Please help a Dummy needing a Dummy

[Sidd]

Hello everyone,

I have played a few times now with my new cue and felt very comfortable. It still seems a bit long while playing as I have been used to with a 57.5 whereas this is 60, however, I am sure I will settle in very quickly. Have had breaks of 28, 24 so far. Not reaching the 30ies or 40ies yet but I know settling with a new cue takes at least 2-3 weeks whereas i have only played thrice with it so far. Plus I don't get to play singles, we play 4-5 people on a table and have our scores and then the table money is deducted in the end by deducting the scores and finding out who pays what amount. I know its not the right format to play but no time no table situation, one has to submit to that. Alas !

I need to discuss the following 4 things:

1. What could be the Dummy for proper shot completion, that is to say, the grip hand hitting the chest consistently ? I think Terry once mentioned to take a shot thinking you are hitting the OB with the tip and that the CB is merely a soap bubble. This takes our mind off the resistance of hitting the white and hence we complete the shot every time and the grip hand hits the chest. Is that it or is there another dummy for this?

2. I am also trying to control backswings and altering the amount of distance on a backswing as per the power required. Sometimes I forget this but try to remain aware of it while in the balls. So lets see... Any help with this... Solo or a dummy for this too? the problem is that with alternating backswings one has to keep the acceleration constant right? whereas I have been playing with longer backswing for all shots for so long that sometimes I alter acceleration with alternating backswings too How to accomplish constant acceleration with alternating backswings is the key here.

3. I still can't find my rhythm as to when to switch eyes to the OB and lock them there. I have tried the three Davis methods in solo i.e. at the front pause, during the back swing and at the back pause .. still confused in this department ... Will need lots of solo for this I know.

4. When I do not play in focus like yesterday my cue suddenly feels so much heavy in my hands. When in focus and completely relax it feels just natural but I have noticed this many times that when not in form or sometimes when not playing well it seems as if I am holding a heavier cue than it normally is. Why is that?

Cheers,
Sidd.

[Leo]

How tall are you Sidd?

[bolton-cueman]

How tall are you Sidd?

ffs, dont start all that again, Leo.... this lad needs to see a coach and bottom out his 'problems'.

Swapping cues, going from 57" to 58" to whatever, visualizing hitting things, using aiming strategies, focusing on x y or z isn't working as he's probably going backwards with all this magic in his head.

Or perhaps he might just have to admit he'll never be as good as he wants to be. (not meant to sound harsh, but if you know your true level, accept it and play to it you'll stop beating yourself up and actually start enjoying playing - after all isnt that what we play for?)

[jrc750]

You will never improve playing 4 or 5 to a table! !

[Leo]

How tall are you Sidd

[Sidd]

How tall are you Sidd

Not that tall, just 6.1

[Leo]

Not that tall, just 6.1

Well as BC said you need a bit of coaching fella, you'll find it very hard asking coaching questions on here and actually rectifying it.

[Sidd]

ffs, dont start all that again, Leo.... this lad needs to see a coach and bottom out his 'problems'.

Swapping cues, going from 57" to 58" to whatever, visualizing hitting things, using aiming strategies, focusing on x y or z isn't working as he's probably going backwards with all this magic in his head.

Or perhaps he might just have to admit he'll never be as good as he wants to be. (not meant to sound harsh, but if you know your true level, accept it and play to it you'll stop beating yourself up and actually start enjoying playing - after all isnt that what we play for?)

I understand what you are saying. I have made a 67 and a few 50ies and that made me think I can progress to a higher level. MY problem is not understanding the game but being consistent and progressing. I know I am a recreational player and can enjoy better without thoughts but then there is something in me that keeps compelling me to find out ways to improve and keep progressing.

I may not be as good as I want to be but I don't find harm n trying to achieve that level and I love the process so to speak

I love this game more in a Steve Davis fashion, I will play good or bad but keep trying till I physically and mentally can play it. I am surely not that good but I know I can be once I keep my thoughts away form the match table...!

cheers.

[Terry Davidson]

Sidd, Sidd, Sidd (shaking head here)...

First of all I believe the best type of technique includes the longer backswing for every shot along with a defined rear pause that isn't too long. I don't believe you need a longer cue but you can sort that out with vmax.

I agree you will never improve without solo practice and some good coaching and even more important is getting more practice whether solo or with ONE other player. Surely the tables in this club are not that busy all day long and there must be a quiet period sometime during the day but perhaps you can't alter your schedule to suit?

If you want to know the REAL SECRET of improving at snooker it is this...whatever and however you try to play KEEP YOUR TECHNIQUE CONSISTENT and don't be switching out everything all the time. Pick a method and stick with it and then get tons of practice

[vmax4steve]

vmax says that Sidd's cue is the right length, his only problem is online coaching putting a myriad of thoughts in his head as he's playing.
Now it's varying the length of his backswing that's preying on his mind

For pity's sake Sidd just get down into your stance naturally, eye on the object ball and just play without any thought and let it happen as it did before all this online coaching took over your game. Your cue isn't too long or too heavy, it's the right length for a man of your height as you now have enough cue to be able to hold it where you need to for any kind of shot, shorter bridge when in the balls, longer bridge for distance shots just like all the best players do who have the right tool for the job.

