What's more important, technique or natural ability?

[jimbo]

I've played the game for many years, and in my heydey I'd regulary get 100+ breaks. I don't consider myself to have a good technique tho: I *slide* into the shot, my head rarely stays still on the shot, and I have a very unbalanced, unconventional stance. I think it was natural ability as opposed to sound technique that was enabling me to play well.

I am however fairly inconsistent and when I play bad I *really* play bad. It seems the difference between my good and bad is massive.

So, if its possible to play to a fairly high standard with a bad technique, how important *is* technique? Is good technique only really good for gaining more consistency?

For someone like me, who's difference between playing well and playing badly is so large, would you say the key is to develop a good technique? Or would you say such a difference in quality is down to mental attitude and/or natural ability?

Interested to hear your thoughts!

Jimbo

[MrRottweiler]

I think the most important aspect is a good solid technique. Without that natural ability wont get you far because there will always be that weak link. I think my technique lets me down at times. When I miss a shot its not because I don't have the ability because I've potted every shot there is over the years. i miss because of a technical fault. I may have moved down on the shot, not sighted it correctly or simply not concentrated enough. I think a good technique is something that needs to be learnt early on and it forms the foundation for a player to build on. Ronnie who has incredible natural talent still needs to be sure that his technique is sound and has been known to miss shots before that he really should have potted. Higgins on the other hand is very mechanical and relies heavily on his technique to pot the balls. This has resulted in less 'unforced errors' than many other players.

You could have the best bricks in the world but without solid foundations the bricks are useless. Just my 2c.

Have a great weekend everyone.

[icantplay]

definetely technique mate.
with technique, you can achieve a level of consistency that's hard to fall below, meaning, apart from constantly good form, you improve at a greater rate once you have that technique, and, in the end, youll be a better player because you will be able to control your shots much better. without perfect technique its harder to become a better player, but its still possible to be good, as you say, you get tons, but, its cause of lack of technique you get those "bad" days, and when you play in comps, you cant afford to do that.
without good technique youll hit a brick wall, and ownt get any better never mind how much you practise.
you must have decent technique, otherwise you would never in your life pot as many balls to string a hundred break, so you probably have natural telent, as you have good technique without noticing. when i say this i mean your delivery of your cue must be good.
if i were you id practise lining up the shot and not lining it, and practise keeping still on the shot, and then youll be flying, and hit centuries every day if you can do them sometimes with sliding into the shot and etc.

[rambon]

I'd agree with both the comments above. The natural ability obstacle can be got over, but if you've got bad technique, all the natural ability in the world won't help you.

I was lucky in that my Dad helped me. He's a good snooker player, no better, with a top break of 48, but frustrated as he believes, rightly, that had he learnt better technique younger, he'd have been up around the 70 or 80 mark.

Now I have good hand-eye co-ordination, but most importantly, got told exactly how to stand from a very early age, and have been able to stick to that throughout. My grip is good and I have good cue power due to me being pretty strong in general.

An exercise I once did, at the insistence of the guy I played, was to play a few shots with a pack of cards on my head. My head moved so little that none fell off. A good sign.....

[cueman]

Its a tough one this because I think anyone that plays or gets to a good level in snooker has to have a certain amount of natural ability to start off with.

Players who tend to play at the highest level have mostly all had coaching and work done on their technique at some stage during their career to get them the consistency needed to maintain their level of performance.

Its difficult to break it down in percentage terms but I'd go as far to say that its 60% natural ability and 40% technique. Without the ability the technique is useless but I think you can still play at a very good level off natural ability alone. Without the two in equal amounts though you aren't going to be a consistent player.

[The Statman]

An exercise I once did, at the insistence of the guy I played, was to play a few shots with a pack of cards on my head. My head moved so little that none fell off. A good sign.....

Even when you took them out of the box?

[MrRottweiler]

Steve Davis used to get his Dad to hold a book above his head so he knew if he moved when down on the shot. He would do this for hours and hours every day.

[trainspotting]

read somewhere that 'talent can only shine through hours of practise'
really meaningful quote to me...

[Semih_Sayginer]

id say technique is much more important

(depends what you define as "natural" ability)

[jimbo]

Can you think of any snooker pros that have a bad technique? How about Alex Higgins?

Maybe the only requirement of a good technique is really just being able to push the cue through straight every time?

Personally, I think a good technique is a big requirement for consistency, but not necessarily for how well one can actually play. I don't think technique is the only requirement for consistency tho - a sound mental attitude to the game is also a major player (if not the most important aspect).

jimbo