sighting

[Terry Davidson]

tommy:

As I said, stick with it and don't change a thing and your brain will get trained to this set-up and you should see more improvement. Didn't realize you were the same age as me (69 next March)

Terry

[tommygunner1309]

tommy:

Remember to give it sufficient time and don't change anything for awhile or try anything else, just work on the set-up at address and you will come good for sure.
Terry

Hi Terry. Just an update on how things are moving. My game has improved by a fair amount since I started cueing with my right eye over the cue. I am scoring bigger breaks, potting balls I was previously missing and straight blues off its spot to corner pockets has now risen from 30% to about 65%. Also my safety game has improved by some margin. I am hitting the object ball where I want to and landing the cue ball either tight on baulk cushion or in the baulk area. I haven't changed anything else and am pleased with the progress - in fact I would dare to say that my game is in its best shape ever - and being 69 years next birthday that is a real turn up for the books.
Thanks for the help
Tommy

[lesedwards]

The cross and black routines are great. 1hr on the black a day for two weeks 'without frustration', highly recommended

Yes that is my plan an hour on the cross and an hour on the black each night and keep notes on each days practice then see where I am in two weeks time.

[j6uk]

The cross and black routines are great. 1hr on the black a day for two weeks 'without frustration', highly recommended

First off no lesson scheduled but I am thinking in two weeks time. He worked with a cross on the pink ball with all reds, one on pink spot and three towards blue, three towards black and three both ways towards sides. Great excercise using all angles and learning to hold the cue ball for position. Also high blacks stunning with a touch of right side or left side to come back out for another black and also as many as possible blacks off the spot.

[lesedwards]

What else did cliff go through with you les?
When is the next lesson?

First off no lesson scheduled but I am thinking in two weeks time. He worked with a cross on the pink ball with all reds, one on pink spot and three towards blue, three towards black and three both ways towards sides. Great excercise using all angles and learning to hold the cue ball for position. Also high blacks stunning with a touch of right side or left side to come back out for another black and also as many as possible blacks off the spot.

[j6uk]

What else did cliff go through with you les?
When is the next lesson?

I have been through all that with Terry. He would get me straightened out and a couple days later I am right back which is not Terry's fault. So I am going to go with what I have.

[lesedwards]

I'm just curious, in situation such as this, is it possible to find the real center of the ball by moving the head to either side /or tilting it/ or do we have to learn 'the new center' until brain accepts it ? My cue stick appears to look differently depending on where my head is or how tilted is it, but it doesn't seem to affect cente. I'm not sure, though.

Best regards.

I have been through all that with Terry. He would get me straightened out and a couple days later I am right back which is not Terry's fault. So I am going to go with what I have.

[ibogine]

I'm just curious, in situation such as this, is it possible to find the real center of the ball by moving the head to either side /or tilting it/ or do we have to learn 'the new center' until brain accepts it ? My cue stick appears to look differently depending on where my head is or how tilted is it, but it doesn't seem to affect cente. I'm not sure, though.

Best regards.

[lesedwards]

Les,

the first "intentional", don't you mean unintentional - may be Cliff noticed you always played with a smidgeon of unintentional right hand side? so he got you to cue a tad to the left which you perceive as left hand side but in reality is probably dead centre striking ...

just my thoughts ... no-one can play consistently always playing with side (at different distances and power) which is why I think Cliff was trying to get you to play dead centre cueball even if you perceive it as slightly left ...

anyway, glad you enjoyed your time with the great man

Yes your right it is un intentional side and yes it is making me hit dead center even though it does not seem like that. Now I will hit my table tomorrow night and start working on things.

[DandyA]

Well I had my 2 hour coaching session with Cliff today. First off I just want to say he is a great guy. He made me feel like I had known him for years. First off he through balls all over the table and told me to just start potting which ever one I wanted well he observed. He had a little note pad which he took notes on and his first comment was he really like the way I take the cue back then he noticed how I put intentional right hand side on the cue ball. So he had me shoot some straight blues to centre pocket and follow the cue ball into the same pocket. I am sure you can guess what happened from there the blue almost missed on the left and the cue ball went off the right hand cushion. Now instead of playing with my stroke or grip he had me put intentional left hand side on the cue ball and I am talking very little and I potted both time after time. Then he setup a routine with a cross around the pink three balls all 4 ways and one on the pink spot and play one at a time with position and I was making them like nothing. He then had me make a couple long shots with cuts both ways and I made them too. Now I have to practice.

