Went to play in a small tournament and it turned out to be a nightmare.
I was quite prepared for it. Hit balls for almost tow hours in another place beforehand, and was playing okay.
Then started a match spotting the guy I think 18 or so. Missed some very easy shots and then played lots of safety to come back to black ball game. Missed a long straight in black, timing was very off. Back swing too long. Then he fluked it in.
Second game again spotted the game some points like 15, then played real bad missing many color balls. He did 23 on me, then almost ran out the color. Very sad.
Not sure why I played so bad, thinking may be it was because I was not confident. So, I doubt my aim. Cueing was also funny, could not make any long shot.,
Not really sure what happened.
Cue felt very insensitive, and cue arm felt very stiff.
This tournament is very expensive and prize payout is not good. The handicapped is making it hard to make money.
Very disappointed that I wasted $40 on this.
I will go play S tomorrow i think i will play better.
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Monday, February 23, 2009
Stun Follow
I have practiced some straight potting for over two hours today(Sunday). I spent a lot of time on my power follow, and stun follow, which have been my weakness.
I am happy to report that I think I have found out the problems, which are my hand not opening up enough on my back swing, and my back swing being too tense.
I won the tournament on Sat, playing okay. Still not used to some of the shots with my new aiming method.
Spent more time on the practice table, and am much more comfortable now.
I was partnered with D on Sat, and have noticed that he actually pots quite poorly. He tried to tell me to play several shots differently when I was already ready to shot, and that threw me off. I did not like his suggestion.
I played bad on those shots. i should have told me I dont want to do what he siad, then ask him to leave me alone, then recompose myself, completely block him out, before I shot.
I did not notice this before but I think at times his shot selection is not that good and he sometimes cues really funny. His potting also is not that consistent, especially his side pocket. I think it is because of his long bridge and his yo yo cuing action. He mostly keep his elbow up but sometimes he is really bad. The pockets are big so he could get away with it.
I learned a very useful shot from him watching him play, which is a shot playing with stun check side to play for the blue.
I am sure with more practice I will be better than him.
I am very close to him anyway. It is just a mental thing for me to beat him constantly.
What I do now when I play, is that I will just trust my instint on my aiming, while in practice I will try to analysis the angles and such.
My judgement on the angles have been quite spot on even when i am not analysing it to the final dots on every shot like I used to. That was the reason why I felt so exhausted so easily.
I am doing alright except a few funny shots, where I have no glue how to aim.
I will work on those next week.
I read Steve Davis's book today. Felt a lot like Cliff Thorburn's book. Too bad he did not suggest any safties diagrams on the last chapter.
One thing that was very good was how he explain he difference with 3/4 and 1/2 shots.
--with 1/2 you can move the ball move without hitting it hard, but the positioning options are more limited, with 3/4, you can move the ball to more places, but if you need to move it far, you need to do more with the white.
This really helps me because sometimes I do not know whether I should leave a 3/4 or 1/2 ball on my ball.
The blue ball is the same way.
Speaking of the blue ball, my blue is running better now, after I started doing the blue ball drill. I will make it a point to practice running the blue ball in my practice with a line of red by the pink, and some above the black and around the blue. When the black is tied up, being able to run the blue will win me lots of frames.
I am happy to report that I think I have found out the problems, which are my hand not opening up enough on my back swing, and my back swing being too tense.
I won the tournament on Sat, playing okay. Still not used to some of the shots with my new aiming method.
Spent more time on the practice table, and am much more comfortable now.
I was partnered with D on Sat, and have noticed that he actually pots quite poorly. He tried to tell me to play several shots differently when I was already ready to shot, and that threw me off. I did not like his suggestion.
I played bad on those shots. i should have told me I dont want to do what he siad, then ask him to leave me alone, then recompose myself, completely block him out, before I shot.
I did not notice this before but I think at times his shot selection is not that good and he sometimes cues really funny. His potting also is not that consistent, especially his side pocket. I think it is because of his long bridge and his yo yo cuing action. He mostly keep his elbow up but sometimes he is really bad. The pockets are big so he could get away with it.
