SWSA For Occasional Practice

[MrRottweiler]

I moved recently and now live just 3 miles away from the SWSA. I want to start going there once or twice a week in the evening for a few hours solo practice but the website seems to only have packages for more serious players and that's out of my price range.

There are a few other snooker clubs closer to me but none of them have the prestige or quality that the SWSA offers so is there a basic membership I can use to visit maybe one evening a week without booking and get some table time if there are any free tables? Ot does it not work like that and if I asked for an hourly rate at SWSA I would be escorted off the premises and banned for life? Followed by a good kicking by the bouncers (Willie Thorne and Clive Everton)

[trains]

When I visited there only the furthest 2 tables had sufficient space around them allowing you unimpeded access to your table,the first 6 tables were a bit too close to each other.

Also the table I played on the pockets were a bit more generous than what I should think World Snooker would use in a pro event,if they reduced the number of tables to 6 and spaced them all out a bit more,plus if they had pro pockets on all 6 I'd rate it as a slightly better venue.

If I lived as close as that to the SWSA I'd practice there more often regardless but living much further afield I'd only go again with the above corrections put in.

Just my take.

[Londonlad147]

I'm pretty sure they do an hourly rate there. I don't think it's usually a problem getting a table if you turn up on the night, but always better to book, or at least ring in advance.

Yes, there is more space around tables 1 and 2 at the far end, but there's probably more space around the other tables than in many 'ordinary' clubs.

Tables 1-8 are Star tables, with 1-5 being to World Snooker templates. 6-8, although Star, have been opened up a little to make them a tad easier for more casual players. Tables 9 and 10 really aren't that good at all, and T9 in particular has buckets for pockets.

[trains]

Ahh well if there were actually 4 tables to my left instead of 2 then the venue would be big enough for 8 tables,ten is just a little bit too crammed imo,but yes even then the space is still better than most clubs.

[cueman]

was only there myself on Saturday, played on table 2 which has just had a brand new no.10 cloth fitted. £8 an hour, we had to wait until 12 noon though because 2 guys were playing on it that had it booked for 2 hours.

All kinds of standard players go there, don't worry about your standard.

[tomwalker147]

Hi mate,

I've played a few comps there and noticed they do an hourly rate. As the poster above mentioned I think it's around £8 an hour. Not extortionate considering the conditions you get to play in.

Most of the tables are nice and not overly tight considering most of them are stars.Give them a call and speak to Andrew Norman, he's usually very helpful.

[MrRottweiler]

Cheers for the useful feedback guys and I'm surprised the hourly rate is that low considering the tables and cloths are championship class. Hopefully I'll start seeing familiar faces if I go after work a few times a week to practice or loiter in the bar area It would be surreal to be doing some solo practice and then a few big names start a match on a table next to me. I'm going to play in the Pink Ribbon tournament there in July so need to get some practice in and get used to the surroundings there. I know I don't have a hope of progressing to the stages where the pros get involved but it can't hurt to dream and is only £25 to enter guaranteeing at least two matches.

[Londonlad147]

I'm going to play in the Pink Ribbon tournament there in July so need to get some practice in and get used to the surroundings there. I know I don't have a hope of progressing to the stages where the pros get involved but it can't hurt to dream and is only £25 to enter guaranteeing at least two matches.

Pink Ribbon is 7-11 JUNE this year.

You're only guaranteed two matches if you enter twice at £25 per entry!

[Terry Davidson]

That's a big change to the tables since I was there. They had 4 tables downstairs and then 8 upstairs in 2 rooms. The one room was reserved for pro practice and during the day you had to be invited to play there if a pro wanted a practice partner. Sam Baird asked me to play and he beat me 8-1 and had a 145 early in the session. I won't mention my high break!

The pro tables had slightly easier pockets but the other 8 tables for the general public had factory pockets which were very tight. I believe Paul Williams had the corner pockets in the pro room brought out a bit for confidence purposes.

The best break I ever had there was a 98. I must admit though the conditions were great although there was no bar at that time, just tea/coffee at 10p which you made yourself on the honour system. I paid for the full package for accommodation and full day's practice and I also received permission to do a little coaching when I was there.

[MrRottweiler]

Pink Ribbon is 7-11 JUNE this year.

You're only guaranteed two matches if you enter twice at £25 per entry!

Doh cheers mate I don't think I can stretch to entering twice if I want a few pints and taxi home as well.

[tomwalker147]

Doh cheers mate I don't think I can stretch to entering twice if I want a few pints and taxi home as well.

I'll probably see you there this year, may be a good opportunity for a few forum members to put a face to the posts? SWSA is brilliant, I love the atmosphere and enjoyed my solo practice whilst Lisowski and Milkins played a little money game next to me. It was also nice to have a few frames with Milkins once he was finished getting beat by Jack

[ace man]

I'll probably see you there this year, may be a good opportunity for a few forum members to put a face to the posts? SWSA is brilliant, I love the atmosphere and enjoyed my solo practice whilst Lisowski and Milkins played a little money game next to me. It was also nice to have a few frames with Milkins once he was finished getting beat by Jack

Must have been a great experience. You didn't take further money from Rob, did you?

[tomwalker147]

Must have been a great experience. You didn't take further money from Rob, did you?

It was pretty awesome, he beat me 3-0 but each frame came down to the colours so no disgrace really! It was nice to play a pro without being heavily intoxicated as I usually am at exhibitions etc!

[MrRottweiler]

I'll probably see you there this year, may be a good opportunity for a few forum members to put a face to the posts? SWSA is brilliant, I love the atmosphere and enjoyed my solo practice whilst Lisowski and Milkins played a little money game next to me. It was also nice to have a few frames with Milkins once he was finished getting beat by Jack

I was thinking the same thing as it will be nice to cheer on anyone else from TSF playing in the tournament. I need to sort out my cue because it's been neglected in storage for so long.

[Londonlad147]

I'll probably see you there this year, may be a good opportunity for a few forum members to put a face to the posts? SWSA is brilliant,

I'll be there!!!