Barry takes the subject of the grip and the hand that holds the cue a stage further. He explains the importance of the trigger when holding and delivering the cue and the differences between players. / barrystarksnookercoach
This American pool player has more of a snooker stance. I've learned so much from you. Thanks so much for your wonderful help. I have to get low and look through my shot. Especially on long shots. Your the absolute best teacher. My grip was a huge issue that I'm working through
Kevin. As I said in the video I place a lot of importance on the grip, I hope it has improved peoples understanding of the game. Thanks for the compliment.
9 months playing now after 20 years off. I have come to the same conclusion about the ring finger and the V part of the hand. Still experimenting with putting my middle finger on top of the ring finger as well during the stroke. It rests on the very tip of my ring finger. It's very satisfying to hear someone with your experience an time say this so I know I'm on the right track. I learned something very important in this series of lessons. It has to do with the bridge 10.5 inches from the tip and then a 6 inch follow through. And where I grip the cue will decide the length of the follow through as I come to my chest to end the stroke.. Thanks Barry your videos are top notch.
Foremost, your videos are a real blessing to the snooker world & players! My issues are little complicated in this mysterious game. Here is the background: I started snooker at the age of 15- 16, played extensively for initial 4 years and used Steve Davis's coaching vide for learning. I grasped the game drastically and at the age of 22 - 24 was at a peak with constant breaks of 40-50 and higher at times. I won several local - state level tournaments at that time. After 24, I had to leave the sport for work reasons. Now, being financially capable to support my passion I have resumed the game after a break of 5 years & its been 1 year playing again. But I am not getting that flow going. I do play amazing (like 30 - 40 breaks even on club tables) one day but the other day missing balls consistently! I figured out one issue which I developed recently regarding "line of aim" & "point of contact" i.e. At times, mostly blind pocket shots, I was aiming "point of contact" instead of "line of aim" which I have rectified and found improvement. I request you to have a video on this as it is of great importance. Secondly, I think too much of watching star players I try imitate various styles of playing (maybe this is not good as well). Thirdly, I myself do feel some issue with my delivery hand but don't know what is it. I have taken your advice on using fleshy part of palm as stated in another video and it helps but yes little uncomfortable for now. Your trigger advice is wonderful and will implement this tomorrow. Another thing, my elbow is also inside my shoulder as I see yours, but I see many players having it 90 degrees in line with the shoulder. I believe it is no issue to have it slightly inside or outside. My biggest problem is that at times, I am able to deliver less than 40% of my game in the big match day (professional circuit). Maybe I get nervous, I don't know. I will keep in mind the deep breathing technique. I have a match tomorrow and let's see. And I will record a video and try sharing with you for any possible comments you can share if you have time. Thanks for reading, Sir.
Avish. Rhythm or flow as you put it is very important for a snooker player but this starts with the preparation, by that I mean your pre- shot routine. Trying to copy top players is sometimes a mistake, its one that I have been guilty of myself in the past. Try to establish your own routine, one that you are happy with and works. Without trying to copy them just watch John Higgins or Mark Selby, they play every shot with the same routine and method, that is one reason they are so good physically and mentally.
Hello Barry, I had been looking for someone, to explain me about this, for ages. Like I have said it many a times, to a number of people that you are the best coach I have ever seen. Your methods of coaching has a correct scientific approach that is required to be taught to a Snooker Stupid like me. Lol. Thank you for sharing your experience and expertise on the Snooker table for making our lives easier. Regards
Barry I’ve had the best season off snooker so far over a number off years and this is thanks to your videos, but yet this video gives me another thing to manipulate and practice for for the better. I’ve often wondered why there’s such inconsistencies at times in my game and yes I now know it’s all down to the grip. But you’re explanation has given me pointers into correcting things to become consistent. Cheers Barry, wish you and Kyren the best going into the worlds. Thanks.
adam. Its great that your game has moved to the next level in terms of consistency and that the videos have played a part in this. Many thanks for the well wishes as the world championships approach, we are all searching for that panacea that adds to consistency, irrespective of the level we play at. One one thing that I have learned over the years is that if you have a problem with your game it is a fair bet somewhere along the line the grip is involved.
The information regarding the squeeze and the technique regarding the third finger is invaluable to me in correcting a long time struggle with my cue action. Thank you very much Barry!
Hey Barry. Thank you for your work. Concerning the trigger. Your advice to use the ring finger to get the cue moving forward has really helped me to come to the end of my stroke (finish). I have for over 7 years tried using the index and middle fingers to get the cue moving forward but always felt like my stroke was not naturally finishing. Thanks to you and your suggestions I now feel that my grip is where I want it. (it feels right) This grip allows for my elbow to close naturally. What I do is line up my elbow on the shot line and then adjust my grip on the cue where it feels that my elbow will close naturally. I have always dropped my elbow except for shorter shots, I just close the arm with no elbow drop. Thanks again.:)
John. What suits one player will not suit another, some players initiate the forward movement of the cue from the front of the hand, others from the back of the hand and still others from the middle fingers. All I will say is that which ever method suits you try to use it without tension and keep asking questions of yourself. All the best.
