Terry's Technique Video

[Terry Davidson]

itsnoteasy:

Bracing does not infer tension, just keeping the left side firm. However, Joe Davis did use the word tension and in this I think he was wrong but not about bracing the left side of the body.

Joe is not trying to get people to 'tense up' the shoulders but he does advocate pushing the bridge arm out into the table as much as possible. What he didn't say was 'as much as is COMFORTABLY possible, and he should have made that clear in his book. He also tries to explain this 'line of tension' and when I try and thrust out my bridge arm straight I can feel the left shoulder going out and down and consequently the right shoulder going up a bit and locking into place. With this configuration I can feel the right elbow seems to swing a little more free however I find thrusting the bridge arm out as far as you can does become uncomfortable so I have always bent mine a bit but I still have the left armpit down near the rail which is what you'll see with the pros too.

Terry

[Terry Davidson]

j6uk:

Well then, explain what you think Frank meant by 'firm up the left side'. Or do you think I just made up this list and it didn't come from Frank at all?

By the way, 'to brace' means 'to firm up' according to the Oxford dictionary. Frank might not have used the word 'brace' but he says the same thing. You are getting the wrong idea, as brace does not infer any tension, just firming it up.

It is important to keep the left side of the body still and the only way I can think of getting that result is to get it into a position where it stays still and that means you have to somehow brace it.

Terry

[j6uk]

Frank Callan did not say that. Callan would know better than to use words that would imply tension..
Sorry tel but I believe you've been improvising ever since I questioned you on your term 'brace the shoulder' on post #141.
It simply don't add up.

j6uk:

I guess you can shoot me for thinking it came from the book rather than directly from Frank, it was a long time ago. My bad. It is correct to brace the bridge side of the body which in turn helps keep the grip side of the body still, as Frank says in point #7.

Terry

[itsnoteasy]

j6uk:

I also have a copy of his coaching list called 'The Drill' and point #7 is 'Firm up the left hand side of the body' and it was sent to me by Duncan quite a while ago now.

However, that aside...do you think it's wrong to brace the left side of the body. If so why not explain why it's wrong instead of just yanking my chain because you couldn't find the reference. Or do you think I made it all up?

In the Joe Davis book (revised 1975) it says (page 29) - 'push out your left arm now, as you sit with this book. Push your left arm straight. Now force it out a little further. Now imagine you have a cue in your right hand and draw the right shoulder back, BRACING THE CHEST. (my caps) This forces the left arm out even further and you should feel a line of tension running from the left hand through the left arm, through the shoulders and right down to the right elbow'.

A little further he says ' It is a sign that you have braced the bridge arm' and 'with that tension you will have a well-braced upper stance'. Then he goes on to explain how to achieve it and he also covers it again in his summary.

Terry

Jeeze this can not be used today, tension running from cue arm across the shoulders down to the elbow of the bridge arm, this can't be right, can it?
Terry I know bugger all ,but bracing or tension anywhere feels as if it goes against everything, surely snooker is about ,controll,comfort, smoothness, stillness , all words, that to me are the antithesis of what is in this book.
When down on the shot the table will support me, and keep most of me still, I am only moving a cue back and forth, not digging a ditch.
Sorry I have the arms the wrong way round, lefties, you just can't trust them.

[Terry Davidson]

j6uk:

I guess you can shoot me for thinking it came from the book rather than directly from Frank, it was a long time ago. My bad. It is correct to brace the bridge side of the body which in turn helps keep the grip side of the body still, as Frank says in point #7.

Terry

[j6uk]

This list was not on Frank Callan's website.
But Frank personally made this list especially for you? Or someone called Duncan at fcsnooker?

mythman:

The coaching part of the fcsnooker website is a re-hash of his book and taken directly from the book. I contacted fcsnooker and reached a fellow named Duncan who had Frank make up a 'bullet' format of quick points for me and he titled it 'The Drill' which is unfortunately what he also called it in the link j6uk passed on which doesn't contain that exact list.

Here is what Duncan sent me (this was quite awhile ago now), obviously for a right-hander like me:

1. Stand back from the shot.
2. Look at the shot.
3. Decide what shot to play.
4. Right foot in line with the shot.
5. Walk into the shot, right foot first then left foot.
6. Get down to the shot.
7. Firm up the left side of the body.
8. Solid bridge, gripping the cloth hard.
9. Tip to the ball.
10. Adjust back arm in line with the shot (this is one where modern coaching says to not adjust anything when down).
11. Look at the shot (assume this means eyes on OB to pocket then eyes back to cueball). Most modern coaches say you don't look at the pocket when down in the address position, but some pros do that (like Hendry).
12. Begin feathers or waggles and get the cue moving. (modern coaching recommends 2 or 3 feathers max.)
13. Search for the white, tip as close as possible during address. This is what we now call the 'front pause'.
14. When ready pull the cue back. (No details on speed and length of backswing nor does he emphasize SLOW.)
15. Eyes on the object ball. (Here he doesn't say when the eyes switch to the OB).
16. Push cue through and hit the chest. (Some Forum members disagree with hitting the chest).
17. Stay down on the shot until completion.
18. Do not bring the cue back on completion or follow through (most important).


