Want to be a Pro?

[reverse_side]

There's no easy signposted route of how to begin the journey attempting to become a fully fledged Pro Snooker player. But we may have some exceptional talent out there that could learn surf over here and find outwhat they need to do. (This is of course assuming they're young enough, have phenomenal talent, concrete dedication, luck ... blah blah)

So, for the benefit of any prodigy, deluded loser or to answer anyone's family who may ask a few times a year - "Have you ever thought about going Pro", or, "How would you go about becoming a Professional Snooker Player?", explain away.......

[cueman]

I think anyone who starts off the game and shows some potential, provided they are young enough, i.e. around 13-16 years old then they have a slim chance of turning pro.
What you need first of all is the ability, do you knock in regular 50-60+ breaks and occasionally have century breaks? You need to be at this standard at the latest at 17 years old. You need to play in a club that has good tables and facilities, its no good playing in normal clubs such as Rileys or Breaks, as the tables are usually pretty poor and the pockets too big. Try and find a good quality club, working mens or social clubs maybe with a professional quality table and show whoever owns the place what talent you have and get to practice in good conditions. This for me is the most important thing in order to prepare in order to play on challenge tour/pro tour. Its no wonder a lot of people are going to First Artist Snooker academy in Northampton as the practice conditions and quality opponent are first class, a must for any budding pro.

After that its all down to hard work, determination and most importantly the luck in meeting the right people who can help you along the way. Getting a coach or someone who can financially back you is also a big factor to increase your chances of turning pro. Don't forget though that only the very best make it.

[poo]

yeah i wanna b a pro

[donny_boi]

oi whats wrong with rileys...i work there...doncaster 0046...great atmosphere great tables great staff great food great customer service...dont ever mock rileys in future...great place to work and play

[donny_boi]

i knock in 40-50 breaks at every visit...im too consistent but at 18 they need to be around 80-100 for me to turn pro

[reverse_side]

oi whats wrong with rileys...i work there...doncaster 0046...great atmosphere great tables great staff great food great customer service...dont ever mock rileys in future...great place to work and play

Handy environment to get in the practice! We've a Rileys nearby in Stevenage, will get round to giving it a butchers.

Not even thinking of doing anything about things myself, buut although I'm 36 my current level of play gives me a nourishing amount of pleasure; I hope we can encourage any budding talent to make the most of their ability.

I was chatting today to one of my team-mates, and I thought it would be a cracking idea if every Snooker Club in the UK had a (non-pro) Champion that would qualify to play in a, "UK Club Champion of Champions", type competition...... a match against a top Pro as a carrot. (Juniors could have a separate event, Judd Trump may figure in that!)

(Who's this poo character posting everywhere??)

[cueman]

I was chatting today to one of my team-mates, and I thought it would be a cracking idea if every Snooker Club in the UK had a (non-pro) Champion that would qualify to play in a, "UK Club Champion of Champions", type competition...... a match against a top Pro as a carrot. (Juniors could have a separate event, Judd Trump may figure in that!)

Judd Trump has his own professional table now, I doubt he would lower himself to enter a tournaments held in such clubs!

Originally Posted by donny_boi
oi whats wrong with rileys...i work there...doncaster 0046...great atmosphere great tables great staff great food great customer service...dont ever mock rileys in future...great place to work and play

Donny_boi, not being funny but you obviously don't know much about the game if you feel the quality of tables and conditions in Rileys/Breaks clubs to be "great"! They are OK conditions for your average guy on the street looking for a few frames of snooker but to anyone of good standard, myself for example, know the tables are very poor compared to most social or exclusive working mens clubs. The balls in Rileys/Breaks are mostly chipped, of varying weights and sizes and are hardly ever cleaned. From my experience, and I have been in a number of these clubs, the tables are only cleaned when they know an area manager is visiting that club. They are just out to purely make money. Maybe your club is slightly better run than most in the chain of Rileys clubs but I feel you should visit various other clubs to get a good generalisation of the state that these clubs are run. As an employee of Rileys though I expect you to argue against my views but to tell me not to mock them, haha, please do yourself a favour, don't mock my views either, I am entitled to them!

[donny_boi]

ok m8

in smome clubs they are different to others

in the club i work in the tables are excellent..this is to a pro point of view if you ever come. i knock in about a 30-40 break at every visit to the table...o just get nervious around the 35 break mark when making a break. if i can control my nervousness i maybe be anle to overcome this and proceed with maybe a 50 or 60 break.

the management staff are great by the way...come for yourself and try it out

[donny_boi]

everyone is entitled to THEIR opinion..i have been to s couple of rileys stores..one in rotheram and sheffield and they are not run the same as our...ALL of our tables are re-clothed around at least ONCE a month...we are one of the biggest clubs in the uk and a privelage to work for

[Sonny]

the bottom line in turning pro is that you HAVE to be able to handle pressure

[DM72]

It's the pressure I know I wouldn't be able to take.

[Schalke 04]

Good enough for pro

When I was 14 I was rated as a 80+ handicap player. I played Alan McManus getting an 80 start and he hammered me, I could not score over 20 consistently. I don't think I had ever made a break over 40.

18 months later I was playing my first professional match in Blackpool.

It was all about hard work and determination, I dogged school, I saved my lunch money to play in tournaments and I was in the club everyday. I just kept getting better and better but at 14 I showed no potential at all. I was rubbish but it shows that practicing hard and playing all the time makes you improve.

[reverse_side]

There'll be a few taking inspiration from that Schalke 04, Q-Club's obviously very proud of you. The type of 'Hard Practice' you managed would help a few people with what that really means, and who around you inspired you and your practice partners etc. There'll be an interesting balance of natural talent, hard work, mental approach, luck etc that will produce players of a vastly varying calibre - outright failures to prodigies I'd guess.

Did you find it easy to see the route to become a Pro, or was it a mixture of talent spotters seeing your potential?
Another thread started by a newcomer ('backtobaulk') to the Forum is suited to your talents and experience, checkout this link if you have time to post on Sports Psychologists...

http://www.thesnookerforum.com/commu...=2400#post2400

Take, care and welcome aboard Schalks (BBC website say they're level with Bayern on 53 points)

[Schalke 04]

update

I did find it easy on route to turning pro, the more I played the better I got. Nobody spotted me except my dad and a friend (Billy Johnstone) who owned Minesota Fats SC in Mount Florida.

I got free time and I was there every day to take advantage of it.

I never done to well as a Junior at 14, only won 1 match and then I did not do to well in the Amateur game. It was then that I got the chance to practice with Andy Duff, Scott MacFarlane and Drew Henry who up to this very point is still my practice partner. I owe a lot to Drew as he stuck with me and was always there to either talk to or practice with. Andy and Scott I owe a lot to aswell for guiding me along.

I was lucky when I turned pro as all you needed was cash unlike now, but I stuck it out and did do well, but it took me 8 long years to get to 87 in the rankings last season.

My only advice to all the kids out there is to practice properly and practice hard. Improve your potting first and perfect your technique. You must learn to play snooker and not just bash the balls about, this is what I learned of of those three players and it is vital. Either watch or try and play some good players and you will learn fast.

Even if you don't show much talent there is no reason why anyone whop can hold a cue can't do well, it is all about that cue action and you determination and dedication to get better. I DID !!!!!!!!

[Pollita]

I'm too old to be a Pro now