The Masters 2016 10-17 January

[Ramon]

I don't think it was - too much distance between the two balls.

As for the refs not having the balls to call them, this may be true, but when you consider how honest players are with any other type of foul, it doesn't make sense that they wouldn't call it on themselves... and they'd know if they'd pushed.

+10 to this post .

[P.Smith]

My heart sank as soon as Hawkins beat Judd because you just know at that point Ronnie has a clear shot at the title despite playing pretty badly. There is some feeling of inevitability that Hawkins will simply collapse today against Ronnie after playing tremendous stuff all week. I hope i'm wrong.

[Ronnington]

He could sort out his technique, which is relatively awful. It really shows where he is with natural ability....most of us could barely pot a ball if we did what he did. Yet on top of that ability to pot the way that comes natural he has to practice to get to the required level....but those flaws in technique can be exposed under pressure....like with golfers who re-model their swing to be able to compete under pressure down the back straight in majors....and Trump has essentially admitted that he knows that he buckles under pressure....and part of that is technique, and lack of confidence in it, under the gun.

....this balance between natural and technique is a tricky thing. I know a regular century breaker who moans when he sees me play that he's "never seen a leftie with a poor action". Yet I'm not fit to play on the same table as him and his hideous gorilla grip. I can't even bring the cue through holding it the way he does. For many years I got down naturally, and tried not to think of technique....and I never got any better.

If you're blessed with natural ability, and that makes you a Hendry or an O'Sullivan then that's clearly brilliant.....but what if it only makes you a Jimmy White, a Tony Drago, or a Jamie Cope? In that case wouldn't it be better to tear into your technique and robot yourself up into a Nugget?

Natural ability and practice will take you so far. you might be so good that you don't need good technique and mental strength.....on the other hand you might be better if you get a bit of sports science behind you. Ronnie did and it's put a couple of championships and a number of years on his career. It doesn't have to be in the head work....sometimes they might benefit from some on the table work too.

I think Trump needs that if he's going to be a serial winner. He might fluke the odd top title when he runs hot for long enough....but at this point it's clear that there is more missing, than there is there. He's entertaining...or to put it another way, a habitual loser....like so many other 'entertaining' players.

Interesting stuff! I've always thought his cue action was akin to a rifle bolt spring, the way he cues straight and generates so much torque in his power shots - one of the best stances and cue actions in the game?... Although I clearly haven't paid enough attention to see him moving on his shots.

Derek Curnow, Judd's first coach/mentor and Keynsham snooker club owner, was always very strict on the fundamentals

[kevinpollard147]

Wat a player have just watched it on player keep fingers crossed he gets the title

[luke-h]

Although I clearly haven't paid enough attention to see him moving on his shots.


He does moves ever so slightly on some power shots but thats to be expected no one can be 100pc still on those shots.

His technique is for the most part brilliant jus i think under pressure with him cueig off centre and having his brain and natural ability correct it for him leaves him open to have a bad shot here and there and its those bad frames and the odd naughty shot thats costng him.

If Trump could play as hot as he did against Robertson 90 pc of the time he would without a doubt be a world beater just a shame that between his very best and very worst there is a dramatic distance.

[barrywhite]

Although I clearly haven't paid enough attention to see him moving on his shots.


He does moves ever so slightly on some power shots but thats to be expected no one can be 100pc still on those shots.

His technique is for the most part brilliant jus i think under pressure with him cueig off centre and having his brain and natural ability correct it for him leaves him open to have a bad shot here and there and its those bad frames and the odd naughty shot thats costng him.

If Trump could play as hot as he did against Robertson 90 pc of the time he would without a doubt be a world beater just a shame that between his very best and very worst there is a dramatic distance.

Not sure how someone can say Judd's first coach paid attention to the fundamentals if this is the product. Ok, so Judd is playing on a crate and has to reach over, I wonder if he accommodated the height of the table by having this twisting cue action and if he was cueing off centre in address from an early age?

Anyway, he needs to sort it. The problem is that a cue action can take a few years to develop so I see him nailing it in 12mths if he puts the hours in but he'd have to risk his ranking and prize money falling in the meantime, so maybe wait till Summer? Nah, do it now. As for power, Robbo can generate as much, Mags as well, so if Judd corrects, I wouldn't expect a power drop. I think he can improve his accuracy and actually pot more long balls more consistently as Robbo generally does. He thinks he's getting the yips as well so now is the time to change. It's not unusual to change set-up and even cue action and grip. Ronnie has opened his grip allegedly to follow the path of Robbo/Judd and get away from the pick it up and hit someone with it Davis grip which I've always questioned, as you do get a power drop and lose some long ball accuracy with that grip, though the accuracy and solidity amongst the balls is lovely with it. Lo and behold, Ronnie's long ball potting is better. Hendry moved to foot-in-line, copying Davis who himself changed from boxer (look at his first tv 147 to see him standing like RR). RR changed after he saw what the emerging Higgins was up to, and RR locked himself away for six months to do it, 6 world titles later...........

Judd has less distractions and actually more time for snooker now he's ditched cars, going out and sillyness. So now is the time for Judd to get a world class coach and sort his cue action out, which will mean adjusting stance a bit, bridge a bit, grip a bit, etc. It's all related but he can do it, he has huge talent. He must make sure he doesn't build faults into his game and become the next Jimmy.

[Ronnington]

Not sure how someone can say Judd's first coach paid attention to the fundamentals if this is the product. Ok, so Judd is playing on a crate and has to reach over, I wonder if he accommodated the height of the table by having this twisting cue action and if he was cueing off centre in address from an early age?

