I would have loved advice like this when I was a young player. Doing the right thing is important, but there will be slight differences in how it works for any individual. So practice, practice and practice some more. Last week I played on the table next to Joe Swail. Visually Joe Looks a mess, but he hardly missed a ball. Good technique is important, but if it works it's correct.
Thanks for the video Steve. It highlights one of my biggest mistakes. Whenever I miss some shots in a match, I start conciously thinking about my technique instead of trusting in what I am doing and just think about the next three balls. Hope this video reminds me next time how to go ahead.
Really good content again Steve. I quite like the comparison to playing the piano. I played piano for years, (and now play snooker), and you're quite right, technique is everything and after significant practise and honing of technique, it comes naturally without much thought. I can confirm that snooker is harder haha
I am working really hard on my technique at the moment, I recently learnt about my dominant eye which is really helping on straight shots and rest shots but I find I'm not quite where I was before on angled pots yet using this method, feels like I'm having to relearn the potting angles. I'm basically trying to improve my technique so I can eliminate every single excuse and until I'm just left with the unavoidable fact that I'm crap at snooker! 😄
Not necessarily, i know many people with worst techniques and cue actions, potting tons and others with perfect stance, alignment and stuff, failing to make even 20. It's all what suits you, Stance,grip, techniques and stuff doesn't matter imo.
Hey Steve. Ive just passed my grade 8 piano exam with a distinction. I’ve played piano pretty much every day for 10 yrs and now play to a very high standard and love your analogy. … I started on a full size snooker table in July last yr and it’s like im back to playing Twinkle Twinkle Little Star again (in the snooker world) Haha. Loving it though. Thanks for the videos. Great help.
One thing i would also add and i never see this mentioned on any snooker coaching videos is about the cloth and balls and how that can affect your game. Your average player whos trying to improve will rarely have the benefit of playing on a table with a good quality fairly new cloth and proper weight balls. This is imperative for consistency when trying to learn the fundamentals of the game. Its really why the game is so frustrating. You could go to a snooker club that maybe has a dozen or so tables, all with different aged cloths and cushions. This plays a big part in how balls react to spin, a very worn cloth with little nap will require a lot more spin to execute shots, whereas a newer cloth will require less spin to get the same affect. If you are chopping and changing tables, this is an absolute nightmare because often even very accomplished players will struggle, so someone looking to learn, not knowing this can get to a certain level and simply not improve due to this issue. Even cushions on tables play a part too, you cant avoid them, but some tables have very dead rubbers which have little bounce, others will play springy almost like a pinball machine where it pings off faster than it goes on, judgement of pace off cushions can be impossible on some tables. I haven't even mentioned thr issue of balls. Most clubs will provide a random set in a tray, probably made up of multiple colour reds and in some cases a few balls, often the cueball a different weight and maybe slightly smaller. First thing i did was invest in my own set, for me its as important as having your own cue. You cannot get consistency without a proper set of TC's all the same weight.
Pool player here! When I first start out in competition, I think about all of the basics which helps calm my nerves great. After a while, I’m focused so much that I don’t even know what’s going on around me.
I tend to hit my self in the ribs with the cue quite a bit. I also find myself actually resting my body on the table on shots, instead of having a solid stance. I know I do it, but when I'm concentrating on the shot I just find myself falling back in to those bad habits. I also cue across the white far too often, which again I am assuming comes from my awful body position
No matter how nice and clean your cue action is unless you can hold full concentration then your never going to progress. I have been told for years that I have a lovely cue action with good timing etc....smooth as silk (so they say) My biggest weakness is holding my focus completely on what I'm doing. As soon as my mind starts to wonder I'm done. I'm a regular 40-50 breaker with the occasional 60-70odd. Highest brake 96 about 20yrs ago. Biggest thing for me is focus and practice. When I manage to play 3-4 times a week I'm knocking in 40s everytime I go out with the odd higher brake going in. Been struggling with health recently and only playing once a week. It's definitely effected my game massively. For me to stay consistent I have to play multiple times per week every week. I find going out by myself doing lineups good for my cueing. Spending an hour or two by myself potting from a lineup, just making sure I'm doing the fundamentals right. The more I do that the better I play in practice matches and then that converts to proper match play in the league. My goal for this year was 70+ break and I hit 72. Missed the black for a 79 clearance! My goal for next season is to get my first century. I've come close a few times. An older century braker in the club with us sais "if you can do 50s 60s then you can do a tonne" once u get into the 60s 70s most of it is psychological in my opinion. U can see the finish line but think too much and end up bottling it instead of just treating it like any other shot. Practice practice practice 🎱
Great content Steve. A sound basic technique is essential for a player to improve. I have heard some advice recently to " just play" yes you'll pot some balls but never really fulfill any potential by progressing their game 👍👏
You're right. Anyone that really sees big improvements, work hard to make sure they are progressing their cue action all the time. Learn good habits and make it natural 👍
I am currently down my snooker centre on a weekly basis, practising some of these techniques in your videos, I love playing but I do struggle to control the cue ball, where are you based? I wonder if any 1-1 will help me?
