87. Cue Delivery - Elbow matters

Barry talks about the elbow and it working in harmony with all of the arm and wrist, whether the elbow remains high or drops during follow through.
/ barrystarksnookercoach

[@dpow888]

I’m 45, an average club player with a 89 high break. My potting makes up for my bad cue action but learning a lot from these videos. Thank you Barry 👍👍👍

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

dpow888. Improve that cue action and the word average will not apply to you in the future and that 89 will shortly become a century. Good luck.

[@yusufhasan302]

Always learning from Barry's videos

[@BrandonRoa-us4dm]

thank you barry for making these videos. i think this one has been the most useful to me so far out of all of your videos on fundamentals.

[@chikoyla]

You are awesome . I am from the Phillipines and a pool player and an Efren Reyes fan but I get my basics from the great Barry . Keep up the great work👍🙏👌🎉

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

chikoyla. Not so sure about the great Barry but thanks anyway, its a nice compliment.

[@samxmaybe3316]

by far , this video contains best explanations about how driving method works .

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

samx. Glad I made it clear in the explanation.

[@adriantowibowo2386]

Very helpful hint with the elbow, wrist and grip in harmony, that is works a lot.

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

Adrianto. A very important aspect of a good cue action.

[@GeorgeAlexanderOz]

Unfurling the fingers makes cue rotation necessary, to a degree. I've always observed with Barry and with other good players, even Ronnie, that they rotate the cue slightly, for maybe a twelfth to a tenth of a full circle. Besides, rotation is even good, for it stabilizes the motion. Remember the big NASA rockets? The rotate during flight to make the flight path more stable.

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

George. Wow! we are really getting technical now, its something I never thought of but a dart or an arrow is also designed to rotate on its way to the target as well. As I said in the video slight rotation will not affect the shot but extreme rotation usually means that there is a flaw somewhere in the action that needs correction.

[@GeorgeAlexanderOz]

Thank you , Barry. It's a real honor to get a reply from you.

[@hamzamahmood4523]

GeorgeAlexanderOz bro can you please explain what type of rotation you are talkinh about and when you have to do that to maintain stability

[@BBBBD147]

I 100% believe that your advice to "get through the ball" is the best advice I've been given. One thing to take on advice, but to actually understand what it truly means, and then put it into your game is entirely another thing. Thanks Barry for everything so far, and I hope you and your family have a fantastic Christmas.

[@stuartevans1351]

I hope you do a special video with Kyren again for your 100th video, we'd all love it!

[@hichamkhmaissi3628]

Agree

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

Stuart. I will have a word with Kyren and see what we can do.

[@domainadmin9905]

Excellent suggestion Stuart! :)

[@ZALLLAM]

Thank you Sir,,, Respect From Pakistan

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

Asif. Thank you very much.

[@BladeRunner-td8be]

Totally enjoyed this lesson. So much goes into potting balls with shape and having a consistent accurate stroke is high up on that list of things.

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

john. Glad you liked the video.

[@mrSrt8]

I started playing snooker like 5 months ago , i was following your advices in these teaching videos , today i got my highest break 58 point , thanks alot barry (sry for bad English)

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

mr Srt8. A 58 break is no mean feat especially after such a short time in the game, very well done.

[@kirstyfeatley9885]

Dropping the elbow seems to be an attribute of all the great cueman ,ronnie,murphy,stephen lee, now selby drops the elbow watching older videos he used to keep the elbow up.Another great cueist who drops the elbow is martin gould who is technically a great cueist.I learnt to drop the elbow and what i noticed was you dont quit on the shot.On a roll in follow the slope of the cue open the hand a fraction and let the drive close the hand the amount of cue power you generate is crazy if you hit your chest then learn the drive you find you start over hitting positional play a little to you get used of how your now timing the shot.

[@johnhoush4366]

I've learned that dropping the elbow should be side effect of a level cue, and not from trying to drop the elbow. If you follow through with a level cue, the elbow has to drop to achieve a level cue. And if you grip the cue a little in front of 90 degrees at contact, the elbow action takes place before contact and adds power to your stroke. If you focus on dropping the elbow, the timing is very difficult to achieve, but it's a lot easier if you simply focus on following through level.

