Tips to be a good snooker player

[dannyd0g]

and also..good cue..do u think having a very good quality cue will improve my game??

Good question.

I have heard that Steven Hendry and Alan Mcmanus played most of ther careers (or at least the early part) on £15 cues bought from high street sports shops.

Would they have any been better with £500 cues. ?

I'm not sure of the answer, so i'd be interested to see what the cue experts on here think too.

[daoc2006]

Well, I personally play with an old battered looking cue, and I play wonderfully with it. I got it in a pub. I walked in, went to the snooker table and happened to pick it up, (this was like a decade ago) and I thought, this cue is really good. So i went to the landlord and said can i buy it, and he said, yes, 5 quid - best fiver ive ever spent - bargain. The cue just feels like an extention of my arm, and it just feels natural to play with it. When i pick up other cues, I cant play as well. I think that is pretty normal.

The key to a good cue is the general feel and touch you can get, and if it fits well in your hand and round your fingers. A cue could cost 1000 pounds and feel awful, a cue could cost 10 quid and feel perfect. Its just what you happen to come across where you just know this is the right cue for you.

I wouldnt swop mine for the world, and I truely believe my game would never be the same again if I had to use a different cue.

Stephen Hendry is the prime example, people said, his cue was basically garbage, and to everyone else, it would have been probably, but that cue fit Stephen Hendry. And i bet he still misses it.

[Ari_vatanen]

I would say the cue isn`t very important as long as its reasonable quality and more importantly, feels good to you.People get carried away with paying silly money for a piece of wood! Think it was John Spencer who in his prime used a cue with a 3 inch nail through the butt !!

Simon

[dantuck_7]

Interesting thread this one.

I know the feeling about gving it all up - have half entertained it when things haven't gone well. But my advice Piruz would be to remember the feeling of playing awesomely well. So well, you feel like taking anything on. We've all been there and it's a good place to be.

Some advice I've also heard recently is not to get carried away with the practise. A few days up to a week off can't do too much damage and will give your mind and body a chance to recover. Also, the post from pauljunkie is really good. The type of practise you go for is important. I've just learnt that this week - have realised I was going through the motions on the line out and feel like I'm getting something out of practising today.

The percentage breakdown of what makes a decent player is a good debate. I would put a fair bit of it down to your mental state - can confidence be included in that?

[poolqjunkie]

I think it is important to have a decent cue, but as you improve, you may change your preference, and want something with a different length, balance, weight, and so on.

Mental game is a subject I will be very interested in learning more about. One thing that puzzles me is that I can be very focused and motivated to win regardless of the situation, and on another day, I would feel like I have lost the match even before I start.

For me, when I feel that I am stroking the balls well, I will feel very confident and it is easy for me to get in my rhythm. Usually, I fell good about my stroke after a bit of practise before a match. So, I guess practise can help to build my confidence.

When I am confident, I do not really care much if I need all the balls and one snooker to win, I will feel like I have won the match, and will play quite well. But sometimes, even if I only need the yellow to get over the finish line, I will feel very negative in my mind, whichis usually due to the feeling that my stroke is crooked on that day or something else that I am not happy with about my cueing or aiming or sigting.

[CTquick147]

I know what dantuck 7 means about going through the motions on the line-up or any other drill you can practice, and I've practiced a lot. You can become stale, so it's key to keep practice fun. I was delighted when I downloaded Snooker Masterclass by Jimmy White off a torrent site. In the book he outlines a number of really great practice routines I've never seen anywhere else. This helped me get back to having fun at the practice table. I think it's so important to not get caught up in over practicing the shots you already play quite well. If you can screw the white back six feet, try to screw it back ten feet. This can be hard when you're in the club and there's people watching you, and you're failing to bring off these pots that you're not so strong on, but come match time, the hard work will have done you world of good, because now that shot you played so poorly before isn't such a problem anymore. Also it's great to visualize youself playing the way you want to. Theis may sound too simple to be worth repeating but I know many players who never do this, and they are worse off for it.

One more thing: Some other books every player should own are:

"How I play snooker" By Joe Davis

"Snooker Masterclass" by Stephen Hendry

"Snooker Skills" by Cliff Thorburn

"Classic Snooker" by Ray Reardon

[Strickimicki]

Stopping playing?

Hi.

I think, you need more than just practice.