I learned a very useful shot from him watching him play, which is a shot playing with stun check side to play for the blue.
I am sure with more practice I will be better than him.
I am very close to him anyway. It is just a mental thing for me to beat him constantly.
What I do now when I play, is that I will just trust my instint on my aiming, while in practice I will try to analysis the angles and such.
My judgement on the angles have been quite spot on even when i am not analysing it to the final dots on every shot like I used to. That was the reason why I felt so exhausted so easily.
I am doing alright except a few funny shots, where I have no glue how to aim.
I will work on those next week.
I read Steve Davis's book today. Felt a lot like Cliff Thorburn's book. Too bad he did not suggest any safties diagrams on the last chapter.
One thing that was very good was how he explain he difference with 3/4 and 1/2 shots.
--with 1/2 you can move the ball move without hitting it hard, but the positioning options are more limited, with 3/4, you can move the ball to more places, but if you need to move it far, you need to do more with the white.
This really helps me because sometimes I do not know whether I should leave a 3/4 or 1/2 ball on my ball.
The blue ball is the same way.
Speaking of the blue ball, my blue is running better now, after I started doing the blue ball drill. I will make it a point to practice running the blue ball in my practice with a line of red by the pink, and some above the black and around the blue. When the black is tied up, being able to run the blue will win me lots of frames.
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Wed
I went and put in three hours today.
Did not try much in terms of drill; just throwing balls on the table and trying to run them out with the new aiming method, and also tried some long pots.
Basically, my thick potting is getting much better with this new method, but I still need to figure out how to use it on thin shots and those long 1/2 ball pots.
It is still a bit confusing.
What I like about it is that I feel more connected to the pot, that I am actually trying to use the cue ball to strike the object ball to make it go into the hole. It is like my cue ball is the extension of my arm. In the past, I looked at the angle and I aimed at a certain point on the ball, but I was not aware of where the cue ball actually make contact. The balls felt more like 2 d to me.
This had worked fine but it was too much for my brain in long tournament. I could not cope with it.
I need something more simple and instinctive.
Hopefully, i can go and try it out in real match situation with S.
Did not try much in terms of drill; just throwing balls on the table and trying to run them out with the new aiming method, and also tried some long pots.
Basically, my thick potting is getting much better with this new method, but I still need to figure out how to use it on thin shots and those long 1/2 ball pots.
It is still a bit confusing.
What I like about it is that I feel more connected to the pot, that I am actually trying to use the cue ball to strike the object ball to make it go into the hole. It is like my cue ball is the extension of my arm. In the past, I looked at the angle and I aimed at a certain point on the ball, but I was not aware of where the cue ball actually make contact. The balls felt more like 2 d to me.
This had worked fine but it was too much for my brain in long tournament. I could not cope with it.
I need something more simple and instinctive.
Hopefully, i can go and try it out in real match situation with S.
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Tuesday practice
I went to practice at 5:00pm, and finished it at 11:00pm.
Very tired, and my back, leg, feet, shoulder are all very sore.
Made a 64 in practice.
What is worth mentioning though was that I was trying a new way of aiming and it felt very good on certain shots. also, it allows me to shot faster, and not get so consumed with analysing the pot too much.
I also tried to just shot the ball, without thinking of the angles. i.e., I looked at the shot, then told myself to hit the ball at a certain point, without really checking the angles and pockets and such. I actually made quite a few balls that way. So, it means I know most of my angles especially the thick angles.
In a long tournament, trying to find the angles on all the shots will exhaust me too much at the end of the day, that is why I always feel very tied and play real bad after a few long matches. If i already know the angle, why do i still fear I could be wrong?
I tried to use a different method to aim today. Basically, I look at the area on the ball I want to hit, then I just tried to hit it with my cue ball.
It actually worked very well, except on some funny angled shots.
I will practice those again tomorrow, until I can see the angles. It may be a much better method for me to use in a tournament.
Very tired, and my back, leg, feet, shoulder are all very sore.
Made a 64 in practice.
