amount of backswing

[mchpddl1]

hi,

i noticed players such as Tony Drago, Joe Johnson, Alex higgins etc, all have very little back swing just before hitting the white. But in modern days snooker the back swing is huge, is it really necessary to use such a long back swing? the main thing is ensuring the cue going through the cue ball is probaly sufficient, i guess?

[bongo]

The players that you mentioned get through the ball so well, there is no point for them to bring the cue all the way back. For amateurs, we have not had enouth practise!, and we need to bring the cue back more to get power. The least you can bring the cue back and still get power, is the best backswing amount.

EDIT - The backwing at different distances is to get a good follow through at a fast speed for power.

[bongo]

I'm talking about power, the same applies for slower shots. The shortest backswing while still able to get the pace needed.

[Rane]

I don´t think you will find any guidebook to cuesports that don´t recommend a long backswing. Alex Higgins did everything wrong but still managed to play some extraordinary snooker. There are many examples of players who don´t play after the book, both in snooker and the other cuesports.

[The Doctor]

I would disagree Rane. In my experience of the game both as player and coach, there is definitely a preferred method in terms of controlling power and pace of shot(although there are some exceptions).
The best way to have a consistent and controlled cue action is to learn how to use the length of back swing as a guide to the pace of your shot and develop a constant cue speed. i have gone into this already in the thread "striking the cue ball properly".

[CoachGavin]

i agree with you doctor, I coach that the backswing should be roughly the same amount as the required follow through. Therefore a power shot would require the cue to be brought back nearly as far as the bridge hand and would then follow through the same distance - 10 inches (depending on how far the bridge hand is away). A soft shot with only a couple of inches follow through therefore only needs a backswing of a couple of inches and so on. If the backswing is too large when only a soft shot is required or the backswing is short on a power shot then the player will find it more difficult to time the shot consistantly.

[Rane]

I agree with you on that point. It depends on how hard you are hitting the ball. I read the first post as if it was ment that Higgins powers through instead of using the backswing to gain power. In general I don´t think it´s recommendable to pick of very much from Higgins besides the ability to get out of hopeless situations.

[masterpotter]

no need for big backswing

as a top player myself and winner of many comps i think that acuraccy is far greater with less cue movement,,hence little back swing..

[masterpotter]

no need for big back swing..prime example neil robertson,selby...

[hegeland]

As with most things, medium is best for most people.

[missneworleans]

Backswing is very important. Only ver fast players can not do it

[Viktortheman]

I don´t think you will find any guidebook to cuesports that don´t recommend a long backswing. Alex Higgins did everything wrong but still managed to play some extraordinary snooker. There are many examples of players who don´t play after the book, both in snooker and the other cuesports.

There are no book for playing snooker! Everyone have their own style! You can't play with a style you feel totaly wrong with. But there are only one rule to spin the ball and that is: much follow trough!

[Rane]

Perhaps there is no book, but I guess no coach would recommend to play like Alex Higgins. If you´re beeing coached from the start you won´t end up playing like that. Just to clarify once again I very much agree with Doctor and Coachgavin, which quite obvious wasn´t clear in my first statement. And I guess what they are saying is what most coaches would say.

I don´t believe Ronnie O´Sullivan beeing as talented as he is, played the way he does from his first visit to a snooker table, obviously he has learnt a little along the way.

[davyp26uk]

Screwing Back with Side

I have great difficulty in playing a deepish screwback with side.

I either miss the pot, get the side but no screw back distance or a deep screw but no side.

Any hints and or tips would be welcome.

[Blondie]

hi,

i noticed players such as Tony Drago, Joe Johnson, Alex higgins etc, all have very little back swing just before hitting the white. But in modern days snooker the back swing is huge, is it really necessary to use such a long back swing? the main thing is ensuring the cue going through the cue ball is probaly sufficient, i guess?

Hey M,

........interesting one, & tend to use a small backswing for 'softer' shots, so non-power shots, + a couple of inches follow through, & a larger backswing for 'power' shots, with say 9 - 11 inches follow through.

Individual choice maybe, although I do find with backspin it can be an advantage to have a larger backswing, especially deep screw shots, as I find it helps to generate more backspin on the cue ball, although admittedly it is harder to control sometimes. [something around 'jumping balls', ]

Power shots can be tricky though, and over the years I've learnt not to draw the cue back too far on some of these types of shots, as further the backswing, the more room for deviation, and any deviation in the follow through just ends up putting side on the cue ball.

Always think as well that Ron & Stephen Lee get the balance just right, great long backswing action, plus awesome cue ball control, inspirational to watch.

Lol....xx