[@jamiesonmatthews2190]

Brilliant instruction...

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

Jamieson. Many thanks, glad you like the video.

[@zohaibhassan2681]

Thanks for your all videos sir.

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

zohaib. Glad to be of help.

[@sidhantkaul5485]

Best advice ever

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

Sidhant. Glad you like it, good luck with your game.

[@ahhahahaha12321434e2]

Barry, love your videos and have helped my game alot! The thing I would love you to cover which I feel the channel is lacking in and indeed alot of us casual players is the order and patterns in which we take the balls. I play both pool and snooker and would really appreciate an explanation on a few common scenarios on how to attack the balls. Thankyou

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

Cal. I will have a look at this as time permits.

[@TheMimetolithman]

Barry I use to do that I could FEEL my tip on thewhite as IF IT WAS FROZEN IN TIME . You are by Far theBesT at delivering advice through Your knowledge and Demeaner as to theGame Barry You are helping me Barry ThanK You Sir'

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

Kristal. I like the way you have expressed the feel, sounds as if your timing is very good, well done and I am pleased I have helped in some way.

[@TheMimetolithman]

I PLAYED Barry last weekend (failed to Defend) losing therubber match in theFinal . I went back to being comfortable and lost theplot - IN AND OUT MENTALLY I could only muster up a 20 break or so on numerous chance's to score big, I was Very disappointed in my play but I am still bying lotto tickets Barry I CAN Win Barry with You, I am just in a RuT and my confidence is shot Barry I was 1 of those players that could threaten You and then do it' oh in thesemi's and theFinal I made 2 masse shots at crucial time's from roughly 19 feet apart both time's I was a quarter ball behind theblack pulled it off real lucky both times but I hit it Beautiful both times also = still licking My wounds Barry all I Ever ask of myself is to make my opponent beat me and NOT me beat me isn't that what we all want with snooker ThanK You Barry .

[@TheMimetolithman]

NaTional's next I Hope get them there Barry.

[@santoshrana1345]

Dear Barry, I sincerely thank you for your effort , I can feel a huge difference in my game just because of you, If possible please explain deep top spin Huge Respect From Nepal

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

Santosh. Glad you are learning from the videos. Can't really associate top spin with the word deep but to get maximum top spin just strike as high as you can, keep the cue parallel and really try to follow through.

[@santoshrana1345]

thank you Barry for your advice on top spin

[@nandagopalmotog6897]

Now this answered what I ve always asked around.. thank you for this video Sir

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

Nandagopal. My pleasure, I hope the videos continue to help.

[@mcrispi2963]

Barry, your videos are very helpful, thanks!!

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

m. My pleasure, pleased you find them helpful.

[@TheWswhiting]

Finally! An explanation of what I see many American pros doing. Thank you. An explanation on how to check whether or not you are going through straight would be helpful. Have you done a video on that?

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

Wayne. I have done a few videos on methods of straight cueing from checking it on the baulk line to shooting over the spots, please have a look.

[@TheWswhiting]

Barry Stark Snooker Coach I found them Barry. Thanks!

[@rovnos]

Refreshing to hear a snooker coach embrace dropping the elbow ! Most would tell you to steer clear and that only Ronnie can do it but i never understood that way of thinking. He's possibly the best player ever so why wouldn't you want to copy/ embrace it ?. Loved the video as always Barry, thank you.

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

Trev. Absolute rubbish that only Ronnie can do it, we all have two eyes, two legs, two arms just like he has, we may have to work harder to achieve it and it may not suit some players but you won't find out until you try.

[@MultiVicky123456]

Barry, I am a right hand snooker player. I make my bridge with my left hand (as it is obvious) and use right hand for 'cue delivery'. The other day i was watching a video of yours with that young lady Selena where you taught Selena and us a number of good things about bridge, how to hold cue and where to hold cue. While everything was great, you mentioned nothing about the angle of right hand elbow with the cue. I was noticing that Selena's angle was a bit more than 90-degree. The entire emphasis was on making solid bridge, maintaining constant distance between bridge hand and delivery hand, cue delivery and her stance. I was thinking maybe elbow angle is not that much of a concerned thing. While it may be ideal to have a 90-degree elbow angle, but even if it is not it won't have that much impact. What matters most is straight cue delivery using bridge, cue holding and cue delivery and stance. Am i right Barry ???

