The Champions Way - Steve Davis coaching video

[Ronnington]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h2HBrfDJ6n0

Apologies if this has been posted recently. First time I've watched this... Strangely I've never bothered watching a coaching vid before; it's quite lengthy but was a nice refresher for me and I even learned a couple of new minor tips from it. Steve has a great knack of explaining things concisely and in very simple terms.

I particularly enjoyed the simple basic advice at 31:00-36:00min - 1. Emphasise Pause at backswing 2. Concentrate on object ball 3. Strike confidently 4. Keep your head down and totally still all the way until ball is pocketed

However, after watching it and going for a quick practice session, I played horrific - mainly because I was focusing on Davis' emphasis on looking at the object ball on delivery!

I don't know what I do naturally. My sighting process and cue ball-to-object ball sighting/feathering is all subconscious and natural. I've never given it a second thought... Up until this point I can't 100% say I look at the object ball at strike, although I surely must do otherwise I'd miss every pot.

Has anyone found they play worse after watching a coaching video for the first time?

Over the last year I've only been playing once every three weeks, but I've now got three whole weeks off work before starting a new job, so for the hell of it I'm going all out and going to put in table time every day for at least 2 hours a time. See where I end up...

[Giggity1984]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h2HBrfDJ6n0

Apologies if this has been posted recently. First time I've watched this... Strangely I've never bothered watching a coaching vid before; it's quite lengthy but was a nice refresher for me and I even learned a couple of new minor tips from it. Steve has a great knack of explaining things concisely and in very simple terms.

I particularly enjoyed the simple basic advice at 31:00-36:00min - 1. Emphasise Pause at backswing 2. Concentrate on object ball 3. Strike confidently 4. Keep your head down and totally still all the way until ball is pocketed

However, after watching it and going for a quick practice session, I played horrific - mainly because I was focusing on Davis' emphasis on looking at the object ball on delivery!

I don't know what I do naturally. My sighting process and cue ball-to-object ball sighting/feathering is all subconscious and natural. I've never given it a second thought... Up until this point I can't 100% say I look at the object ball at strike, although I surely must do otherwise I'd miss every pot.

Has anyone found they play worse after watching a coaching video for the first time?

Over the last year I've only been playing once every three weeks, but I've now got three whole weeks off work before starting a new job, so for the hell of it I'm going all out and going to put in table time every day for at least 2 hours a time. See where I end up...

I would pay very close attention to what I am about to say to you.... before you started to watch this video you were playing the game correctly!....... (Let me explain!)

I have been tinkering with my cue action for many many years now and can no longer remember a time when I played like you used to, that is to say, subconsciously and naturally. The reason is watching coaching videos like Steve's. Unfortunately I believe that it might be impossible for me to play naturally anymore. I have copied them all, tried everything to try and feel like I used to, and suffer from paralysis through over analysis.

My advice to you is if you want to develop a pause, then fine do so, if you want to develop a different eye rhythm, then that is fine, do, but do not do both at once! Steer clear of changing more than one thing at a time! I would try and forget about going down this path of watching coaching videos and trying out the advice that you see in them unless you are 100% sure of the single aspect you are working on. I would give my left nut to go back to my natural way of playing(years ago) and stop the tinkering. Seriously, it's a slippery slope! Leave it alone!

[Big Splash!]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h2HBrfDJ6n0

Apologies if this has been posted recently. First time I've watched this... Strangely I've never bothered watching a coaching vid before; it's quite lengthy but was a nice refresher for me and I even learned a couple of new minor tips from it. Steve has a great knack of explaining things concisely and in very simple terms.

I particularly enjoyed the simple basic advice at 31:00-36:00min - 1. Emphasise Pause at backswing 2. Concentrate on object ball 3. Strike confidently 4. Keep your head down and totally still all the way until ball is pocketed

However, after watching it and going for a quick practice session, I played horrific - mainly because I was focusing on Davis' emphasis on looking at the object ball on delivery!

I don't know what I do naturally. My sighting process and cue ball-to-object ball sighting/feathering is all subconscious and natural. I've never given it a second thought... Up until this point I can't 100% say I look at the object ball at strike, although I surely must do otherwise I'd miss every pot.