West Midlands. Have a look at my website and feel free to get in touch. It would be great to help you. Always easier in 1-2-1 sessions. www.bartonsnooker.co.uk
Look at a lot of the tennis professionals they all have great fundamentals. They have all been playing over half their life. I guess if technique wasn’t then they would not have been practising it rigidly day and day out
I think it probably does help having a solid technique but Everyone is different and I do what is comfortable for me, simple get in line pick potting angle 2 feathers and hit, every time, any tinkering and my game goes to shit, so I keep it as simple as that, sure Michael holt reckons that all that matters really is you hit the potting angle, everything else doesn’t really matter
So the power that you hit the shot no longer makes a difference then 🤷🏻♂️🙄 …one can hit the exact spot on the white that they need to BUT if the power is all wrong then that white ball won’t be going anywhere near where you expect it to go to trouble with Holt is he tells only half the story and he is an ok sort of player with a fairly good cue action. The chap is a professional I drive a car but cannot Beat Lewis Hamilton in a race I can cook a pasta but I’m not a chef …I can make a bed but I’m Not a housekeeper Steve tells the full story this game we love is flipping hard and takes a lot of effort and dedication to get good at it
I would have loved advice like this when I was a young player. Doing the right thing is important, but there will be slight differences in how it works for any individual. So practice, practice and practice some more. Last week I played on the table next to Joe Swail. Visually Joe Looks a mess, but he hardly missed a ball. Good technique is important, but if it works it's correct.
Thanks for the video Steve. It highlights one of my biggest mistakes. Whenever I miss some shots in a match, I start conciously thinking about my technique instead of trusting in what I am doing and just think about the next three balls. Hope this video reminds me next time how to go ahead.
Great one Steve. I'm focusing at the moment on visualising the object ball going into the pocket. That's helped me get the correct alignment.
Really good content again Steve. I quite like the comparison to playing the piano. I played piano for years, (and now play snooker), and you're quite right, technique is everything and after significant practise and honing of technique, it comes naturally without much thought. I can confirm that snooker is harder haha
I am working really hard on my technique at the moment, I recently learnt about my dominant eye which is really helping on straight shots and rest shots but I find I'm not quite where I was before on angled pots yet using this method, feels like I'm having to relearn the potting angles.
I'm basically trying to improve my technique so I can eliminate every single excuse and until I'm just left with the unavoidable fact that I'm crap at snooker! 😄
Not necessarily, i know many people with worst techniques and cue actions, potting tons and others with perfect stance, alignment and stuff, failing to make even 20. It's all what suits you, Stance,grip, techniques and stuff doesn't matter imo.
Headcam a must please !!!!
for all at all times to teach for best understanding
Hey Steve. Ive just passed my grade 8 piano exam with a distinction. I’ve played piano pretty much every day for 10 yrs and now play to a very high standard and love your analogy. … I started on a full size snooker table in July last yr and it’s like im back to playing Twinkle Twinkle Little Star again (in the snooker world) Haha. Loving it though. Thanks for the videos. Great help.
Very well done with the grade 8. Yeah, everything has to be built up in stages
You are the best detailed coach i have come across all the youtube videos on snooker..
Thanks so much. Always trying to help
One thing i would also add and i never see this mentioned on any snooker coaching videos is about the cloth and balls and how that can affect your game.
Your average player whos trying to improve will rarely have the benefit of playing on a table with a good quality fairly new cloth and proper weight balls. This is imperative for consistency when trying to learn the fundamentals of the game. Its really why the game is so frustrating.
You could go to a snooker club that maybe has a dozen or so tables, all with different aged cloths and cushions. This plays a big part in how balls react to spin, a very worn cloth with little nap will require a lot more spin to execute shots, whereas a newer cloth will require less spin to get the same affect. If you are chopping and changing tables, this is an absolute nightmare because often even very accomplished players will struggle, so someone looking to learn, not knowing this can get to a certain level and simply not improve due to this issue. Even cushions on tables play a part too, you cant avoid them, but some tables have very dead rubbers which have little bounce, others will play springy almost like a pinball machine where it pings off faster than it goes on, judgement of pace off cushions can be impossible on some tables.
I haven't even mentioned thr issue of balls. Most clubs will provide a random set in a tray, probably made up of multiple colour reds and in some cases a few balls, often the cueball a different weight and maybe slightly smaller. First thing i did was invest in my own set, for me its as important as having your own cue. You cannot get consistency without a proper set of TC's all the same weight.
