54. Using Side - Experience will teach you
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 9 ก.พ. 2025
- Barry talks about using side, it's effect on the cue ball and how it kicks the object ball. He clarifies what is running side and check side? And also demonstrates reverse side. Only experience and practice will teach you how to aim using side and how much side to use according to your ability to hit the ball well (timing). This compliments other videos on the channel which talk about side.
/ barrystarksnookercoach
Your videos and knowledge has certainly helped me with my game. Got my highest break of 47 this year after going through some very bad form. Your videos have so much detail but are very easy to understand. Great work.
Pure GOLD. Thank you sir.
This is so amazing, this series and the knowledge of Barry, thanks a lot for these!
Makes simply watching snooker a much better experience, looking at every move they make, every detail
Gabor. Its a point that is often forgot, just as you have said, the more knowledge you have, watching snooker becomes more enjoyable.
these facts of changing your aim for side English is what i never got over, it is great to have some one explain the mechanics of this, but you still need 10,000 hrs of practice to learn this. these are the things i would have liked to learn years ago.
I became besotted with snooker less than a year ago, and your videos and tips have helped me improve my game so much. Thank you, and keep up the fine work Barry!
oursmalldeaths. Will try, nice to be appreciated, many thanks.
I just found your channel earlier today, five hours later I'm upset not to know of you years ago! I Now after 45 years @ snooker and at age 70, I know I will improve my game.
Barry, I just wanna let you know how much I like your videos. You are such a great calm teacher..can't wait to see the next one. thanks a lot for explaining all this things. amateurs all over the world will get better by watching your explanations of this lovely game..
robery. Thanks for the comments its always nice to think your efforts re being appreciated.
before i didn't know where the cue ball will go if I give side ...Now after watching your videos...I understood where the side part of it !!! Your videos are just awesome!!!
Saquib. Glad you are enjoying the videos and learning from them.
The way u explain things in lay man's term n make it simple to understand, I wish u do live commentry in the game. My favourite commentator is Dennis Taylor.
barry for president!!
Hello Barry , I'm a teenager that is learning the game with a lot of passion for it , all of your tutorials have helped me become a overall better player and now I play for my local with only playing for around 6 months but your videos have stuck on me and I can see that in my overall game , thank you very much #legend
Lew. Glad to be of help, Keep it up.
Have only recently returned to the game of snooker after a few years absence. Getting the 'touch' back has proved to be elusive but, with your keen observations and instructions, I am beginning to build the breaks a little better with every passing session. Snooker is the ultimate game to me and, thanks to you, I have once again begun to enjoy its many facets and challenges. Chhers, Barry and many thanks.
245. Great to hear, stick with it progress is just around the corner.
You sir are a gentleman and then some! Amazing series of videos and highly appreciated from amateur enthusiasts like myself
Hi Barry,
i just got to know very recently about your videos, Im from Saudi Arabia & Snooker is my favorite sport, i have a table in my office, thanks to your videos i have really improved on most of my shots, the way you explain is as if you are actually next to me, your are certainly a great coach and such a beautiful sole, a very sincere THANK YOU ; )
Thanks, Barry. I've been playing snooker (not too well) for a lot of years and I've never fully understood how left and right hand side really work and until tonight, I never knew what check-side was either. That's very good indeed - many thanks for your video.
Garth. Glad the video has cleared a few things up for you.
Brilliant way of explaining the complicated in a way for all to understand, excellent.
Fantastic mate always wondered about the effects of side on the object ball. Nobody else explains it like you do
Mega. A lot of good players can use side effectively without truly knowing what is happening, as a coach I feel I need to know exactly what is happening and spent a lot of time trying to find out.
Barry Stark Snooker Coach you're very similar to me, you could work it out yourself but not actually know if there is still more to learn! I'll be honest I was cutting across the white on purpose as it seemed to automatically make the allowance for me and I had more success than cueing straight.. but that will probably explain why my highest break in a game is 54!
Very impressed by your thorough responses to comments. Thanks for all the amazing content!
From now on You are my teacher 🙂Thanks very much
Thank you very much maestro, this is kind of a video that i was looking for very long time. Cheers
I pretend that he's infront of me and he's my real coach... Love this guy. Respect Mr. Barry.
Hi Barry, I LOVE your videos! My dream is to become a professional snooker player and this helps me a lot! Thank you very much!
