This is my snooker channel, where I will show the best tips and tutorials. I can to help you make a century on the table. I will be featuring videos on cueing, position, regular shots, tricks to improve faster, practise routines and what they benefit. Also I will be posting videos of my own progress and game as I play my way to the best player I can be.
Lol this guy doesn't even know what helping side is. He thinks helping side is same as full side. Helping side gives you a better aiming. And snooker is all about aiming
If you use a titanium ferrule for a period of time then try going back to brass you really have to learn your aiming points again. Much prefer the titanium anyway
I disagree that it's unhelpful. Hitting the middle of the white is VERY hard, even for professionals. When you have an angled shot, you will be far more consistent at potting it if you use a trace of helping side (the side that the cue-ball will end up travelling after impact with the object ball) because it puts the cue-ball on a more consistent repeatable path. If you strive to hit dead centre of the cue-ball on every shot, sometimes you will hit the left side, sometimes the right side, rarely (if ever) will you hit dead centre, so your potting will be more inconsistent. I'm not talking lots of side here, just a tiny trace, hardly enough to affect the potting angle even. It also makes position much easier as the cue-ball is naturally travelling in the direction of the spin after impact so less power is needed. Almost all professionals play with helping side on almost all shots (except dead straight), because it makes the game easier.
I used to train with a famous UK coach, but I stopped taking his advice because of this. He taught me that the point to aim for is the farthest point on the object ball away from the pocket. It's obvious right? this point is on line with the line that the object ball takes to the pocket. It's the same method that Steven Hendry advocates, and many, many coaches all teach players to look and aim for this point on the object ball. It is also the basis for the ghost ball method, with the ghost ball resting exactly on this point. You are obviously not aiming your cue at that point, and you are taking the width of the cue ball into account to find the line with the centre of the ghost ball. In principle, if you hit this point, the ball goes in every time - right? The biggest problem with aiming for the ghost ball/ farthest point, is that it is just plain wrong most of the time. Anyone learning this way, will just spend hours and hours frustrated, trying to aim perfectly at the point on the object ball farthest from the pocket, and missing 40% of shots because they have been not taught about how squeeze/throw works on each shot. If, as a snooker educator, you advocate for striking centre ball with no side, to 'learn the angles' and 'develop feel and touch' then you cannot teach that the point to aim for is ghost ball, because it isn't - this is just very bad advice. Eg. on a stunned half ball black, you will have to aim thin away from this point, or it just won't go in. However, if you add cancelling outside spin (side), then you CAN aim at that point to put the ball in the pocket. The question remains, if it is preferable to add side, or to aim your way out of it, but throw/sqeeze IS a very big part of the game, and all players need to take it into consideration if they are to be any good at all. It is shameful that most coaches don't even know about it, and even players like Steven Hendry constantly repeating advice to aim for this point on the object ball. Look at coach Brandos video 'Biggest POTTING SECRET Revealed' where you can see throw/squeeze explained in a very careful way - alternatively, Dr Dave has some good Pool training videos '10 things you need to know about throw', which all demonstrate the substantial amounts of throw you can expect on some shots.
