How on earth to be consistent

[tomwalker147]

Hopefully. Having trouble dragging them away from pool tables! We have 16 players registered for us, but can't seem to find 8 for our fixture to Somerset. We have re-arranged the date to try to accommodate everyone. I don't see us being able to continue next year. Especially if things carry on like this. I want to beat my 118 the year before last.

The trip to Somerset isn't appealing either, I drove down in the morning, we left at half 5. A day of snooker then a drive back like that afterwards is a killer.
We're at Derbyshire this Sunday but like you we struggle for a side, people don't seem to be ask keen as they used to be. The 118 is a great break, I only played a couple of fixtures last year with my highest break being a 76 on the Star at the Raven hotel.

[inevermissblue]

The trip to Somerset isn't appealing either, I drove down in the morning, we left at half 5. A day of snooker then a drive back like that afterwards is a killer.
We're at Derbyshire this Sunday but like you we struggle for a side, people don't seem to be ask keen as they used to be. The 118 is a great break, I only played a couple of fixtures last year with my highest break being a 76 on the Star at the Raven hotel.

I would have had the highest break that year, but I under hit the blue to middle trying to hold for the pink. (136). Ashley Carty made 121 the same day. Let me know when you want a game up the Raven. Its only up the road! ��

[pottr]

You sexy county player, Tom

Wish I were good enough x

[tomwalker147]

You sexy county player, Tom

Wish I were good enough x

HE'S BACK! where you been mate? Play sunday if you want, i've heard about you playing pool last week you muggle!

[pottr]

Playing pool, I don't think what I did qualified as playing pool... 4 frames, zero victories and I 3 clearances on a plate! Went home, played Luke... second frame 136 TC #fml

Can't play with them pro cup things, they are absolute pants!

me and my Saffa are going to Dublin for Cew's birthday mate... You still running a Cov league side? Sign me up if you are? x

[tomwalker147]

Playing pool, I don't think what I did qualified as playing pool... 4 frames, zero victories and I 3 clearances on a plate! Went home, played Luke... second frame 136 TC #fml

Can't play with them pro cup things, they are absolute pants!

me and my Saffa are going to Dublin for Cew's birthday mate... You still running a Cov league side? Sign me up if you are? x

I would love to sign you up on a wednesday night mate, there might even be the odd week where Luke could get a game too. I'm not sure if Fordy put you down for his side though but you've not played a game for him so I doubt it'll matter!

Enjoy Dublin! I won 1 out of 6 last time I played interleague pool, too much waiting around for me. Wait half hour for a game of pool then get break dished...cheers!

[inevermissblue]

Hows it going pottr??? Long time no see...Was watching your youtube vids the other week. Class mate. Love your no nonsense approach. We need to have a session oneday. CB v OB... May the best man win.

[Burnpark]

Agreed. No such thing as consistency regardless of standard. I remember watching a match between Hendry and Williams on telly a few years ago. In 4 or 5 frames played their top break was well below 20. If they can play that badly, then anyone can.
The problem is that a lot of people like to think that their best game is their average, or at the very least that it should be their average. Unsurprisingly, I was one of those for years. It only led to frustration. Occasionally I still get those unrealistic thoughts.

Well said that man. I've been having that problem for the last few years, but starting to come round to the fact that I can't play to my best ability all the time. Personally I turn to a bit of safety for a while until I get back into my rhythm

[itsnoteasy]

Not been mentioned but delivering the cue the same for me is important, when cueing at a nice tempo and not throwing in a quick one, I'm much more consistent ( get on the TUCA to sort this out) same back as forward. It helps with cueing straight and with cue ball control, I find it odd that swing tempo isn't really discussed much for some reason.

[rich123]

Although I have already posted this in another thread I feel it's worth mentioning here.
I have watched countless vids + taken on some of the excellent tips etc here on TSF and found that for me one of the biggest improvements I gained was having a pre shot routine, I worked on my stance, cue action, grip, delivery and so on which were at some points counter intuitive when set against my bad habits but I persevered and found that my basic potting/positional play vastly improved, the only problem was the consistency of these improvements, I was technically better than before, I knew that because my pot success and breaks had started to reflect the improvements/changes I had made ....I found that having a pre shot routine kind of tied everything together, I now habitually do pretty much the same thing on every shot and I think another bonus is that I don't think about "am I cueing straight, is my leg in the right position, how's my grip" etc, etc, having a routine has cemented all this together. So that would be my advice to having a more consistent level.


...I now play in a local league for the club I play at and I'm finding that there is another aspect to the game which is equally as important as having a good technique and that's shot selection, some of the old boys you play against have what may be considered a terrible techneque but their nounce and wisdom on the game far exceeds their cue action, they know how to win games and when to play a certain shot. or indeed not to play and while your busy critiquing their stance, cue action etc they have potted 4 reds, 1 black, 2 blues and a brown and your coming to the table snookered .....it's a hard and funny game this snooker is, hard and funny

[tomwalker147]

...I now play in a local league for the club I play at and I'm finding that there is another aspect to the game which is equally as important as having a good technique and that's shot selection, some of the old boys you play against have what may be considered a terrible techneque but their nounce and wisdom on the game far exceeds their cue action, they know how to win games and when to play a certain shot. or indeed not to play and while your busy critiquing their stance, cue action etc they have potted 4 reds, 1 black, 2 blues and a brown and your coming to the table snookered .....it's a hard and funny game this snooker is, hard and funny

Glad your game has improved Rich, you must have taken notice of the right people on TSF!
I played County yesterday and played Jamie Bodle, his shot selection when playing safe and then when in the balls was brilliant. I could see why he's the current English amateur champ!
Shot selection is key, it's what helps me level the playing field when playing better players than myself! The old boys in local league snooker are the masters of it, can't do what they once could but they play to their level of ability and only go for the shots they can play 9/10 times.