As I was heavy into golf as a younger man, I fully recommend Ben Hogan's "The Fundamentals of Golf" for golf instruction. It is old and timeless, short and simple and second only to a local pro and lots and lots of practice-same as you would expect. Because the worst thing for beginners (but most commonly available) are the well-intentioned "Tips" from every Dick and Sam and Suzy who has been playing any time longer, I always now seek out just one program/instructor to learn new sports. Only with a firm grasp of the fundamentals can we find enough repeatable success to carry on. Mr. Stark you've been brilliant with your Snooker coaching here. Thanks. ... Sam Snead also quipped, "You gotta dance with who you brung." With regard to how he was hitting that morning during warmup. The message implied is to don't fight what your warmup shots show you this day, let it happen (work with it) for that day's match. Work on "fixing" it later in practice-not in the match.
Thanks a lot coach. We have just been discussing what initiate the grip first me and my coach and just u answered He my coach M kassim just sent u that u are one of most useful coaches ever to benefit people in fundamental details Thanks again u solved the equation for us My greetings Ramy Heggy from Egypt
Thank you, Barry. After watching this video earlier today, I was able to make a tiny adjustment in my grip, which means I’m now a regular potting machine (more practice needed of course). I was so frustrated by being able to pull off 5-cushion escapes with relative ease, but often missing very simple pots due to getting unwanted side on the ball. Can’t wait to get this new adjustment fully integrated into my game!
Mads. The grip is so important, there is only one thing that has got hold of the cue and there is only one thing that delivers the cue and that is the hand that has got hold of it, it has to be right. If a player has a problem with his game one of the areas to examine is the grip. Good luck with the adjustment and practise.
I can certainly attest to that being true! This has got to be the single most important adjustment I have made to my game so far, and it was such a small thing. I really just needed to tighten my grip a tiny fraction, and balls started finding the middle of the pocket all over the table. Another key element for me is to be mindful of a deliberate pause on the final backswing before delivering the cue. Huge thanks to you and Kyren for all the great wisdom you share on this channel!
for 7 years i have asking myself the question of the sqeeze and i didn't know if i was playing right or wrong some days i would add it some days i wouldn't thank you for clearifying that for me.
This is very good information. Everytime i focus on just pushing the forearm forward i have a hard time feeling the cue. But will definitely try using the 3rd finger for starting the drive without squeezing though
Fantasic video series Barry. I was struggling with my game wondering why i was missing pots, thought it was my stance, alignment sighting.. It appears it was my grip as i use to hold the cue in the fingers, after changing this i went from making 20's to 40's and 50's consistantly and feel so much better and confident in my potting
David. If a player has a problem with his game, one of the areas that needs looking at is generally the grip. I really don't believe players pay enough attention to this important aspect. Great that you have found the cause of your struggles.
Your great understanding of the game made me at last subscribe to your channel. Thank you very much for sharing us your knowledge about this wonderful game of snooker.
thanks mr barry... my confusion about the third finger were answered... when i cueing its feel light and smooth ... because alex higgins used his third finger when completed a shot...always open his two front finger after completed a shot...
Dear Barry Sir, Namaste from Nepal. Thank you very much for an information.which is very useful and improve my game slowly. Warm regards Ang Sarkinee Sherpa.
Well, I'm not sure about the "vice versa" as snooker requires so much more accuracy with larger tables and smaller pockets, but I do appreciate your videos.
it really works - third finger. In the morning i was truggling with my cueaction, didn't feel any confidence even on easy shots. After watching this video went back to the club and succeded a lot. I felt the grip. A deep bow to you, Barry.
@@BarryStarkSnookerCoach Dear Barry, it is such a pleasure to watch your videos, not only beacause you know the snooker as a subject within, not only because you are great teacher with plenty of patience to students, but also because you have a big heart, that loves people, kindness is readed in your eyes, probably that's why you have desire to share your knowledge gratuitously. No wonder why your best student Kyren Wilson is also a very humble and simple-hearted person. Good people are attracted to each other. The same about Ronnie O'Sullivan, we love him not only because he is the genius of the snooker game, but because he is subtle and generous person. Innocence is the most attractive quality in the human beings, like a magnet. You are lucky to find your assignment in this world, we all would like to do it. Dear Barry, it's also felt inside the desire to pay you back for your work. I want to share with you the most valuable message I have. Have you heard of H.H. Shri Mataji and her gift to humanity - Sahaja Yoga Meditation? She is the saint, guru, incarnation born in India in 1923. She also had this desire to save the people and give them their meaning, to help them to find thyselves. She invented the simple method of meditation that is available for everyone - a child and a old man, based on awakening of power Kundalini (which is basically our holy spiritual mother) that is sleeping within us and awaiting for awakening when the human will have the pure desire to become not only homo sapiens, but homo spiritius (find it's spirit). She spent about 15 years in UK and there many sahaja yogis in UK who are doing classes for beginners for free, of course. I suppose you have very little spare time, but please, this is my humble request, finda little time and visit just a one single lesson. You deserve to get what you were born for. You will feel everything instantly, there is no need to explain anything on the mental level, your heart will feel it, you are ready for this, probably you felt that something important was lacking in your life. Please try to use www.sahajayoga.org.uk/ to find the nearest classes by you. Thank you again, Barry, will watch your videos again and again, please say Kyren we believe in him, he will definately will be the world champion! Sincerely, Alexander Rudenko, Ukraine, 30 y.o.