[@nishantgosai8183]

Big fan here, Sir. I love the way you respect the individuality of the players - asking not to change the things that are working for the particular player. Request you to do a video or recommend a drill on how to control intermediate shots. To elaborate, I think I am getting better at extremes (extreme side, extreme top spin, extreme screw shot etc.). Can you please recommend something on how to control the intermediate shots e.g. a shot somewhere between a playing ball shot and an extreme screw shot. Thank you.

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

Nishant. You surprise me that you find the "extremes" easier to control, most players would find these harder to control. I am afraid only practise will teach you the finer points of the " intermediate" shots as you put it. I have however just recorded a video that may help in some way just by striking the cue ball up or down on its central line. This video will be uploaded in due course.

[@nishantgosai8183]

Barry Stark Snooker Coach Thank you very much, Sir. That would be really helpful.

[@akshatbajpai5704]

good job coach

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

Akshat. Glad you like the videos. Many thanks.

[@bohu3132]

I used to rotate the cue by 45 degrees, because I used too much wrist force. After I changed to use more force from elbow/arms, my rotation dropped.

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

Bo. Using the wrist can cause some players a problem with excessive cue rotation, this is usually down to too much wrist inversion which tends to straighten out as the cue goes forward. It can be beneficial to keep the wrist in one plane throughout.

[@Mrphilharmonic]

Barry - your videos are wonderful. I think this topic is closely allied with your comments about follow through and how it is best to keep the cue tip in CONTACT with the cue ball AS LONG AS POSSIBLE. (I think you used a high speed camera of incredulous speed). The two things seem synonymous though and I have seen improvements in my game already by thinking 'leave the tip on contact with the cue ball for as long as possible'.

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

Mr. Of course you need to cue straight and through the ball but feel is the missing factor and the thoughts you are having help to produce that elusive element, well done.

[@Neo-lc9wu]

Hi Barry, if I were to send you a video of my cue action would you be able to tell me what I'm doing right/wrong and what I can do to improve?

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

Neo. We are presently looking at ways in which we can offer this facility.

[@ananths5905]

@@BarryStarkSnookerCoach Barry, please make a video and let us know when this functionality is available. It would be a great boost to my game. Thanks in advance

[@denniskrottje012]

I do the elbow drop. How can I get rid of it?

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

@dennis. This begs the question, WHY. Ronnie O'Sullivan doesn't do bad using it.

[@LearnEnglishwithHamidAli]

Hello Berry, Your suggestions are no doubt marvelous, but i wish you could be available to me physically to judge why i can't score as high as my colleagues do. Perhaps I can't move my cue straight enought, and moreover, i grip the hand while delivering the cue. The reason behind is that I have developed my muscles in the way which cant be corrected without YOU.

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

PARAGON. There is no doubt that one to one coaching is the best and that only so much can be taught from reading books or from watching video tutorials. However, I am afraid that time and other factors prevent me from doing one to one coaching, hopefully that will change in the future. Good luck with your game.

[@harpreetgrover7859]

Thanks a ton Barry Sir 👍 Just one thing I want to ask plus discuss too as I had tried two techniques and both are giving me good response but I quite confused to use which one ? 1) Cue shouldn’t come back as I finish the shot. 2) Always hit the chest on every shot I play. Both are excellent but kindly help me or explain me to use which one ? Thanks a lot

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

harpreet. Some players tend to try to pull the cue back particularly on a screw shot, they do this in an effort to get the cue ball to travel backwards, this is a mistake, the cue should only go forwards. There should not be any physical effort to hit the chest on a shot, this should and will happen quite naturally if the cue is delivered correctly, on some shots a minimal amount of follow through is essential because a full follow through may result in a push shot.

