The Snooker Forum http://www.thesnookerforum.co.uk/board/ en Fri, 24 May 2013 17:58:33 GMT vBulletin 90 http://www.thesnookerforum.co.uk/board/images/misc/rss.png The Snooker Forum http://www.thesnookerforum.co.uk/board/ Potting into a blind pocket http://www.thesnookerforum.co.uk/board/showthread.php/43779-Potting-into-a-blind-pocket?goto=newpost Fri, 24 May 2013 15:29:41 GMT Any good tips for potting a ball (eg the black) into a blind pocket? (I know I should be playing the white better the shot before to avoid this... Any good tips for potting a ball (eg the black) into a blind pocket? (I know I should be playing the white better the shot before to avoid this position, but we've all been there). Sometimes I try lining up where the ball needs to be hit by first shaping up as if to pot it directly with my cue, but it's quite difficult to keep that in your head when you move round to your position for the shot. Ideas welcome. ]]> Coaching Questions misspentoldage http://www.thesnookerforum.co.uk/board/showthread.php/43779-Potting-into-a-blind-pocket Changing cues frequently http://www.thesnookerforum.co.uk/board/showthread.php/43778-Changing-cues-frequently?goto=newpost Fri, 24 May 2013 14:47:27 GMT I can understand why some people would want to change cues fairly frequently, especially if you're upgrading to a nice, hand made cue, or radically changing the spec etc...

But do some people think the next cue will be "The one", which will improve their play?

I really wish I still had the old one-piece E.J. Riley cue I used to play with, as it always felt 'right'. Unfortunately I sold that a few years ago in a clearout, and I didn't think i'd be playing again :rolleyes:

Or are you just a cue hoarder/collector? ]]> Cues humperdingle http://www.thesnookerforum.co.uk/board/showthread.php/43778-Changing-cues-frequently Live Snooker this Sunday: Guy Dennis v Troy Brett http://www.thesnookerforum.co.uk/board/showthread.php/43764-Live-Snooker-this-Sunday-Guy-Dennis-v-Troy-Brett?goto=newpost Fri, 24 May 2013 13:23:06 GMT Image: http://nottinghamsnooker.com/Images/titles/notts_amateur_result.png (http://gclbilliards.com) Image:...




Best of 7 frames

Winner: £200 + trophy
Runner-up: £100 + trophy

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Pool table hire
Service contracts

West of England 100% pure new wool first grade cloth used, no seconds.

For a quotation phone Geoff on 07753 466064 or email him at c.large@btinternet.com ]]> steveb72 http://www.thesnookerforum.co.uk/board/showthread.php/43764-Live-Snooker-this-Sunday-Guy-Dennis-v-Troy-Brett finding YOUR grip: my method that may help others http://www.thesnookerforum.co.uk/board/showthread.php/43725-finding-YOUR-grip-my-method-that-may-help-others?goto=newpost Fri, 24 May 2013 08:11:39 GMT I have been having problems with the grip for quite some time and most people on the forum know that. I had a sound grip before but then someone... I have been having problems with the grip for quite some time and most people on the forum know that. I had a sound grip before but then someone hinted out that I keep it loose so I need to tighten the grip upon completion of the shot. That single comment ruined my life for good. The player who commented this has not even achieved a 50 break yet. I was fool enough to follow his words and in the process I started tightening the grip unintentionally and hence my game ruined and I went bonkers.

Then I came to this forum.. Many people and above all Terry Davidson helped me a lot in understanding the grip formation and pressure. Some people for whom grip comes naturally think its a piece of cake but for people like me its a challenge. Anyway, I kept going on. Tried different grip configurations faltered and failed and tried again. Recently I found out my ideal grip configuration and funnily its a configuration that only works when i am not thinking what configuration I have as long as I can keep it loose enough ;)

So for me it was the grip pressure and that same old comment that made me tighten the grip and under pressure I would tighten it even without noticing it.

Now to the point of concern. I was practicing yesterday and trying to get to the grip. My formation is with first finger and thumb with the force coming only from upper thumb and upper forefinger. However, the pressure is something that is hard to get to. So I learnt something from practice yesterday which gave me an idea as to what should be the correct pressure of the grip practically throughout the stroke.