Terry

[j6uk]

'Brace the shoulder' is a term you used and its not in Frank Callan's book as you said it was.
Ive never heard this term before all the time Ive been playing, so naturally I'd be curious as to its origins.
My concern is with siddiqui's shoulders, understanding why he's developed all this tension.

j6uk:

However, that aside...do you think it's wrong to brace the left side of the body. If so why not explain why it's wrong instead of just yanking my chain because you couldn't find the reference. Or do you think I made it all up?


Terry

[mythman69]

mythman:

The coaching part of the fcsnooker website is a re-hash of his book and taken directly from the book. I contacted fcsnooker and reached a fellow named Duncan who had Frank make up a 'bullet' format of quick points for me and he titled it 'The Drill' which is unfortunately what he also called it in the link j6uk passed on which doesn't contain that exact list.

Here is what Duncan sent me (this was quite awhile ago now), obviously for a right-hander like me:

1. Stand back from the shot.
2. Look at the shot.
3. Decide what shot to play.
4. Right foot in line with the shot.
5. Walk into the shot, right foot first then left foot.
6. Get down to the shot.
7. Firm up the left side of the body.
8. Solid bridge, gripping the cloth hard.
9. Tip to the ball.
10. Adjust back arm in line with the shot (this is one where modern coaching says to not adjust anything when down).
11. Look at the shot (assume this means eyes on OB to pocket then eyes back to cueball). Most modern coaches say you don't look at the pocket when down in the address position, but some pros do that (like Hendry).
12. Begin feathers or waggles and get the cue moving. (modern coaching recommends 2 or 3 feathers max.)
13. Search for the white, tip as close as possible during address. This is what we now call the 'front pause'.
14. When ready pull the cue back. (No details on speed and length of backswing nor does he emphasize SLOW.)
15. Eyes on the object ball. (Here he doesn't say when the eyes switch to the OB).
16. Push cue through and hit the chest. (Some Forum members disagree with hitting the chest).
17. Stay down on the shot until completion.
18. Do not bring the cue back on completion or follow through (most important).

Additional considerations - A positive mental attitude is vital if you are to develop and improve your play. It is very important that you play your shots confidently, with purpose.

Even if the balls are not going in then maintain your routine and follow the drill. Once this method is ingrained in your play you will find that you develop a level of consistency that is hard to fall below, as your stance, bridge and cueing is always of a certain standard.

There have been some changes in modern coaching since this list was made up, but generally these modern methods just contain more precise detail. For instance the Joe Davis book is very detailed and nowadays the Nic Barrow and Terry Griffiths coach training has even more detailed data which delves into every aspect of the set-up and technique. going down into the finest details.

For instance Nic (any myself and many others) will say for item #5 'take just 2 steps, first the right foot on the line (no details as to which part of the right foot) and then place the left foot'. The discussion on this string regarding item #7 I derived my info from first the Joe Davis book which has a lot more details on just HOW to firm up the left side and also my training from Nic and Terry amplifying that, however I disagree with Joe on the left arm being straight and locked for today's players but I do agree with his concept of getting the left shoulder out as far into the table as you comfortably can.

I think a lot of players who are very concerned about the finer details of set-up and technique would benefit from reading Frank's coaching information on the webside as he does not grind down into the finer details as for instance he doesn't believe the configuration of the stance is important just that it's stable. He does emphasize a solid bridge though and this is what j6uk has been talking about in his various posts and although an important foundation, a solid bridge is not the ONLY thing a player needs to pay attention to.

Missing from Frank's book is the actual technique to be used for the backswing and delivery as he never did publish good details on the actual cue action whereas Joe Davis did. I can't believe this is because Frank thought the cue action was not important but he figured players would drop into their natural rhythm after paying attention to his basics. He also says not a lot about timing nor does he specify driving through the cueball as Frank Adamson did, which I think is very important. He says 'hit the chest' and I think he believes players will automatically know they should accelerate through and BEYOND the cueball strike, but that important point is not automatic.

Terry

Thanks Terry!!!

Your post is very helpful indeed!

[mythman69]

http://www.fcsnooker.co.uk/coaching/.../the_drill.htm

Thanks for the link !

I have his book but I didn't know about his website.

Cheers!

[Terry Davidson]

mythman:

The coaching part of the fcsnooker website is a re-hash of his book and taken directly from the book. I contacted fcsnooker and reached a fellow named Duncan who had Frank make up a 'bullet' format of quick points for me and he titled it 'The Drill' which is unfortunately what he also called it in the link j6uk passed on which doesn't contain that exact list.

