How long did it take??

[jono*]

I'm sure everyone had to go through the process of just starting out, making 10breaks, to 20, 30. But how long or how many years did it take you from starting out to making your first century??

[pottr]

I started playing when I was about 13 and I can honestly remember how my highest breaks went for my age coz I used to write them down, sad I know.

Age and breaks were:

13 - 33, 35
14 - 45, 54 (three times), 55, 71, 72, 82
15 - 118, 131
16 - 137
19 - 138
21/22 - 144

Didn't really play much from 16 - 18 as I started going out drinking etc and I stopped recording breaks when I was about 18/19. From my first ton I only wrote down the tons I had made. I was upto 74 I think before I stopped recording. Wish I'd kept it up

Didn't play from 22 at all for about three years because I started a family. Since I started playing again (28 now) the best score I have managed has been 140.

[Csmith]

I'm sure everyone had to go through the process of just starting out, making 10breaks, to 20, 30. But how long or how many years did it take you from starting out to making your first century??

Everyone has a distinctly personal journey when improving as a player. And without knowing how much practice a player put into their game, statistics can be a little bit misleading. Put in 20-40 hours a week of dedicated practice, you'll progress steadily and quickly. However, if you only play once a week with your buddies don't expect to make a ton any time soon.

[dcrackers147]

I started playing when I was about 13 and I can honestly remember how my highest breaks went for my age coz I used to write them down, sad I know.

Age and breaks were:

13 - 33, 35
14 - 45, 54 (three times), 55, 71, 72, 82
15 - 118, 131
16 - 137
19 - 138
21/22 - 144

Didn't really play much from 16 - 18 as I started going out drinking etc and I stopped recording breaks when I was about 18/19. From my first ton I only wrote down the tons I had made. I was upto 74 I think before I stopped recording. Wish I'd kept it up

Didn't play from 22 at all for about three years because I started a family. Since I started playing again (28 now) the best score I have managed has been 140.

Pottr you are a little older than me but i must have seen you play or been at a few comps at the same time before. You comment on Mark Selby when he was young some i'm guessing you played down WT's leicester? again you are a bit older than me just curious thats all.

[pottr]

I'm from Nuneaton so didn't get over to Willie's as often as perhaps I could have. But yeah, I wasn't too bad as a junior. Won a UK U16's comp at Pontins once.

But all the top dogs from my age bracket - Selby, Tom Ford, Gary Wilson had already turned pro at that age and weren't competing in as many junior comps. Might have been half decent if I'd have had the dedication, but that's the biggest part.

Ability counts for little in the end.

[Terry Davidson]

pottr:

Were you too young in the late 80's to play with Mick Price? As far as I remember he was the best player in Nuneaton at that time and he and I used to travel to the pro ticket tournaments together (he won his but I didn't make it).

Now poor Mick will be remembered forever as Ronny's opponent on the fastest 147 in history.

As for my break history...started playing pool and snooker at age 15 and if I remember my highest break at snooker may have been 30 or so and then I joined the Navy for 23 years. Started playing again on my last posting in 1982-85 and went to the century class during those 3 years however we were using Super Crystalate balls on tables with larger pockets (Brunswick Gold Crowns). I didn't have a clue what I was doing with the exception of having a copy of Joe Davis' book.

Went to the UK in 1985 and played 3 seasons on the pro-am circuit but failed to get my pro ticket (I was 40yrs at the time) although I did reasonably well on the circuit and managed to run a few centuries during tournaments, most of which were played on regular club tables.

Came back to Canada and quit playing again until 2005 when I took it up again at age 60yrs and went for my coach training which I will admit was mostly for myself but also maybe something to do when I retired. My objective was to get my skill level back to what it was in Britain in the 80's but I still haven't achieved that and I believe it's a little to do with age and perhaps a lot to do with drive and determination, as I find I just can't practice a solid 8-10 hours per day anymore, the body won't take it.

Terry

[pottr]

Were you too young in the late 80's to play with Mick Price?

I was too young in the 80's for sure but I know Mick well and have played with and against him many times. He's still a fantastic player.

Now poor Mick will be remembered forever as Ronny's opponent on the fastest 147 in history.

But he certainly will be remembered.

[throtts]

Which leads me to this question, guys.

Terry, is that about right, 8 to 10 hr a day ?..Wow..

[Terry Davidson]

throtts:

It all depends on the individual player and his objectives. When I was 40yrs old my intention was to get my pro ticket even though I was more than 20yrs older than most of the players on the pro-am and pro ticket tournaments. I felt I had to practice faithfully 8-10 hours a day (I was on a small pension and fully sponsored so I didn't have to work) just in order to try and keep up with the younger players and also improve my own game.

If we had a teenager who has ambitions to become pro then I would say 8hrs a day minimum with half of that being solo practice and also some coaching involved. If we have a fellow in his 30's who has run centuries and he wants to maintain his skill level then I would say maybe 10-15hrs per week again with some portion of solo practice but perhaps coaching not required.

If we have a fellow in his 50's or 60's (like me at 67yrs) who used to be a decent player with match centuries under his belt and he wants to try and re-capture that after a long lay-off then I would say a minimum of 4hrs virtually every day if he can afford it from both a money and time point of view. There would also be some coaching involved to try and get the cue action smoothed out and consistent and also tournaments.

If we have a league player who plays once a week in a league match but wants to either maintain his consistency or maybe improve it just a bit then 2hrs three times a week of solo practice should be enough as long as his technique is somewhere near normal. Maybe some coaching on the basics if the technique is a little off.

Terry

[throtts]

Thanks, Terry.

So looking at 4 hour a day for really good results in terms of quality snooker.

That's why I laugh when I hear players playing barely once a week but knock in tons every time they go, I do not buy it...