It´s 80 % mental, 15 % Hardwork and 5 % talent.
I mean, I have seen people who practice every day at least 2-3 hours a day.
Well, I know brothers, that do just that. They come to club every day after work, practice alone 2-4 hours, then play match together 1-3 hours EVERYDAY. But, anothers best break is 73, others 56 (I dont remember precise breaks) but they do 50 breaks very rarely. They have been playing 2-3 years (at least). But I havent seen big improve in their games. So it isnt just big amount of practice, because otherwise they should make centuries every day!

I was hooked in this game too couple years ago, and have practiced a lot! Sometimes even 5-7 hours a day, but my best break is still under 50. And I make one +30 break in week. Today, I decided to quit playing snooker. I broke off my cue (yes, I broke my shaft in two pieces). It was a very good cue, but why should I use hundreds of euros (at least 100 pounds) in month for practice, if I cant enjoy playing anymore, and cant improve in game.

This isnt, like some finnish snooker players said to me, me whining about my game, this is my opinion, that snooker is, like many other sports, a game of talent.

So keep practicing, maybe someday you will be in Main Tour playing and we can only be jealous to you. I hope young kids, and junior players can understand, that they are the hope of this game, so it wont be forgotten in future. So good luck to everyone with game of snooker!

I always think it's a real shame when somebody stops playing through frustration!

I myself, have over the years broken a least one cue and probably damaged a few ( not yours Trev, I'm over that now).

One of the things I always say to the young lads that start playing in our club house, is SNOOkER is a game that you can play all your life and you will never be happy with your game.

You always set yourself targets to reach/ break and when you get that far the next target is quiet some way off.

When you get a 50+ break you are not happy because 100 is just a few balls away. and so on and soforth.

Try to enjoy the game every time you play. I've been going through a real bad patch. for quiet sometime now but I still enjoy playing.

Going from 50 - 60 breaks to 20+ is a real downer and if you can get over that, you can enjoy the game to ripe old age.

Try to stay calm, breath deeply and enjoy.

Hope you start playing again

Brian

[Blondie]

and also..good cue..do u think having a very good quality cue will improve my game??

Hey Liang,

......interesting one, good question.

For me anyway, the most important thing is how the cue 'feels' to you. It's a very personal thing to buy a cue, and the cost should not come into play as much as the 'balance', and how the cue 'feels' in your hand.

All the best.

Lol.....xx

[Piruz]

I always think it's a real shame when somebody stops playing through frustration!

I myself, have over the years broken a least one cue and probably damaged a few ( not yours Trev, I'm over that now).

One of the things I always say to the young lads that start playing in our club house, is SNOOkER is a game that you can play all your life and you will never be happy with your game.

You always set yourself targets to reach/ break and when you get that far the next target is quiet some way off.

When you get a 50+ break you are not happy because 100 is just a few balls away. and so on and soforth.

Try to enjoy the game every time you play. I've been going through a real bad patch. for quiet sometime now but I still enjoy playing.

Going from 50 - 60 breaks to 20+ is a real downer and if you can get over that, you can enjoy the game to ripe old age.

Try to stay calm, breath deeply and enjoy.

Hope you start playing again

Brian

Hi Brian, I understand what you mean, but Im perfectionist, so I cant never enjoy playing, because I have had a stop about one year now. This happened, when I started to change my technique. I tried old fashioned way. I read Steve Davis and John Spencers books. Then I got some tips from a good player in Finland, then I changed my techinque again when Robin Hull gave me some tips.

Then it all collapsed so down, that I coudnt even hit straight ball to pocket. I felt like I have never before played billiard. So, now Im going to play pool for year or two, and maybe start it all over again. This time, with my own style.

[craigian]

hi liangwenbo. my name is craig, i live in the gold coast but sometimes visit melbourne. would you be interested in meeting up and having a game sometime?

[Freddie Ng]

Welcome aboard..
I think liang has been ban...
There are a lot of Australia mates here in TSF.. You can intro yourself and start up a thread..
All the best

[ace man]

Then it all collapsed so down, that I coudnt even hit straight ball to pocket. I felt like I have never before played billiard. So, now Im going to play pool for year or two, and maybe start it all over again. This time, with my own style.

It probably collapsed because you tried to improve your cue action and then expected immediate results. Same thing happened to me. In fact, I'm going through it right now. You have got to give it more time. I wish I listened to myself sometimes...haha

It's that damn cue action that is letting me down. What else could it be? I can make a decent break in various types of lineups drill, but give me a long pot or put cueball closer to the cushion, especially in a match situation, and it is immediate end of break.