Hi MrX Thanks for the comment, So what you are saying is correct its the actual physics of the movement of the balls and it sounds you have this new found knowledge and want to share with coaches that might not express this, there more than the two videos you have mentioned showing this effect. Your Coach isnt there to NOT help you in your game mate and I would hope to say more of the coaches know this effect. They dont ignore the Cut induced throw its just sometimes more information than needed and can confuse a player because as you now know now there is not one but diffrent places to aim for to pot the object ball but you need to have a soild reference point to start with. Also to use spin to counteract CIT isnt as easy as its made out to be. The cueing and skill level to accurately use 1mm of side consistantly is very difficult and if you can do that ill be watching you on the TV remember there is sqeeze CIT on every angle shot unless its a medium paced top spin shot, so that canceling out spin would need to be applied. Im sure you know the difficulties yourself of side spin and all the learning that is needed to use it constantly correctly, if you cannot hit the center of the cue ball constantly how can you accurately use 1 mm of side correctly from the center point, plus all the environmental differences that can effect side in the local clubs, cloth, balls humidty pace of the cue ball not to mention that the side you need to apply so cancel CIT might NOT be what you want and so on, add that to the tension of a match if you play League snooker it all becomes much more difficult, of course until you are at the level where all this is natural and that is when I would be cheering you on on the tv lol So in conclusion before you teach all this, having a reference point to start with helps the player and you can add this to the players knowledge as they understand the basics and can cue well enough for it to be effective. There is so much more to the game than one new bit of learning mate , but hopefully you have read to this part and the secret you have learned will transform your game to not missing a black with reds on the table during a line up and clear up instead. I know this most likely wont answer your comment but thank you for watching and taking the time to make your points. PS who was your famouse coach ? you have given me at Stephen some stick here so no need to hid his name lol Where is you are playing from ? few American pool tables in that hall.
@@TheSnookerShed I had coaching with Jimmy Whites old coach Alan Bell. He got me hitting the white better and showed me some shots, but we never talked about anything other than ghost ball aiming. Most people are like robots, you give them a command, and they stick to it like glue until they get the next. Because of that, IMO teaching ghost ball aiming to beginners is almost cruel. It took me 4 years to realise, having been down the cue action rabbit hole and blaming everything other than aiming for misses, that there was something going on with a ghost ball aim, and I finally concluded, like Coach Brando, that the ghost ball method is just not working for a very large percentage of common shots. Even just taking throw into consideration, without even being mm accurate, gives you a much greater chance of potting the ball, especially on those soft stun shots we use around the black. Teaching a newbie (like me) to trust your aim, and that the aim should be with no side and ghost ball, is probably what has held me back for so long. I only started accounting for throw about a month ago, and I've already put about 30 on my high break which is now 67. I can also now see the intricacies in my aim, because I know that shots will throw, so I can work out if I aimed too thick, or too thin, by watching which side the ball goes in the pocket. This is instead of missing the pocket entirely with ghost ball aiming and then blaming my cue action, or my stance, or my grip , or my..... etc. etc. etc. etc. etc.
Your 90 degree tangent line rule is only true if the cue ball is skidding without rolling, like collisions on an air hockey table. Physicists call it conservation of momentum. If the cue ball is rolling, as well as momentum it has a moment of inertia. This is also conserved within the system after a collision but, unlike momentum, is not transferred to the object ball. The cue ball will momentarily start moving on the tangent line but then, because it is still rolling, it will grip the cloth and head off well inside it. Google billiards thirty degree rule.
PS. If you want to see this stuff clearly, watch good billiards players. They use spotty cue balls nowadays and you can see exactly what the cue balls are doing. They make big use of the effect because the angle the rolling cue ball comes off is very predictable and is almost the same for a much wider range of cut angles than you would think.
@fatroberto3012 thanks pal yeah I have watch some not a lot but some even played a couple of first to 50 I was surprised how much fun it was and I learned how no to go in off lol Thanks for watching
Hi Im sure thats what the video said the cue ball will follow the tangent line until spin takes effect if no spin it would continue in the 90 until friction would take effect and move it off the t line
This looks utterly ridiculous yet it's genius. I've always felt that practicing on a smaller table is a total waste of time but this allows you to play on a full table, even though it's just one end of a full size table.
Hahaha I have to agree and that’s what mark Allan said when he seen it followed by what the f&$k happened to it. It’s been a great tool to learn on not just as a player but as a coach.
Thanks for watching pal Yeah it is,I used a full size and cut it down. I don’t have a large enough garden to have a full one, so I make do with this. It’s been great but the better I become the more the limited it is
I can not tell with enough precision where a point on a sphere is, but I definitely can say were the obj. ball needs to hit the pocket. So, I just align white ball to the obj ball and try to get my cue on that line. I tried so many "aiming techniques" over the years and nothing was reliable under pressure. At the end , for me, its like playing table tennis with some extra precession - I want the ball to go in some place and the body is doing the 'magic'.