Great attitude! With your enthusiasm i'm sure you will become greater than your expectations!
Love your videos Barry, keep up the good work Sir! I wish I could have had someone like you to learn from when i was younger, too old to get anywhere now but it won't stop me from trying to improve my game! I still love it which is the main thing.
Macca7. Couldn't agree more, if you enjoy what you are doing you cannot fail to improve. As you get older it is more difficult to learn new skills but certainly not impossible.
Awesome sir !
I m a sort of Beginner Snooker Player. My maximum Break is 46. U r helping me very much with ur videos. I really appreciate ur effort with the videos. U r doing an Awesome job ! Thank u so much.
Fantastic Barry. You never miss!
Stephen. I wish that were true but my name is Barry not Ronnie.
Million thanks Mr Barry...u r the great teacher and i wish physically im in ur class under ur supervision
Hanif. Thanks for the compliment, I hope you continue to make progress.
Thanks Barry excellent tuition.
Hi Barry just wanted to say thankyou for sharing your knowledge you have helped me a great deal,i listen to your videos whilst im practising and it helps me to diagnose problems with my action especially the way you explained the grip and the 2 ways of hitting through the ball now i only lift my elbow when im bridging off the rail so i dont seasaw so i understand the mechanics of my own cue action...ive been frustrated for a long time because the minute im under pressure in a match or at an amateur tournament my game falls apart and the way you simplify things has really helped so thanks so much
Andrew. Thanks for the comments. Glad you like the channel.
i wish u were my snooker coach about 15 odd yrs ago, n if dat were d case Ronnie wud hav been non-existent..big up's! very informative and easy to grasp Sir!thank u!
k. Glad you are finding the channel informative, keep trying, keep improving and who knows you may still catch Ronnie up.
You are a very good coach Mr Stark...nicely explained...
Quantum. Many thanks.
As always, great video! Greetings from Nepal!
You are very best diyar Barry Stark
Hi barry, watching your videos here in australia...your a great teacher mate!!!
Jamie. Thanks, We will keep trying.
thanks so very much!! awsome, i have not words to say, Barry is a great teacher
Great video coach. Regards from Australia 🇦🇺
White Wolf. Great that you like the videos. Many thanks.
Great videos as usual Barry - Thanks!
Thanks very much about teaching us about cue ball control. It's real useful when use these techniques in playing snooker even 8 ball too
Sonam. My pleasure , after all cue ball control is the real essence of the game.
Thank you for your clarity and accessible wisdom. Extremely helpful. Many Thanks
really like your channel, it's helping me in my pub games! Good stuff
Thank you so much, Barry, exactly what I was looking for!
clear understanding and concise! Thanks Barry!
Cheers Barry,you are my guru.
You sir are a hero. The tranquil way you explain things is sooo soothing to listen to. 😊🙏
vijay. As long as my voice doesn't send you to sleep.
@@BarryStarkSnookerCoach 😊
Thank you! I've been waiting for these tips.
HELMITON. We sincerely hope you game develops, good luck.
marvellous Barry! ! As always !!!!
imo you are a good teacher.
thank you for sharing your knowledge
That's a very nice explaination, really helps a lott....
Just couldn't resist thiss..
Jarvis, sometimes you gotta run before you can walk😜
Harsh. I guess sometimes you just got to let it go and have a go, no harm in that but don't do it regularly.
my favourite line: Good Luck with your Practice !
Multi. Applauded by some, condemned by others.
Best snooker teacher
penchal. Many thanks, we will keep trying while the interest remains.
best of vedios at you tube for snooler .just barry can make .best of lack and good explaination
Thanks Barry, that really helps!
Mark. My pleasure.
thanks again barry, your a legend! come on kyren, believe!!!
best coach ever
this shot was shown to me by mike watterson, funnily enough he called it a kick shot, he used it not only if he could not make the ball, but when he needed to send the white one way or the other
gordon. I never met Mike but I have heard he knew his stuff.
great videos a joy to watch
This is akin to learning how and why fades and draws (and high/low variations of such) are used by top-level golfers on most every shot. It's just not as simple as things may appear. Also that when we take things to a higher level, we have to learn more of the intricacies and nuances inherent in most all things of interest.