I will try to explain to those who want to know what is a good grip pressure for them. I am attaching a picture that I drew in order to explain better.

snooked.png
Set up the above on a practice table. You are taking a three quarters black off its spot and attempting to get a position on the red next to it. You cant stun, follow, plain ball strike the cue ball and the only way is a soft screw shot. All other shots will cannon the white in to the red. You have to avoid the cannon. Now in order to play this shot with soft screw and avoid the cannon you have to play it gently (slow shot) but a complete shot with follow through... you have to have a nice loose grip in order to achieve this. any jerk tight grip pressure will not draw the cue ball to the desired position without cannoning the red.

If you can achieve this on a slow gently screw shot and end high on the red as shown ... know that you have played it with the right grip pressure... at least this gave me an idea of the correct grip form and pressure otherwise just a fraction more pressure than required you would either miss the black or cannon the red or not finish high on the red... with the correct pressure you will achieve this shot. I kept this pressure in mind and played my match properly and won ;)

If you play it with proper grip pressure and follow through i.e. complete shot without fear you will finish high on the red with ease... remember the power of this stroke on a scale of 1 to 10 (10 being highest power) this shot is played at a power of 3.

Hope this helps...!!!
Attached Images
]]> Coaching Questions Sidd http://www.thesnookerforum.co.uk/board/showthread.php/43725-finding-YOUR-grip-my-method-that-may-help-others Selling 3/4 Snooker case http://www.thesnookerforum.co.uk/board/showthread.php/43717-3-4-Snooker-case?goto=newpost Thu, 23 May 2013 18:26:50 GMT 3/4 Snooker case.... with keys as been used but well looked after and in full working order £35 delivered to u.k p.m if interested ... 3/4 Snooker case.... with keys

as been used but well looked after and in full working order

£35 delivered to u.k

p.m if interested





]]> Snooker Items For Sale 147wolf http://www.thesnookerforum.co.uk/board/showthread.php/43717-3-4-Snooker-case Designing and making cues http://www.thesnookerforum.co.uk/board/showthread.php/43716-Designing-and-making-cues?goto=newpost Thu, 23 May 2013 18:20:33 GMT This may be a ridiculous question as I am fully aware of the skill involved in making a precision cue, but has anyone, purely as a hobby, tried to... This may be a ridiculous question as I am fully aware of the skill involved in making a precision cue, but has anyone, purely as a hobby, tried to design and make their own? ]]> Cues hammyali http://www.thesnookerforum.co.uk/board/showthread.php/43716-Designing-and-making-cues Big congratulations to Frazz!!!! http://www.thesnookerforum.co.uk/board/showthread.php/43708-Big-congratulations-to-Frazz!!!!?goto=newpost Wed, 22 May 2013 23:04:25 GMT Well folks the good news is that Fraser Patrick (Frazz) managed to somehow find a bit of form to win his 2 year card. After playing not well at all... Well folks the good news is that Fraser Patrick (Frazz) managed to somehow find a bit of form to win his
2 year card.
After playing not well at all and leaving it to his final chance he's managed to dig deep and produce the goods so a big well done mate.
Fully deserved,here's hoping you get a sponsor now to help you that bit extra.
Raymond. ]]> General Chat raymo147 http://www.thesnookerforum.co.uk/board/showthread.php/43708-Big-congratulations-to-Frazz!!!! <![CDATA[What i've learnt over the past 2 weeks............]]> http://www.thesnookerforum.co.uk/board/showthread.php/43706-What-i-ve-learnt-over-the-past-2-weeks?goto=newpost Wed, 22 May 2013 15:45:59 GMT So as many of you know from my previous threads etc, i've been having serious problems with my snooker over the last few months up to a year........ so i resorted to what most people do, threaten to quit the game, realise no one actually cares if you quit, and then resorted to coming the the forum to bare my soul to you all :)

Anyway, i've had alot of advice, especially from Terry on here, and i just want to tell you what i have found over the past 2 weeks in the hope newer players can quickly learn to avoid going through the same problems i have for such a long time.

1) So the first thing i worked on was simple, making sure i'm keeping my nose on the line of the shot - now i know this is common sense, but it really surprised me how much i was not doing this. I was picking the line yes, but not actually going down on the line etc. So all i really did was make sure i was concentrating on making sure my nose was on the line while i chalked my cue. It was amazing how quickly i found i was potting more consistently etc. The only thing i found was that sometimes i was moving my nose sideways when putting my other leg to the side of the line of aim - so i basically found myself a way of making sure i kept my head still. Such a small adjustment for such a bigger return.