Has anyone found they play worse after watching a coaching video for the first time?

Over the last year I've only been playing once every three weeks, but I've now got three whole weeks off work before starting a new job, so for the hell of it I'm going all out and going to put in table time every day for at least 2 hours a time. See where I end up...

I flick between the OB and CB but it's OB at the point of contact for me. David and the pros aren't wrong, OB is the way to go. It doesn't need to be practised, sighting the OB or CB is as natural as anything. The reason folk miss pots is nothing to do with sighting, it's to do with moving the cue off the shot line. However, if I stare at the CB, I do move the cue off the shot line. That's because I'm taking my eye off the target. For me, the target if that fraction of the OB that I'm trying to hit to pot the ball. Some say the pocket is the target but it isn't, nor is the CB as we hit that dead centre (apart from side) and it's right in front of us so it cannot be the target or end product.

But if CB works for you, stick to it.

[jonny66]

I would pay very close attention to what I am about to say to you.... before you started to watch this video you were playing the game correctly!....... (Let me explain!)

I have been tinkering with my cue action for many many years now and can no longer remember a time when I played like you used to, that is to say, subconsciously and naturally. The reason is watching coaching videos like Steve's. Unfortunately I believe that it might be impossible for me to play naturally anymore. I have copied them all, tried everything to try and feel like I used to, and suffer from paralysis through over analysis.

My advice to you is if you want to develop a pause, then fine do so, if you want to develop a different eye rhythm, then that is fine, do, but do not do both at once! Steer clear of changing more than one thing at a time! I would try and forget about going down this path of watching coaching videos and trying out the advice that you see in them unless you are 100% sure of the single aspect you are working on. I would give my left nut to go back to my natural way of playing(years ago) and stop the tinkering. Seriously, it's a slippery slope! Leave it alone!

Thanks for this, it popped into my mind tonight and I just started to relax down into the shot and stroke the balls home without really thinking about it, unfortunately at almost the very same time I found some form I had some kind of mental block that stopped me potting anything into the baulk pockets, jawed every one of them.

[Ramon]

Interesting topic .

The problem with experienced ( especially natural players ) is , that almost every one of them have a bad habit in his technique. over the years he has built up his game with it and around it and this has become as a part of his technique.
As soon as he tries to get red of it and bring sum new changes in his technique, start getting himself in trouble. changing technique requires time and patience.
Even after months of practice, once the pressure starts during the match . He can always falls back in his old technique and pick up those bad habits again.

[Ronnington]

Thanks for all your replies - very helpful.

To make matters worse, I've literally just read the Frank Callan section about CB sighting and whether you're left/right eye dominant... After doing his experiment it turns out I'm left-eye dominant (I play right-handed). Up until now I've always played even-sighted with my chin smack in the centre of the cue...

Made a 53 in a match yesterday playing my natural even-sighted game, which was my first 50+ break in 13 years since playing regularly again.

I shall stop reading up on techniques and just play... hopefully with a clear mind

[vmax4steve]

Thanks for all your replies - very helpful.

To make matters worse, I've literally just read the Frank Callan section about CB sighting and whether you're left/right eye dominant... After doing his experiment it turns out I'm left-eye dominant (I play right-handed). Up until now I've always played even-sighted with my chin smack in the centre of the cue...

Get someone to photograph you from directly in front when in your stance and addressing the cue ball, only then will you know exactly where the cue is between your eyes. Whatever you do don't change it, and giggity is right, it's a slippery slope that I'm still on myself.

It started when I was told I would be a better player if I slowed down as I played too fast, despite making my highest break of 86 and still getting better. I haven't improved at all since despite trying to do everything right. I'm OK for about 20 minutes in a two hour practise when I subconscioulsy relax into my natural game, but once in a match I start thinking and it goes tits up more often than not.

[Big Splash!]

Thanks for all your replies - very helpful.

To make matters worse, I've literally just read the Frank Callan section about CB sighting and whether you're left/right eye dominant... After doing his experiment it turns out I'm left-eye dominant (I play right-handed). Up until now I've always played even-sighted with my chin smack in the centre of the cue...