Great detailed video Barton snooker. Wish I had this advice before giving up the spot due to health issues
You are so generous to share the valuable information. Thank you
Pool player here!
When I first start out in competition, I think about all of the basics which helps calm my nerves great.
After a while, I’m focused so much that I don’t even know what’s going on around me.
I tend to hit my self in the ribs with the cue quite a bit. I also find myself actually resting my body on the table on shots, instead of having a solid stance. I know I do it, but when I'm concentrating on the shot I just find myself falling back in to those bad habits. I also cue across the white far too often, which again I am assuming comes from my awful body position
No matter how nice and clean your cue action is unless you can hold full concentration then your never going to progress.
I have been told for years that I have a lovely cue action with good timing etc....smooth as silk (so they say)
My biggest weakness is holding my focus completely on what I'm doing. As soon as my mind starts to wonder I'm done. I'm a regular 40-50 breaker with the occasional 60-70odd. Highest brake 96 about 20yrs ago.
Biggest thing for me is focus and practice. When I manage to play 3-4 times a week I'm knocking in 40s everytime I go out with the odd higher brake going in.
Been struggling with health recently and only playing once a week. It's definitely effected my game massively. For me to stay consistent I have to play multiple times per week every week. I find going out by myself doing lineups good for my cueing. Spending an hour or two by myself potting from a lineup, just making sure I'm doing the fundamentals right. The more I do that the better I play in practice matches and then that converts to proper match play in the league.
My goal for this year was 70+ break and I hit 72. Missed the black for a 79 clearance! My goal for next season is to get my first century. I've come close a few times.
An older century braker in the club with us sais "if you can do 50s 60s then you can do a tonne" once u get into the 60s 70s most of it is psychological in my opinion. U can see the finish line but think too much and end up bottling it instead of just treating it like any other shot.
Practice practice practice 🎱
Very good lecture about Snooker n important tips for the players , thnx a lot S. Barton for all excellent Job 🙏🙏🙏
Great video, was great to be at that very table just a week ago today.
Thanks for the video, mate. Great content as always! :)
Great video Steve there is so much that one needs to be able to do well and to be consistent it is a tough game but would be no fun if it was easy
I bridge with my face and cue using my right knee while supporting myself on my hands. I've never had any complaints.
Sounds perfect ,😅
Great content Steve. A sound basic technique is essential for a player to improve. I have heard some advice recently to " just play" yes you'll pot some balls but never really fulfill any potential by progressing their game 👍👏
You're right. Anyone that really sees big improvements, work hard to make sure they are progressing their cue action all the time. Learn good habits and make it natural 👍
As per usual a brilliant video that will inspire people like me to become better players
Very interesting video once again Steve! Hoping your well 😊
I am great Ian. Hope you are well and playing well 😀
Excellent vídeo my Teacher
As always sir ❤
I am currently down my snooker centre on a weekly basis, practising some of these techniques in your videos, I love playing but I do struggle to control the cue ball, where are you based? I wonder if any 1-1 will help me?
West Midlands. Have a look at my website and feel free to get in touch. It would be great to help you. Always easier in 1-2-1 sessions.
www.bartonsnooker.co.uk
I would love to afford 1 day’s coaching with you 😕 thanks for the videos
can you explain this .. for example i aim center of the cue ball but i can't strike center of cue ball
Damn, I was hoping so much the answer to the title of the video would be a no 😂😂
It's always a work in progress. The better more you refine things over time, the better!
As in many sports: good technique helps but not essential.
Don’t confuse good with perfect.
Look at a lot of the tennis professionals they all have great fundamentals. They have all been playing over half their life. I guess if technique wasn’t then they would not have been practising it rigidly day and day out
I think it probably does help having a solid technique but Everyone is different and I do what is comfortable for me, simple get in line pick potting angle 2 feathers and hit, every time, any tinkering and my game goes to shit, so I keep it as simple as that, sure Michael holt reckons that all that matters really is you hit the potting angle, everything else doesn’t really matter
So the power that you hit the shot no longer makes a difference then 🤷🏻♂️🙄 …one can hit the exact spot on the white that they need to BUT if the power is all wrong then that white ball won’t be going anywhere near where you expect it to go to trouble with Holt is he tells only half the story and he is an ok sort of player with a fairly good cue action.
The chap is a professional I drive a car but cannot
Beat Lewis Hamilton in a race I can cook a pasta but I’m not a chef …I can make a bed but I’m Not a housekeeper Steve tells the full story this game we love is flipping hard and takes a lot of effort and dedication to get good at it
To much talking, not enough showing how to execute the shot lost interest after 4 minutes.
Sorry about that. I will try to talk the perfect amount next time. My apologies.