134. Stun & Screw Snooker Practice

Key Snooker shots to master are the quiet little stun shot, screw shot and stun run through. This little practice routine will help you to greatly improve this part of your game.

[@victorsavin6414]

Barry Stark you are a LEGEND.

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

JustPull. Thanks for that, its nice to have your efforts appreciated.

[@marklavellemusic]

I am learning so much since I subscribed, My game has already improved by at least 30% by sticking to the correct fundamentals before each shot! Great Channel and enjoyable to watch Barry Stark, Thanks.

[@FamousColumbo]

Just finished watching armwrestlig and went to check Barry Stark new vid. Than this comment appeared :)

[@Ring0147]

Hi Barry great channel , can you please explain the power selection based on the backswing length, if the acceleration is the same on each shot

[@snookeredinbc6017]

Love your videos !!!

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

Snookered. Glad you like them, we try to please.

[@snookeredinbc6017]

Barry Stark Snooker Coach Barry is there a tip you can give to help give a player focus when they are down on the cue before the shot, would love your insight thanks!

[@mq01]

Cue cam really shows the difference in fineness and sheen between the average club cloth and this top table. This table just looks lightning fast.

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

Michael. It is fast compared with most club tables but compared with the television tables it is comparatively slow.

[@maanbe7maan460]

Sir we want you Vs Ronnie o Sullivan Match

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

danger. At my age I am afraid there would be only one outcome, Ronnie is the best player in the world.

[@paulducharme60oo]

The other day I accidentally put a white ball in a pocket and said "That was a connoisseur shot". My brother said "What do ya mean by that"? I said "On account o' it sewered".

[@alexbalan8251]

Hi Barry , a quick question if you can help: I recently found out that I was much more consistent sending the white where I want to , after added longer follow through to my technique... made couple 70 breaks using line up setup... though in matchplay get lots of unforced errors , basically being inconsistent with this even though I keep same preshot routine ... question is how to find out how much exactly follow through should I have so I can inhibit this to my technique... I feel that I’m very close to a breakthrough and this is the exact thing I have left to fix... My cue is 60 inch and I’m 6.2 feet height.

[@elliottrees7915]

Alex Balan as an average the distance of you’re bridge hand from the top of you’re cue should be around 12 inches. The length of your backswing would vary depending on what pace you want to play the shot, (linger backswing=more power etc.)

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

Alex. You are right to examine your follow through, not only the length of it but also how straight it is. Generally six inches of follow through on most shots is about right. Obviously this can vary depending on the shot being played but again generally the longer the back swing the more power is used and the longer the follow through. May I suggest that you look at my video which covers in detail where to place your bridge hand, the influence that a bent or straight bridge arm has on follow through and where to hold your cue. These points can have a direct bearing on the length of your follow through.

[@alexbalan8251]

Barry Stark Snooker Coach I just read your comment and understood that I really never thought of checking my bridge arm length , you are spot on !!! My preshot routine is always the same but the part that always wobbles is the bridge arm , 1 shot its bent , another one its straight ... I have to try this out tomorrow and find by trial and error how to keep same follow through in a straight line with different bridge arm lengths ... thank you you Barry !!!

[@theznooker]

hi, how to hold the grip on line of aim? while standing should the grip hand be already on line of aim above the right leg? seems that as i am getting down and my body turns my grip hand goes offline ??? tnx

[@meok292]

Mastering the little stun shots, getting that feel is a vital skill, and one I'm yet to develop. Thanks Mr Stark, I will keep practicing with the aid of your great videos and guides. So hard to articulate how to stun, but would you describe it as a punchy feel? Hitting just below half ball? I have a knack of either killing the ball, coming short on the black, or coming to high past the black.

[@toxicdota9290]

Sir I Naturally Approach The Ball From Running Side Regardless Of Whatever The Shot Is & This Is Something I Can't Help. I Sure Pot The Ball But There's No Cue Ball Movement Whatsoever Or Sometimes Way Too Much. Plus I Have a Problem With My Left Thumb That I Can't Rest It On The Table Like Everyone Else Does, I Need To Keep Lifting My Thumb In The Air. This Sure Hinders My Gameplay But I'm Used To It. Wanna Hear Your Precious Thoughts On It. Love From Pakistan Mr.Barry Sir!!

