A couple of videos, drills at home...

LightsOut

LightsOut

Jason
Silver Member
Hello Fellow snooker players,

I have relocated my camera to center of the table which is better...Here are two videos, one from last night, one this AM. One is regular line up and the other a variation I have been trying with offset reds between pink and black. I am finding this section quite challenging! I was wondering how most amateur players fare in these sort of drills? Are full clearances or at least 100+ breaks a normal/daily occurrence? I am managing attempts in this vicinity (60-80) every day but I always seem to get boxed into the corner with 3-5 reds left!

I am mostly videoing myself to watch my technique which when I view carefully is quite sloppy compared to watching the professionals - it is so tough to break these bad habits of small body movements. Does anyone else find it so difficult to be ABSOLUTELY still when stroking thru the cue ball? I keep seeing my head come up 1/2in to 1in during this stroke. Any suggestions besides keeping at this struggle until it becomes second nature?

Line up with offset reds
https://youtu.be/wc8Ln6P6O_I

Regular Line Up
https://youtu.be/c4LL10MfbfI
 
LightsOut said:
Hello Fellow snooker players,

I have relocated my camera to center of the table which is better...Here are two videos, one from last night, one this AM. One is regular line up and the other a variation I have been trying with offset reds between pink and black. I am finding this section quite challenging! I was wondering how most amateur players fare in these sort of drills? Are full clearances or at least 100+ breaks a normal/daily occurrence? I am managing attempts in this vicinity (60-80) every day but I always seem to get boxed into the corner with 3-5 reds left!

I am mostly videoing myself to watch my technique which when I view carefully is quite sloppy compared to watching the professionals - it is so tough to break these bad habits of small body movements. Does anyone else find it so difficult to be ABSOLUTELY still when stroking thru the cue ball? I keep seeing my head come up 1/2in to 1in during this stroke. Any suggestions besides keeping at this struggle until it becomes second nature?

Line up with offset reds
https://youtu.be/wc8Ln6P6O_I

Regular Line Up
https://youtu.be/c4LL10MfbfI
Click to expand...

I think your movement may be due to anticipation of hitting the ball. Try hitting the cue ball up and down the spots and see if it is easier stay still without an object ball in the way. Alternatively try practicing your stroke without the cue ball. Movement on the follow through can also be caused if your hips or part of your body is in the way. I've had trouble with this for a while.

With the offset reds, I'd suggest doing that drill without the Reds between pink and blue and only focus on one colour. So only blacks or only pinks. Having the other reds available provide kind of a get out of jail free card when you get too high on the Reds. The goal of that offset reds is to improve your control around the blacks spot.

I think one of the better amateurs in Canada had once said that in 10 line up attempts he'd mange 3 or 4 centuries with at least one being a clearance. He would put 4 reds beneath the black, 6 between black and pink and 5 between pink and blue.

Willie Thorne once suggested a top player would expect to get at least a century on most attempts at the line up.
 
Thanks for the feedback Cameron. I have done the offset drill some with only reds between pink and black, using 8 reds. In numerous attempts I've never got past six reds...it's quite tough at least for me! Playing position on that one ball only is a real test of positional skill. I'm just not practiced enough yet.

I'm not sure if you watched any of my playing but if you did, do you have any other suggestions/comments about my technique? I would welcome any feedback especially with your snooker background. Thanks again.
 
LightsOut said:
Thanks for the feedback Cameron. I have done the offset drill some with only reds between pink and black, using 8 reds. In numerous attempts I've never got past six reds...it's quite tough at least for me! Playing position on that one ball only is a real test of positional skill. I'm just not practiced enough yet.

I'm not sure if you watched any of my playing but if you did, do you have any other suggestions/comments about my technique? I would welcome any feedback especially with your snooker background. Thanks again.
Click to expand...

I watched the line up, it looked fairly well controlled up until the miss. I do think that eliminating the movement will help improve your game. Part of the problem is you head is moving during the practice strokes, which will make it harder to stay still on the delivery. Other things that you may be able to work on is keep your head on the line of aim as you walk in, and drop straight down.

For more detailed feedback, I'd direct you to Terry Davidson. Excellent player, and the only IBSF master coach in North America I believe. He lives in Alma Ontario, just outside of Toronto, but he also does Skype coaching I believe. Very knowledgeable, and a very good coach from everything I've heard.
http://www.snookercoach.ws/home/coach-directory/terry-davidson/

I do think you are at a standard that you can benefit from working on playing position for the one ball in the offset reds. The key to that drill is using side to narrow and widen the angle off the bottom cushion. Particularly inside spin is what you will use more often, widening the angle off the bottom cushion on a thinish black or going two cushions when you are a bit too straight. Without using inside, you'll either be running into the reds off the thin black, coming off the cushion too close to the reds, or on a straightish black you'll often end up too low on the reds. The inside isn't too difficult, just a slight adjustment to hit the black a bit thicker and a smooth stroke.

Adding that extra level of control will get you to the line up century.
 
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