[@harpreetgrover7859]

Good Morning Sir and Thanks alot Barry Sir for solving my puzzling mind.

[@ghulammohammad1494]

Very good sir . U r great

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

raza. I will keep trying.

[@durgakhatri2920]

Firstly thankyou alot my master for sharing such informative knowledge ..i have been following your each advice related wid grip .. I have made grip practise exercise at home and when i practise at home cueing goes so well fingers swing are also nice but in real snokker board when i play i feel so uncomfortable . Please master make a video about the topic , mistake made by player in grip so that i can find out my fault in grip , please sir i beg you .. Hope you will soon make a video related with grip ..

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

Durga. I have covered the grip in detail in several of my videos, covering where and how to hold the cue, please have a look. I accept that changing the way that a player holds the cue is a massive change and will take time to adapt to those changes.

[@ryanmagee2623]

Barry if you look closely at Ronnie he only drops the elbow after he strikes the cue ball. This video clip could mislead beginners to drop the elbow during delivery which is incorrect. Thanks!

[@vmax4steve524]

well said Ryan, no one who is any good plays the shot using the upper arm shoulder joint as this is a rotational joint. The elbow joint is a hinge joint and can only move forwards and backwards, the upper arm drops from the shoulder after the strike and not at all for some players. Hendry in his prime didn't drop the elbow at all and was pretty much unbeatable, but later in his career he did and was so hit and miss he quit.

[@faizanmohammed4969]

Hi Barry. Learning alot from your videos. One thing I'm baffled about is Should the cue be parallel to the bed of the table all the time or is it best to have it abit raised? Thanks Barry.

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

Faizan. Try to keep the cue as parallel as you can, there will always be some elevation of the butt end of the cue simply because of the cushion rails and it will be more pronounced in some players than others, but my advise is to keep this as little as possible.

[@X3nion]

Dear Mr Stark, the passing days, we - a colleague of mine of a local billard and snooker club and me - talked about the different cue actions. He mentioned the "driving cue action", in which inter alia Ronnie is a pioneer. My colleague told me, that once he talked to a former trainer of Ronnie and he explained him how to drive: to somehow, it is not only about going through the ball and dropping the elbow, but it's a bit like shoveling with the cue. When my colleague drives the cue, the cue makes the movement that looks like very slight shoveling, and the level of the elbow is moving slightly upwards and downwards while swinging. When I watched Ronnie's cue action with screw shots in the last years, I could see a similarity. However, I noticed that - considering the time for example ten years ago - the cue action was just going through the ball with the automatically disappearing elbow. How could we arrange it so that you know what I mean? Could I maybe upload a video to my channel (a part where Ronnie's cue action while playing a screw shot can be seen, and a video of my colleague)? I'm looking forward to hearing from you! Kind regards, Christian

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

X3nion. Please contact me through the private messages facility.

[@runrun5642]

Barry Stark Snooker Coach Hello Mr .Barry Since I played Snooker 4 yrs ago I was taught the long back swing and the drive t through with elbow drop But my cue level was bit high now I can get it lower but having a problem fear of hitting table wood when drop-in from low level (one chalk or finger over wood cushion And I wonder always if the higher level(two fingers or chalks and the shoveling while dropping elbow would be better for the drive As a not I don't miscue with it but some colleagues warn it could create a swerve I noticed a quest about Ronnie and shoveling and I noticed u didn't answer in public answers if am right something's are exceptional but works for some people My cue ball feeling and control gets better when I do the shoveling and am having now prob with controlling cue ball if I make it parallel and drop Thanks for your time sir No one does what you are doing

[@bowow0807]

Hey Barry, I have a question regarding the elbow drop. For the past few weeks I've been practicing again and again mainly focusing on my cue alignment because I have this awful tendency to hit a majority of my shots slightly to the left. I noticed that it's especially prevalent when I try to keep my elbow still, but when I cue withe the elbow drop my cueing definitely becomes straighter. Now my problem is that I can't seem to develop as much cue power as when using the standard technique. Any advice on how to fix that?