@@TheSnookerShed Berlin. I look in the direction of the white ball in the area of the object ball. No focus on a particular point. I tried playing white ball, after some time, if i dont focus on playing white, I somehow switched back to obj ball. But I have to say, playing white was first unsecure, but then I got a better feed back if I stroke across the ball. So, I still considering to force me playing white. Old habits die hard, i guess.
I think for this, where we look when we deliver the cue seems a natural decision. Both methods have pros and cons its how we deal with them best without to much thought. I visited Berlin with the RAF Regiment to do a miltary competition I wish i could remember were it was,it was in the East sid ei remember that lol but the city was nice. How popular is snooker there ?
Hi there, nice show brother, where can I get a white ball with markings? It's frustrating not knowing what's happening while I practice. Cheers, william
Hey there I though it was just me that spent a Saturday night doing snooker stuff lol 😂 Thanks for watching Wayne I hope you get some value from your time Cheers
@@TheSnookerShed im always watching video's or having a few games ( if i can get on a table ) as where i live the local pub has 2 tables and only costs a pound for the light for half an hour but there's always people in the snooker room, other than there i have to travel into Nottingham city centre to guarantee a free table and it gets expensive and really busy so can't take my time and enjoy it. Now I've found your channel I'll definitely be a regular and hopefully have my name on the door 1 day, enjoy the rest of your weekend.
Nik you must be honoured to coach Ronnie. Nik I notice from overhead views of Ronnie playing on the tv that he seems to lean on his left leg and his cue isnt inline with his right foot??
Hi Andy , Can we have a video on the difference between stiff and flexible cues , Also - Can you explain this on a video please. We are taught not to hold the cue too tight and be ralxed etc etc. Why when watching the likes of Trump and other top Pro's the cue bends quite a lot on their back swing? When watching on TV there are certain camera angle that show this and the cue has a good bend in it before they strike the cue ball , Are they holding the cue too tightly ? I know some cues are stiffer than others but watching a few shots from trump you feel the cue is going to be out of shape at the end of the game , So if you could do a video based on these 2 questions please bud?
Hi Richard Thanks for watching.Good question that and I have seen a few pros do this with there cue. You would think that the grip would be very tight but it might not need to be have a go, I have tried and found it useful in some long screw shots and it forces you to keep you head still, of course like you said the cue needs to be well ,not super stiff. As for the video im researching a cue maker to do a all about cues video. Hopefully coming up in the next few months. Cheers
@@paulkerry69 it should be in the description pal Yeah big question just now and I have all ready started a video on this hopefully out next week Email thesnookershed@icloud.com
Thank for watching pal So the foot was an example of discipline no more than that if you have picked up what that part of the video was about. The center ball can you explain why it’s crap I’m interested to hear your opinion
It's probably a good idea to have rutene, what you do seems right, I'm always changing it around, trying to find the best way! My logic says, line the shot up first then watch the cue hit the white without deviating the cue, but then the lining up goes a bit wrong, then I try looking at the object ball and then I don't strike the white cleanly. I'm going to try getting in a routine doing what you do. Will post an update in a few weeks to with my results.
Yeah having a good pre shot routine is hand it will help you be more consistent. It’s getting the right one that takes the time and hard work. I totally agree on no mater what one you choose stick with it. Test the different ways so you understand how they work for you And then decide. Look forward to hearing from you. And thanks for watching pal
So just realised that actually I have started to look at cue ball on certain shots. Mainly off the cushion (I have practiced them a lot recently). I found that if I am confident I'm on the line in a shot like this it is more important to strike centre ball. I think I tell myself to do it when bridging over balls too just to stop any kind of unwanted side.