Les,

the first "intentional", don't you mean unintentional - may be Cliff noticed you always played with a smidgeon of unintentional right hand side? so he got you to cue a tad to the left which you perceive as left hand side but in reality is probably dead centre striking ...

just my thoughts ... no-one can play consistently always playing with side (at different distances and power) which is why I think Cliff was trying to get you to play dead centre cueball even if you perceive it as slightly left ...

anyway, glad you enjoyed your time with the great man

[lesedwards]

Hi Les,
Does this mean that you will always have apply a touch of LHS or do expect this to even itself out over time ?

Now that is a very good question. I did not ask Cliff that but it is so minimal I can live with it. It is really about a half of tip off center.

[sydneygeorge]

Well I had my 2 hour coaching session with Cliff today. First off I just want to say he is a great guy. He made me feel like I had known him for years. First off he through balls all over the table and told me to just start potting which ever one I wanted well he observed. He had a little note pad which he took notes on and his first comment was he really like the way I take the cue back then he noticed how I put intentional right hand side on the cue ball. So he had me shoot some straight blues to centre pocket and follow the cue ball into the same pocket. I am sure you can guess what happened from there the blue almost missed on the left and the cue ball went off the right hand cushion. Now instead of playing with my stroke or grip he had me put intentional left hand side on the cue ball and I am talking very little and I potted both time after time. Then he setup a routine with a cross around the pink three balls all 4 ways and one on the pink spot and play one at a time with position and I was making them like nothing. He then had me make a couple long shots with cuts both ways and I made them too. Now I have to practice.

Hi Les,
Does this mean that you will always have apply a touch of LHS or do expect this to even itself out over time ?

[lesedwards]

Well I had my 2 hour coaching session with Cliff today. First off I just want to say he is a great guy. He made me feel like I had known him for years. First off he through balls all over the table and told me to just start potting which ever one I wanted well he observed. He had a little note pad which he took notes on and his first comment was he really like the way I take the cue back then he noticed how I put intentional right hand side on the cue ball. So he had me shoot some straight blues to centre pocket and follow the cue ball into the same pocket. I am sure you can guess what happened from there the blue almost missed on the left and the cue ball went off the right hand cushion. Now instead of playing with my stroke or grip he had me put intentional left hand side on the cue ball and I am talking very little and I potted both time after time. Then he setup a routine with a cross around the pink three balls all 4 ways and one on the pink spot and play one at a time with position and I was making them like nothing. He then had me make a couple long shots with cuts both ways and I made them too. Now I have to practice.

[lesedwards]

Going down to practice and I know that I have been stepping in with my left foot way off the line so basically my body is centred over the line. Watching the Snooker a few mistakes going on.

[Terry Davidson]

Les:

When I came to your place the very first thing I noticed was you were putting your right foot on the line of aim and as a lefty you must put your LEFT foot on the line of aim, somewhere between the heel and the back of the toes. I recommend the arch of the foot or the laces of the shoe. (Chris Small recommends the heel).

It's not necessary to point the left foot, or the right foot either, directly down the line of aim as that places a strain on the knee joint. Point the feet 20-30* outside the line of aim but ensure the left foot is still on the line of aim of the cue. Your left foot forms the foundation for a correct set-up and this problem might be the reason you line up off the line of aim when you assume the address position.

If I'm remembering right when I got you to place your left foot correctly and also to get the grip somewhere near normal you started punching in those long blues, and that was before you had the pockets re-done.

As your left foot forms the foundation you should be working on that first and getting it correct. That way everything should be lined up straight with head (eyes), shoulder, elbow and grip hand on the line of aim and if you get that correct then it's only a matter of keeping the grip fairly loose, keeping the upper body still and using the elbow joint ONLY to backswing and deliver the cue and everything should stay on-line and all you have to concentrate on is hitting the cueball at the height and power you determined when standing behind the shot.

To develop focus on positional play you should be placing that spot where you want the cueball to end up as this will force you to have your positional thoughts settled when you hit the address position.

Terry