2) The second biggest thing i worked on was loosening up my grip hand, and when i mean loosen, i mean going as far as hardly holding the cue at all and using only from first 2 fingers. It was only after Terry mentioned it that i conciously starting analysing my grip after every shot, especially more powerful shots, and low and behold, my grip was going from releatively tight, to literally choking the life out of my cue after the follow through. So i went to the practice table, and again conciously made an effort to keep my grip really loose throughout the whole stroke (this is still hard on power shots) and again, i found i was cueing straighter more often, i was cueing through the ball better. Yes, occasionally i found i was still tightening the grip up, but if you do what Nic Barrow suggests, and stay down and analyse why you miss the shot after you play it, you will notice your grip tighter, and then you know to adjust on the next shot.

3) But the biggest change for me was in how i pick my potting angles. Again, for ages i was convinced i could not see the angles, i couldn't visualise a ghost ball etc, and i was getting me so down. I was literally think of potting as if it was degree level triganometry. I was visualling triangles all over the table, imaging have protractors measuring angles etc. If you can think of a method for finding potting angles, i've probably tried it, yes it would work for a little bit, then it wouldn't and i was back to square one. So i asked on here, and again Terry replied saying i was probably thinking to much about the angles and should trust the fact most people know the angle of the shot naturally, it's the fact most people don't get down on the line properly, or move their shoulder, or tightening the grip to early that causes the missed pot - but most people will then resort to blaming the fact they picked the wrong angle rather than realising its the cueing that was the problem. So again, all i did was not think about the angles, i would stand up behind the shot where i felt it was right, and then make sure i kept my nose on that line - i was literally just trusting my instincts to put me on the right potting line - look at the object ball, look at the pocket, stand behind the shot and get down keeping the nose on the line. And again, it was amazing, i was potting balls i would normally miss more often than not - especially black off the spot wid an angle more than 1/2 ball. Yes this did help, but it was also the fact i was cueing straight that helped - but the main thing - it ment it was one less thing for me to think about on the shot - i was learning to trust myself, and then giving myself more time to focus on loose grip, still shoulder, and keeping my nose on the line.


Now these all sound like common sense things, but to me they never really were, no coach ever really made sure my nose was on the right line, or made sure my grip was loose enough, so i always continued with the way i was doing things and getting no where. I had gone months without making a break more than 20, and was always getting chances and messing them up.

Now in the last 10 days, just with a few changes, and more concious awareness, i have made a 40, 38, 27 clearenace, and another 4 breaks over 20. What impressed me more though, is i actually made my first league break over 20 in the first game i played after these changes. Now this may sound like nothing, but to me, it was important, it was the fact under pressure, my technique was holding up. My win ratio in the local club has gone up to around 75%. This is purely due to me making less errors, potting more balls, and now compling small breaks when im getting chances.

I still have some problems, most improtantly, letting my positional play slip because i'm still worried of missing pots, so i'm just trying to pot some colours instead of trying for the position aswell. The other thing i suffer with is still accepting luck from other players - but that is something i have to deal with :)

But hopefully these improvements stay - just wish i done these things sooner

So for all you new players, all players struggling out there, take some solice in my story because there is always a way to improve, and it normally starts with you conciously realising that you might be doing things wrong. I always thought my technique was great due to no coach ever picking me up on these things, and always focusing sessions on positonal play, even when i was consistently missing pots in practice. So try and take in everything you learn on here and keep looking for the light at the end of the tunnel :) ]]> Coaching Questions Belloz22 http://www.thesnookerforum.co.uk/board/showthread.php/43706-What-i-ve-learnt-over-the-past-2-weeks Selling ****Joe Davis Black and Red Plate Special cues for sale**** http://www.thesnookerforum.co.uk/board/showthread.php/43705-****Joe-Davis-Black-and-Red-Plate-Special-cues-for-sale****?goto=newpost Wed, 22 May 2013 14:00:15 GMT Hi guys

have 2 nice Joe Davis specials' for sale

Joe Davis Special Black Plate is 57 2/16" in length, 10.8mm tip, 16 1/2 OZ stamped weight and butt diameter is 30.4mm. A few minor dings on the ebony handle to the right of the badge around where the cue is usually held. The cue sights straight and has a very slight lift at the center of the shaft when rolled on a flat surface. Beautiful birds-eye
Price is $170 + postage