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

Sherjil. Using one side all the time is bound to be running side from one side of the table but from the other it will be check side. This is either a sighting issue or a cueing issue or both. Check that you are cueing straight on the baulk line, also check that you are hitting the ball in the centre, these two elements will need to be examined and rectified if you want to progress, you will also need to have some patience because your game will have to go backwards before it goes forward. Unless there is something amiss with the joint of your thumb I cannot see why your thumb needs to be in the air, just try to keep the heel of your hand on the table and this should stop the need to raise it so far. Please remember that if the thumb moves, invariably so does the cue and you will never hit the ball where you intend.

[@mohdfairuzahmad5091]

Dear mr Barry, i have a question, is there any ways to remove vibrations on a cue during cue impact with tip, is there any technique, like a grip, pressing a cue down, locking chin or what so ever? The problem is when playing on very fast cloth with super polish ball, im as a amateur player find it very difficult to pot most of ball, even stoke with very low speed cue vibration mostly cause cie ball to ruined accuracy.. This effect even greater when play under pressure game, which cause squirt or bad contact most of time.. Could you explain the best methot to deal with it.. How it will help millions of other young player out there.. Tq

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

mohd. There will always be some vibration as the cue hits the object ball and as the hand reaches the chest and obviously this can be exacerbated by having a whippy cue. However, this is invariably not the reason for missed shots it is more likely to be because of fault in the cue action. A good test is to hit the cue ball at pace into one of the corner pockets, aim for one of the stitches at the back of the pocket and then stay still. Wait for the cue to settle and see whether the cue is still pointing at the same stitch because it should be.

[@JoshL117]

If the 147th video is not about the 147 break......

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

Josh. It will take a lot longer than Ronnie's five minutes and 20 seconds.

[@HasanAli-tp4mw]

Imagine Barry stark as your snooker coach

[@BBBBD147]

Thanks as always Barry, one thing I would add if you don't mind, is to practice this exercise from both sides. Always good to alternate, I know you would always advocate that anyways Barry so not a criticism. Great work as ever :)

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

billyrm. You are so right, perhaps I should have mentioned that.

[@mohemn1621]

Barry god save you.......... Mohammad from Iraq

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

muhamad. Many thanks for the well wishes.

[@haiderali-mo3iy]

It is great video. Watching it after very long time. what I observed from camera point of view. Your goes towards right when you pull back. Is it normal for every player might have something like this in his cue action or it should be straing pull back and hit in straight way?

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

@haiderali. The real secret is to repeat the action, we all have little flaws in our game but as long as you can repeat what you are doing time after time you can still play good snooker. Judd Trump is the classic example of this, he aims to miss but moves slightly on the cue delivery, it works for him so why would he try to change.

[@haiderali-mo3iy]

@@BarryStarkSnookerCoach Thank you so much for you response. It definitely makes sense to me.

[@hassanahmad1667]

Hello barry When you see ronnie 's cue it goes uo and down before a shot.but when we look at mark selby he just feathers in a straight line What is the difference.when i cue up and down alot,i get accurate but it isnt consistent.plz elaborate

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

Hassan. There is no doubt that Mark Selby is more of a technical player that Ronnie O'Sullivan, however they both will advocate that a player should try to keep the cue parallel. The fact that Ronnie's cue tends to go up and down a little more is something that has developed over the years rather than something that is intentional. The most important thing is that the cue gets through the ball in a straight line, whilst keeping parallel is important for most players it is not as critical as the straightness of the cue action.