Awesomely nice way to teach sir👌👏💖
hi Barry thankyou so much it helps alot.....
brilliant barry..
Very informative video explaining the different reactions you get when using side. Been playing for years without knowing the process behind it, thank you Barry! Keep up the great content! Collaboration with Nic Barrow maybe at some point?
great video sir stark!
Great video! Thank Sir!
romain. My pleasure.
Really great your videos! Such a shame I do not have the skills to really help them improve my game.
OMG I love this gentleman.
really great video!
Here is one for the supercuemen out there.Black on its spot,cue ball 12 to 15 inches away in a dead straight line with the corner pocket.Now pot the black with extreme check side (left hand side if you are aiming for the left top pocket).Can you screw the cue ball back off the side cushion ,back over the black spot and into the same pocket as the black?You will need to be a master cueman and the table and balls need to be fast and lively.I have seen it done by one player only.I once got as far as the black spot .That was 30 years ago!
Tony. I saw Matt Couch (former professional) do this shot during a practise session, never tried it myself but don't think I have that sort of cue power.
To be fair I do not think the shot can be made on the majority of tables.The club we played in was always overheated and the balls always seemed excessively lively.The table was a Clare Jubilee ,popular in the 70s.Perhaps you remember those tables?Don't see many of them these days.I remember it was like a skating rink and the pockets were the proverbial buckets!Anyway ,even though I stopped playing 9 years ago (Istarted in 1972 after being inspired by Alex Higgins)I am enjoying your tutorials.I could of done with some of your coaching in the past .........it would have saved me years of frustration!
Well done Alan keep practicing it would be good to have more Americans into snooker.
thanks barry good explaination .barry if you tell us that poting angles for black ball ..that how to hit and where to hit for half ,full and other angles
Very helpful video and well demonstrated and explained Barry! Would it be an over simplification if I just aimed towards the opposite edge of the pocket from the side I am using for most shots? For instance, using right side I would just aim near the left edge of the pocket. Of course shot distance and speed comes into play, but could this be a good general guideline to keep things simple? Also when you use the term "kick" I'm assuming that it is the same as we Yanks call "throw"?
Really. Yes I have been told off for using the word kick when it should be throw but to my mind that is a little overly pedantic. On the other matter whatever suits you is correct, everybody does the same thing but each has there own little idiosyncrasies particularly when it comes to how to aim with side.
That is one thing that I am having a bit of a problem with when you do side shots where about do you hit the red or colour?
@David. I am afraid there is no definitive answer to this, so much depends on how well you hit the ball and the equipment being used. I can hit the ball in exactly the same place as Ronnie O'Sullivan but because he hits the ball better than I do we will get different reactions. Keep trying and experience will teach you.
Barry it sounds like according to this theory of resistance, that it would only create more resistance and thus come off the ball easier when using backpin, not when using forward spin. But I thought helping side always makes it comes off the ball easier?
@dhira. Easier certainly relates to the use of backspin but wider would be more appropriate when using forward spin.
Loved It!
Kiran. Many thanks.
Subbed for 99k . . .get him to one hundred thousand.
if a player has good cue action and correct concept,even you hit different parts of the cue ball ,but can not hit too near to edge，the cue ball still be exactly same as your stance direction，then the success of potting rate and cue ball control will be higher and esaier
victor. By your explanation I believe you are slightly forgetting the deviation that occurs on the direction of the cue ball when side is applied to it.
Hi Barry, I'm interested to know if you advocate the cue being pushed up into the fleshy part of the hand between the thumb and forefinger, or whether you teach a more loose approach to the grip, where the cue is kept between the thunb and forefinger in a more relaxed fashion? I've always messed around with this part of my grip to a degree, and am very interested in your opinion. Thanks from Tasmania, and keep up the great videos :)
Mox. I don't advocate a loose grip or a tight grip, I do believe that the fleshy area between the knuckles of the thumb and first finger has an important role to play in controlling the wrist during the stroke and a player usually finds his own level of tension that gives success but certainly this part of the grip should remain in contact with the cue. Some players lose this contact area during the stroke but this is usually after the cue ball has been struck and helps them to get through the ball a little better.
thanks Barry!
Thank you so much.
