I hear this a lot, and I've been guilty of using this term too. But what exactly is a snooker stance? Some tend to say something along the lines of "oh, I use a snooker stance" and tend to think its somehow makes them better. Others seem to think simply having your chin on the cue is a snooker stance.
A 'snooker stance' as I see it is a chain of movements and set parts that differ the general population of snooker players from pool players. It by no means makes one better than the other, its just how you are taught or how you pick up things from watching others. To me it means the following;
- Starting at the very beginning you stand back from the table to get a clear view of the required shot and angle whilst figuring out how to play position.
- You then step in with the back leg, or lead leg as others may call it. This is always in relation to the line of the shot, and varies from directly down the line, to offset at around 45 degrees. I've never seen a snooker player have it at 90 degrees.
- The front leg then comes forward, and this is always in relation to how the back leg is positioned. Imagine a line from heel to heel, compare that the the line of the shot and the front foot is always generally close to creating the same angle each time. It can be 60, 45 or 90 degrees, it doesn't really matter but its always the same each time you can get down on a shot.
- Next is the bridge hand. Always open. The arm varies from bent with the elbow on the table to straight.
- Now the head. Always in the same place over the cue, and chin touching the cue.
- The shooting hand. Always has the elbow higher than the head. The forearm always vertical when addressing the cue ball. Grip varies massively.
- The back leg is always locked and generally is vertical. Extremely tall people play with this bent but its rare. Front leg is bent.
- The cueing action falls into the stance for me. Its smooth and controlled. Not rash and jabby. Goes straight back and forward, unlike Mika or some of the Philippine players. There is a pause at some point. Either at the white, or end of the back stroke.
- Then there's the stroke it self. Majority have little to no elbow drop, Ronnie has a lot but you wouldn't teach anyone to play like Ronnie.
So there you have it. My beliefs on what a 'snooker stance' actually is.
A 'snooker stance' as I see it is a chain of movements and set parts that differ the general population of snooker players from pool players. It by no means makes one better than the other, its just how you are taught or how you pick up things from watching others. To me it means the following;
- Starting at the very beginning you stand back from the table to get a clear view of the required shot and angle whilst figuring out how to play position.
- You then step in with the back leg, or lead leg as others may call it. This is always in relation to the line of the shot, and varies from directly down the line, to offset at around 45 degrees. I've never seen a snooker player have it at 90 degrees.
- The front leg then comes forward, and this is always in relation to how the back leg is positioned. Imagine a line from heel to heel, compare that the the line of the shot and the front foot is always generally close to creating the same angle each time. It can be 60, 45 or 90 degrees, it doesn't really matter but its always the same each time you can get down on a shot.
- Next is the bridge hand. Always open. The arm varies from bent with the elbow on the table to straight.
- Now the head. Always in the same place over the cue, and chin touching the cue.
- The shooting hand. Always has the elbow higher than the head. The forearm always vertical when addressing the cue ball. Grip varies massively.
- The back leg is always locked and generally is vertical. Extremely tall people play with this bent but its rare. Front leg is bent.
- The cueing action falls into the stance for me. Its smooth and controlled. Not rash and jabby. Goes straight back and forward, unlike Mika or some of the Philippine players. There is a pause at some point. Either at the white, or end of the back stroke.
- Then there's the stroke it self. Majority have little to no elbow drop, Ronnie has a lot but you wouldn't teach anyone to play like Ronnie.
So there you have it. My beliefs on what a 'snooker stance' actually is.
