Looking To Get Into Playing Snooker

[Toby Smith]

Hi there folks.

Just signed up to the forum and looking to get a bit of advice from some people considerably more in the know than myself.

I'm 22 years old and live in Manchester. There are a few Rileys clubs in the city but unfortunately I don't have any mates interested in signing up and learning the ropes!

I've played a fair amount of pool in my time and am about of average standard, I understand snooker is a completely different game, but just to give you a bit of an idea of my ball hitting/potting ability.

Anyway...Can anybody offer any advice of the best way that someone who knows no one interested in playing can get into the game.

Is the best way to just sign up and go along to a club and ask any folks around for a frame? Is there beginners leagues and sessions I can go to?

Ideally I'd like to play with someone with more experience than myself to give me some useful advice and criticism.

What's the best way of going about it folks?

Cheers in advance,

Toby

[hotpot]

We;come to the forum Toby . It can feel a little daunting just walking into a strange place where you dont know anybody .

If they offer coaching sessions then why dont you give it a go then you,ll be improving your game and meeting players and hopefully friends the same time .

Just go for it otherwise you,ll be sat in the same place in a few weeks and asking what if .

[gazza147]

Toby welcome to the TSF Forum m8.

Just sign up yourself m8 in the Club as there will be Somebody in there waiting for a few frames..... :snooker:

[JayCho]

Hi Toby,

Welcome to TSF, if you want to make new friends in the ame what you should do is go down to rileys on your own and just practise the line up, or go onto fergal o'briens webisite which has some useful practise routines.

once you do this, people in the club will ask if u want a game
or you could just ask people in there(which can be daunting i know)

Also, if you are looking to improve your game,possibly join a working mens club,royal british legion or a social club as thats where most of the serious players play (around where i live anyway)

[Toby Smith]

Thanks for all the replies guys. This is certainly more useful than another snooker forum i tried to get some information out of!

I've decided I'll take the plunge and just go into my local Rileys and ask around, or failing that have a beer and try to pick up a few tips.

Silly question I know, but does that sort of club tend to have it's own cues you can use?

[MasterBreak147]

Hi there folks.

Just signed up to the forum and looking to get a bit of advice from some people considerably more in the know than myself.

I'm 22 years old and live in Manchester. There are a few Rileys clubs in the city but unfortunately I don't have any mates interested in signing up and learning the ropes!

I've played a fair amount of pool in my time and am about of average standard, I understand snooker is a completely different game, but just to give you a bit of an idea of my ball hitting/potting ability.

Anyway...Can anybody offer any advice of the best way that someone who knows no one interested in playing can get into the game.

Is the best way to just sign up and go along to a club and ask any folks around for a frame? Is there beginners leagues and sessions I can go to?

Ideally I'd like to play with someone with more experience than myself to give me some useful advice and criticism.

What's the best way of going about it folks?

Cheers in advance,

Toby

Welcome Toby,

Riley's in Bellevue kirkmanshulme Lane, Manchester, hold a good few events one of which was today, if you have facebook join there group http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=122489877800186 and pop down on the next event and meet a load of local's and visitors playing some quality snooker.

There is a few local events held there too so i am told too so might interest you to get started and to find a decent partner to pick balls out for you

Or maybe look to joining a league team here is there site http://www.manchester-snooker-league.com/ post in the forums that your looking for a team local to you and maybe you will get some responses

Happy Shooting

[Toby Smith]

Well thanks all for your replies. A couple of progressions with this (although I haven't played yet!).

Its my Birthday today and when I came in to work this morning I was greeted by an email off my old man. The star has only gone and bought me a years Rileys membership and a cue!

I was a bit sceptical about buying a cue before I had tried a few out and established what I liked, but it is handy to have something to get me started. At least I can now play with the same cue every time and hopefully get some level of consistency.

The cue is made by Rileys and cost him around £80, thats all I know though! Not yet picked it up.

He delt with Rob and Sarah at Rileys in Bell Vue, Manchester, who I'm told have been very helpful and are absolute stars.

I have also arranged to have a coaching session with John Farnworth in north Manchester. I felt I'd rather have a coaching session or two to get me started on the right foot, show me a few practise routines and to get all my bad pub pool playing habbits sorted!

Can't wait, really looking forward to it. Once I've had a coaching session or two I'm going to get myself to the Rileys in Bell Vue, book a table, have a bit of a practise and hopefully find someone to give me a thrashing!#

If anyone on here plays in the area and would entertain a complete novice for a frame or two please let me know and I'd love to get something sorted.

Cheers all,

Toby

[jrc750]

Happy Birthday Toby
Good luck with your coaching, dont forget to report back how it goes

[Toby Smith]

Happy Birthday Toby
Good luck with your coaching, dont forget to report back how it goes

That a Pointy SV650 in your avatar?

If so, I had an SV but sold it a few months ago to buy a ZX6R.

Now back on topic..

[jrc750]

That a Pointy SV650 in your avatar?....

Strange that you mention the SV650, that was my previous bike, great bike but a little underpowered once your used to it. The bike in my avatar is actually a Kawasaki Z750s, brilliant bike for the real world (ie 1000cc bikes are too powerful for normal roads) still does an indicated 160mph + so its no slouch

[Csmith]

I would definitely suggest that you spend some time doing some solo practice to get better acclimated to the conditions of a snooker table. Nothing reacts quite the same as it would on a pool table, so everything will seem a bit foreign.

My favorite routine is a very simple one but is great practice and a great warm up routine as well. place a ball on the black spot and cue ball where ever you like. Pot the ball and play position for another pot off the black spot. Try to get as many pots as you can before missing. 10 is a good starting goal, 25 is worthy next step, anything over 40 is a good standard. The black is the most important ball in snooker as far as making significant breaks is concerned, you absolutely must be comfortable potting it from all areas as well as playing position.