[@hassanahmad1667]

@@BarryStarkSnookerCoach thanks mr barry for replying I just observed this and started to apply this in my technique.when i cue staright without goung up and down.i could not get spin on the ball.the contact is not smooth or in your words just a "click" rather than a "ccllick".i watched ronnie closely and atarted doung this up and down thing.suddenly my long pots were good not consistent but good.i could get more swing on the ball.could do deep screws efficiently.and this "ccllick" became more obvious.but i am not consistent in rhis manner.during delievery my cue wobbles and i just cant find a way to rectify.i dont know if there is a tremor in my hand or is it my chest or my wrist.but doing this up and down thing really helped Thanks for your reply

[@yubrajsharmadhakal6446]

Great video! I have a problem tho. When im playing, I can pot balls if I focus only on potting a ball but as soon as I try to control the cue ball, everything goes down.I miss the easiest pots. Why is that? Can Anyone Help??

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

Yubraj. This is a common problem and one that is not easy to master. What you must not do is be too ambitious early on, start with a simple slightly angled pot, try to determine where the cue ball is going with just slight top spin, repeat this a few times. Then add a small amount of stun and notice how you can widen the angle, try this a few times until you can predict where the cue ball is going. From there it is just a question of varying the amount of stun and strength of shot until repetition adds to your expertise. The stun shot is a good shot to start with but regardless what positional spin you put on the cue ball adopt the same procedure, don't try to run before you can walk, keep it simple adding distance, power and spins as you progress.

[@yubrajsharmadhakal6446]

@@BarryStarkSnookerCoach Thank you Barry! Now that I think about it , I have been trying to run before I can walk!

[@m.mukhtarn.a.2010]

Luv it

[@Ben-xl7ft]

Good luck to you and Kyren at this year’s UK Championship Barry!

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

B L Many thanks for the well wishes, I will pass them on to Kyren.

[@sundowner62james69]

I've got to knuckle down and practice that! Thank you for another video Barry.

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

sundowner. So important around that area particularly dictating where the cue ball is going after it rebounds off the cushion, the top players practise it for hours.

[@sarmad709]

Sir, this comment has nothing to do with the video but it is to thank you for your priceless work and effort, I am playing the game for last 14 years but its just been around a year that I've started to watch your videos, and a year ago I couldn't have imagined scoring 20+ breaks, but now I can score 35+ breaks more than often.. And in every video you do emphasize on cue action and cue delivery, but still many people don't realize its importance, why don't you make a special video to urge your followers to put emphasis on the cue action? And may be along with it some practice to groove our cue action that's already not present on the channel.

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

sarmad. As you rightly say the cue action is very important, I am glad you feel that too. I have covered the cue action in a lot of detail already, you have grasped the need to try to perfect it, I hoped that others had too.

[@kendalltroy3627]

Hi, Barry Stark Snooker Coach, Excellent cueing, sir. You make it look straightforward!😀😃

[@StefanDLazarov]

Hi, your table cloth really shines , is that tournament one?

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

Stefan. Its probably the lighting that we use for filming that makes it shine a little more, it is a tournament cloth but it is getting ready for replacement.

[@NetPwn]

very nice

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

NetPwn. Many thanks.

[@valdrax200]

Why would anyone dislike this 🤷🏼‍♂️

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

Valdrin. Not sure on that myself but one thing that I have learned from doing these videos is that it is impossible to please everyone. Many thanks.

[@aboriani]

There are bots that like or dislike videos and on top of that, that counter isn't perfect...

[@funniestandexcitementvideo1243]

Hey ... i have good talant at snooker... can you help me to be a professionel player ??? I do any thing to be ..... please

[@HeyBulldog-Beatles-Tribute]

Thanks very much M. Stark for this video! I will try this on my brand new billiard (even it's a blackball's size, I've got the 50mm snooker balls!! ) Thanks a lot, great idea for the sport cam on the queue !! ;)

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

HEY. Practising on grass is better than not playing at all so keep at it and good luck.

[@andrewsmith5619]

Barry, from the GoPro camera I can see that you twist the cue slightly anti-clockwise on your back swing and slightly clockwise on your forward swing. Is this something you were aware of and is it a flaw? Or is it just a natural action and no problem? Interested to hear your thoughts

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

ANDREW. I am aware of the slight rotation of the cue as you rightly mention, it is not intentional and it is just part of my natural action. I do not believe that slight rotation is a problem as long as it is not excessive ( caused generally by wrist inversion ) which can lead to other problems. The idea is to cue in a straight line, if you achieve that despite SLIGHT rotation, don't worry about it.

