How to start training snooker?
- Thread starter mrskyhero
- Start date
I agree with Ratta. If you were already a very good pool player you might be able to ignore the mechanics/fundamentals and play a reasonable game, but as an average pool player, the time you put into stance and being solid at the table and bringing the cue stick straight through is the most important part of the process for you right now.
I urge you to try the orthodox snooker stance. Look at YouTube videos. Get your chin on the cue stick -- so it is rubbing during most of the stroke -- and use an open bridge.
Good luck with your training. I remember when I was just starting with snooker. The thing I liked about it was that the shots were so difficult that each ball that went in was a great reward (and often a surprise).
I urge you to try the orthodox snooker stance. Look at YouTube videos. Get your chin on the cue stick -- so it is rubbing during most of the stroke -- and use an open bridge.
Good luck with your training. I remember when I was just starting with snooker. The thing I liked about it was that the shots were so difficult that each ball that went in was a great reward (and often a surprise).
Ron Swanson
Banned
Line ups are great for building self-confidence. Place the 15 reds in a line up the length of the table and learn how to stun/soft screw the CB.
You also need to work on your timing. You need to hit the CB firmly, but not hard. Difficult to explain, but once you start to pot balls down the cushion regularly, you'll understand.
You also need to work on your timing. You need to hit the CB firmly, but not hard. Difficult to explain, but once you start to pot balls down the cushion regularly, you'll understand.
I also agree with this. It might behoove you to rebuild your mechanics from the ground up depending on what you mean by "average". But more than anything, if you have a wiggly loose stroke, get it under control because it will only hurt you in the long run. Straight back, straight forward.
I also like the the suggestion of line up. I avoided it for so long, but I've found within the last year that it's a excellent way to work on your stroke. I also suggest practicing blacks off the spot. Place a ball on the black spot, pot it and play position to play another off the spot and see how long you can keep going. Fergal O'Brien wrote that he practices this until he makes 100 in a row. For the rest of us, first aim for 10 and then 25 and so on.
Running the colours off their spots is a good practice routine as well, and there are other drills out there that help in all aspects of the game.
http://www.dunns-cues.com/pics/Junior.pdf - this has some fairly easy routines, try a few and if you get through them without much trouble, move on to
http://www.dunns-cues.com/pics/Senior.pdf - Some really tough routines here. What's great is most of them have targets for three different skill levels. Though I wish I could hide the pro targets, they only serve to reinforce my feelings of inadequacy.