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Alex Pagulayan going to UK to try pro snooker
- Thread starter gordml
- Start date
Either way your question was irrelevant ... but you knew that and asked anyway.
Dave
TheThaiger
Banned
They will join the 128 players on the pro circuit. The 128 format is a flat draw, with no rankings, making it possible for those qualifying via the Q school to have a good run in competitions, so long as they get a favourable draw. It's not inconceivable for Alex to be on national TV at some stage should he get through the Q school.
TheThaiger
Banned
Their inability to use the rest always makes me amused and puzzled in equal measure. Did you see SVB attempt to use one in the MC?
Their inability to use the rest always makes me amused and puzzled in equal measure. Did you see SVB attempt to use one in the MC?
Alex doesn't have a problem with a rest, unlike many pool players.
A bunch of us feel he is as good with a rest as Kirk Stevens, who was
our best with a rest.
Gotta love people thinking American snooker tables are easier than the British ones, that's hilarious!
Here's a couple pictures of the snooker table at Hard Times. Good luck to any player on this board who even thinks he or she can run double digits on it...
Come on Brian, that is a golf table all day long. That thing is ridiculous and if it is a 6/12 I would bet against Ronnie O'Sullivan from running 50 on the "line drill" all day long on that thing. (actually, he would probably just torture me with the side pockets, forget that bet...)
Any American on this thread saying they can run 30 and 40 every time they step to the table is sure as all hell not doing it on that thing and that is NOT a standard snooker table anywhere.
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Yeah thats one strange looking snooker table pocket for sure.
Here's the pocket from the Heiron & Smith (sp?) at my local. 2 1/16" ball in the pic.
Pool table pockets (point to point, shelf, face angle) are much easier to compare than snookers.
I've never even seen a spec or a method to check what is standard or not when it comes to snooker table pockets ??
Cheers.
Attachments
a snooker ball barely fits. ..
That pic of big bertha isn't typical. A snooker ball barely fits in that pocket; however US snooker tables are typically setup tighter for playing golf which is a lag to your hole game like one pocket.
I have never seen a snooker table in the us as loose as that last picture.
Jaden
That pic of big bertha isn't typical. A snooker ball barely fits in that pocket; however US snooker tables are typically setup tighter for playing golf which is a lag to your hole game like one pocket.
I have never seen a snooker table in the us as loose as that last picture.
Jaden
I've never seen snooker pockets that big any place....and I played a lot
of snooker...mostly 5x10 in the US, but some 6x12.
The most common 5x10 would have about 3 inch pockets, which is quite
a bit snugger than world regulation, which is 3.5 at the fall.
Alex Higgins was notorious for moving his body and head.
I would suspect also that if Alex is taking on Snooker, it's also by recommendation of his peers or handlers. Alex is not the sort of person to walk into a trap. It would be nice to hear from someone close to Alex with an opinion or some insight no this.
Keep trudging, Alex!
Excellent, Jim!
I didn't read far enough ahead before my last post to see the above quote. Yes, people like Alex, who wish to migrate into Snooker are EXACTLY what this sport needs. As you can see from the responses to this thread, Alex might as well be doing the 'unthinkable'. This is one of the reasons why I have always admired Alex; the heart of a lion, he lives up to his name hear beyond leaps and bounds.
I just knew that you would approve of his decision, and I also agree that Alex is not the sort of person to walk away defeated after one year. I would bet my bankroll on Alex for next year if he doesn't already do it this coming round.
It looks like a basterdized pool table that shelf sticks way farther out than a snooker table
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Yeah. ..
My high break was 72 on a six by twelve with 2.75 inch pockets.
I also had an eighty something on a five by ten with 3 inchers but I don't count five by tens.
And like I said I have only played snooker about a dozen times although I have played a bit on a six by twelve. I played rotation quite a bit which I would say is more difficult than snooker. I've come one shot from running out all fifteen before.
That was with the smaller balls for the snooker table. I played some eight ball with Sam manaole on a snooker table and split sets. Both of us coming close to running out at most trips to the table and running out a couple of times.