The Joe Davis Special Red Plate is 58" in length, 10.8mm tip, 16 1/2 Oz stamped weight and butt diameter is 30mm. The cue is near mint condition. The cue sights straight.
Price is $170 + postage

photo 170520131204_zpsa9688bdf.jpg photo 170520131201_zps7dc87aa7.jpg photo 170520131203_zps17269e19.jpg photo 170520131205_zps2442bc9a.jpg photo 170520131213_zps844b4506.jpg ]]> Snooker Items For Sale kev267 http://www.thesnookerforum.co.uk/board/showthread.php/43705-****Joe-Davis-Black-and-Red-Plate-Special-cues-for-sale**** vmax was right! http://www.thesnookerforum.co.uk/board/showthread.php/43703-vmax-was-right!?goto=newpost Wed, 22 May 2013 08:55:16 GMT no, not about players being lucky :) i remember him saying a lot of pots are missed by the player flicking his eyes away from the line of aim on... no, not about players being lucky :)

i remember him saying a lot of pots are missed by the player flicking his eyes away from the line of aim on the way down.

i was practicing to achieve 5 reds and 5 blacks on the line up (one below the black). current status : NOT YET ACHIEVED!

i found myself noticing about an hour in my eyes sometimes flicking slightly away from the line of aim on the way down. its hard to believe you don't notice yourself doing it but sometimes the brain is thinking where is my elbow, stance etc.

i tried focusing on keeping eyes on line of aim and adjusted myself so that my first movement is down and then a more horizontal movement on the line of aim to the shot.

this seemed to work better.

i would suggest this is why i miss easy shots where i know the line of aim has been selected right, and particularly why i miss shots in a match (brain is more anxious so thinks about other things than the line of aim).

thanks to vmax for pointing this flaw out. ]]> Coaching Questions armstm http://www.thesnookerforum.co.uk/board/showthread.php/43703-vmax-was-right! Ssb - new season, new system http://www.thesnookerforum.co.uk/board/showthread.php/43701-Ssb-new-season-new-system?goto=newpost Wed, 22 May 2013 06:30:30 GMT Michael Wasley is a talented young snooker player from Gloucester who deserves additional respect for being able to solve the Rubik's cube in a matter of seconds (and not, as I used to in my youth, by taking it apart and then reassembling it).


Wasley’s ability to untangle a great enigma may stand him in good stead for when he plays one next week in the first round of the Wuxi Classic.


Ronnie O’Sullivan, who sat out almost all of last season, has entered not only Wuxi but also the European Tour event next month in Bulgaria.


Whether this is because he needs more money for school fees, he missed snooker and wants to make up for lost time or has contractual obligations to fulfil is anyone’s guess, but O’Sullivan’s presence at the SWSA in Gloucester next week will bring interest at a time of year when snooker has traditionally been in hibernation.


He’s playing Wasley because the system has changed. For all ranking events barring Australia, Shanghai and the World Championship, all 128 main tour members start from the beginning.


In this bright, shiny new era of ‘fairness’ this means that Ding Junhui, who is from Wuxi, has had to come back to Britain to qualify for...Wuxi.


He faces Aditya Mehta, who reached the last 16 of last season’s International Championship. The other Indian professional, Pankaj Advani, a quarter-finalist in the Welsh Open a few months back, will provide the first round opposition for Ricky Walden, the defending Wuxi Classic champion.


Steve Davis, having seen off his old foe Stephen Hendry, will play Hendry’s nephew, James Cahill.


The first round winners will all progress to the final stages next month.


I suspect many top 16 players need this like the proverbial hole in the head. It will be interesting to see who has practised and who will be winging it. And despite what they may say, organisers want the top players to qualify.


It’s a great chance for the lower ranked players. For many of them, if they’re going to beat a top player it’ll be in the more prosaic qualifying environment than the big arenas.


However, some of them may in time come to reflect that this new system is not quite the leveller they thought. The previous system was labyrinthine, tough and seemingly endless but playing, for instance, the reigning world champion in round one is going to be a lot tougher than playing someone of a similar ranking.


Still, it’s an exciting time for the new professionals and if I had a hat I would tip it to those who have come through Q School, including Alexander Ursenbacher, from Switzerland, and Ahmed Saif, a Qatari.