What is worth mentioning though was that I was trying a new way of aiming and it felt very good on certain shots. also, it allows me to shot faster, and not get so consumed with analysing the pot too much.
I also tried to just shot the ball, without thinking of the angles. i.e., I looked at the shot, then told myself to hit the ball at a certain point, without really checking the angles and pockets and such. I actually made quite a few balls that way. So, it means I know most of my angles especially the thick angles.
In a long tournament, trying to find the angles on all the shots will exhaust me too much at the end of the day, that is why I always feel very tied and play real bad after a few long matches. If i already know the angle, why do i still fear I could be wrong?
I tried to use a different method to aim today. Basically, I look at the area on the ball I want to hit, then I just tried to hit it with my cue ball.
It actually worked very well, except on some funny angled shots.
I will practice those again tomorrow, until I can see the angles. It may be a much better method for me to use in a tournament.
Top
I was practicing yesterday on mostly my top spin shots. I have been having problem with my super power follow. Fro some reason, I feel that I cannot deliver my cue straight. It feels like I am grabbing my cue a bit differently on my power top.
I am going to try to raise my head a bit on this shot, because it does feel that my chin is in the way of a level cuing. I will try that today to see.
I have tried to slow down my game during practice. I noticed that I sometimes shot too fast in practice and then too slow in a real match. I will change that and try to balance out the rhythm so they should all be pretty much the same. It helps me also to get to the point where I am certain of my aiming point before I shoot.
I am trying to lower my elbow a bit on rest shots and it feels good. I will practice a bit more with regard to that.
Will report later on after I am done my practice.
I am going to try to raise my head a bit on this shot, because it does feel that my chin is in the way of a level cuing. I will try that today to see.
I have tried to slow down my game during practice. I noticed that I sometimes shot too fast in practice and then too slow in a real match. I will change that and try to balance out the rhythm so they should all be pretty much the same. It helps me also to get to the point where I am certain of my aiming point before I shoot.
I am trying to lower my elbow a bit on rest shots and it feels good. I will practice a bit more with regard to that.
Will report later on after I am done my practice.
Monday, February 16, 2009
Line up century
On Friday last week, I went to practice for a bit, but had to leave after one and a half hours. So I decided to do some drills around the blue and black.
I tried the line up, 4 reds under the black, and I made 13 blacks and messed up my shape. It was 104.
Actually, I had very good position on my black, and has 2 reds left, one on the cushion, and one below the pink. The one below the pink was a bit tricky, because the pink was a bit off the spot, so it only went into one side pocket and one corner pocket. I should have played the red on the cushion, and I had very good angle on the black to do so, but I was afraid I could not get on the other ed so I tried to play the red in the side, I over drew, and made a big mess. I should have play the black with more draw and play the red into the corner, or played the bottom cushion red first, then had a big angle so I can nicely come up fro the red.
On sat, I won the tournament. But again, after making 4 blacks, i chose the wrong red so my break ended at 32.
I had a nice break in my warmer up against another player. I did not keep good count of the break and either did he, but I believe it was like 4 blacks or 5 blacks and some other colors, like a blue and a baulk color or something like that.
I had a chance to run out the colors to win(needed them all) but I over drew the brown, then got on the wrong side but a bit too straight on the blue. I stun follow the blue with running side, got a bit funny on the pink, and I missed the pink.
Another game I had a chance to take a tricky red into the side to start a break, but I missed it.
I practiced that red many times on Sun.
My fine cuts are still not very good, I need to work on them.
Also, I need to choose the right shot when i am running the balls, sometimes, I choose the wrong shot.
I think my problem is still mostly on finding a good rhythm during the tournament. That needs more experience and practice playing with better players.
I tried the line up, 4 reds under the black, and I made 13 blacks and messed up my shape. It was 104.
Actually, I had very good position on my black, and has 2 reds left, one on the cushion, and one below the pink. The one below the pink was a bit tricky, because the pink was a bit off the spot, so it only went into one side pocket and one corner pocket. I should have played the red on the cushion, and I had very good angle on the black to do so, but I was afraid I could not get on the other ed so I tried to play the red in the side, I over drew, and made a big mess. I should have play the black with more draw and play the red into the corner, or played the bottom cushion red first, then had a big angle so I can nicely come up fro the red.