well,, first I can"t thank u enough , this is going to be bit long but believe me it deserves to read , after I watched your(( GRIP)) videos my game has improved a lot , I decided to put a camera and film myself , and ,and ,and , I have noticed that I have been playing wrong for more than decade hehehe. after I made the adjustment for grip I started potting incredibly , specially near black and pink , my next step is to adjust my break building , God bless you Barry .
Another great video Barry, thank you !. I have been trying to get to grips ( pardon the pun !) with my grip and was never aware of the third finger. But now i've tried it at home it really does feel...'right' somehow. I normally play with an exaggerated ,locked out wrist to be able to cue straight but im now thinking that part of my problem may be due to 'squeezing' which i know i do, and look forward to trying this out. Many thanks and keep up the good work !. Cheers.
Trev. Care is needed with the squeeze, do it too vigorously and you will certainly pull the cue off line, relaxed suppleness of the fingers is the real answer. Locking the wrist will ultimately mean that you are using the major muscles of the arm to deliver the cue, some players do it well but never really reach their potential.
Hi Barry, a question about your index finger when doing the backswing. What is the form of your index finger when doing the unfurling? Does it maintains in the form of circle with your thumb? Or, the index finger loosen like the other fingers?
Hi Barry. Great videos by the way. Heard a number of coaches advocating not to SQUEEZE the cue on delivery which i must add is very difficult to achieve, especially when using any sort of power. Also is it imperative in using the method you advocate (with the 3rd finger as a trigger) that there should be no gap in the fleshy part of the first finger and thumb? I am trying to find the right grip for me even though i play to a reasonably good level i have always struggled with a consistant long game. Only now that you've mentioned that its in your experience its almost always a grip issue you've got me totally intrigued Regards Jason
Jason. You are probably using the third finger too much causing the cue to be pulled off line. Take the cue back with the thumb and first finger feeling the cue in the 'V' ( that soft web of flesh between the thumb and forefinger) There should be no gap here, in fact as the cue is taken back there will be marginal tightening in that area. Just feel the cue on the third finger as you take the cue back and allow the grip to close naturally. Remember the thumb and forefinger are your constant and do not move.
Hi Barry. Thanks for the prompt reply. I will try your advice tomorrow. I am finding it frustratingly difficult to avoid tightening my 'grip' on delivery as its been a kind of 30yr habit especially when power is required. I know when i have played really well my 'grip' must be tightening after i've struck the cue ball. When i'm struggling it must be too much grip or third finger pulling the cue off line before hitting the cue ball like you rightly say. Thanks very much Barry much appreciated Regards Jason
just a question? as you walk in you look at the object ball, but when you look at the cueball as you getting down, do you focus on center of the cue ball or the entire cueball. becaz as i get down somehow because of my upper body turn my cue tip ends up to right side of the cueball and then i have to readjust? thank you , please reply
This is a great video as always. However, I believe that in doing this one has to do lots and lots of solo practice in order to ingrain this technique till the time it becomes second nature. If not then this has the tendency to distract one while at the match table. This has been my problem in the past ... and once one has thoughts, one cant pot, as simple as that. I will try it out next time I go for some practice. I have grip thoughts even during the match and that is why I start missing. The only time I have been able to make 50 odd breaks is when I am not thinking about the grip and have a self-belief in terms with my cue action. Thanks again.
Q.M.Sidd. You are so right,. Every skill that is learned in any sphere goes through the process of conscious appraisal before it becomes unconscious action. When it is learned you just let it happen and it is said to be natural. You cannot be thinking about your technique during a match that is for the practise table.
Hello Barry sir ! I finally bought a cue , had everything perfect in it , just that I failed to notice that it has a bigger handle (Butt) ! Sometimes unusual for my hands to grip , but I guess I will adapt...