Hi Barry, the shot explained at 04:10 - 05:00 : due to the right hand side used to play the shot, white was pushed to the left and to compensate for that you needed to aim thinner. On the contrary, due to object ball kick to the left, you also needed to aim thicker. Is this correct? Does that mean, that for some shots with side, it could be the case that both allowances cancel each other (according to that shot s particular pace and cue ball-object ball distance) and the aiming would be done normally as if no side was used? Hope this is clear, thanks in advance.
Christopher. With the modern phenolic resin ball there is more friction between cue ball and object ball than there ever was between the balls of yesteryear. This fact is demonstrated on one of my videos where the cue ball is rested upon three other balls. Because of this friction on certain shots over a short distance and played slowly it can be that the push one way or the other is cancelled out by the kick of the object ball. There are so many variations that can apply that only experience can teach you but generally what I have just said will not apply when power or distance is involved.
@@BarryStarkSnookerCoach thanks a lot for the good reply explanation. I understand now. Keep it up.
hello this is Dennis in Houston Texas usa you are the best I have seen all you put out there they do not help us like you do in the usa as you may all ready know ,tell me what drill I use to hit the ball the real smooth, like you do I do try to follow though on 80 % of the shoots
Hi Barry I'm not sure I understand why you need more pace on the shot for the red off the pink spot back for the blue when using plain ball.You said when using side the cue ball comes off the red faster because of more resistance, are you sure it's not coming off the Cush a bit quicker because of the side? If you hit a ball thicker (as you did with the side on) more energy is transferred to the red so that slows down the white, if you play plain ball so hit the red thinner less energy is transferred so the white should travel further. Try this yourself hit a ball full ball just above centre , so maximum energy transfer, then with the same power hit it thin and see how far the cue ball travels because less energy is transferred to the object ball. Could you explain where I am missing the point?
Old timer. First of all let me say that you are right in saying that the cue ball is coming off the cushion a little quicker because of the side. Certainly if you hit an object ball thicker that will slow the cue ball down if the intention is to send the cue ball forward. If however the intention is to bring it backwards as in the demonstration it will be easier by hitting the ball thicker. Hitting the object ball thinner and screwing back will necessitate digging a little deeper or applying a little more force or both. As Sir Isaac Newton said, "For every action there will be an equal and opposite reaction." We are adding to that reaction by applying a little backspin.
Perhaps the angle of incidence is so minimal that the energy transfer has less impact on speed than the speed created by outside english... not quite sure though.. good question.
Also.. it's correct that hitting more of the ball slows down the forward travel of the cue ball.. but that slowing down of forward travel by hitting more of the object ball (resistance as he calls it) is what's aiding the screw shot and likely has the same affect on side spin. So while the cue ball comes off the object ball with more forward travel in the instance where you slice the ball more thin, the goal is to have the ball come off the rail and back for the blue which requires a certain angle aided by running english... hope that made sense...
last thing... lol. More pace might require contact with an additional rail to provide the position you want on the blue.. and quite possibly the shot would be at a greater angle...
can you post a video of extreme follow shot. make the cue ball run from blue n passes from lower cushion n get back near to pink.. follow with sides also
Good stuff!
Hi Barry ,lve got a question. Why is it when you play on an American pool table and get used to the angles and play really well. And then you go on a snooker table,where the balls of course are smaller. And then you aim on the snooker balls , the same as if you are aiming on the pool balls ,and then find that you are missing most shots. And it seems that you have to compensate and aim with slightly less angle that doesn't seem natural to pot the snooker ball. Can you explain what's going on here. Thanks.
Kevin. The short answer to that is no I can't. If the cue ball and object ball are the same size there should be no difference. I would be surprised if when you cut a ball to the left it is exactly the same as when you cut a ball to the right. If you are applying side on these shots either intentionally or unintentionally, because the snooker balls are smaller and lighter it is probable that they will be kicked of line slightly easier. My earlier comment of a difference in cutting to the left or right would of course indicate a flaw in cueing or differences in the amount of side applied. I have no wish to be derogatory to the game of pool, it has its own difficulties, but snooker does demand greater cueing accuracy.
Coaching is good for some , iv never had a minute off coaching in my life , practised practised practised ended up working in a private snooker club for years n years , knocking in tons now , a good cue and mastering your own style of play and finding your weaknesses and strengths will take you a long way .