Here is what Duncan sent me (this was quite awhile ago now), obviously for a right-hander like me:

1. Stand back from the shot.
2. Look at the shot.
3. Decide what shot to play.
4. Right foot in line with the shot.
5. Walk into the shot, right foot first then left foot.
6. Get down to the shot.
7. Firm up the left side of the body.
8. Solid bridge, gripping the cloth hard.
9. Tip to the ball.
10. Adjust back arm in line with the shot (this is one where modern coaching says to not adjust anything when down).
11. Look at the shot (assume this means eyes on OB to pocket then eyes back to cueball). Most modern coaches say you don't look at the pocket when down in the address position, but some pros do that (like Hendry).
12. Begin feathers or waggles and get the cue moving. (modern coaching recommends 2 or 3 feathers max.)
13. Search for the white, tip as close as possible during address. This is what we now call the 'front pause'.
14. When ready pull the cue back. (No details on speed and length of backswing nor does he emphasize SLOW.)
15. Eyes on the object ball. (Here he doesn't say when the eyes switch to the OB).
16. Push cue through and hit the chest. (Some Forum members disagree with hitting the chest).
17. Stay down on the shot until completion.
18. Do not bring the cue back on completion or follow through (most important).

Additional considerations - A positive mental attitude is vital if you are to develop and improve your play. It is very important that you play your shots confidently, with purpose.

Even if the balls are not going in then maintain your routine and follow the drill. Once this method is ingrained in your play you will find that you develop a level of consistency that is hard to fall below, as your stance, bridge and cueing is always of a certain standard.

There have been some changes in modern coaching since this list was made up, but generally these modern methods just contain more precise detail. For instance the Joe Davis book is very detailed and nowadays the Nic Barrow and Terry Griffiths coach training has even more detailed data which delves into every aspect of the set-up and technique. going down into the finest details.

For instance Nic (any myself and many others) will say for item #5 'take just 2 steps, first the right foot on the line (no details as to which part of the right foot) and then place the left foot'. The discussion on this string regarding item #7 I derived my info from first the Joe Davis book which has a lot more details on just HOW to firm up the left side and also my training from Nic and Terry amplifying that, however I disagree with Joe on the left arm being straight and locked for today's players but I do agree with his concept of getting the left shoulder out as far into the table as you comfortably can.

I think a lot of players who are very concerned about the finer details of set-up and technique would benefit from reading Frank's coaching information on the webside as he does not grind down into the finer details as for instance he doesn't believe the configuration of the stance is important just that it's stable. He does emphasize a solid bridge though and this is what j6uk has been talking about in his various posts and although an important foundation, a solid bridge is not the ONLY thing a player needs to pay attention to.

Missing from Frank's book is the actual technique to be used for the backswing and delivery as he never did publish good details on the actual cue action whereas Joe Davis did. I can't believe this is because Frank thought the cue action was not important but he figured players would drop into their natural rhythm after paying attention to his basics. He also says not a lot about timing nor does he specify driving through the cueball as Frank Adamson did, which I think is very important. He says 'hit the chest' and I think he believes players will automatically know they should accelerate through and BEYOND the cueball strike, but that important point is not automatic.

Terry

[j6uk]

http://www.fcsnooker.co.uk/coaching/.../the_drill.htm

What else is on this list?

[mythman69]

I also have a copy of his coaching list called 'The Drill' and point #7 is 'Firm up the left hand side of the body'

What else is on this list?

[Terry Davidson]

j6uk:

I also have a copy of his coaching list called 'The Drill' and point #7 is 'Firm up the left hand side of the body' and it was sent to me by Duncan quite a while ago now.

However, that aside...do you think it's wrong to brace the left side of the body. If so why not explain why it's wrong instead of just yanking my chain because you couldn't find the reference. Or do you think I made it all up?

In the Joe Davis book (revised 1975) it says (page 29) - 'push out your left arm now, as you sit with this book. Push your left arm straight. Now force it out a little further. Now imagine you have a cue in your right hand and draw the right shoulder back, BRACING THE CHEST. (my caps) This forces the left arm out even further and you should feel a line of tension running from the left hand through the left arm, through the shoulders and right down to the right elbow'.

A little further he says ' It is a sign that you have braced the bridge arm' and 'with that tension you will have a well-braced upper stance'. Then he goes on to explain how to achieve it and he also covers it again in his summary.

Terry

[j6uk]

Frank Callan did not say 'brace the shoulder' in his book and I can't find 'firm up the left side of the body' on his website coaching tips! I happen to have all of that on file from the beginning.
Shall I get back to you regarding any of the above being in a Davis book? Naa don't bother ay

j6uk:

I couldn't find it either in Frank's book although he did say on his website coaching to 'firm up the left side of the body' as one of his points but his coaching tips are no longer available on the website. Firming up the left side of the body I take to mean getting the bridge arm on the table with the shoulder down as low as possible and the bridge forearm and bridge solidly on the table.

It's definitely in the Davis book and was also taught by Jack Karnham on the B&SCC coaching course. I teach keeping the bridge shoulder down as low as comfortably possible in order to stabilize the right shoulder socket and keep it out of the backswing and delivery as much as possible.

Terry

[itsnoteasy]

Eh! What kind of voodo is happening here.