Anyway, he needs to sort it. The problem is that a cue action can take a few years to develop so I see him nailing it in 12mths if he puts the hours in but he'd have to risk his ranking and prize money falling in the meantime, so maybe wait till Summer? Nah, do it now. As for power, Robbo can generate as much, Mags as well, so if Judd corrects, I wouldn't expect a power drop. I think he can improve his accuracy and actually pot more long balls more consistently as Robbo generally does. He thinks he's getting the yips as well so now is the time to change. It's not unusual to change set-up and even cue action and grip. Ronnie has opened his grip allegedly to follow the path of Robbo/Judd and get away from the pick it up and hit someone with it Davis grip which I've always questioned, as you do get a power drop and lose some long ball accuracy with that grip, though the accuracy and solidity amongst the balls is lovely with it. Lo and behold, Ronnie's long ball potting is better. Hendry moved to foot-in-line, copying Davis who himself changed from boxer (look at his first tv 147 to see him standing like RR). RR changed after he saw what the emerging Higgins was up to, and RR locked himself away for six months to do it, 6 world titles later...........

Judd has less distractions and actually more time for snooker now he's ditched cars, going out and sillyness. So now is the time for Judd to get a world class coach and sort his cue action out, which will mean adjusting stance a bit, bridge a bit, grip a bit, etc. It's all related but he can do it, he has huge talent. He must make sure he doesn't build faults into his game and become the next Jimmy.

One of the greatest potters to ever grace the game... I'd say the stalwart of Bristol snooker did a fine job considering Judd left him 6 years ago.

Sounds more of a mental thing than the need for changing technical aspects of his game. Trump admitted himself he prefers to be the underdog going into a match rather than the out-and-out favourite. His record backs this up over the years (2011 World). Why technically overhaul a game when he produced excellent snooker just a day before... It's just psychological

[barrywhite]

Did you see the interview of Judd with Kendo? He talks about technique in that interview. Judd needs to address his technique because it's inconsistent and goes wrong under pressure. Robbo came over, brushed tables at Willie's club and got hammered on the circuit. He addressed his weaknesses and came back with a great long game. Then Hendry tells him, how do you break build and Robbo says he just pots a long one and then thinks about the next shot when it comes up. Hendry tells him to think 3 ahead and practice it. Robbo addresses this, does the graft and hits a 100 tons in a season. Snooker is about weapons, you perfect certain weapons as much as you can. Then you look at your weaker weapons and improve them.

As Judd said auspiciously after the Robbo match; I can play brilliantly but tomorrow I could play crap (in so many words), and he did. I take your point about psychology as well, and maybe someone like Steve Peters can help him there too, if that's a weakness. I'm a big fan of Judd but like many others, he annoys the **** out of me. Sort it Judd!

The Hawk does everything well, textbook, a coaches dream and he's in the final.

[Hello, Mr Big Shot]

One of the greatest potters to ever grace the game... I'd say the stalwart of Bristol snooker did a fine job considering Judd left him 6 years ago.

Sounds more of a mental thing than the need for changing technical aspects of his game. Trump admitted himself he prefers to be the underdog going into a match rather than the out-and-out favourite. His record backs this up over the years (2011 World). Why technically overhaul a game when he produced excellent snooker just a day before... It's just psychological

Agreed. Trump is the opposite of hendry, who got stronger the closer to the winning line he got. Trump's nerve visibly fades, he shakes noticeably.

Not convinced that will ever change, sadly, but his time will come when the old guard finally retire, purely through lack of decent competition.

[barrywhite]

Agreed. Trump is the opposite of hendry, who got stronger the closer to the winning line he got. Trump's nerve visibly fades, he shakes noticeably.

Not convinced that will ever change, sadly, but his time will come when the old guard finally retire, purely through lack of decent competition.

I can't see Robbo and Smurf going anywhere in the next ten years, nor Ding. Even when the class of 92 retire, he's still got to cope with his own generation and young guns like Frazz coming through. He can change his mindset. Ronnie is bi-polar and he's visibly improved his attitude to life and snooker and become generally more happy, though he was a bit Eeyore last night.

If Judd is struggling towards the end, he needs a coping mech from a trick cyclist. Personally, I'd get him in the gym and on an assault course with some Marines. I'd beef him up in his head and his muscles so that he'd have that, if you really want to go toe to toe, I'll smash you attitude. I'm gonna have you mentality, not just play brilliant snooker. Bingo has built that attitude. Davis has it. Owning the table is macho, he needs to macho up and drop the ladyboy stuff. Shopping? Get a landrover Judd and get dirty. Havvit! lol

He can come to my Dojan and we'll sort him and turn him into a killing machine. No fear!

[OmaMiesta]

Thats very well put and I completely agree, It seems that even the best of players that have great runs in tournaments seem a bit petrified from Ronnies sheer presence...Must be a lot of pressure playing him everytime. Even when he's playing very poorly he seems to win convincingly.

[golferson123]

Its a dojo not dojan lol

[barrywhite]

Its a dojo not dojan lol

Oh, you're into Akaido I see. I don't practise Japanese arts, so it's not a dojo to me. Though I respect Karate a great deal. I do drop Gs which is lazy of me. haha

[lironlad]

"Even when he's playing very poorly he seems to win convincingly."
PLAYING VERY POORLY ???? when ? maybe , in his standarts....

[barrywhite]

Head to Head is 10-0 to the Ronster (cue tracker) though they've had some close matches down the years. Current odds are Ronnie (1/4), the Hawk 3/1. I think Ronnie will come in further and the Hawk will drift out a bit. The Hawk is in great form, the Ronster suffering from a back injury and poor form for him. What a time to break the duck.