Alex wasn’t coached , could anybody coach him with the style he had , don’t think so and he went on to win two world titles and many other trophy’s
Zayaan. There are exceptions to every rule but most of todays pros have had advice along the way. As with all sports the game moves on and coaching has played a large part in its development.
Hi Barry, My high break in practice is 87 and 76 with a high break in a match of 50. I'm first looking to make a century break in practice as one of my goals. Do you have any advice on routines I can work on to achieve the century break in practice? thanks so much!
Chris. If you are making fifty breaks and above fairly consistently there is not a lot wrong with your game in terms of potting balls. What you really need to do is play what I call three ball snooker, by that I mean pot the ball to leave position on a colour in such a way that it is easy to get on the next ball. Always try to leave yourself options, again by that I mean seldom play for one ball when you have the option of playing for two or three. Trying to be too precise in positional play can demand too much of your ability, often better to play for an area that allows adjustment in your thinking.
Dear CoachI think I got a big problem with my sighting. My cue always towards the left after the shot when I aim the centre of the white ( I am right hand).How can I do, try to hit the cue ball a bit right hand side each shot, or have my grip hand closer to the hip?Thank you.
Zhang. Not sure if you mean you are hitting the cue ball on the left or that you are cueing across the ball. If you are hitting the cue ball on the left when you think it is middle, try looking down on the cue ball when the cue tip is close to it, you will need to use a loop bridge to do this. If you are cueing across the ball then you need to return to basics, have a look at my video on the basics.
I think I am cueing across the cue ball. All the video I saw and apply. My right foot and head both on the line of aim and others I think are Ok for the basics.
I wonder should I use the wrong dominate eye? Or is there a problem for the face angle.
Hi Barry, So does it mean if I play the shot U played on the red with check side which is left hand side I aim slightly less of it.
Hi Barry, if we use top spin to pot a straight shot ,normally will off the cue ball,so can we using top spin left or right hand side to avoid off to the pocket?
victor. In some cases this is possible but it does make the pot more difficult so be careful.
Barry, you said playing with left hand side will push the cue ball to the right(opposite side) and also kick the object ball to the right. (opposite side). At the end of the video, you played the shot with left hand side which kicks the object ball to the right. Then why do you aim to the right side of the jaw to make the allowance? Shouldn't you be aiming to the left side of the jaw so that the object ball will be kicked towards the right (i.e) the pocket?
Karthik. The video also explains that some power is needed on that shot at the end of the video, the power needed will push the cue ball to the right but also mean that there will be very little kick to the right. In the early part of the video where the blue is potted into the centre pocket, the push is minimal but the kick is maximised because of the lack of power used.
Oh okay Barry, I understand now. The more the power, the less kick reaction on the object ball and the less the power, the more kick reaction on the object ball. Thank you Sir. You are one of the greatest teachers Snooker has seen!..
Thank u very much
I find out that many top player their face angle is not 90 degree to the line of aim, they prefer tilt, like Hunt, Judd, Neil, Rocket, you name it. So does that mean we just make sure our dominate eye is towards the line of aim. The angle of face is just natural and does not matter for sighting. Million thanks, China Fans.
Zhang. Everybody's anatomical makeup is different and the angle of the face will be natural. When we talk about the dominant eye this is also generally positioned naturally. When a player is guilty of cueing across the ball or indeed applying unintentional side, or both, the cure may be for the player to cue underneath his dominant eye more.
Please make a video on How to pot long pocket ball by using Side.
Love your vids btw..
Barry I like whatever knowledge you have about snooker! but I'm not able to get a consistent cue action! can you help me?
Cavan. Without seeing you play its difficult, study my video on the grip and cue action then try to work a methodical routine in your snooker practises. e.g. Point the cue, perform a certain amount of feathers, keep the cue parallel, put yourself on video. Videoing yourself can be very helpful because what you do and what you think you do are often two different things.