My cue action was never good anyway, because prior to snooker, I played only pool (american of course) for some 8 years as there was no affordable way to play snooker regularly in my country. I was never properly trained on fundamentals. This is why I envy snooker players so much. Now I'm trying to become one myself, but it is tough. My transition to snooker is extremely hard for me. Snooker is hard enough as is, but to switch to it after playing american cue game for a long time...ouch...it hurts...

So I would advise you to stay away from pool if possible, as too frequent playing will make your snooker cue action more crooked then ever before. Trust me, 9 foot table, bigger straight cut pockets, bigger balls and ultra smooth napless cloth have a way of making you lazy in both your fundamentals and preshot routine. And when you start missing on those bigger pockets you begin to wonder what the hell is wrong, your stroke or your mental health...stick with snooker I say...

[brendan147]

Hi im a new member..

I've just played a good local player in my town and He regularly make more than 50 breaks in each game and He gave me some tips about how to play a good snooker.

1)Have to keep body healthy and fit,sleeping well(he didn't let me know more specific,anybody here got suggestions about this?)

2)Practise at least 5 hours a day,everyday.

Anyone here can add more?thanks

1)Have to keep body healthy and fit,sleeping well(he didn't let me know more specific,anybody here got suggestions about this?)
Jogging like Ronnie always did

2)Practise at least 5 hours a day,everyday.
Practice like mad. Enjoy the game. Practice like mad...Practice like mad...Practice like mad...but always enjoy the game
Cheers

[Omehenk]

Hi.

I think, you need more than just practice.

It´s 80 % mental, 15 % Hardwork and 5 % talent.
I mean, I have seen people who practice every day at least 2-3 hours a day.
Well, I know brothers, that do just that. They come to club every day after work, practice alone 2-4 hours, then play match together 1-3 hours EVERYDAY.

But how do they practice? Do they have structured approach to training and try to improve their weakness? Just knocking balls around the table isn't going to improve your game.

But, anothers best break is 73, others 56 (I dont remember precise breaks) but they do 50 breaks very rarely. They have been playing 2-3 years (at least). But I havent seen big improve in their games. So it isnt just big amount of practice, because otherwise they should make centuries every day!

I know people like that too, play a lot of times but can't even make a 30 break. Problem is when you practice a lot alone and don't get proper coaching you will never know what you do wrong. Simple thing is to video tape yourself, it's amazing when you see yourself playing and see all the flaws in your technique.

I was hooked in this game too couple years ago, and have practiced a lot! Sometimes even 5-7 hours a day, but my best break is still under 50. And I make one +30 break in week.

I had periods when I used to play a lot (25+hours a week). My highest break is a poor 40. I did had coaching a few times, main problem was that my back swing is too fast. If you want to improve your flaws you will be playing very poorly the next few weeks / months and are tempted to go back to your old style and you won't improve. Making consistent 30 / 40 breaks requires a **** load of time and serious practice sessions ( and I think, coaching is absolutely necessary, or at least video tape yourself to see what you are doing wrong).

I used to have a very poor stance changed it to a text book one and couldn't pot a thing for a few weeks. Then after almost 2 months i was getting back to my normal "level". Imagine how long it would take to make drastic changes to your cue action.

[tbones147]

I have been playing snooker since i was 4, started with a 2x1 snooker table, then aged 7 was bought a 5x2 table.
Played on my 5x2 till i was old enough to go to the snooker club (12 years old).
I learnt most of my game on the 5x2 table.
I got so good on this little table, i had 56 maximum breaks on it (107 - only 10 reds).
Started on full size tables at 12 years old, but the family never had much money, so only played once a month for a few years. My highest break was 36 for ages, then in a final of a snooker tournament at my local club I had a 74 clearance.
Didn't have my first century until 1993 i was 22.
I have recorded every break over 70 i have made in a match, to date i have had 594 breaks over 70 and 92 centuries and 2 147's.
Last year (2009) was the 1st year i have not had a century break ( hardly played), but that hurt.
As i am now 39, i have noticed that my long potting is not what it once was, last 3 years i have hardly played, so that hasn't helped.Working at a snooker club for last 10 years - drives snooker out of you for some reason.
But i am now picking up the cue a bit again, i want 8 more centuries for the magic 100.

I am very fortunate to have made 2 147's whilst only having 92 centuries.

Always wanted to turn pro, but was nowhere near good enough - i knew that.

But am looking to now build a snooker room in the garden.

Bit gutted i have wasted the last 3 years and hardly played, i know i have a lot of hard work to get my game back to where it was.

Anyway if/when my snooker room is up and running, i will invite anyone round for a few games.

good luck people