[@simonpoole3053]

Barry - you have one of the best coaching videos on KZbin as well as steve Barton who is fantastic. Just wanted to share something though- watching Kieran Wilson right now he was much better a few years ago when he played with more freedom. His cuing action over the past couple of years as become too robotic and just doesn’t have the fluidity it had when he first played. Perhaps he his being over coached. Just an observation as he is a great talent. Reminds me of Selby and can definitely reach his heights if he keeps working at his game

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

Simon. Firstly I agree Steve is doing a great job. Kyren is certainly not being over coached, he is is own man, knows what he wants and is searching for that panacea that he hopes will take him to the very top. Rhythm is important to all players and whilst they are all slightly different in their search for perfection, they all know the importance of it.

[@TheSnookerShed]

You make that look so easy Barry its the pace(playing to slow) I struggle with the most on this exercise Great video again,good to see you with Nic the other day Andy

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

Andy. Yes it was nice to meet up with Nick the other day, great guy. All I can say about this practise is to persevere, tables do vary particularly the pace off the cushion.

[@TheSnookerShed]

@@BarryStarkSnookerCoach they sure do sir, and to add to that as a improving player so does my timing which can vary just as much. Thats why it a wonder full game Thank you Andy

[@LIVERNIL723]

Thoroughly enjoyed :-) I didn't realise practically all these shots are played as plain-ball, with the odd position of slightly lower from the centre of the Cue Ball. It's just made to look really easy and routine.

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

LIVERNIL. A lot of players like to play plain ball with also a good percentage of players preferring to use a little side.

[@vinays70]

hi Barry, i am always waiting for your videos, because your videos are so nice for training, thanks a lot,we people are so lucky to have a youtuber like you, thanks a lot for supporting and answering our questions Barry......and please keep uploading videos...i am your an old subscriber...

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

Vikey. Glad you like the videos. I will try to continue as long as I am able and there is an interest.

[@jamesduffy8599]

Been a life long cue sports fan, be it snooker, 9 or 8 ball. Started to actually play snooker for the first time last month after years of casually playing pool. These videos are of great help, starting to enjoy the game more and more. Scores have increased ever so slightly, not as much as the enjoyment and appetite for the game. Thanks for the help Barry in finding and enjoying a new hobbie.

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

James. Enjoyment is the first of many criteria in learning this wonderful game, if you do not enjoy what you are doing it is pointless. Great that the videos are playing some part of you doing just that. Good luck.

[@kainoooo69]

Great videos as always. I've been patiently waiting for a video over the health and safety of the player, namely because i'm having shoulder/neck pain after practicing continuously for 5 or 6 hours. I've learnt a lot from your teaching Mr. Stark and i'd love to know your take on this subject.

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

Kinan. Playing snooker for long periods can cause strain on the neck, in fact a few professional players have problems in this area. However it would be totally unprofessional of me to say all problems are the same, they are not and each one needs expert diagnosis. What I will say is that it is a good idea to treat snooker as you would any other sport and go through a warm up routine followed by a warm down after the period of play.

[@lewisreynolds5283]

I'm struggling with judging the pace off the black ball cushion, so many times I stun off that cushion looking to leave a half ball angle on the black, and end up below the line of the black, I think I'm maybe putting a little bit of screw on the cue ball.?

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

Lewis. Don't forget its not just where you hit the cue ball but how you hit the cue ball, when you hit the ball sweetly you will know, the difficulty is replicating it time after time, practise is the key. Good luck.

[@lewisreynolds5283]

@@BarryStarkSnookerCoach cheers team Barry!! Having a practice now love your words of wisdom!!

[@mynechan]

Sir, I have a question. I have noticed my shots on rough balls (non-reflective surface) are better than shots on newer, shinier balls (reflection make it worse). Any suggestions on that?

[@snookerproclub5990]

Hi, if you play on new cloth and you play with the side spin or slightly of cueing you have a through which decreases your potting. Play more centre cue ball and improve cueing and you should improve hope it helps.