@@sarahmilne4481 difficult shots of the cushions. If the cue is resting on the cushion it’s so easy to add unwanted side It’s all about finding that method of hitting the CB where intended and practicing this technique consistently Thanks for watching and commenting
Good to have you back, great video but looking at the object ball doesn’t work for everyone I tend to focus on the cue ball on striking but obviously walk in to the shot then looking between cue ball and object ball and making any micro adjustments what I also do is lock my position so I don’t move at all when I strike the cue ball and it works for me although I have tried sighting the object ball but tend to find my focus on that point will be lost just before I finish the shot (probably down to movement) maybe I’m in the minority but it works for me.
Hey pal thanks for joining me again and watching. This is really interesting to me mainly because I don’t do it. So where is your looking when you are walking in on the shot and on the end of your back swing?
So I have been have heard Donna And a few others too. He also glances at the pocket on his feathers. My mate Ross muir says he looks between the obj ball and cue ball at times lol But I try not to used pros as examples as they have so much extra stuff like talent and hours of practice or make a comparison unrealistic. So are you cue ball or object ball
Great advice. I recently switched from looking at the cue ball when playing the shot. I found that it helps for consistency to focus more on the object ball, and when you think about it, it's more logical to be focussing more on that hit-point. I think it's easy to forget about that hit-point when focussing on the cue ball too much. This works for me, but I'm sure there are many people, perhaps some pros too, who do it the other way around.
Hi Keyoguittar Thanks for watching pal and commenting. Yeah I believe there are a few cue ball watchers and it does have its advantages but these lads are pros I try not to compare how they play it’s not in our skill talent or time scope. I find it more logical and that’s how I see this but I’m looking forwards to the counter opinions and there reasons. Cheers n
Hi Andy, Great video as always. Very informative and all very valid and useful points! Will defo be using these in my practice sessions going forward. My name is Henry and I will see you on the table!
Hey Hugh thanks for tuning in and watching, I dont think so pal loads to do BUT if Ross Muir makes it through ill have to try. We have became good pals and its a all area pass I get when im with him. Hows things ?
All good Andy.@@TheSnookerShed I'll be flying over for the Crucible and will be there for the last 4 days (semi finals and final), so if you do get down, lets make sure we catch up. That would be great. So far I’ve managed to get some Crucible tickets for the semi finals on Friday 3rd and Sat 4th, but I've been unable to get tickets for any of the final sessions (Sun 5th and Mon 6th). If you know anyone who has some spare tickets for those two days, or knows someone who can get a hold of any, please pass my details on to them. I’m happy to pay a reasonable premium above the tickets’ face value. Regards. Hugh
Hey Andy,,,,,nice to see you again.....not been around for a while myself....great video.... xtra tip alert,...if you are serious about getting better,,,STOP playing junk snooker and just wacking the balls around without disciplined thoughts/actions........as Andy tells us.....
@@TheSnookerShed Hey there,,,recently had new cloth and cushion rubbers etc,,,the cushions actually work like they should now and im finding pace on the white for position is now hard to adjust for,,,but getting there.....could do with some free coaching lolol..... Still wearing the famous snooker shed hoodie though.... tc buddy.
@@andrewrafferty566 I’m about to start my wee table refurbished with new cushions I’ll no doubt put it on here. It’s my middle bags are just to big now. The club tighten up the pockets and I’m no as accurate in the middles. Hahaha aye I’ll need to get back into getting some sorry of merch store,I never seem to have the time lol
@@TheSnookerShed 6811 tournament cloth and northern rubber for cushions...the old rubbers we took off were not evenly attached to theside rails giving dead bounces if you hit these places....now the white is like a life of its own.....No 10 is ok but very thin....excellent to play on but not a good longer term option,,my last cloth was 3 years old,,still played ok but was getting a bit tired if you know what i mean..... Am i still on your Door??? I would invite you round for game but not exactly local :)