Arbaz. It is possible that you will adapt but it is also possible that you will adapt incorrectly and ingrain some faults. The diameter of the butt is very important for a player to grip the cue correctly. You should be able to hold the cue with comfort, any duress can cause tension or at the very least discomfort. If you have any doubt a reputable cue maker will be able to reduce the diameter a little, I had to do the same thing with my own cue. If you do decide to have it done please remember to take only a little off, you can always go back and have a little more taken off but you cannot put it back on.
Dear Barry , I have seen all of your videos and followed your each and every tip to improve my game. My Stance is good but my cueing is still poor , I have tried everything like changing my stance , loose grip , tight grip , playing away from the body but nothing works for me . I would like you to help me improve my hitting , because I have got very less cue power and most of the time I miss-cued while playing screw shots . This is the reason I wasn't be able to improve my game in the last 4 years. Thank You :)
hammad. This is very difficult to put into words without offending you in some way but my only intention is to try to help. A player at my club said exactly what you have said, he had watched and copied all of my videos. When I watched him play I am afraid he was doing nothing like I advocated although he thought he was. Please put yourself on video from all angles, pay particular attention to where you hold the cue and even more important than that how you hold the cue. Getting the grip right is the most difficult thing and the most important, as I said in one of my videos, there is only one thing that holds and delivers the cue and that is the hand that is holding it.
@@BarryStarkSnookerCoach Thank you so much for your reply. I did capture myself in couple of videos and try to improve myself but nothing really works for me. I will keep practicing though. :)
Barry, have you ever noticed that Mark Williams keeps his index finger 'out' of the way, and he apparently locks the cue with the middle finger as well.
Andrey. One of the best players in the world who has found a way that suits him, that's what makes this game so wonderful and as a coach so challenging.
when u said flashy part , did u mean we just put the cue there so it barely touches that flashy part, or we should apply pressure ? confused, and should it maintain even after the delivery, that pressure on flashy part
Barry, during your back-swing, does your hand tilt forward or backwards (in relation to your wrist)? Or, does your wrist remain completely straight the whole time? I've seen pool instruction where the pro advises leaning the hand forward of the wrist during the back stroke (building up some type of elasticity that ultimately gets released for increased acceleration).
Lonnie. This is an individual thing, certainly players that use the wrist tend to be able to generate more cue power, but it is no use screwing back eighteen inches if you only want to screw back six inches, so control is important too.
Thanks for the instruction Barry. Do you recognize the pool stroke as a throwing motion of the cue (with the finger/s)? Once the cue is thrown it is stopped by a light gripping of the last two fingers against the heel of the hand at the end of follow thru. Like throwing a ball (either underhanded or over handed) Your comments are welcome. Thanks again.
John. Not sure I would describe the stroke as a throwing action, certainly the closing of the hand plays a part in stopping the forward momentum of the cue but some players use the initial closing of the hand to initiate this forward momentum and then use the total closure to stop it. We are all different and we will all do similar things slightly differently both visibly and kinetically.
Barry Stark Snooker Coach I remember Neil foulds describing anthony Hamiltons as having a pumped up cue action. I can see what he means because I see he starts his feathers quite long and fluent but gradually slows down and gets shorter. Then pauses on white and backswing with not a long pull back.
Thank you so much for this tip on the "trigger". I've been playing for over 10 years and I never knew about this. I've always wondered what was the "trigger" and started using almost every part of my cuing arm but it would have never occurred to me that it could be the third finger. Can't wait to to try this. God bless! Just to confirm, when you mention the third finger (in your case) as the trigger, the first initial movement of the cue starts from the 'V" and third finger together or the third finger or "V" only? Thanks again.
Kenneth. If you are going to use this method (not everyone does) take the cue back with the first finger allowing the cue to be felt in the 'V' and on the third finger. Now practise a lot and work at it you will find your own individual levels as to how much emphasis is placed upon each aspect. Good luck.
Thanks for the tip Barry. Tried i out before I read your reply and my game was disastrous (to say the least). Now that I've read your reply, I'm going to keep at it. Not giving up on this "trigger" thing since I had been searching for it for so long. Thanks again.
Barry, I've been trying out the trigger for 3 days now and I'm beginning to develop a habit which I don't know if it's correct or not. Instead of always holding my cue with my forefinger and thumb, using the third finger as the trigger has change my grip slowly. Now, I'm holding the cue with my inner thumb and third finger instead of with my forefinger. Before this becomes permanent, I'd like to know if this is correct or should I revert to my old grip. Thanks in advance.
Thank you Berry for your support! Could you please tell me while aiming a shot should we stand in the line of object ball and potting pocket or use ENGLISH extensively?
Hamid. First of all let me say that it is the eyes and the brain that put the cue on line, the stance can obviously be used to facilitate and assist but it does not dictate. In regard to the use of English (side) extensively I am not in favour. All good players can and will use side but part of being a good player is knowing when and how to use it.
