Technique critque

[humperdingle]

All looks pretty smooth to me! Fast to (at least compared to me )

Do a lineup with colours, too. I find a line of reds is good to get the action going, but it's more forgiving, as little mistakes can be overcome more easily.

Good vid.

[RogiBear]

Well I would move it on from line ups a bit now as that is making you lazy in your shot selection although good to get your arm going. You can always spread the red and practise that way to build confidence.

Here are a few I do.


1. Split a couple of reds off from the pack leave yourself a long stun shot try and leave a low black smash pack clear up - as you would in a normal game - keep a record of high break 5 goes

2. Red in a cross on the pink - Soft stuns only if possible - set yourself a target to do the lot before you move on - 5 goes or fail.

3. Try line up without hitting a side cushsion - set yourself a target score to beat for next time - five goes or fail

4. Leave three reds bettween the black and pink spot and try and clear up - give yourself ten go's each time play on the last red play for the blue from the last red as its easier to get on yellow - be honest and see how many times you clear up set yourself a target to beat for next time.

5. Group the reds together in seperate clusters of three all over the table starting from the black try and make a canon on any cluster and then taking red and colours clear up - you will have to work on the line on the colours to make canons to split the clustered reds - give yourself five goes. record your high break to beat next time.

6. Spread the reds try and clear up if you miss a colour put it back on spot if you miss a red put two back on and keep going till you clear up.

7. Pick three weak areas of your game - eg long shots or off cushion, blind pocket shots or positional shots - whatever is your weak area - try each one ten times and keep a record of your score - try and beat score next time.

8. Before you go every time you practice do the colours - dont leave untill you do them.

That should do it for now

Great, they sound challenging but you never learn if you don't push yourself

[Byrom]

I think the rushing is from it being fairly easy but I do pace myself a little better in a match I do think my shot selection is in need of serious improvement. I played on the small table with red and yellow balls before snooker and as long as you can see it it's pots lol

Any routine suggestions. I tend to play either the line up with 2 red below or the Christmas tree formation, seasonal I know

Cheers bud

Well I would move it on from line ups a bit now as that is making you lazy in your shot selection although good to get your arm going. You can always spread the red and practise that way to build confidence.

Here are a few I do.


1. Split a couple of reds off from the pack leave yourself a long stun shot try and leave a low black smash pack clear up - as you would in a normal game - keep a record of high break 5 goes

2. Red in a cross on the pink - Soft stuns only if possible - set yourself a target to do the lot before you move on - 5 goes or fail.

3. Try line up without hitting a side cushsion - set yourself a target score to beat for next time - five goes or fail

4. Leave three reds bettween the black and pink spot and try and clear up - give yourself ten go's each time play on the last red play for the blue from the last red as its easier to get on yellow - be honest and see how many times you clear up set yourself a target to beat for next time.

5. Group the reds together in seperate clusters of three all over the table starting from the black try and make a canon on any cluster and then taking red and colours clear up - you will have to work on the line on the colours to make canons to split the clustered reds - give yourself five goes. record your high break to beat next time.

6. Spread the reds try and clear up if you miss a colour put it back on spot if you miss a red put two back on and keep going till you clear up.

7. Pick three weak areas of your game - eg long shots or off cushion, blind pocket shots or positional shots - whatever is your weak area - try each one ten times and keep a record of your score - try and beat score next time.

8. Before you go every time you practice do the colours - dont leave untill you do them.

That should do it for now

[RogiBear]

if your struggling for time rogi just do blacks off the spot, you know the black routine right? its the best, and if you've only got 30-60min its a must. you'll get to know all the black angles and the back cushion really well. the breaks should start rolling in after a couple of weeks on it..
i also think the pink cross.
i did all of this: http://fergalobrien.ie/practice.html

That site is very good thanks. I'll take your advice and do the blacks next time and the pink cross

No bullwhip, I think you could be very good, you know what to work on (you said a lot of it yourself)and everybody has said everything else, but your basics look great and you can build on them, I look forward to hearing of your first ton soon, in two years that is very nice indeed.

I'm glad someone has confidence it me

[itsnoteasy]

No bullwhip, I think you could be very good, you know what to work on (you said a lot of it yourself)and everybody has said everything else, but your basics look great and you can build on them, I look forward to hearing of your first ton soon, in two years that is very nice indeed.

[j6uk]

if your struggling for time rogi just do blacks off the spot, you know the black routine right? its the best, and if you've only got 30-60min its a must. you'll get to know all the black angles and the back cushion really well. the breaks should start rolling in after a couple of weeks on it..
i also think the pink cross.
i did all of this: http://fergalobrien.ie/practice.html

[RogiBear]

I really really liked that Rogi, set up is nice, grip looked great ,opened and closed lovely, got through the cue ball, very positive through the ball, it all looked natural,nice one fella. I reckon you should be doing this in order from black spot up now, you are certainly good enough.
What was that filmed on it's very good.

