Playing near perfect

Slasher...This was definitely superior play, and a beautiful stroke process to see. Although there are those that will disagree, I happen to believe that you can use the same stroke, regardless of the game (at least between pool & snooker...and I've used it to play 3-C too! :eek:). While I've never played a perfect frame (I haven't played a ton of snooker, over the years), I have run 122 on a 5x10...and that was with a 14mm tip! I certainly agree with your statement.

Scott Lee
http://poolknowledge.com

Slasher said:
Glad you enjoyed it Scott :thumbup: I thought this Master Class that Ding put on was perfect for showcasing what I believe is the path to playing great consistent pool and at the end of the day the simplest and quickest way to learn or improve.
I know a lot of people on this forum like to think that snooker does not exist and that it has no place in pool. I don't know if it's an American thing or a jealousy thing or maybe it does not fit with their model of the great American players of the past but they cannot deny the consistency and accuracy achievable.

"The Instructor is the Teacher"
Click to expand...
 
The guy is a machine, gotta love that stroke and how low he gets, rubbing a hole in his chin. It's that perfect 3 or 4 point connection process, having the cue track along the chin and/or chest in addition to other points. That and his rhythm and focus are great.

Wish I could have seen more of his full stroke, but I'm sure there are tons of untapped snooker vids out there to watch if needed. I'm actually trying to compact my stroke somewhat, tougher than one would think especially by myself, not really anyone to work with around here. But between some helpful advice and video analysis it will get there, just shot about 60 or 70 straight in shots from different angles trying different things to correlate feel to reality. Looking better...

As another poster said, not sure what it is about snooker in the US. I've only played a few dozen games lifetime, most of them on a 6x12 table with my normal playing cue, a challenge for sure. I like the scoring system and straight pool concepts with the safeties, breakouts, etc. My best run was only 11 balls (6 reds and 5 colors), about 30 or 40 points, but that was back when I was spinning everything and that doesn't work so well on a snooker table, pretty sure I would do better with some practice. I could totally see playing the game more if we had any tables nearby.

Thanks for the link!
Scott
 
scottjen26 said:
The guy is a machine, gotta love that stroke and how low he gets, rubbing a hole in his chin. It's that perfect 3 or 4 point connection process, having the cue track along the chin and/or chest in addition to other points. That and his rhythm and focus are great.

Wish I could have seen more of his full stroke, but I'm sure there are tons of untapped snooker vids out there to watch if needed. I'm actually trying to compact my stroke somewhat, tougher than one would think especially by myself, not really anyone to work with around here. But between some helpful advice and video analysis it will get there, just shot about 60 or 70 straight in shots from different angles trying different things to correlate feel to reality. Looking better...

As another poster said, not sure what it is about snooker in the US. I've only played a few dozen games lifetime, most of them on a 6x12 table with my normal playing cue, a challenge for sure. I like the scoring system and straight pool concepts with the safeties, breakouts, etc. My best run was only 11 balls (6 reds and 5 colors), about 30 or 40 points, but that was back when I was spinning everything and that doesn't work so well on a snooker table, pretty sure I would do better with some practice. I could totally see playing the game more if we had any tables nearby.

Thanks for the link!
Scott
Click to expand...

You picked up on some great points there Scott.
When it comes to rhythm here is my other role model, piston like and laser straight cue action and you can count his warm up strokes on each shot and they are pretty consistent regardless of shot as well as the speed with which he plays each stroke, magic :)

http://youtu.be/eGJzKCNarek
 
Slasher said:
You picked up on some great points there Scott.
When it comes to rhythm here is my other role model, piston like and laser straight cue action and you can count his warm up strokes on each shot and they are pretty consistent regardless of shot as well as the speed with which he plays each stroke, magic :)

http://youtu.be/eGJzKCNarek
Click to expand...

That is a very, very good point & as was pointed out ealier, if it is in consistent contact on 3 or more points along a straight line, the cue can not rock or move up & down as in a pendulum arch stroke.

Because the balls & rounded pockets are smaller in snooker it requires a precise stroke to obtain accuracy.

Just because there is a bit more room for error on the larger balls, why should we incorporate a less precise stroke? Actually there is not more room for error as both balls are round. It is simply that the effect of any error is less for the same size error on the bigger heavier ball. (that is partly why I do not like the lighter red circle cue ball)

In other threads skids have been discussed & some say they are only caused by chalk or dirt on the balls yet slow mo shows the cue ball bouncing into object balls due to non perfect cue tip strikes on the cue ball.