Barry, thank you again for the videos. I will be pledging to you soon over Patreon. My peers have noticed my improved skill and I have told them all about your channel and they too are improving. I not only find your teachings interesting but you yourself are very interesting. I also was wondering about diet Barry? I understand that you may not be in a position on what to guide me on what to eat but would you have any suggestions? e.g vitamins that may help or if any foods help eyesight and concentration and so on. Many thanks barry
Domain. I am sure there are better qualified people than me to advise you on this subject, but since you have asked the question many snooker payers ignore this side of the equation and I believe their careers would last a lot if they didn't. Try to maintain a balanced diet, limit fried and processed foods, include a little aerobic exercise like running, cycling or swimming and ensure you keep a well hydrated body. I am pretty sure you will be fine.
Domain. Forgot to thank you for your patreon pledge, Many thanks, we have some equipment that we can call our own now instead of borrowing all the time.
What should I do in case releasing the grip and closing is not the problem itself , it's the wrist that's causing me problems. When I'm down on the shot with 90 degree elbow , everything is in line , unfortunately, when I release the grip my wrist rotates slightly inward , and it gets more noticable when closing the grip , but it goes back to the good position in the phase of following through , which causes my elbow to wobble slighltly to the right and then go back in line . I think this happens because when I was trying to learn that feeling of grooving the muscle and relaxing myself , I developed this bad habbit with it . I've tried intuitif solutions like forcing my grip in the good position but everything gets very unstable and I lose the feeling of relaxation .
Sefyan. Slight inward rotation is not a major issue providing you cue straight, however, if you are concerned about it it may be that you are trying to use too much wrist, this could be happening because there is too much release of the back fingers. Remember that everyone is different, cueing in a straight line with the ability to play all the shots is what matters, how an individual achieves that will be slightly different in most players.
Hi Barry You are doing great job ! Would you please to make a tutorial for pause the CUE during feathers ...Why its important and how much time to take the pause or play natural . Please review my comment and waiting for response . Thank you.
Hi Barry. You have a really great channel. I have learned a lot from you. I am working on the grip atm. This video cleares things up. I have noticed that when i grip the cue more like Ryan Day, with the backfingers more outside - then i have the cue pointing where i want it to point. If i am not, the cue seems to point to the left. When i am using the third finger as a trigger, i have to use the tip of my third finger, as this is the part of the finger touching the cue when holding like Ryan Day. Do you think this can work, or do you recommend a more conventional grip-angel?
haraid. I like to see the front of the hand dominate the taking away of the cue (back swing) The rear fingers unfurling allowing the cue to be almost parallel but never losing contact with the cue, the third finger particularly is felt on the cue and acts as an almost imperceivable trigger. Even when players do this exactly as described it will look different from player to player simply because of anatomical differences. If you are getting success please carry on, be careful with the trigger this can be overdone.
Barry Stark Snooker Coach Thx a lot Barry. Focusing on the front of the hand dominating the takeaway helped me a lot. I have overdone the trigger, i can feel this now :)
dear coach barry, Amazing video! i want to ask if you can elaborate more about what you mean with trigger. Is it just the added stability when stroking through focusing on two points touching the cue(from the same hand) rather than one point ? or is there another message you were trying to convey? Thank you
Yasser. Firstly let me say there are a many ways to play this wonderful game, what suits one player may not suit another, my message in the video is really to examine the grip hand as it returns to its start position. You express it very well with the phrase added stability focusing on two points touching, from there as the hand closes a trigger element is created initiating the forward momentum.
Mr Barry ,considering the pre shot routine which you emphasise it is individual ,some coaches stress on aiming while person is landing his cue or approaching table. Is that a step of routine or just a school of thought ,some say u can adjust aiming just 10% after you are totally down on cue after chest touching cue I came c from a traditional school that says no aiming down on the ball after being settled. Just wanna know your opinion cause I appreciate that you are opened to all schools Thanks in advance you been a great help
Run Run. I believe all players should have a pre-shot routine but that it should certainly be an individual thing. Some players will point the cue and aim before they start their cue moving in a rehearsal for the shot about to be played, Mark Selby does this. Other players prepare like Shaun Murphy and the cue is moving as they get down to play the shot. Whichever method is used I believe it is a good idea to bring the cue down on the line of shot then bring the body to the cue. There should only be need for the most minimal amount of movement in respect of aiming once this part of the action is achieved. If there is a need for anything other than minor movement then the player should get up and start again.
4.35 understand ur driftBarry,just thinking it would be more beneficial to us laymen if you could at this point inter(shit,I forgot the word)something with a pro actually performing the aforementioned strokes/s at the appropriate times.Thanks a million appreciate all your tips and look forward to the many that may come,Barry for president and I don't mean Hearne,lol
scambodia. Pros have a very busy schedule these days and its very difficult to tie them down, also, whilst they play all the shots they all do it slightly differently. I feel these differences are important and are to be encouraged but can confuse the beginner, as long as the basic principles are understood players do develop. I have taken your views on board and will keep them in mind.
