How to classify if someone is talented at snooker, disregard of age?

[ADR147]

Like the mate said... I think is concentration. When you can control you concentration, focus, you can bring the game at you favor even if you are losing.

that's the key - to play well when its not easy!

[cazmac1]

Joe davis say's in his book you don't need talent to play snooker. Hmmmm not my words

[Inoffthered]

Joe davis say's in his book you don't need talent to play snooker. Hmmmm not my words

Agreed. If Joe were around these days, he might make the top 16, but I doubt very much ( imho ) he would become WC.

[ADR147]

Agreed. If Joe were around these days, he might make the top 16, but I doubt very much ( imho ) he would become WC.

umm a difficult question remember he made 600 tons on slow tables etc you have to imagine he would have been better playing now?

[Inoffthered]

umm a difficult question remember he made 600 tons on slow tables etc you have to imagine he would have been better playing now?

And he chose who he played against and where. The majority of his world titles were 'challenge matches'. Not the prize money you have today ( and the pressure that comes with it ). Plus far many more players of a high standard around today.

[ken147]

The vast majority of the snooker players on the professional circuit have talent but what makes the difference between winning tournaments is the mental side of the game. Look at Mark Allen, all the talent in the world but lacking that mental approach when in the later stages of the big tournaments, i.e. he melts...

[ADR147]

And he chose who he played against and where. The majority of his world titles were 'challenge matches'. Not the prize money you have today ( and the pressure that comes with it ). Plus far many more players of a high standard around today.

true enough - pretty sure he played some very very big cash games though!

[cazmac1]

Joe Davis made his comments saying that as the balls were stationary you did not need talent to play in the same way someone who plays football has the gauge the flight of a ball to make contact say for a great volley.yet it does take talent to play with side as you actually have to gauge the amount of side in order to make the pot and get the position right also it take talent to work the balls when break building knowing what ball to cannon, how hard to hit it and then making that contact.

[vmax4steve]

Joe Davis was also world billiards champion and created the majority of what's considered the basics of snooker and all modern players have learned from him. So it is impossible to say that he would not have made it in todays game for the game today would not exist if it weren't for him.
As for talent spotting of a prospectively good snooker player, I would say that anyone with excellent hand and eye co-ordination stands a great chance if he takes a serious interest in the game. I know of several blokes who were damn good at a young age but the interest waned and they stopped playing.

[1blonde]

Someone who naturally keeps still on the shot with solid/fluid/consistant technique, good hand eye coordination, good temprement/calm and confident approach around the table. I feel it can be learned but a strong character is needed to be able to take the defeats on a regular basis and be able to bounce back having learned something from the experience, or perhaps a calm, confident ability to be able to accept a bad day when it just does not go right. I have noticed many really good players have an inner confidence and a naturally addictive mindset determined to the point of being almost OCD. Perhaps it can be seen as a negative but I think it is also a trait that naturally helps a player develop too.

[eaoin11]

Joe davis say's in his book you don't need talent to play snooker. Hmmmm not my words

He's right, because talent only exists in people's heads. How could it be anything real when everyone's meaning of the word varies so much, let alone who is considered to be talented? People master various skills all the time, and vary only in disposition, physical and intellectual ability to master any particular skill. Opportunity counts for something too...

[nrage]

Talent
noun
1. a special natural ability or aptitude: a talent for drawing.
2. a capacity for achievement or success; ability: young men of talent.
...

1 implies talent is something that exists first, before training and practice.
2 implies that the ability to learn something, and achieve success means you are "talented" or have "talent".

So.. to be talented at something in particular you need to have the natural abilities that complement that something, plus have the capability to improve/learn and be successful at it.

[cally]

Talent
noun
1. a special natural ability or aptitude: a talent for drawing.
2. a capacity for achievement or success; ability: young men of talent.
...

1 implies talent is something that exists first, before training and practice.
2 implies that the ability to learn something, and achieve success means you are "talented" or have "talent".

So.. to be talented at something in particular you need to have the natural abilities that complement that something, plus have the capability to improve/learn and be successful at it.

You beat that 26 HB yet?....lol...:snooker:

[eaoin11]

The adjective "special" makes the concept of talent subjective. Like beauty, it's in the eye of the beholder and does not affect anyone's real ability to master the game and I think that's what Joe meant.

[nrage]

The adjective "special" makes the concept of talent subjective. Like beauty, it's in the eye of the beholder and does not affect anyone's real ability to master the game and I think that's what Joe meant.

I can see how you might say it was subjective, as there are several things about someones ability to play snooker you might value more than others (and people do, see the thread on worst world champion).

But, to me that definition is basically saying if someone has 'something' which most other people do not have (therefore; special), and that thing allows them to be very good at something else (say snooker) then you call that first thing "talent", whatever it is.

It might be a propensity for learning new things, or good hand eye co-ordination, or.. something 'natural' or 'inherent' to them, something they had initially, before practice etc.

My take on Joe's comment was that natural ability is a very minor part of the game, and a far bigger, and more important part, is practice, patience, etc .. all things you have to work at and learn, and don't have initially.