Cheers bud, I did try it in order today but got low on the 9 red and knocked the one next to it on the Cush

Filmed on my iPhone on top of the light meter

[RogiBear]

I think your technique is very good Adam -

You time it beautifully - Hard to asses on such an easy red line up thing as you can just pot balls willy nilly - Obviously you rush into the shot a bit because this is an easy exercise and on ocassion you come at some shots side on and go from one shot to another too quick and you do not give yourself time to asses your options and this makes you look a bit amateurish and occasionally you loose the white a bit as a result - and because you are so quick you tend to play the same shot in your head rather than the right shot a for easier position.

I would say you def frighten most league players like this and will no doubt make a few tons but you need to pace yourself better and get a bit more of a relaxed vibe on around the table - give yourself time to breath on occasion and asses the table a few shots in advance.

I would work on shot selection and try a few routines to set yourself some targets - and work on a consistent pre shot routine - too help you pace yourself the same in practice as in a match - I can see a few tons from you next year easy - Would not change anything else about your rhythm on the shot really - quite nice fluid technique and I liked your style actually.

Happy Christmas

I think the rushing is from it being fairly easy but I do pace myself a little better in a match I do think my shot selection is in need of serious improvement. I played on the small table with red and yellow balls before snooker and as long as you can see it it's pots lol

Any routine suggestions. I tend to play either the line up with 2 red below or the Christmas tree formation, seasonal I know

Cheers bud

[RogiBear]

what sticks out for me is your mate who your picking out balls for and trying to nick the odd frame off. that will be crucial to your development, and hunger to play and improve. don't know how long you'll be studying with him for but i'd stick to him like glue while you can.
i think you know this already, because your mate probably won't be doing these things:
head movement,
everything being just a little too quick and rushed like you trying to hard,
and maybe can't be arsed to play a run-through or the right shot

i like what i see, you got potential fella.

Thanks for this. If I could I'd play everyday. The head movement, how much of a problem do I have as it wasn't something that I noticed until you've just mentioned. This is technically my last year at uni but it depends on whether I can be bothered to get a proper job or do a phd. I think biggest improvement from playing my mate is my safety and match play as I know he will punish me if it's not good enough

I agree pace is something I need to work on. Sometimes I don't trust the run through especially on away tables as you don't know if there's a roll etc AT&T hat pace. I've been playing for just over 2 years now and am content with my improvement but I do want to get better that's for sure

[itsnoteasy]

I really really liked that Rogi, set up is nice, grip looked great ,opened and closed lovely, got through the cue ball, very positive through the ball, it all looked natural,nice one fella. I reckon you should be doing this in order from black spot up now, you are certainly good enough.
What was that filmed on it's very good.

[Byrom]

I think your technique is very good Adam -

You time it beautifully - Hard to asses on such an easy red line up thing as you can just pot balls willy nilly - Obviously you rush into the shot a bit because this is an easy exercise and on ocassion you come at some shots side on and go from one shot to another too quick and you do not give yourself time to asses your options and this makes you look a bit amateurish and occasionally you loose the white a bit as a result - and because you are so quick you tend to play the same shot in your head rather than the right shot a for easier position.

I would say you def frighten most league players like this and will no doubt make a few tons but you need to pace yourself better and get a bit more of a relaxed vibe on around the table - give yourself time to breath on occasion and asses the table a few shots in advance.

I would work on shot selection and try a few routines to set yourself some targets - and work on a consistent pre shot routine - too help you pace yourself the same in practice as in a match - I can see a few tons from you next year easy - Would not change anything else about your rhythm on the shot really - quite nice fluid technique and I liked your style actually.

Happy Christmas

[j6uk]

what sticks out for me is your mate who your picking out balls for and trying to nick the odd frame off. that will be crucial to your development, and hunger to play and improve. don't know how long you'll be studying with him for but i'd stick to him like glue while you can.
i think you know this already, because your mate probably won't be doing these things:
head movement,
everything being just a little too quick and rushed like you trying to hard,
and maybe can't be arsed to play a run-through or the right shot

i like what i see, you got potential fella.

[scottley]

You look a decent player to me, i must admit i love to play screw shots too, its the shot i feel most comfortable playing without doubt.

[tedisbill]

know what you mean but not that much of a problem, we've all done that to be fair ay

I've certainly been there

[RogiBear]

You've got a very common problem: you love to play screw shots.

I do play a lot of screw shots, but I don't have a problem playing top or roll throughs. Tbh a couple of times I just couldn't be bothered to walk the other side of the table.

yeah thats fair what you say.. you can afford to breath a bit between shots. but not getting to technical because there's a lot you've already got going.
you don't look like you play much competitively. do you play in a league? do you play better play players better than yourself? what's the plan, any goals?

I do play in a league, but it's only a single frame. I don't get much time to solo practice, due to uni workload, only about half an hour or so before the league game or during the little holiday I get. I try to play a friend of mine at uni who's pretty good (a lot better than me, he's made a max), about once a week. Steal the odd frame off him.
Goal, just to be as good as I can, don't want to put a timescale on it, but I would like to beat my high break and eventually make a century in a match to win a frame in one visit. Currently my high break came in a frame, which I lost as my mate made a 73 clearance.