Made a 53 in a match yesterday playing my natural even-sighted game, which was my first 50+ break in 13 years since playing regularly again.

I shall stop reading up on techniques and just play... hopefully with a clear mind

If you're playing centre chin with L eye dominant, you will undoubtedly be playing the cue across the chin a bit to make the cue look straight. This can involve taking the cue out a bit from the hip. The better way is to bring it back in a tad and play it across the left side of your chin as Ronnie does. Being R handed and L eye dominant (or R eye dominant and L handed) is a dream. Ronnie, Judd, Robbo, the best potters have it and it leads to the best set-up for alignment and straight cue action. Centre chin tends to suit R handed, R eye dominant.

[Ronnington]

If you're playing centre chin with L eye dominant, you will undoubtedly be playing the cue across the chin a bit to make the cue look straight. This can involve taking the cue out a bit from the hip. The better way is to bring it back in a tad and play it across the left side of your chin as Ronnie does. Being R handed and L eye dominant (or R eye dominant and L handed) is a dream. Ronnie, Judd, Robbo, the best potters have it and it leads to the best set-up for alignment and straight cue action. Centre chin tends to suit R handed, R eye dominant.

Thanks all. At the moment I'm still following my natural game and sighting evenly, not using my left-eye. I'm a bit apprehensive to change that in case I make a hash of everything

[vmax4steve]

Thanks all. At the moment I'm still following my natural game and sighting evenly, not using my left-eye. I'm a bit apprehensive to change that in case I make a hash of everything

A photo will show you exactly what you're doing, I'm willing to bet you're using your left eye more than you realise. I haven't seen any player with head placed exactly straight ahead with cue exactly between the eyes. The closest is Ally Carter but even he has his head slightly facing to his left so the cue is closer to his left eye than his right.

[Ronnington]

A photo will show you exactly what you're doing, I'm willing to bet you're using your left eye more than you realise. I haven't seen any player with head placed exactly straight ahead with cue exactly between the eyes. The closest is Ally Carter but even he has his head slightly facing to his left so the cue is closer to his left eye than his right.

You're probably correct; maybe I am using my left eye more than I realise

What about Steve Davis, Ding and Stephen Hendry for even-sighted players?

[guernseygooner]

No disrespect but if you've had 1x 50 break in the last 13 years, then you really don't want to be filling your head with sighting crap and technical stuff.

[Ronnington]

No disrespect but if you've had 1x 50 break in the last 13 years, then you really don't want to be filling your head with sighting crap and technical stuff.

I played on full-size tables from when I was 12 years old until 14, then stopped playing. Mucked about on pool tables on and off for a couple of years casually. Started playing snooker seriously again a couple of months ago, so there was a 13 year gap where I wasn't playing.

[Cue crafty]

I played on full-size tables from when I was 12 years old until 14, then stopped playing. Mucked about on pool tables on and off for a couple of years casually. Started playing snooker seriously again a couple of months ago, so there was a 13 year gap where I wasn't playing.

Nice to be able to dedicate some time to practise, I've been made redundant twice in the past 3 years and loved the chance to get back into snooker after 20 years off last year. I'm playing local league now Monday's and try and practice twice a week where possible on top. There is a lot of good advice on here, but one major thing I did recently really helps take advantage of it, film yourself playing! What you think you are doing and what you are actually doing can be very different.

Make the most of it! Enjoy the time. 😉

[Hello, Mr Big Shot]

I flick between the OB and CB but it's OB at the point of contact for me. David and the pros aren't wrong, OB is the way to go. It doesn't need to be practised, sighting the OB or CB is as natural as anything. The reason folk miss pots is nothing to do with sighting, it's to do with moving the cue off the shot line. However, if I stare at the CB, I do move the cue off the shot line. That's because I'm taking my eye off the target. For me, the target if that fraction of the OB that I'm trying to hit to pot the ball. Some say the pocket is the target but it isn't, nor is the CB as we hit that dead centre (apart from side) and it's right in front of us so it cannot be the target or end product.

But if CB works for you, stick to it.

The CB is the target. Miss-hit that and it doesn't matter what you're aiming at.