[rich123]

Glad your game has improved Rich, you must have taken notice of the right people on TSF!
I played County yesterday and played Jamie Bodle, his shot selection when playing safe and then when in the balls was brilliant. I could see why he's the current English amateur champ!
Shot selection is key, it's what helps me level the playing field when playing better players than myself! The old boys in local league snooker are the masters of it, can't do what they once could but they play to their level of ability and only go for the shots they can play 9/10 times.

Cheers Tom (I'm presuming it's Tom), feel like the practice I've put in which has mainly consisted of adopting a better technique + getting on the team is (slightly) paying off. My game before was riddled with bad habits, mostly these were routed in my technique, or lack of it !, I could play 5-6 frames and not get a break over 15(ish) sometimes I'd get a 25+ in one of them but it was all very hit and miss if you get my drift (pun very much intended).
I found trying to improve my technique had a delayed response, initially I struggled to pot more than 3 balls in succession, my already relatively poor game become acutely poorer but I persevered. I had experienced something similar to this in my other great love, music ...I found from an early age that I had an ability to play the drums and played them daily from the age of 12 and unlike other instruments which you can teach almost anybody to play, it would be very, very difficult to teach someone with no inherent ability (another instrument would be the piano) ....when I started to study music and grading my playing I found that I had many bad habits which not only were limiting my playing but would prevent me from gaining better grading results, while practicing my rudiments I had to in essence stop playing completely until I could incorporate the rudiments in more complex pieces ...but once instilled these rudiments allow you to play anything ....so my persistence with my snooker I knew or hoped would eventually bear fruit, which it has and although I'm by no means anything special I'm making 25+ on a regular basis which may, to some be not that great, I'm over the moon and feel confident that I can achieve a 50 in a line up practice session pretty soon, I've had lots of 35+ recently so something to aim for but don't worry Tom I think it will or would be a long, long time until I'm at a level where I could compete with the kind of players you're up against and TBH I'm just really happy that I'm playing better which makes the game more enjoyable..

[tomwalker147]

Rich if you're making regular 25+ breaks then you're on the right lines. And believe it or not probably not far behind the average forum member!
My advice would be to keep honing the basics and when you try your next line up just have 3 reds between the pink and black. That way your position will need to be more accurate and your positional play will improve. Having too many reds on the table leads to complacency, as position is virtually guaranteed. An old routine of Hendry's was to clear the table with one red on, then 2 reds and so on, all the way to a full 15 red clearance. Another of his was to clear the colours before attempting anything else, the colour clearance is only 6 balls but it's 6 different shots. You'll be surprised how many league players there are who can't clear the colours off their spots but will be able to score 40 or 50 with reds on the table.

I love that you mentioned music, the basic foundations you talk about are the same with snooker you're absolutely right (I've actually just dusted off my acoustic guitar and am trying to learn chords rather than just strumming along aimlessly).

Keep at it mate and if you want any advice don't be afraid to drop me a PM, this is a forum and we should all help and learn from each other and rejoice in people's improvements.

Cheers

Tom

[rich123]

Hi Tom, thanks for your advice and kind offer of PM too. Recently got a new cue which I forgot to mention which I feel has helped, I had a feeling that my Phoenix was a little heavy or the balance wasn't complementing my technique, I wasn't sure tbh but knew something wasn't quite right, so I was on the lookout for something a little lighter pref one piece and a little more flex in the shaft and as luck would have it I dropped on a James Butters badged, 17.5oz and only a 30 min drive away. The guy selling it had lots of cues and was a self confessed cue addict, he had bought the cue as it had been advertised as being 18.5oz but when he received it he had doubts regarding this claim, he estimated that it was at least 1-1.5oz less than claimed, anyway he was brilliant, he said that if I had any problems getting on with the cue I could return it and have a full refund, been using it about a week now and I'm loving it (pics to follow shortly), its also fitted with a laminated tip which I've never used before but I'm very impressed with it so keeping it on I think.

Glad your dusting off your acoustic, excellent therapy!. I also play guitar and have a couple of acoustics lying around.
If I can be of any help with your playing don't hesitate to PM me Tom.
Btw, where abouts are you ?

Cheers Rich.

[inevermissblue]

Just nipped down the local British legion on my first day off of 4. I work 4 on, 4 off. 2 off days (12 hr) and 2 night shifts! So I'm not the most frequent of player.
First 51 drill attempt and two solo frames as there's no one to play, and I've already had 72 & 52. My cue is still damp from last week! CB sighting to boot!!! ��
Ok...I'm not massing the tons very often, but as far as consistency goes... I'm happy as Larry.