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

K&k. As the balls age they do lose some of their playing qualities, friction between them increases and this can obviously give a false impression of your ability negative or positive.

[@harrycook3032]

Hi baz, looking to buy a second hand full size table. What brand would you recommend and what price is reasonable? Thanks.

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

Keemo. I am afraid you are moving out of my comfort zone but Rileys have a good name. I would look for a two inch slate with steel block cushions, as long as the woodwork is reasonable it can be made to look nice with a bit of DIY and spit and polish. Price depends on budget but clubs have recently been closing down in England so there are some bargains out there ranging from a few hundred pounds to £6,000 or £7,000. for Star tables.

[@harrycook3032]

Barry Stark - thanks for that. I’ve found a couple ranging from 1,500 - 2000. I’m just trying to take advantage of being lucky enough to have the space for a full size table. Thanks sir.

[@vokerjames4536]

Hi Sir Barry i loved all ur videos. May i know what are the most effective ways to improve my long potting? I have looked into ur episode 43 video, is that the most effective way yet?

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

Voker. Long potting is obviously an extreme examination of your aim and cue action, assuming the aim is correct and the player is hitting the cue ball in the centre then there is only one reason why they are missing and that is they are not delivering the cue where they are aiming. Groove a nice long cue action, this will allow the cue to do the work rather than your muscles. hitting the cue ball where you intend to hit it (e.g. centrally.) is only half the work you had better get through it straight as well if you want to be successful.

[@vokerjames4536]

@@BarryStarkSnookerCoach thank you so much =)

[@AliAsghar-dg3vv]

Berry u r Legend..... I'm now ur fan. 🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

Ali. Great that you like the videos, many thanks.

[@junaidlaskar9887]

Barry I agree with stun and screw shots will improve your game, but it is also your stance, pre shot routine

[@junaidlaskar9887]

But this video was helpful

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

Junaid. There are many points that are applicable, stun and screw are just two.

[@lobsangdhondup5448]

Thanks for your genuine teaching.❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

You are so welcome!

[@elliottrees7915]

Hi Barry great video but I would recommend not to use the cue cam but rather put an on screen picture of where you are hitting on the white. I believe this would help much more.

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

Elliot. I will give it some thought, thanks for the suggestion.

[@elliottrees7915]

Barry Stark Snooker Coach Thanks for the reply, may I also add that in my opinion you’re most helpful videos are cue action videos. You’re technique is smooth and simple and I would recommend it to anyone. That’s why I believe it is more beneficial to encourage others to follow you’re technique. The cue cam is restricting this. It’s nice to see that you will give this thought as it shows that you are always thinking about the quality of you’re coaching and videos!

[@oldtimer5111]

Good going with that camera in the way, I enjoyed that, thanks.

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

Old timer. Many thanks, glad you like it.

[@alangriffiths3178]

Please can you say hello to my sons Rhys and Alan in a comment sir

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

alan. Rhys and Alan. I don't know how old you both are but it is great to have you both and your father as fans of the channel, so from me to you one great big gigantic HELLO.

[@1ball_1wall22]

You are litterally a cuecamber ;) Great vids. Keep the good work!

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

1 ball. Nice play on words, many thanks.

[@1ball_1wall22]

@@BarryStarkSnookerCoach thank you sir, its quite an honour that such a silly comment earned your attention.

[@caocaoindy611]

Good., I see every clip

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

Cao. Glad you like it.

[@mathewhorney3303]

Great video !

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

Mathew. Glad you like the video. Many thanks.

[@georgedagosdagopoulos7587]

The table you play on looks really fast. If i want to play like that on my club table, i'll have to play with more power and i will miss all pots. It is awfully slow with an old cloth. This kind of practise is really helpful for someone who can score heavilly, not me. Thank you Sir for another great piece of knowledge!!!

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

George. The table has just been recovered after that video was shot, if you think that was fast you should see it now. All the best George.

[@georgedagosdagopoulos7587]

Good afternoon Sir, sorry for my late reply. You are right, I wish I could ever play on such a fast table like yours. Thank you for your reply Sir!!!