Cue power

[willtyson]

Hi, I've been playing snooker for about 2 years and since I have started my cue power hasn't increased a lot (the only time it did was when I worked on my cue action and got the one I have today).
So I was wondering if cue power is something which will slowly increase or if it's something you have or you haven't ? Is there any routines you can do to increase it ? At the moment my cue power isn't to great and can just about hold a long pot. Hope someone will help
Many thanks, Will :snooker:

[The Stig]

Cue power isn't power as such, its all about your technique and smooth cueing.

What i practice a lot is finishing the wrong side of the blue on the pink side, i practice going in and out of baulk and coming back up for the reds. Doing that with running side, screw and side to avoid the baulk colours and stunning if its on.

To make it easier remove all the baulk colours, put the blue on its spot and put the white just off line on the pink side so its not quite a straight pot into either middle pocket, try and get the white near the pink spot and then near the black spot by going in and out of baulk. Steepen the angle to vary it so you can try stun and screw shots as well as run through shots.

Their are lots of ways to practice shots that need a bit more power, try putting the brown on its spot and the white dead in line with the brown so you have a straight pot into either the yellow or green pocket, put the white about 3/4 of a cue's length away from the brown and try and screw back off the side cushion to get on the blue. That needs smooth cueing more than anything, don't try breaking the white in half with pure power, concentrate on being smooth and delievring the cue through the ball smoothly. For screw shots remember to lower your bridge as low as you can as this will help a lot, run throughs raise your bridge.

[Terry Davidson]

Stig has it correct. Cue power comes from having a smooth backswing and delivery and also the longer the backswing then the more power you will have on a particular shot as long as the acceleration of the cue is smooth and you 'drive' through the cueball and keep accelerating the cue until the hand hits the chest (in other words don't try and 'clutch' or stop the cue during the delivery as that will decelerate the cue and also cause body movement and a shuddering of the cue and also a lot less power).

Terry