Couple of questions for you guys

[Khaos]

I've recently picked up my cue again and have got back in the swing of the game.
I believe I am quite a good player. Recently in matches i've knocked in a few 30s and 50s.

BUT

In some matches my game completely goes to cr!p.

My cueing arm tenses up and I jab at shots, I can feel my head pop up when I take some shots. (This doesnt happen in practice)

For some reason no technique ive found for lining up shots works... I dont know if its cause Im taking my eyes off the ball or what.
My practice partner says I over concentrate and I should tries 12 times table whilst I take my shots.. which works for me (Sort of)

Can anyone provide some insight?

[snookerdad]

Sorry, Khaos.

I'd need to see you in action.

Tim Dunkley (World Snooker coach)

[outofposition]

If you feel uncomfortable/unsure on a shot do you ever get up off the shot and start over again? It's quite easy to tense up during a match, at whatever level it is at, might be times when you just need to get up and start over.

[Khaos]

No I dont, and sometimes ill play the shot and think why didnt I just start again
Do you ever sometimes get down on a shot and think you'll miss but play anyways?

[davisskeggsm]

I get that a lot a know im going to miss, but what is very strange is that i can sense when im going to sink a long shot or not, very strange i know, but for example i played today and i potted about 2/6 long shots that i took on and on tge two i sunk bedore i played the shot i knew i was going to pot if if you know what i mean like just felt a strange connection or feeling inside me and i just knew i was going to pot them where as appose to the 4 i missed i felt nothing but pure curiosity as to what easy red i am going to leave my oponent on. I think mentallity plays a major part to somebodys snoker carrer and i think i might try and change my mentality and focus more on the game and shot itself rather than what i do at the minuote which is un conciously knowing when i am going to pot or not

[nrage]

I get that a lot a know im going to miss, but what is very strange is that i can sense when im going to sink a long shot or not, very strange i know, but for example i played today and i potted about 2/6 long shots that i took on and on tge two i sunk bedore i played the shot i knew i was going to pot if if you know what i mean like just felt a strange connection or feeling inside me and i just knew i was going to pot them where as appose to the 4 i missed i felt nothing but pure curiosity as to what easy red i am going to leave my oponent on. I think mentallity plays a major part to somebodys snoker carrer and i think i might try and change my mentality and focus more on the game and shot itself rather than what i do at the minuote which is un conciously knowing when i am going to pot or not

Sometimes, and I'm not saying that this is the case here, a person will get a feeling that something is going to happen and then it does, and they connect the feeling with the event. But, what they don't realise is that they had a feeling 9 other times but because nothing happened on those 9 other times they've forgotten or dismissed the feeling and made no connection. The brain is very good at making connections, but not so good at being objective about it.

[Sidd]

No I dont, and sometimes ill play the shot and think why didnt I just start again
Do you ever sometimes get down on a shot and think you'll miss but play anyways?

This happens with me quite a few times... The best thing is that whenever this doubt comes in mind, one should not think of anything but get up and start voer again. But sometimes people like me are lazy enough not to get up again and play thinking it will go; and it doesnt really. It never happens and now I am trying to be careful and whenever this feeling creeps in I get up (not always) but overcoming this bad habit.

[AKashyap]

Concentrate on the basics .. Look at your stance, cue action ... For position, always try to finish near the object ball .. try to get in line with or without hitting a cushion ... Play only at the speed required to complete the shot ... If at the end moment, you think that you will miss the pot, try to leave the cue ball safe .. Or better try to correct the angle at the last moment, make the pot and maybe take a little "shot to something" as the next shot In my opinion, if you want to try to beat players capable of making higher breaks than you, your safeties must be great ...

[renniwevarb]

No I dont, and sometimes ill play the shot and think why didnt I just start again
Do you ever sometimes get down on a shot and think you'll miss but play anyways?

Yes, that is why a lot of us don't get our potential breaks and just breakdown. Just because we had to have a go at the shot even when there are a lot of "No" signals sent from the brain!

So next time, reset your shot when you don't feel right. Don't ever complain "Why did I take the shot?" when you already knew something was wrong, and rue not getting a higher break.

[cris0000food]

Concentrate on the basics .. Look at your stance, cue action ... For position, always try to finish near the object ball .. try to get in line with or without hitting a cushion ... Play only at the speed required to complete the shot ... If at the end moment, you think that you will miss the pot, try to leave the cue ball safe .. Or better try to correct the angle at the last moment, make the pot and maybe take a little "shot to something" as the next shot In my opinion, if you want to try to beat players capable of making higher breaks than you, your safeties must be great ...

Good advice I think. Natural rhythm and going for shots only when your confident. Frustration, big killer. As Akashyap said concentrating on cueing action is probably your best bet as opposed to staring at the object ball like I do. Not good.