On sat, I won the tournament. But again, after making 4 blacks, i chose the wrong red so my break ended at 32.
I had a nice break in my warmer up against another player. I did not keep good count of the break and either did he, but I believe it was like 4 blacks or 5 blacks and some other colors, like a blue and a baulk color or something like that.
I had a chance to run out the colors to win(needed them all) but I over drew the brown, then got on the wrong side but a bit too straight on the blue. I stun follow the blue with running side, got a bit funny on the pink, and I missed the pink.
Another game I had a chance to take a tricky red into the side to start a break, but I missed it.
I practiced that red many times on Sun.
My fine cuts are still not very good, I need to work on them.
Also, I need to choose the right shot when i am running the balls, sometimes, I choose the wrong shot.
I think my problem is still mostly on finding a good rhythm during the tournament. That needs more experience and practice playing with better players.
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Thursday
I was practising on a very slow table on Wed. The table was really very slow, with slow cloth and rails. The balls are heavy, super crystalline. The pockets are not too big, not too small. For regular open pocket shots, it will drop if I hit the jaw slightly, but for tight angle shots, you need to be very precise.
I practiced for about 4 hours. I could make the blue ball from baulk quite consistently. About 5 in a row before I missed 1 or 2 and then 3 or 4 in a row again. I usually practice this drill on a more forgiving pocket so it was a good thing. I remember last time when I was at this place it took me almost an hour to finish shooting 10 balls into each corner pocket.
So, that is good to know, that my cueing and aiming has improved.
I practised the long blue and the long pink, then did some line up, and shot some random clearance.
I did not clear up with one visit. But I did a few big breaks like 50+ and 60+. The table was very hard to control because I had to hit the ball very hard.
It helped me to control my long follow through with precise straight cueing, so that I can make the ball with more power.
I went to hit some balls this afternoon (Thursday) at my usual club, with the Brunswick. I practised potting the blue ball from baulk in the D to get on the pink. I can do it from the green/yellow spot, without hitting the cushion, but it was not as consistent a shot as if I shot three quarter to use one rail to get on the pink. I did 10 balls into each pocket. My left hand cut (shooting from yellow side) seemed more accurate, so I should practice more right hand side shots.
Then I did a bunch of blue ball drills. I noticed recently my blue ball control is not so good, especially when I need to play shape on my next red without hitting a cushion. I fail to gauge the right line and weight.
Also, If I have to draw the red to get on the right side of the blue, I always end up either too hard or too soft. I am doing some drills I came up with, to get over that problem. Basically I am trying to use the cushion a bit more than just a sharp draw--with the cushion, I have a bigger margin of error.
My black balls potting was so much better today on the Brunswick after my practice yesterday possibly due to the pockets I practiced being less forgiving yesterday.
I am pretty upset that I could not play with S today. But I had something very important to do. I need to wait till next week.
Tomorrow, I want to practice early on the super slow table, then go play a bit at the Brunswick table. D might be there to play me, may be not. Sat is our usual small tournament and I hope I will do better this time. The good thing is I do not think it would be possible for me to do any worst than last week.
My cueing arm feels so much more straight when I am keeping my body much more steady on the shot. However, I do notice that I am hitting the ball too hard and tight from tiem to time. I need to work on being more smooth.
I want to try practicing just hitting the pink off the spot with striaght in pots, to control my white to stop dead, stun follow a couple inches, stun follow half way to the pocket, roll to stop short of the pocket, and my draw on different distances. I need to practice on both siades.
I think my stun follow is one of my weakest shot, power follow being the next. I will keep on practicing until next time. Thank you for reading.
I practiced for about 4 hours. I could make the blue ball from baulk quite consistently. About 5 in a row before I missed 1 or 2 and then 3 or 4 in a row again. I usually practice this drill on a more forgiving pocket so it was a good thing. I remember last time when I was at this place it took me almost an hour to finish shooting 10 balls into each corner pocket.