Thank you so much for that! I will surely do that and try and learn better snooker
hi
i have a question?
how do i practice to fix my cue delivery to go through in a straight line?
i practice on the baulk line, i play up and down but seems its not fixing it
i follow through like ronnie and stephen lee, my shoulder drops. my cue goes straight as its about to hit the cueball, but once its hit the cueball, the tip of my cue goes abit to the left of line of aim after grip hand hits the chest.
i hope you can give me a good practice to fix this issue
tnx
ART. You seem to be doing everything right, perhaps its time to look at where you are holding the cue, and where you are placing your bridge hand. Do you have enough room between the hand holding the cue and the chest, perhaps the chest is interfering with the shot because of this. Don't forget you can vary this distance by three ways- 1/ where you hold the cue--2/ where you place the bridge hand-- 3/ whether you play with a straight bridge arm or a straight one.
i place my bridge hand about 8 to 12 inches distance from cueball, and im not quite short how to find if i hvae enough room between hand hlding the cue and chest, but i know when i follow through the tip of the cue follow through 4 to 6 inches from where the cueball was, and my left arm is bend on most shots
ART gamer. You say you place your bridge hand about 8 to 12 inches away from the cue ball. This is a large variation and you need to be more precise. Please check out my early video on cueing, it shows where to position the bridge hand and where to hold the cue establishing the correct follow through.
I actually primarily play pool, not snooker, as I'm in America.. We constantly see advertisements for low deflection cues which promise to reduce the amount of deflection when hitting the cue ball.. In the demonstration where you used side to pocket the blue ball by barely missing the red ball, deflection / or squirt was the attribute of the cue that allowed you to do that. Would a low deflection cue not be able to throw as well since it wouldnt move the cue ball the same?
Cory. I often have conversations of this Nature with Karen Corr (I'm sure you will have heard of her) who I used to coach when she was playing snooker in England. My view is that because our snooker balls are smaller and lighter than your pool balls the cue ball will always be pushed slightly more off line even with a low deflection cue. Snooker cue manufacturers have tried to reduce deflection, as it is known in America, but with few exceptions snooker players I have spoken to say it affects other aspects of their game. When you play a gentle shot with side spin the object ball will always be kicked one way or the other because of friction. This is particularly true with the modern snooker ball which is manufactured from phenolic resin, one of my videos shows the cue ball resting on top of three other balls, this is only possible because of friction.
Thanks, as always, Barry.
I was wondering why certain American players have been preaching "touch of inside" to give them a competitive edge. A few players in the 80s and 90s have said it's given them an insurance of having a benefit over others. I'm afraid this concept does not make plausible sense.
Bobby. There is no doubt that side is complex to master but for somone having mastered it like Ronnie O'Sullivan it can be a tremendous advantage. Side can allow the player to hit the ball slightly thicker but still make the pot, the side then allows him more freedom to position the cue ball.
@@BarryStarkSnookerCoach thank you, Barry. Btw, do you find it a bit easier to pot (a slightly angled shot) using side to compensate, as opposed to hitting center ball but adjust the angle accordingly?
you are great really awful sharing teaching some useful techs
Thanks for the view
dear coach barry
as an average player, not good enough to settle this problem i want to ask. and ive tested this but i dont think im good enough to be positive of the results. does cut induced throw and spin induced throw change object ball orientation even though they contact OB at the point leading to the pocket (point of contact for a straight shot)? so i must aim AND HIT a different point to account for these two factors ? (not deviation), alot of good players(including professionals) told me to hit object ball only at the point furthest from the intended pocket. thank you
Yasser. Firstly if you are playing a plain ball shot then hitting the object ball at the point that is furthest away from the pocket is generally correct. However, even this is not 100% correct (see my video on the ghost ball demonstrations) If you play with side spin on the cue ball then the object ball will be kicked one way or the other. Left hand side will kick the object ball to the right and vice versa, this is the result of friction between the two balls and is particularly true of slow shots with side. To learn these shots, whilst a coach can guide you it is down to you to play and experiment with them, making mental notes of results both positive and negative.
Suppose I was left dominate eye, should I put the cue under my left eye, or have my left eye closer to the cue ball like neil, Judd etc?
Zhang. The position of the cue will always favour the dominant eye but not directly underneath it unless there is an alignment problem. My advise here is do what comes naturally and only adjust its position if there is a problem.
Great man.
sir what are your tips for practising who is not a professional n want 2 get good sense of making n sides
balkrishna. In golf its perfect the golf swing, in snooker its perfect the cue action. Try to have a few lessons with a coach, if you try to learn the game on your own you are invalidating all the years of development the game has gone through. In short you are starting from square one.
thank you sir for that advice but where I live we don't have professional coach like you so ... what should I do
Thanks for your suggestions bro would be having my state snooker matches next month