So I just don't understand the foolishness of saying that a pool player can't make the transition when an amateur like me can do that well just banging em around a couple of times.
I also love the noting of non domination of the only two to have attempted it and saying that that means no one can make the transition. That's just silliness.
Me and Johannes kohanenberg played some short rack snooker and we both had 40s and 50s.
He may have had a background in snooker since he's European but I don't.
Jaden
My high break was 72 on a six by twelve with 2.75 inch pockets.
I also had an eighty something on a five by ten with 3 inchers but I don't count five by tens.
And like I said I have only played snooker about a dozen times although I have played a bit on a six by twelve. I played rotation quite a bit which I would say is more difficult than snooker. I've come one shot from running out all fifteen before.
That was with the smaller balls for the snooker table. I played some eight ball with Sam manaole on a snooker table and split sets. Both of us coming close to running out at most trips to the table and running out a couple of times.
So I just don't understand the foolishness of saying that a pool player can't make the transition when an amateur like me can do that well just banging em around a couple of times.
I also love the noting of non domination of the only two to have attempted it and saying that that means no one can make the transition. That's just silliness.
Me and Johannes kohanenberg played some short rack snooker and we both had 40s and 50s.
He may have had a background in snooker since he's European but I don't.
Jaden
Good to hear some numbers (3.5 at the fall) - would be interesting to see the official world standard pocket template - but it seems to be a closely guarded trade secret for some reason ???
Undercut angle also seems to be an important factor in how easily balls will drop on a snooker table or conversely get spat out / rattle.
Next time I'm at the club I'll measure the heiron & smith pocket width (at the fall) on the 12x6 shown above - I've got a feeling it wont be too much more than 3.5" (at the fall).
If its the pocket radius that makes the 12x6 H&S above look 'loose' - then well yeah thats another story / comes back to standard pocket template sizing etc.
Cheers.
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That's a lot like saying anyone that can beat the 9ball ghost can win against the top professional pool players.
Surely you understand the difference between what you were doing, and playing against a top snooker player.
Also, it's not so much a diss to pool players saying they can't become great snooker players (top 16), but rather the acknowledgement of how it's practically impossible for anyone over the age of 30 to do so.
Had to answer.
Big Bertha is certainly not consistent with ANY snooker style pocket. Notice that the fall of the pocket is nearly next to the edge of the straight section of the rail. The balls do not have to be slammed in however as they can be rolled up and actually drop before they hit the cushion curves.
The picture of the H & S table that mamics posted IS regulation. 3.5" at the fall. Notice that while 2 balls fit in the pocket, it narrows further as you go back.
There are also certain styles of corner cuts that accommodate social, club or professional play. Big Bertha has been 'undercut'. You will notice the width of the facing rubber under the cloth narrows as it heads into the pocket. Professional tables do not take the ball at any significant pace while a social/club table with the same pocket template will allow faster balls. This is all in the cutting of the rubber.
I have only seen 3 actual snooker tables in my visits to USA and all were considered tight by the locals yet my hand when clenched fit loosely in the pocket. Normally it would have to squeeze in. It is a test that most competitive players use when approaching a new table. The table that Alex scored his 134 on certainly seemed to have larger pockets. The centre pocket would not have taken the cut at the 4'30" mark otherwise. Keep in mind that a table termed as having 'buckets' may still only be 3.75 inches or slightly less at the fall
As to the question at hand of Alex's capabilities. He has the fundamentals to keep his game high but match practice versus top flight players is crucial. Neil Robertson was scoring multiple centuries daily and putting 6+ hours in per day before he moved to live in UK. He also had the advantage of playing at international amateur level through his junior years to hone his skills. Even so, it was necessary for him to spend many months with regular matchups of top 16 players to complete his training and rise to join the elite.
Alex still has some idiosyncrasies that will need tidying up.
At 9'00" and 12'55" in the clip he uses the rest. He nails both shots but for a man of short stature he will be using the rest more than most and will need to raise his elbow to level with his wrist. Watch Shaun Murphy to see how it is done. My pointing out little things that may seem pedantic are not to belittle him, purely to demonstrate how much precision with regard to technique is necessary to reach the upper echelon of the game of snooker.
