Improve your game by watching competitions video?

[bolton-cueman]

There is a better way of improving. Find out where your game actually is by entering a pro-am tournament. Obviously you are all keen players striving to improve. So put yourselves up for that challenge. For those of you who haven't seen yet, there is a pro-am at Derby tomorrow. So distance permitting...why not come along and see how you get on!
Before anyone says 'im not good enough' or I don't practise enough. This is handicapped to suit everyone! There's no point playing the game if you have nothing to practise for.
Its far more productive on a personal level to see what's missing from your own game in tournament play than to play your mate, or do mind numbing lineups! Or cueing through a matchbox with a hole in it! Lol.
Get out there and see what's actually happening...

I totally agree with this post...

you can watch as many videos of the top 16 as you want, you can discuss the pros and cons of dropping your elbow or having 3 feathers or 10 feathers, you can spend an hour a day cueing up to a poxy piece of cardboard with a picture of a cue ball on it and a hole in it on your kitchen worktop like a complete lemon, or discuss the benefits of Elks over ADR over Wollys super tips, or knock one out over a Nic Barrow video on Youtube, but unless you put yourself in a comp or a competitive environment you'll a) never know what player you really are and b) know how good you are.

As I Never Miss kinda said, its then and only then can you start on your path to improvement.

[Ramon]

There is a better way of improving. Find out where your game actually is by entering a pro-am tournament. Obviously you are all keen players striving to improve. So put yourselves up for that challenge. For those of you who haven't seen yet, there is a pro-am at Derby tomorrow. So distance permitting...why not come along and see how you get on!
Before anyone says 'im not good enough' or I don't practise enough. This is handicapped to suit everyone! There's no point playing the game if you have nothing to practise for.
Its far more productive on a personal level to see what's missing from your own game in tournament play than to play your mate, or do mind numbing lineups! Or cueing through a matchbox with a hole in it! Lol.
Get out there and see what's actually happening...

I hope u do'nt mind me asking a few questions !!
may I ask, what do u have to do as first in such a tournament ?? I mean, do we have to register , before we start to play?
and what if someone has to go to the bathroom? Is that allowed during the tournament or he must do so before the tournament starts?
and what do you mean by handicapped ??
I just thought this is a great idea , would be nice to have a bit more info about how does it wroks !!
Good post , btw !!

[ace man]

Ramon, I think I'll have a better answer for you because inevermisstheblue probably has many Pro-am tournaments available nearby.
Not sure which country you're from, but most likely you will need to travel quite far to get to play in a tournament where you'll have chance to see pro players from UK play IN PERSON, and not on tv.

I myself have been to two pro-am events back in year 2010. Those were the closest to me:
http://www.viennasnookeropen.at/frmC...2015/index.php
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Austri..._%28snooker%29

As inevermisstheblue says, the experience is invaluable. Seeing top players play in person, chatting to them...and if luck will have it, maybe play them.
Other than pro players, there are also many other players of all levels, some super high level amateurs. It really opens your eyes. You can immediatelly see who can play well and who only has a good looking stance but is otherwise poor.

Of course you need to apply for event (phone or e-mail), have full dress code...pay the entry fee...etc. Other than professionalism and quality of play and conditions, it is a tournament very much like any other. It can have single elimination draw, group stages...etc. Entry fee may not be cheap if there are more than a few pros coming.
It is better to choose tournaments which have group stages, as that way you are guaranteed to play a few matches no matter how poor you may be.

It is also possible to apply for PTC such as Paul Hunter classic as a complete amateur. Some of my club mates have done so. But there you will have many preliminary rounds, so unless you are very very good chances of actually playing against pro level opponent are rather slim. First you need to get by very good amateurs, which is extremely unlikely for a club player. Unfortunately I didn't have time to go. For sure I plan to play in it eventually. Maybe I'll set the world on fire... Better than buying a ticket and just watching.

Pro players are so much stronger than even very good amateurs, it is hard to believe. The gap is huge. It is hard to even respond with a few good safeties, let alone pose a serious threat. But at events where I've been, there was no handicap, i.e. you don't get for e.g. 50 point start each frame or anything like that. It is better that way.

[Ramon]

Ramon, I think I'll have a better answer for you because inevermisstheblue probably has many Pro-am tournaments available nearby.
Not sure which country you're from, but most likely you will need to travel quite far to get to play in a tournament where you'll have chance to see pro players from UK play IN PERSON, and not on tv.

I myself have been to two pro-am events back in year 2010. Those were the closest to me:
http://www.viennasnookeropen.at/frmC...2015/index.php
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Austri..._%28snooker%29

As inevermisstheblue says, the experience is invaluable. Seeing top players play in person, chatting to them...and if luck will have it, maybe play them.
Other than pro players, there are also many other players of all levels, some super high level amateurs. It really opens your eyes. You can immediatelly see who can play well and who only has a good looking stance but is otherwise poor.

