only wish I had started playing when I was a lot younger aha!

[Gus Teunissen-High]

Hi Gus, post up what area you live and someone may be able to suggest a local league.

I am at university in Bristol, and am here for most of the year.

Your technique looks remarkable for someone whose only being playing for a year. Your determination and passion will undoubtedly lead you to become an exceptional player years down the line. Right now your degree is more important, but as long as you remain interested in snooker and keep playing year after year, you will become better and better. In my experience, its the players who periodically give up then retake up the sport that fail to progress. As long as you remain passionate, interested and absorbed in the game, your stance, bridge hand, timing and stillness on delivery will all hold you in good stead. Watch this space!

Much appreciated, thank you!

Snooker and Frank Zappa , now there's a combination . Zoot Allures !!

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Haha, my favourite artist of all time, although not many people my age to enjoy his music with. Just trying to work my way through his sizeable back catalogue at the moment, probably just over half way through now!

When I did my degree (also Mech Eng) I probably studied for about 15 hrs a week including lecture time for the first few years and the rest of the time I just played snooker/went out. The degree will take care of itself but the snooker will only improve if you put the work in

Pretty much what it is like for me at the moment, although I am in 3rd year now so things are much more hectic than the first two years, with dissertations/exams and what not.

cool man you seem like your really into it. 7hrs a week aint too bad, as long as your not spending more time on here instead of on the table..
i see some mannerisms off others, maybe a bit of robo as well as the best payer in the club, do you play many people better than you?
the presure of competion really shines a light on your alround game so league an comps is a must

Yeah, my aim would be 10 atleast, with 50/50 split between solo and frames. Most of the people I play at uni are the same standard or slightly better, but when I am home there is one guy I sometimes play who is much better. I actually co-founded and was president of the University of Bristol Pool & Snooker Club for the current academic year so we could enter competitions (there wasn't already one). I have managed to play in a couple of 8 ball pool tournaments through this and actually had a lot of success. We one the national universities (BUCS) pool team trophy in Great Yarmouth, beating 60 other teams. I also won £15 for winning my mini draw in the Southern Universities Snooker Championship, which was a lot of fun, but were only one frame matches. Staying with the society committee next year, so hoping that I can get at-least some more match practice in snooker through that.

[Terry Davidson]

Cheers Terry!

Are there any drills other than cueing on the baulk line that can be used to improve alignment? I am also not sure whether the miss alignment is a result of incorrectly walking into the shot, or picking out the wrong contact point on the OB.

I did notice a couple of things related to your alignment. First of all there were some times you didn't line the blue up absolutely straight but you still hit it straight and it missed. By the way, for a right-hander long blues from the yellow side of the table makes more sense as your bridge arm is not being interfered with by the side cushion. Line up the blue so it's dead in to the edge of the leather on the top pocket and then place a light chalk mark on the cueball spot on the baulkline.

Secondly, alignment starts with your right foot. It should be on the line of aim and pointed outwards slightly. I recommend the arch of the foot (laces) but actually in can be anywhere between the toes and the heel and it's whatever feels the most natural and comfortable for you (each player is different). The important point is when you place that right foot but are still standing up lock your eyes on the object ball, keep them there when you place the right foot and and easy way is to keep the nose pointed at the object ball. Now with your eyes and nose on the object ball drop the head STRAIGHT DOWN. Do not look at the cueball until you are down in the address position.

Since you get the best perspective of the angle of the shot when you're standing behind it and IF you drop the head straight down without any sideways movement, then you should be on the line of aim and when you sight along the cue, through the cueball, to the object ball you should now be on the correct line of aim.

NEVER, ever look at the pocket when you are down in the address position unless it happens to be a straight-in shot or very close to it as your body will automatically follow your eyes.

[Gus Teunissen-High]

I did notice a couple of things related to your alignment. First of all there were some times you didn't line the blue up absolutely straight but you still hit it straight and it missed. By the way, for a right-hander long blues from the yellow side of the table makes more sense as your bridge arm is not being interfered with by the side cushion. Line up the blue so it's dead in to the edge of the leather on the top pocket and then place a light chalk mark on the cueball spot on the baulkline.

Secondly, alignment starts with your right foot. It should be on the line of aim and pointed outwards slightly. I recommend the arch of the foot (laces) but actually in can be anywhere between the toes and the heel and it's whatever feels the most natural and comfortable for you (each player is different). The important point is when you place that right foot but are still standing up lock your eyes on the object ball, keep them there when you place the right foot and and easy way is to keep the nose pointed at the object ball. Now with your eyes and nose on the object ball drop the head STRAIGHT DOWN. Do not look at the cueball until you are down in the address position.

Since you get the best perspective of the angle of the shot when you're standing behind it and IF you drop the head straight down without any sideways movement, then you should be on the line of aim and when you sight along the cue, through the cueball, to the object ball you should now be on the correct line of aim.

NEVER, ever look at the pocket when you are down in the address position unless it happens to be a straight-in shot or very close to it as your body will automatically follow your eyes.

I appreciate the detail of this response Terry, thank you. This is mostly what I try to do, however, I probably have slipped into small bad habits. When I think about my action, I have been flicking my eyes to the CB before I am completely down on the shot. I will incorporate these ideas into a 5-10 minute drill to do at the start of my practice sessions, this should correct the problem!