Positional Play

[Boxy]

I am a good potter. Position is my down fall because i rarely know exactly what to do with the white, should i avoid using side spin, or learn to use this for position?

[allan1206]

Hi snooker fan,

I think a good potter as you are is a great gift for you. At least, you have confidence in making shots around the table. However, positional play is very important in the modern game of snooker. If you don't mind, you may use line-up as a practice for your positional play. This will let you have the idea "where" and how hard you should hit the white ball to get to the desirable position for you next shot. As for side spin, you have to practise to master this type of shot, though it is difficult. It is also important for the success of the modern game. Side spin is almost unavoidable mostly when the cue ball ends up in an unwanted position and you still want to keep up with the break. Only do you play every shot with perfect position, you don't have to use side spin! Even though I may be wrong about that, I still suggest that you should practise applying side on the cue ball. I hope that you will break your personal record in break building.

Good luck to you!

allan1206

[gallen-147]

how have u got a 38 break without using position haha

maybe some easy balls but yeh use side as it opens up so many more shots.
it can be tricky at first and yeh u will get annoyed with using it but isnt that what practice os for?

use it and ull be making half centurys for fun

[MrRottweiler]

Side spin can be a real headache especially when you start considering the effects of check and running side and reverse side. Steve Davis has always hated using side yet Hendry uses side on almost every shot to get his position and send the white around every angle. If you can play the shot and get position without side thats a bonus but that wont always be the case and you will need to learn to use side effectively. The best way to do this.....A good night sleep, lots of coffee, lots of practice with side and repeat.

[MinnesotaSlim]

I have always been told to play people better than myself, it gives you a goal to reach. My problem is that I am better than most I play in my area, and my equals only play on tournament nights or rarely come in to practice. I have found I play much better when i practice by myself, I actually set up the board Player 1 vs Player 2. Just shooting around doesn't help me much because I do not worry about the "next guy", this way I keep in mind my leave if i choose to try a shot i may not be able to make. Sometimes I look at the shot I have given myself and think, "why the hell did I shoot it that way, I just gave up 30 points." It really points out the flaws in my game and I know what th work on. I end up being my best friend, as well as my worst enemy.

I also like to see the board when done. Look at the breaks, snookers, ect. Playing both sides of the board helps me out a lot to see things I might not usually see. My defensive play has improved much, as well as my longer, low percentage shots are potted more often. The best part is, I always win.

Second, when I do play people I know I can easily win against, it helps with my confidence. I just have to remember to stay serious. A few hours of this every day has helped me out a lot.

I also like the other offer about keeping track of your games on paper, reviewing practice time afterwards, i might have to start doing that.

[MrRottweiler]

Definitely best to play better players wherever possible. Don't be disheartened by losing as it will help your game.

John Higgins summarised this perfectly after winning his first world title. During the speeches he comments on his practice matches with Stephen Hendry by saying:

"Even though I was getting whacked 17-1, 18-1 every time I knew it was doing me the world of good"

Indeed it was.

[MinnesotaSlim]

Sorry, posted in the wrong thread. I don't think that I gave much light on the subject of side spin or position play.

[gallen-147]

fi your quite young tho it can dishearten you very quickly and get u seriously worked up. that can me a very bad thing

[Edestaugh]

Side is great and can really help when you need it but makes the shot much more complex as you have to allow for it. Check out http://dr-dave-billiards.com/book/book_description.html which has some excellent info on side.

In my experience the best players ensure their next shot is as easy as possible to reduce the risk of missing pot/falling out of position. I recommend reading about the 90 degree rule and 30 degree rule in the book above. Its a very quick read and transformed my game. Good luck.

[legod]

I am a good potter. Position is my down fall because i rarely know exactly what to do with the white, should i avoid using side spin, or learn to use this for position?

Firstly, I advise watching as much professional snooker as you can and observing positional play.

Without going into too much detail, there are a few general principles to bear in mind when playing for position.

- Think ahead. Usually 2 shots. You will need to play the ball you are on in such a way that you have the correct angle on the next ball to continue the break.
3/4 ball angles are favoured because they allow maximum maneuverability of the cue ball. Avoid fine cuts (you lose control of the cue ball) and straight angles (you can only go back and forth).

- Leave yourself with maximum margin for error in positional play.
Too often, breaks will end because you've played a shot that had very little margin for error with regards to position.
The golden rule is never play across the line to gain position when one can play along it
- When possible, when playing for a red, look to play the cue ball into an area where you will have a CHOICE of reds.

Cue ball control is essential of course, so practice that alot.
But you will see players always play the cue ball into an area rather than play pinpoint position all the time. The best break builders always leave themselves with maximum room for error and choices if things don't quite go to plan.

Avoid using side like the plague unless it's a ball over the pocket or you are playing safe. Until you reach an advanced level, too many things can go wrong with side and it makes potting so much more complicated.
A couple of shots that commonly require side
1) like playing in and out of baulk off the blue to avoid colliding with the baulk colours
2) or playing for the blue from a red with side off the side cushion to widen the angle so you don't finish too close to the blue and leave yourself with a thin cut - again this is an example of maximising margin for error.
Both shots require ALOT of practice!



I suggest some books, if you can hold of them.
Rex Williams - How to become a champion.
Stephen Hendry - Snooker Masterclass.
John Spencer - Spencer on Snooker

All have good overviews of the basic principles of positional play with excellent diagrams.

[C-J]

The golden rule is never play across the line to gain position when one can play along it

This line is from the old Rex Williams book and although i watch a lot of snooker(on BBC) strangely enough i'v never heard the commentators or guys in the studio talk about it.

[dannyd0g]

This line is from the old Rex Williams book and although i watch a lot of snooker(on BBC) strangely enough i'v never heard the commentators or guys in the studio talk about it.

Same here. I've never heard it before atall.

What does it mean ?

[C-J]

the line of the shot is the straight shot.If the cueball has to travel over this line you can easily run to far(or short).If you can play towards this line(by using a cusion)you have more margin of error.

[dannyd0g]

the line of the shot is the straight shot.If the cueball has to travel over this line you can easily run to far(or short).If you can play towards this line(by using a cusion)you have more margin of error.

Thankyou. I know what it means now. I have heard WT mention it before.

TBH its not something ive ever thought about while playing. But it could make quite a difference to start trying to implement this.

[C-J]

I'm not sure a lot of pro's think about this consiously.When playing the blue most will go straight done for the red and in break building you will first pot the red wich is in the way of the black instead of thinking about playing of the top cusion(across the line) or side cusion(along the line).