Barry Stark Snooker Coach thxs for getting back to me so promptly Barry,I learn from your very informative sessions,I have a 111 break and it's a fine,fine level of the next level,thxs once again,ur information is pricelesss!!
Rare. I don't really believe that a video would help on this subject, there are so many aspects to it, visualisation, breathing, re-framing etc. that I believe that it would be better suited for the written word.
when you close the grip do you concentrate on the front fingers? or the 3rd finger (the trigger) in other words, do you stop the cue force when entire grip or back 3 fingers, or with the entire fingers?
snooker. This depends on the player, some players concentrate on the front fingers, I believe that there is a balance between the front fingers and the rear fingers particularly the third finger. Start the address position with a full grip, concentrate on the front of the hand as you take the cue back, opening the rear fingers(remaining in contact with the cue) feel the third finger and allow the grip to close naturally as you reach and get through the cue ball.
Hi Barry. Just wondering if you think learning to play Billiards would be beneficial to improving a players game? Maybe some good things and some bad? Thanks for another great piece of information on the grip. Possibly key to great improvement.
Steve. Joe Davis was snooker world champion for twenty years, he was also a former world champion at Billiards. Pankaj Advani has been world billiard champion and is also a very good snooker player. I believe all snooker players would benefit from playing a little billiards.They would learn the importance of getting through the ball smoothly, more about the geometry of the table, and better control of the white ball particularly around the top of the table.
Hello Barry. Question, is the cue pulled forward during the stroke with the trigger finger or is the cue pushed forward during the stroke with the trigger finger? Thanks for all that you do. :)
John. Most players today concentrate on the front of the hand, specifically the 'V' ( that web of flesh between the thumb and first finger knuckles.) The cue is taken back with the first finger, sometimes the first two fingers) allowing the hand to open at the back, the cue should be felt on the third finger. As the cue is driven forward the hand closes, some players use the back of the hand to do this others concentrate on the front. Whatever works for you is fine.
Thanks for the quick reply Barry. But, the question still remains. Is the cue stick pushed forward to the and thru the cue ball with the grip hand or is the cue stick pulled forward to and thru the cue ball with the grip hand. I have worked with both methods. Pushing the cue stick with the grip hand (arm) to and thru the cue ball introduces (IMHO) unwanted tension in the shooting arm. Pulling the cue stick with the grip hand (arm) with the grip hand to and thru the cue ball causes no tension in the shooting arm. Just asking, when you play do you pull the cue to and thru the cue ball or do you push the cue to and thru the cue ball. Keep in mind, I'm talking about a pendulum stroke with very little elbow drop for most shots. Thanks once again.
@@BarryStarkSnookerCoach Thank you for your prompt reply! Could you please tell me the role of chest while delivering the cue stick .what if I don't keep it close to my body
Thanks mate and good video, Barry - I'll try this tomorrow down at the club. By the way - do you have any tutorials on the "elbow drop" when cueing through the ball? I currently use my elbow as a pendulum, however, when the tip hits the cue ball - the pendulum (my wrist) starts swinging upwards towards my armpit instead of through the ball. I have seen Ronnie drop his elbow considerably which counteracts this but others such as Ding don't seem to do it (or it isn't as pronounced). I'm hesitant to just "elbow drop" for the sake of it as there may be other nuanced components that i'm not looking out for and missing altogether. Any response would be much appreciated and thanks again - cheers
Bailey Emia understand that ronnie is by nature a straight up freak of nature. this said elbow dropping can be done correctly and it helps get a bit more follow through on longer shots i beleive fornspin purposes. but by no means required if u master the timing and rhythm aspect. to get the elbow drop right i understand it like this. your arm befkre the backswing should be straight 90 degrees parrallel to the cue. which is normal then u back swing, as u move the cue forward and your arm gets to where it was 90 degrees your arm stops moving and instead u drop your elbow and this allows u to maintain a controlled elbow drop.
Bailey. Lord Karnage has covered most aspects of the elbow drop and done it well. Most players drop their elbow a little even Ding and it does help the follow through. Its very important to get through the ball but when a player does he/she better make sure they get through it straight. Joe Davis called this aspect of the cue action "the drive" and I will try to cover it in more detail and in video form shortly.
great video Barry. However the squeeze does work for some players, Stephen Lee squeezes on all his shot, he says this himself. I know that one thing that works for one player may not work for others but sometimes is does
matthew ryder O'Sullivan is another. Can't remember what video it was now, but he said the power of the shot comes from how hard you squeeze the cue as you follow through. It's genuinely considered unorthodox, though, as for a lot of players it can affect their stroke negatively, whereas you can't go wrong with not squeezing.