Of course you need to apply for event (phone or e-mail), have full dress code...pay the entry fee...etc. Other than professionalism and quality of play and conditions, it is a tournament very much like any other. It can have single elimination draw, group stages...etc. Entry fee may not be cheap if there are more than a few pros coming.
It is better to choose tournaments which have group stages, as that way you are guaranteed to play a few matches no matter how poor you may be.

It is also possible to apply for PTC such as Paul Hunter classic as a complete amateur. Some of my club mates have done so. But there you will have many preliminary rounds, so unless you are very very good chances of actually playing against pro level opponent are rather slim. First you need to get by very good amateurs, which is extremely unlikely for a club player. Unfortunately I didn't have time to go. For sure I plan to play in it eventually. Maybe I'll set the world on fire... Better than buying a ticket and just watching.

Pro players are so much stronger than even very good amateurs, it is hard to believe. The gap is huge. It is hard to even respond with a few good safeties, let alone pose a serious threat. But at events where I've been, there was no handicap, i.e. you don't get for e.g. 50 point start each frame or anything like that. It is better that way.

Wouw, this's sum answer !! must be a good experience !!
But , Now, do'nt you mind answering the questions that I asked in my previous post Please !!
U said Sumthing about handicap but i could'nt find the answer to other question !!! Sorry if I missed it !!
A short answer is enough !! do'nt get me wrong I enjoyed your answer and learned sum !! but not necessary to do all this trouble again ,
Btw, many thanks for replay !! Good post !!

[ace man]

Handicaps. For example, 147 points are available on the table. How much of a head start do you need to have 50% chance of winning a frame versus a pro player? 50 points? 80? How much of a head start can you give to the weakest player in your club to make the game 50/50? That's the idea behind handicaps I think. But I have never played in an event like that.

Toilet breaks. Certainly not mid frame. Normal etiquette I think. If matches have referee then you can always ask.

Usually there is a draw printed with schedule, so you should know when you play and on which table. Even small club player events have that.

[j6uk]

very good few posts ace,
an as you say playing the pros takes a lot out of even the best amateurs. the chances get fewer wich puts a lot of presure not only on your safty but on every chance you get, even the most simple chance can look hard. then when you do mannage to win a few frames they go on to get stronger. throw in their standard playing conditions and it can become another game
i find your posts generally a lot better than some of the other worthless padding we get on tsf..
anyway iv palyed in many h-caps over the years dishing out 80 before the break off for the players who struggled to string four balls together. but the proams would be a standerd 18 start from a pro wether it was drago or ronnie. but iv been out of the game for some time so, i can only share what some of the late 80/90s scene was prior the prestatyn times

[Ramon]

Handicaps. For example, 147 points are available on the table. How much of a head start do you need to have 50% chance of winning a frame versus a pro player? 50 points? 80? How much of a head start can you give to the weakest player in your club to make the game 50/50? That's the idea behind handicaps I think. But I have never played in an event like that.

Toilet breaks. Certainly not mid frame. Normal etiquette I think. If matches have referee then you can always ask.

Usually there is a draw printed with schedule, so you should know when you play and on which table. Even small club player events have that.

That's the answer I was looking for !! it's nice to see how mutch you know about this kiind of stuff !!
valuable member of this forum !! no doubt about it !!
Many thanks !!

[MrRottweiler]

I played in a few handicap tournaments and they can work well if the handicapper is good at it and people are honest with their highest breaks and general level of skill but I've had a few losses where I knew my opponent was basically "full of s***" and cheated the system although I feel like the table code prevents me from saying it and it would also look like sour grapes. I remember one tournament where I was blatantly beaten because my opponent lied about how good they were to get a bigger head start. He was making 20+ breaks on his first visit to the table and closed me out in every frame. It doesn't happen a lot because it can stand out like a sore thumb when someone is less than honest about their standard in a handicap tournament but it's still worth considering. In many ways I prefer a 0-0 start with everyone I play because that's a better test for me and it's much more rewarding to beat a better player from scratch.

[Ramon]

I played in a few handicap tournaments and they can work well if the handicapper is good at it and people are honest with their highest breaks and general level of skill but I've had a few losses where I knew my opponent was basically "full of s***" and cheated the system although I feel like the table code prevents me from saying it and it would also look like sour grapes. I remember one tournament where I was blatantly beaten because my opponent lied about how good they were to get a bigger head start. He was making 20+ breaks on his first visit to the table and closed me out in every frame. It doesn't happen a lot because it can stand out like a sore thumb when someone is less than honest about their standard in a handicap tournament but it's still worth considering. In many ways I prefer a 0-0 start with everyone I play because that's a better test for me and it's much more rewarding to beat a better player from scratch.

Very good point !!
well, if you play against better players , is not such a bad idea to be honest !! ! personally I would need it !!

[tomlimcj]

i watch vids on youtube but only to see where they position the ball for the next shot. usually i try to plan the shots at the same time, and if it is different, then i will question myself why. the players see better than us but its amazing how the commentators would always plan the correct shot most of the time! watching vids as a watch and learn would be good training, in a way. put urself at the table, sometimes u cant even see the next available position. thats when we start to think all sorts of shot scenarios, and screw up eventually haha.