If anybody could make the transition it would be Alex but as others have noted. It is probably a little late to make the giant leap. This foray into QSchool may prompt other younger North Americans to take up the game earlier. It would also bode well for them if Cliff Thorburn, Tom Finstad, Alex and pt109 assisted their training from a young age.
Yes...they are all Canadians. Those of you who want Americans in the game of snooker will have to suffice with having them travel North for a while.
It might also help their spelling :grin:
Hoping that your favourite pool player is capable of taking on the snooker world is a nice thought as a fan...but it simply is not going to be as easy as some of you suggest.
I for one hope that he has some success. It may be the impetus that brings USA into the game. It may also prompt the various pool games to standardize their game and bring the level of professionalism necessary to raise pool's profile.
Big Bertha is certainly not consistent with ANY snooker style pocket. Notice that the fall of the pocket is nearly next to the edge of the straight section of the rail. The balls do not have to be slammed in however as they can be rolled up and actually drop before they hit the cushion curves.
The picture of the H & S table that mamics posted IS regulation. 3.5" at the fall. Notice that while 2 balls fit in the pocket, it narrows further as you go back.
There are also certain styles of corner cuts that accommodate social, club or professional play. Big Bertha has been 'undercut'. You will notice the width of the facing rubber under the cloth narrows as it heads into the pocket. Professional tables do not take the ball at any significant pace while a social/club table with the same pocket template will allow faster balls. This is all in the cutting of the rubber.
I have only seen 3 actual snooker tables in my visits to USA and all were considered tight by the locals yet my hand when clenched fit loosely in the pocket. Normally it would have to squeeze in. It is a test that most competitive players use when approaching a new table. The table that Alex scored his 134 on certainly seemed to have larger pockets. The centre pocket would not have taken the cut at the 4'30" mark otherwise. Keep in mind that a table termed as having 'buckets' may still only be 3.75 inches or slightly less at the fall
As to the question at hand of Alex's capabilities. He has the fundamentals to keep his game high but match practice versus top flight players is crucial. Neil Robertson was scoring multiple centuries daily and putting 6+ hours in per day before he moved to live in UK. He also had the advantage of playing at international amateur level through his junior years to hone his skills. Even so, it was necessary for him to spend many months with regular matchups of top 16 players to complete his training and rise to join the elite.
Alex still has some idiosyncrasies that will need tidying up.
At 9'00" and 12'55" in the clip he uses the rest. He nails both shots but for a man of short stature he will be using the rest more than most and will need to raise his elbow to level with his wrist. Watch Shaun Murphy to see how it is done. My pointing out little things that may seem pedantic are not to belittle him, purely to demonstrate how much precision with regard to technique is necessary to reach the upper echelon of the game of snooker.
If anybody could make the transition it would be Alex but as others have noted. It is probably a little late to make the giant leap. This foray into QSchool may prompt other younger North Americans to take up the game earlier. It would also bode well for them if Cliff Thorburn, Tom Finstad, Alex and pt109 assisted their training from a young age.
Yes...they are all Canadians. Those of you who want Americans in the game of snooker will have to suffice with having them travel North for a while.
It might also help their spelling :grin:
Hoping that your favourite pool player is capable of taking on the snooker world is a nice thought as a fan...but it simply is not going to be as easy as some of you suggest.
I for one hope that he has some success. It may be the impetus that brings USA into the game. It may also prompt the various pool games to standardize their game and bring the level of professionalism necessary to raise pool's profile.
I personally am not hating, and hope Alex crushes it as well.
On the other hand, I'm a realist and actually understand just how difficult it is to do well over there.
Put it this way, the top 32 (maybe more) snooker players all play Shane's speed (at snooker).
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Although he admits that he needs to learn more about the game itself ( as opposed to shooting skills) Alex said that he's giving himself 3 years to keep trying.
Listen to his interview now www.americanbilliardradio.com