Rule 1: Have Fun

Bob Jewett

Bob Jewett

AZB Osmium Member
Staff member
Gold Member
Silver Member
At first glance, it looks like this guy Mark is just goofing around at the club. He's snookered and needs to hit the pink ball or potentially lose the rack (frame). If he makes the pink, he wins the game.


Except he's not just goofing around. First prize in the tournament is $340,000.
 
Having fun can get lost in the shuffle of improvement. No matter how much you are grinding or how much you are hating a butt whipping you are taking, out of stroke, etc. you have to have fun and see the beauty in the shots. Often if you can simply see the beauty, you will start playing much better.
 
Bob Jewett said:
At first glance, it looks like this guy Mark is just goofing around at the club. He's snookered and needs to hit the pink ball or potentially lose the rack (frame). If he makes the pink, he wins the game.


Except he's not just goofing around. First prize in the tournament is $340,000.
Click to expand...


A walk-off shot, as they say.

Nice.


jeff Livingston
 
Bob Jewett said:
At first glance, it looks like this guy Mark is just goofing around at the club. He's snookered and needs to hit the pink ball or potentially lose the rack (frame). If he makes the pink, he wins the game.


Except he's not just goofing around. First prize in the tournament is $340,000.
Click to expand...
Why one-handed?

pj
chgo
 
when it means everything, play like it means nothing.

Mark Williams also actually fell asleep during a match not too long ago (no hoax), so he might be taking the 'means nothing'-part a bit too far.
 
When your stroke is that solid, and you're bridging on the rail. A rolling shot one handed isn't really upping the risk factor at all.
 
The last time Williams won the world championship, he showed up to the press conference naked. Really. There's probably video on The UTuubz.

But a lot of snooker players seem to use different stance/technique when playing cushion-first shots. Usually the change is not this large. o_O

Ronnie has been known to shoot one-handed, but not when the frame was in doubt.

Williams recently caused some minor controversy by playing the break-off shot by rolling the cue ball softly up to the back of the pack. (At snooker, there is no "to the rail" rule.) He was tired of players running out from his break. I think that is past now.
 
Bob Jewett said:
The last time Williams won the world championship, he showed up to the press conference naked. Really. There's probably video on The UTuubz.

But a lot of snooker players seem to use different stance/technique when playing cushion-first shots. Usually the change is not this large. o_O

Ronnie has been known to shoot one-handed, but not when the frame was in doubt.

Williams recently caused some minor controversy by playing the break-off shot by rolling the cue ball softly up to the back of the pack. (At snooker, there is no "to the rail" rule.) He was tired of players running out from his break. I think that is past now.
Click to expand...
The one thing i don't like about snooker is the lack of a 'no rail' rule. IMO being able to just roll-up on a ball is complete chicken-s^&t.
 
hotelyorba said:
... Mark Williams also actually fell asleep during a match not too long ago (no hoax), so he might be taking the 'means nothing'-part a bit too far.
Click to expand...
In his defence, he said he was recovering from a virus.
 
Last edited:
garczar said:
The one thing i don't like about snooker is the lack of a 'no rail' rule. IMO being able to just roll-up on a ball is complete chicken-s^&t.
Click to expand...
When they play the "shoot out", they require a cushion either before or after. It's a ranking event, the matches are a race to one, there is a 20-second shot clock at the start going to a 10-second shot clock, and a 10-minute time limit on the frame. The winner only has to win 7 frames and gets $70,000. It's January 20-23.

I don't like the roll-up shot, but it's part of the game. Good with the bad, I suppose.
 
Bob Jewett said:
The last time Williams won the world championship, he showed up to the press conference naked. Really. There's probably video on The UTuubz.

But a lot of snooker players seem to use different stance/technique when playing cushion-first shots. Usually the change is not this large. o_O

Ronnie has been known to shoot one-handed, but not when the frame was in doubt.

Williams recently caused some minor controversy by playing the break-off shot by rolling the cue ball softly up to the back of the pack. (At snooker, there is no "to the rail" rule.) He was tired of players running out from his break. I think that is past now.
Click to expand...
I remember when he showed up at the press conference in a towel. He cleared that move with Barry Hearn-I think Barry used excellent judgment and it was good fun for everyone.

Nice post Bob, thanks.

Best
Fatboy 😀
 
Greg M said:

He even breaks off one-handed from time to time. Also tends to close his eyes on long pots or even takes his eyes off the cue ball entirely when he played that shot up to baulk to pot the green.
Click to expand...
Watch until about the 2/3 point and you will see Williams using an "air bridge", levering the rest/bridge up with his arm. That's actually a fairly standard technique that multiple players have used in ranking events.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top