How many skids did Mike Deshaine & others on the U.S. Mosconi Cup Team have vs the Europeans. I'm not saying that Mike or other pros have BAD strokes, but they seem to be less pure & more subject to variation. That allows for less consistency.

IMHO as logic seems to dictate, a straight line piston type LINEAR stroke is more repeatable & consistent. IMHO it is also more natural given that a cue stick is straight and our mind set is on 'straight' & should not be on mechanics to create a pendulum movement that results in a down, up, down movement of the cue tip. Some say that that movement is insignificant & perhaps give a reason why they think such, or not.

Well, I disagree. Any difference or variation is significant unless one is ready, willing, & able to accept inferior results. How crucial is that one mis per set or game depending on when & how it happens & who your opponents is? Well ask the U.S. Mosconi Cup Team

IMHO the LINEAR stroke employed by almost all snooker players is more precise & garners more consistent accuracy than many strokes used by American Pool Players, amatuer or pro. Naturally there are more factors than just the stroke in playing the game but if a player is a good player with an inferior stroke, how much better can that player be with a more precise & accurate LINEAR stroke?

Boy, am I long winded? Sorry.

Regards,
 
Last edited:
ENGLISH! said:
That is a very, very good point & as was pointed out ealier, if it is in consistent contact on 3 or more points along a straight line, the cue can not rock or move up & down as in a pendulum arch stroke.

Because the balls & rounded pockets are smaller in snooker it requires a precise stroke to obtain accuracy.

Just because there is a bit more room for error on the larger balls, why should we incorporate a less precise stroke? Actually there is not more room for error as both balls are round. It is simply that the effect of any error is less for the same size error on the bigger heavier ball. (that is partly why I do not like the lighter red circle cue ball)

In other threads skids have been discussed & some say they are only caused by chalk or dirt on the balls yet slow mo shows the cue ball bouncing into object balls due to non perfect cue tip strikes on the cue ball.

How many skids did Mike Deshaine & others on the U.S. Mosconi Cup Team have vs the Europeans. I'm not saying that Mike or other pros have BAD strokes, but they seem to be less pure & more subject to variation. That allows for less consistency.

IMHO as logic seems to dictate, a straight line piston type LINEAR stroke is more repeatable & consistent. IMHO it is also more natural given that a cue stick is straight and our mind set is on 'straight' & should not be on mechanics to create a pendulum movement that results in a down, up, down movement of the cue tip. Some say that that movement is insignificant & perhaps give a reason why they think such, or not.

Well, I disagree. Any difference or variation is significant unless one is ready, willing, & able to accept inferior results. How crucial is that one mis per set or game depending on when & how it happens & who your opponents is? Well ask the U.S. Mosconi Cup Team

IMHO the LINEAR stroke employed by almost all snooker players is more precise & garners more consistent accuracy than many strokes used by American Pool Players, amatuer or pro. Naturally there are more factors than just the stroke in playing the game but if a player is a good player with an inferior stroke, how much better can that player be with a more precise & accurate LINEAR stroke?

Boy, am I long winded? Sorry.

Regards,
Click to expand...

If you watched the whole clip you may have heard the comments from Davis and Taylor, even the rest of the players on tour are envious of the cue action of Murphy/Ding/Higgins. Just goes to show how difficult it is to achieve this level and hey guess what they are 3 of the most consistent.

I don't want to get into the snooker/pool debate that was not my intent. As you quite rightly pointed out there are many factors involved in the actual game play but for the sake of consistency and accuracy over distance this style has proven itself to be quite effective and is the reason for the domination of Davis/Hendry and for the new direction the game took.
 
Slasher said:
If you watched the whole clip you may have heard the comments from Davis and Taylor, even the rest of the players on tour are envious of the cue action of Murphy/Ding/Higgins. Just goes to show how difficult it is to achieve this level and hey guess what they are 3 of the most consistent.

I don't want to get into the snooker/pool debate that was not my intent. As you quite rightly pointed out there are many factors involved in the actual game play but for the sake of consistency and accuracy over distance this style has proven itself to be quite effective and is the reason for the domination of Davis/Hendry and for the new direction the game took.
Click to expand...

Slasher,

Just to qualify, did you mean time when you said distance or did you mean for long shots?

I would say it is better for distance (long shots) & over the long haul of time for all shots as well.

Regards,
 
ENGLISH! said:
Slasher,

Just to qualify, did you mean time when you said distance or did you mean for long shots?

I would say it is better for distance (long shots) & over the long haul of time for all shots as well.

Regards,
Click to expand...

Long shots :)
The margin for error of shooting a 2-1/16" ball from 8-10ft into a pocket 3-1/4" is so small even after all these years I am still amazed it works at all :eek:
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top