Hi Barry, your videos are great and I feel I'm learning from them. I seem to have hit a strange place in my game where if I go down on the shot and concentrate on grip, cueing straight, follow through etc and taking my time I miss. But if I just get down and play the shot I pot more consistently. I know there are things I need to improve on but it seems the more I concentrate on them I'm going backwards. Do you have any tips?
tom. This is purely because the technique has not become natural yet. A good way to describe what is happening here is to relate it to learning to drive a car (hopefully you drive) You had to think about every move, felt a little awkward until the skills became natural and you didn't have to think about them anymore. That process is happening here, until those skills become natural and automatic your form may suffer a little, be patient, as long as you are doing things correctly it will come.
Hi Barry, I'm experimenting with my grip as I'm gripping the cue to tight especially when i'm playing in pro ams. What is your view on holding the cue with the second finger and the index finger quite loose. A bit like Alex Higgings but not with the back hand grip?
Peter. I always felt that Alex's problem was consistency and that his grip was part of the problem, nothing wrong with the first two fingers being dominant and the second finger being the more dominant of those two, gently though.
@@BarryStarkSnookerCoach Thanks Barry. It's not quite as severe as Higgins. The index finger is still around the cue but the tip of the finger is kind of resting on the tip of the thumb. I'm not saying I will stick with this grip. Just looking for a way to not over grip the cue under pressure. I'll let you know how I get on. I've got no matches planned until JP Paul hunter even't. Probably not the right even't to test yourself as it's more about the cause then the snooker. Take care
Hi Barry , thank u for all ur very informative video! I have heard comments from ppl telling me my grip might be abit too loose sometimes .. as I do not have all my fingers on the cue. I hv made a few centuries before .. do u think I shld tighten up abit and see if it is gonna give me more consistency ? Thanks Barry !!
ng. If you have made centuries you are obviously a good player but possibly lack a little consistency. I am a firm believer in concentrating upon the front of the hand when it comes to the grip with the rear fingers unfurling on the back swing. However, tightening the grip up is a big step to take and I would urge you to be careful with how firmly you make the grip. Have a look at my video on the grip and see what you think.
Tony. Keep working at it, the cue action is a very large part of the game and the grip is a very large part of the cue action, good luck with it, that fifty is just around the corner.
Thanks Barry! Great help as always! One of my friend repairs the snooker's carpet level (sorry for my vocabulary) suddenly my game changed radically!! Is it the same with cue? Do I need play with same cue Everytime? How important is that? Sorry to bother you again!
Ram. Please don't apologise glad to try and help. I would advise any player to get their own cue, It is vital. It has been known for professionals to have their cue delayed at airports and have to play in the tournament with a borrowed cue, they usually lose.
Barry, when you play side on the cue ball do you have to adjust your aim a little bit. also where do you hit the ball when you play side because i always hit the ball far left or far right and always mis-cue. if you could reply to this it would be very helpful. tom
Krvy. When you play with side there is always some adjustment that needs to be made in the aim. If you are mis-cueing because of the side you are trying to put too much on. Please don't try to run before you can walk, just apply a little side and learn from that, as you get better you can increase the amount. Also please try to remember that the better you hit the ball the less you will have to allow in your aim and the more response you will get with less effort or indeed side. Make sure you get through that cue ball but gently.
Super video sir... But one question Please take a note of ronnie's grip... He has some unorthodox gripping technique. His index finger seems quite away from cue. N wat i think is he mainly controls his cue with middle finger and thumb Apart from that there is a discussion on V grip ...that is very effective is wat some ppl say...would like to have ur point of view on it Please search V grip snooker on google Lebrett pool shows the technique
swaril. I think my video describes my feelings on the grip. The modern trend is to grip the cue in a relaxed manner but concentrating on the front of the grip particularly the 'V' whilst unfurling the rear fingers on the back swing. The 'V' helps to keep the wrist under control during the cue delivery. Ronnie uses the 'V' at the front of his hand but achieves this without concentrating on the forefinger as much as other players. When all is said and done if a player can play all the shots with the way he holds the cue, then it is right for him, we all do the same thing slightly differently that's what makes the game so interesting.
fer. Some players do this others do not, what works for you is right. However, its not a bad idea to start in this position and try to keep it constant. Its inevitable that there will be some tightening of the grip on some shots just don't let it become excessive.
@@BarryStarkSnookerCoach Thanks for the advice Barry. Your videos are all great help for me to be able to adjust to the snooker sport by going back to the basics. I started playing american pool (9 and 10 ball mainly) and I developed a loose grip I copied from pro players. It worked good to a certain level in pool table but when I started playing snooker ( i.e.I started just potting balls anyway... not really playing the game) and I miss shots consistently. I get distracted also by the flat portion of the cue butt and had to adjust to that as well. Very challenging indeed to become a better player. I will be joining a tournament (team and individual) for uni (UK) students this year and I hope to gain more improvement by then. I am focusing on the basics and stroke/grip for the meantime which is the reason why I posted a comment here. Keep sharing to us your wisdom.