So, that is good to know, that my cueing and aiming has improved.
I practised the long blue and the long pink, then did some line up, and shot some random clearance.
I did not clear up with one visit. But I did a few big breaks like 50+ and 60+. The table was very hard to control because I had to hit the ball very hard.
It helped me to control my long follow through with precise straight cueing, so that I can make the ball with more power.
I went to hit some balls this afternoon (Thursday) at my usual club, with the Brunswick. I practised potting the blue ball from baulk in the D to get on the pink. I can do it from the green/yellow spot, without hitting the cushion, but it was not as consistent a shot as if I shot three quarter to use one rail to get on the pink. I did 10 balls into each pocket. My left hand cut (shooting from yellow side) seemed more accurate, so I should practice more right hand side shots.
Then I did a bunch of blue ball drills. I noticed recently my blue ball control is not so good, especially when I need to play shape on my next red without hitting a cushion. I fail to gauge the right line and weight.
Also, If I have to draw the red to get on the right side of the blue, I always end up either too hard or too soft. I am doing some drills I came up with, to get over that problem. Basically I am trying to use the cushion a bit more than just a sharp draw--with the cushion, I have a bigger margin of error.
My black balls potting was so much better today on the Brunswick after my practice yesterday possibly due to the pockets I practiced being less forgiving yesterday.
I am pretty upset that I could not play with S today. But I had something very important to do. I need to wait till next week.
Tomorrow, I want to practice early on the super slow table, then go play a bit at the Brunswick table. D might be there to play me, may be not. Sat is our usual small tournament and I hope I will do better this time. The good thing is I do not think it would be possible for me to do any worst than last week.
My cueing arm feels so much more straight when I am keeping my body much more steady on the shot. However, I do notice that I am hitting the ball too hard and tight from tiem to time. I need to work on being more smooth.
I want to try practicing just hitting the pink off the spot with striaght in pots, to control my white to stop dead, stun follow a couple inches, stun follow half way to the pocket, roll to stop short of the pocket, and my draw on different distances. I need to practice on both siades.
I think my stun follow is one of my weakest shot, power follow being the next. I will keep on practicing until next time. Thank you for reading.
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Getting ready to practice
I am getting ready to practice today. Today is Tuesday and I have more time at hand. I plan on getting to the club at noon, before anyone gets there, to put in some practice on my cueing action.
Usually, Tuesday is busy and there are lots of folks playing around 2pm and so until 4 pm. Last week I had to wait for a table and once a table was available, S walked in and we played a few games, so I did not really get to practice.
I feel good about my game right now, but I do need to find a good tempo during a match. I should not play too slow, but not too rush either. When I am playing at the right tempo, I feel really good with my stroking the ball at the best speed and feel.
I am not sure what is this best speed. I notice that all top players have a speed and they do not easily change that.
One thing I do notice is that I should pay attention to having my grip finishing at my chest to have a consistent finish of my stroke, even on side spin shots. This allows me to develop a better timing and to stay down.
I will try to practice putting five reds on each side of the blue and pot them all in the corner pockets from baulk. I have not been able to do this without a miss. It is usually the ball closet to the rail that I miss, and I usually miss with overcutting.
I will post how things work out today with my practice.
Usually, Tuesday is busy and there are lots of folks playing around 2pm and so until 4 pm. Last week I had to wait for a table and once a table was available, S walked in and we played a few games, so I did not really get to practice.
I feel good about my game right now, but I do need to find a good tempo during a match. I should not play too slow, but not too rush either. When I am playing at the right tempo, I feel really good with my stroking the ball at the best speed and feel.
I am not sure what is this best speed. I notice that all top players have a speed and they do not easily change that.
One thing I do notice is that I should pay attention to having my grip finishing at my chest to have a consistent finish of my stroke, even on side spin shots. This allows me to develop a better timing and to stay down.
I will try to practice putting five reds on each side of the blue and pot them all in the corner pockets from baulk. I have not been able to do this without a miss. It is usually the ball closet to the rail that I miss, and I usually miss with overcutting.