In my experience new pros couldn’t care less about whichever system is in place (and there have been a few down the years). They just want to play, and there will be much to play in this coming season.


More... ]]> Snooker Scene Blog ferret http://www.thesnookerforum.co.uk/board/showthread.php/43701-Ssb-new-season-new-system Something to learn from this http://www.thesnookerforum.co.uk/board/showthread.php/43700-Something-to-learn-from-this?goto=newpost Wed, 22 May 2013 05:26:37 GMT I just came back out of a full week of a bad patch. This thing kills but is always there. i fear it always but cant get rid of it. i have been... I just came back out of a full week of a bad patch. This thing kills but is always there. i fear it always but cant get rid of it. i have been playing for a lot of years and I know I should not be doing the things I do when playing bad but well this negative thinking and negative frame of mind captures me for good when playing bad. What to do...

I was playing bad and struggling to get a single ball to the pocket... I even missed a three quarters black when it was 8 inches from the pocket and the cue ball was another 6 inches from the black .. can you imagine missing that after playing for 12 years... I did miss it.

Went and did some solo and found out crazily enough that during teh match I wasnt doign two things and I did in solo:

1. backswing was faster
2. no good back pause

these two things were making me rush the shot and hence missing and totally destroyed timing.

Kept that in mind but my brain kept saying bad grip (AGAIN) so I kept concentrating on the grip and played bad bad bad then I trained my brain to acknowledge that the grip needs to be loose and thats it so when I forgot I got a chance to concentrate on front pause, slower backswing and good final back pause and also switching of the eyes and locking them on OB... this helped improve a lot of things... In the end timing improved and I came out only yesterday with mini breaks of 30s and 20s (yes i was that bad that a break of 30 seems like something huge)... !!!

another factor- changed my tip last night and played with a newly tipped and shaped tip. That could have been the reason as well but mostly I was missing and getting negative thoughts and that ruined...

Lesson: only one way to get out of a bad patch i.e. keep trying keep trying and keep trying. While playing bad and missing you tend ot become negative and that is when bad things creep up and you do not play with you normal and full cue action but rush things...!!! ]]> Coaching Questions Sidd http://www.thesnookerforum.co.uk/board/showthread.php/43700-Something-to-learn-from-this Practice match at 147 snooker club warrington http://www.thesnookerforum.co.uk/board/showthread.php/43697-Practice-match-at-147-snooker-club-warrington?goto=newpost Tue, 21 May 2013 19:47:32 GMT Anybody up for a few frames of snooker at 147 evans house I don't go often enough and id welcome someone to have a few matches with:) ]]> Harrison952 http://www.thesnookerforum.co.uk/board/showthread.php/43697-Practice-match-at-147-snooker-club-warrington Snnoker Warrior http://www.thesnookerforum.co.uk/board/showthread.php/43696-Snnoker-Warrior?goto=newpost Tue, 21 May 2013 18:08:40 GMT Evening all, anybody been in touch with Snooker Warrior recently, sent a PM looking for a price on a case for my son, if anybody has contact... Evening all,

anybody been in touch with Snooker Warrior recently, sent a PM looking for a price on a case for my son, if anybody has contact details other than PM then i would appreciate it. ]]> Accessories Maxsys http://www.thesnookerforum.co.uk/board/showthread.php/43696-Snnoker-Warrior Selling **** Barracuda OLD MASTERS Cue **** http://www.thesnookerforum.co.uk/board/showthread.php/43695-****-Barracuda-OLD-MASTERS-Cue-****?goto=newpost Tue, 21 May 2013 17:06:10 GMT Quite a rare cue, these dont come up very often.

Made by Barracuda in the 80's. Kevin Muncaster used to run Barracuda but now runs North West Cues.

Cue was Originally a one piece but was sent to John Parris some years ago by the previous owner to be made a 3/4.

57 and half inches long. 10mm tip. stamped 17 and half onz. id say bit heavier now due to joint. prob 18 onz

17 inches balance point and has a 29mm butt. stiff ash shaft

comes with extension and aluminium ray reardon classic case.

£150 plus p and p










]]> Snooker Items For Sale mattyshinobi22 http://www.thesnookerforum.co.uk/board/showthread.php/43695-****-Barracuda-OLD-MASTERS-Cue-****