Barry, can you concentrate on the grip too much? I've found when my game dips a little, wondering if it is anything to do with the grip. Then I pretty much end up over-analysing my technique! Any advice on this would be much appreciated. Yet again, thanks for a great video.
billyrm84. Certainly, concentrating on any one part of your cue action can leave you doubting your ability, your concentration should be on the game not on your technique. Having said that when you learn any skill it goes through the stages of conscious action (meaning awareness of how you do it) to unconscious action ( which means you do it automatically) If you find you are having to concentrate on the grip or indeed any other aspect of your game then it needs more practise to make it natural. Think of when you where trying to learn to drive, (assuming you do drive) You have to think of everything, your mind seems to go in slow motion and you end up not having time to do everything. Then through constant practise everything happens automatically and you wonder why it was so difficult in the first place.
This most minimal amount of movement considering aiming Does it affect pointing center of cue ball in other words getting unintended side Or it moves in on the round surface of cue ball so that evey point is a new center of the cue ball for a new line Am I complicating it or is it a necessary question Thanks a lot
Run Run. I really do think you are over complicating things, most people miss not because they are aiming incorrectly (although this can be the case) but because they deliver the cue incorrectly. If you play two or three shots with side, hit the cue ball in exactly the same place but don't hit it the same each time you will get a different result. That difference could be, hitting it harder, not getting through the ball the same amount each time, shorter or longer back swing, jerky as apposed to smooth delivery etc.
Barry I have a kind of trigger grip but it's my middle finger that touches my thumb like o'sullivan ( not my third finger ). Do any other players have this grip or do they all have the third finger touching the thumb ? Thanks
Stuart. I believe there is some confusion here. I have never said the third finger touches the thumb, it is the first finger (fore finger) that touches the thumb with the third finger (ring finger) acting as a trigger.
Saraswathi. Ronnie tends to hold the cue with the middle fingers, still in the 'V' at the front of the hand but tends to initiate the first forward movement of the cue with these fingers. At the end of the day we are all slightly different, if it works for you it is correct.
I’m well aware that my whole body has to be very steady other than my grip when delivering the cue. Any advice for people whose head (or body) would move forward a bit when they deliver the cue? Thanks!
Ideally, your body should not move forward. I have witnessed good young players with this problem and missing balls of this. But even Trump has this issue, maybe the reason he missing all these titles
Karlorz. Knowing that you move is one thing but knowing what is causing it is something else, it could be physical or psychological. A picture is worth a thousand words, please put yourself on video and study it to see if you can ascertain the cause. It may be that you are not as supple as you think you are in certain areas or that tension develops as you play the shot. Anxiety on the outcome of the shot can also cause unintentional movement, try playing a few simple shots with your eyes shut and get someone to video you doing this, its amazing how this can enlighten you about movement.
Hi, Barry I have a question, when the camera is right behind a professional's grip, I can see they were bending their cue on their back swing? Could you explain why they do that? Thanks
Colin. It is certainly true that the cue appears to bend from some camera angles and pressure to keep the chin on the cue can cause this but generally I am afraid that this is just an optical illusion.
Good vid. I find the grip very important. Im finding a light and floaty grip very useful..if I can just feel the butt on my palm and am not too aware of the cue I get success. Also finding my centre line through body and keeping it there as I get down pushing bum out and making a point of leaning over very useful. Im very comfortable..but is comfortable good?
Hello sir I started playing snooker few months ago I hav quite acquired all the basics from ur videos but I am still facing some troubles to get the line and in even long potting too any advice if you could giv me would be a pleasure..!
Few months...we played for years...give some time & keep all these basics intact, you'll pot all those long ones. Remember, dont get frustrated with misses and change your basics. Just focus on your basic techniques and keep practicing. Few months is nothing to pot long balls consistently.
Shane. Aaron has summed it up in one word, (three actually) make your practise purposeful though, keep examining your cue action. If you play a bad shot or you miss don't be content to dismiss it, try to discover the reason. Please remember though you have only been playing a few months, there is a lot to learn and patience is a virtue. Its rather like learning any new skill, progress creeps up on you, you start off being surprised when a pot goes in then you are surprised when it doesn't. Keep working at it and good luck.
Barry, I too would like a video on finding the line of aim better! Is it even expainable? Or is it like trying to get instructions on solving a Rubik's cube from some on who can solve those confounded cubes in under 30 seconds? I have had the luxury of playing pool and snooker over the last 4 or so months for 5 plus hours 6 days a week. I have several methods to try and determine the line of aim, or more correctly for most methods, the center spot of the ghost ball. I would like a more "reliable" method of being able get a line of aim that works more consistently for potting the object balls. So far my best break is under 30. I would certainly like to have a more consistent method of potting. Until then I'll keep practicing.