I will post how things work out today with my practice.
Monday, February 9, 2009
Talking to a friend
I did very poorly on Sat. Just could not get into the double format. Could not enjoy myself and missed so many easy chances.
I was very mad at myself, so I had a long talk with my friend. He is about 76, had some decent breaks before, and is still quite a good player.
He told me I would be a great player, as he sees lots of potential in me, that I will keep improving and become better than all the guys I now play with, including D.
However, he also pointed out that he noticed I was sometimes very tense, and do not look like the same person, during some matches. He said I stroked differently when i am playing back.
He told me to have confident, and play my best.
He basically put the confidence in me. No one ever told me I have talent the way he did, and I guess I just did not really know that.
But once he put it the way he did, I felt much better. Then I played with D. Usually I would play with a poor attitude, but this time I was very focus, with a good rhythm.
I reminded myself to touch the chest with my grip on my follow through, and to just play with the same rhythm.
I played really well with a 41 right off my first chance. I did surprised myself and missed another chance, but then I took my third chance and finished the game up to the green. He conceded.
Second time he was not playing well, but I missed a yellow into the middle to go down table into the pack. Had perfect position, so that gave him a good opening. Lost that frame. The yellow miss was the key shot.
Practiced some more while D had to go have his dinner. He watched me practice. I was really int he zone, I think I must have finished all 15 reds in 2 inning or something like that, then i got perfect on the yellow from my black, and D unscrewed his cue and told me he was tired and did not feel like playing anymore.
I think hearing K telling me that he expected me to beat D already really put a lot of confidence in me. He also told me D looked different when he played me, because he knew I am better than other people he plays with. I never looked at it this way but it is true.
If I can be a consistent 40+, 50+ player I can beat D convincingly. Then I need to go up to the next level, which is to win more frames with one visit.
S told me he had run back to back century, I so wish that will come to me one day.
I was very mad at myself, so I had a long talk with my friend. He is about 76, had some decent breaks before, and is still quite a good player.
He told me I would be a great player, as he sees lots of potential in me, that I will keep improving and become better than all the guys I now play with, including D.
However, he also pointed out that he noticed I was sometimes very tense, and do not look like the same person, during some matches. He said I stroked differently when i am playing back.
He told me to have confident, and play my best.
He basically put the confidence in me. No one ever told me I have talent the way he did, and I guess I just did not really know that.
But once he put it the way he did, I felt much better. Then I played with D. Usually I would play with a poor attitude, but this time I was very focus, with a good rhythm.
I reminded myself to touch the chest with my grip on my follow through, and to just play with the same rhythm.
I played really well with a 41 right off my first chance. I did surprised myself and missed another chance, but then I took my third chance and finished the game up to the green. He conceded.
Second time he was not playing well, but I missed a yellow into the middle to go down table into the pack. Had perfect position, so that gave him a good opening. Lost that frame. The yellow miss was the key shot.
Practiced some more while D had to go have his dinner. He watched me practice. I was really int he zone, I think I must have finished all 15 reds in 2 inning or something like that, then i got perfect on the yellow from my black, and D unscrewed his cue and told me he was tired and did not feel like playing anymore.
I think hearing K telling me that he expected me to beat D already really put a lot of confidence in me. He also told me D looked different when he played me, because he knew I am better than other people he plays with. I never looked at it this way but it is true.
If I can be a consistent 40+, 50+ player I can beat D convincingly. Then I need to go up to the next level, which is to win more frames with one visit.
S told me he had run back to back century, I so wish that will come to me one day.
Feb 09 2009
I like to keep a record of my practice.
I have been practicing snooker since May 2007. I used to practice about 4-6 hours a day the first 6 months I started. But I am now a bit cut down.
I had my first 64 run after about 3 months of practicing like crazy. I had some 40+ before that and then it just happened. I had a 82 around Dec, 2008, which is my highest run in match play. I had clear up a table with random placing of balls during practice. That felt really good. It was my first century. I had cleared 13 reds once, but my opponent did not keep track of my score, that happened around Oct, 2007.