But one thing is for certain, you can't progress playing frames against 5 or 6 players at once; if you're serious about your game progressing you need to be able to get into a rhythm and waiting for 5 others to have their turn is only making you think about everything all the time.

Bloody hell Sidd, I don't even play pairs as I can't stand the wait between shots, 5 or 6 players taking a turn and then you're on the baulk cushion when it's your go must be absolute murder.
Do your very best to find time for solo practise.

[Sidd]

Sidd, Sidd, Sidd (shaking head here)...

First of all I believe the best type of technique includes the longer backswing for every shot along with a defined rear pause that isn't too long. I don't believe you need a longer cue but you can sort that out with vmax.

I agree you will never improve without solo practice and some good coaching and even more important is getting more practice whether solo or with ONE other player. Surely the tables in this club are not that busy all day long and there must be a quiet period sometime during the day but perhaps you can't alter your schedule to suit?

If you want to know the REAL SECRET of improving at snooker it is this...whatever and however you try to play KEEP YOUR TECHNIQUE CONSISTENT and don't be switching out everything all the time. Pick a method and stick with it and then get tons of practice

thanks for the response Terry. Much appreciated. I understand this however sometimes bad thoughts get in my head and it is hard to get rid of them. I shall try my best not to think at the table.

Regards,
Sidd.

[Sidd]

vmax says that Sidd's cue is the right length, his only problem is online coaching putting a myriad of thoughts in his head as he's playing.
Now it's varying the length of his backswing that's preying on his mind

For pity's sake Sidd just get down into your stance naturally, eye on the object ball and just play without any thought and let it happen as it did before all this online coaching took over your game. Your cue isn't too long or too heavy, it's the right length for a man of your height as you now have enough cue to be able to hold it where you need to for any kind of shot, shorter bridge when in the balls, longer bridge for distance shots just like all the best players do who have the right tool for the job.

But one thing is for certain, you can't progress playing frames against 5 or 6 players at once; if you're serious about your game progressing you need to be able to get into a rhythm and waiting for 5 others to have their turn is only making you think about everything all the time.

Bloody hell Sidd, I don't even play pairs as I can't stand the wait between shots, 5 or 6 players taking a turn and then you're on the baulk cushion when it's your go must be absolute murder.
Do your very best to find time for solo practise.

I understand Steve. It is not the right format and while waiting once gets to think too much and for a man like me, its a killer. I shall try to do something about it, nothing can be done right now, but hopefully will do something.

I shall do one thing for sure if nothing else. I shall try to get time for some solo practice and then think of things during that timeframe Rest I shall have this in mind:

Consistent technique no changing no switching
eyes on BoB at the right moment and I know this is the real flaw in me and once I do that I make breaks !

Cheers,
Sidd.

[tomlimcj]

try to find out what u are doing right when potting balls. and keep doing it. it could be no rocking of wrist, staying low on shots, no dip in elbow...to little things like lifting the last finger off the butt on pullback, bending the bridge arm abit more, etc... the more "constants" u can find in ur game, the easier it is to be consistent.

[vmax4steve]

try to find out what u are doing right when potting balls. and keep doing it. it could be no rocking of wrist, staying low on shots, no dip in elbow...to little things like lifting the last finger off the butt on pullback, bending the bridge arm abit more, etc... the more "constants" u can find in ur game, the easier it is to be consistent.

Sidd takes his eye off the object ball like many of us do, when he doesn't he's a potting machine, when he does he misses balls over the pockets. It took him many wasted years of tinkering with his cue action but he finally realises that now he has a cue that fits his height, he can sight the shot properly and he can forget about all that tinkering and finally get down to focussing on the object ball to the exclusion of eveything else.

People please................ no more advice for Sidd, however well intentioned he doesn't need it, he can play this game to a very good standard and now needs to be left alone to bury all those negative thoughts and focus only on the one thing that's holding him back.

[j6uk]

Sidd takes his eye off the object ball like many of us do
not me
, when he doesn't he's a potting machine
not from what iv seen
, when he does he misses balls over the pockets. It took him many wasted years of tinkering with his cue action but he finally realises that now he has a cue that fits his height
oh okay
, he can sight the shot properly and he can forget about all that tinkering and finally get down to focussing on the object ball to the exclusion of eveything else.
exclued what exactly, like hitting from the sholder muscule?

People please................ no more advice for Sidd
agreed
, however well intentioned he doesn't need it, he can play this game to a very good standard
not from where im sitting
and now needs to be left alone to bury all those negative thoughts and focus only on the one thing that's holding him back.

i too think he should be left alone, if only to follow his writing career