I had some 60+ and such during practice.
Last month I had a 62, table clearance, then one game later, I had a 49.
On Sat, I played D for some practice, and I made a 41.
My short term goal is to make consistent 40's and 50's.
My problem is to find a good rhythm for myself so I can produce the form I am able to produce in my practice during an important match.
I now go practice with S every Thursday and that really helped my game.
I need to go back into practice at least 4 hours a day by myself, but money and time wise I cannot really do that now. I used to when I first started and that showed in my fast progress.
My practice usually begins with potting the blue into the corner 10 into each pocket, then I will pot the pink into the baulk pocket again 10 into each pocket. Then some long potting of red from baulk.
After that, it is my potting angle practice which included potting the pink, black, and blue from all angles. It allows me to practice my thick and thin cuts into both side and corner pockets.
By the time I am done, I will take a break as it usually will take up about 2 hours or a bit more.
Then I will do my positioning drills around the black, pink, blue and colors. That can take as many hours as I want to really.
e.g. Line-up, and different set up of reds around the black can take over 2 hours. Then all reds with pinks with the reds forming a cross around the pink. 4 reds on each side of pink to get on the blue, 4 reds along the blue for blue, potting a baulk colors and then the black and then another baulk and so on...
I also like to target on some weakness and just shoot them until I can figure them out. Potting with the rest is also something I have just started practicing.
I like to participate in the Canadian Snooker Championship. It is going to be expensive, and I need to win a qualifier, but I really would like to try.
I practice on several different tables--a Riley steel block Aristocrat, a Brunswick, and a very old B and W. The Riley is the best but also the most expensive; the Brunswick is where I made most of my runs, and it is the slowest and most forgiving; the B&W is fast, but a bit different, with regular sized pocket. I also made some 40s and 60s there.
I have been practicing snooker since May 2007. I used to practice about 4-6 hours a day the first 6 months I started. But I am now a bit cut down.
I had my first 64 run after about 3 months of practicing like crazy. I had some 40+ before that and then it just happened. I had a 82 around Dec, 2008, which is my highest run in match play. I had clear up a table with random placing of balls during practice. That felt really good. It was my first century. I had cleared 13 reds once, but my opponent did not keep track of my score, that happened around Oct, 2007.
I had some 60+ and such during practice.
Last month I had a 62, table clearance, then one game later, I had a 49.
On Sat, I played D for some practice, and I made a 41.
My short term goal is to make consistent 40's and 50's.
My problem is to find a good rhythm for myself so I can produce the form I am able to produce in my practice during an important match.
I now go practice with S every Thursday and that really helped my game.
I need to go back into practice at least 4 hours a day by myself, but money and time wise I cannot really do that now. I used to when I first started and that showed in my fast progress.
My practice usually begins with potting the blue into the corner 10 into each pocket, then I will pot the pink into the baulk pocket again 10 into each pocket. Then some long potting of red from baulk.
After that, it is my potting angle practice which included potting the pink, black, and blue from all angles. It allows me to practice my thick and thin cuts into both side and corner pockets.
By the time I am done, I will take a break as it usually will take up about 2 hours or a bit more.
Then I will do my positioning drills around the black, pink, blue and colors. That can take as many hours as I want to really.
e.g. Line-up, and different set up of reds around the black can take over 2 hours. Then all reds with pinks with the reds forming a cross around the pink. 4 reds on each side of pink to get on the blue, 4 reds along the blue for blue, potting a baulk colors and then the black and then another baulk and so on...
I also like to target on some weakness and just shoot them until I can figure them out. Potting with the rest is also something I have just started practicing.
I like to participate in the Canadian Snooker Championship. It is going to be expensive, and I need to win a qualifier, but I really would like to try.
I practice on several different tables--a Riley steel block Aristocrat, a Brunswick, and a very old B and W. The Riley is the best but also the most expensive; the Brunswick is where I made most of my runs, and it is the slowest and most forgiving; the B&W is fast, but a bit different, with regular sized pocket. I also made some 40s and 60s there.
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