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

bowow. The drive technique which involves dropping the elbow to some extent is favoured by some players and there is nothing wrong with it if you can do it successfully. More of the larger arm muscles are at work and it is sometimes difficult to generate the cue tip speed necessary for developing cue power. The standard technique you talk about requires that the elbow and wrist work in harmony and this is generally where problems occur if there are any. May I suggest one of two things, A/ Try to introduce a little more wrist into your standard technique, this will help to generate the cue power. B/ Stick with the drive technique but really try to get through that ball and feel it. Lastly, may I say that accuracy is far more important than cue power which I am sure you can develop with practise. You have a decision to make, patience and practise will help you to make the right one. Good luck.

[@bowow0807]

Thanks Barry, I'll keep working on my stroke. Looks like it'll be extra hours on the practice table for me to develop muscle memory for the drive technique. I definitely feel like I'm getting through the cue ball better with the drive technique and my accuracy really benefited from it.

[@sn4348]

My hand moves backwards on delivery any ideas why everything is ok stance bridge hand elbow feet

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

S N. If I understand you correctly your hand is moving backwards on the cue, in other words you start by gripping the cue in one position but end up gripping it in another position. At a time when you should be closing the grip onto the cue you must be relaxing the grip too much allowing it to move. This will possibly cause some errors in delivery and timing and not a great thing to do.

[@sahibzadashahzaib3586]

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.

[@mustafaansarie]

when you feature and at the last backswing as you pull the cue back should you elbow drop as you pull the cue back?

[@59PLUS]

Sir Barry Stark, I’ve been looking at English cues online since I am living in the US and wondered if you had an opinion on the Peradon Pro-Line shafts. I have been looking at those, Parris, and a few other custom cue makers. I’ve been spending 4-8 hrs a day practicing and want to get a cue I will have for many years while I am practicing a lot to get real used to it instead of getting a snooker cue later with a lot of practice with my Meucci pool cue.

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

Miles. There are a lot of good cue manufacturers these days, Peradon being one of them. However, custom made cues are somewhat expensive and sometimes clients have to wait a long time. Are you absolutely sure you know what to order, by that I mean the length, weight, balance, Ash or Maple, size of butt and tip etc. I ask these questions because you appear to be playing snooker with a pool cue and only you will ultimately know what will suit you and that can only be based on experience. Before making this investment may I suggest you try some club cues to determine your preferences.

[@LearnEnglishwithHamidAli]

Fantastic job, sir! I've learnt alot from your videos but still I am in a fix because I cant move my cue straight to get results. The reason must be because I somehow press the cue while delivering it. Could you help me please?

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

PARAGON. Without seeing you play it is very difficult. I assume you have seen my videos on where and how to grip the cue, where to place the bridge hand and how it can affect the follow through etc. If that is so may I suggest that you record yourself on video to see if you can spot any silly little things that may help. Also check your cueing along the baulk line, don't hit a ball but play an imaginary shot along the line to see if you are cueing in a straight line. Do this practise regularly resting the chest on the cue and then cueing without the support of the chest, these practises will groove the muscles in the right actions.

[@arsenalforever5877]

No point of having that ‘drive’ and going right through the cue ball if your aiming wrongly

[@nishantjaiswal9974]

Sir can you please tell me how does it helps in snooker ,

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

Nishant. In the video I talk about the elbow hinge method (elbow high) and the drive method (elbow drops) Judd Trump uses the former while Ronnie O'Sullivan uses the latter. It is up to the player to decide which one works and suits him, just cue in a straight line and get through the ball.

[@nishantjaiswal9974]

@@BarryStarkSnookerCoach ohhh , thanks alot sir once again

[@saraswathigirish4589]

Sir how important is back pause as i mostly miss the pots but able to pot with front pause ..i tried and practise the back pause but it dint worked that much. i aim the ball perfectly but while delivery it gets missed with back pause

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

Saraswathi. Technique problems sometimes happen during the transition of the cue going back and then forward. A slowing down of the action at this point or a definite pause can help to alleviate these problems. The back pause is largely favoured these days but no one can say it is essential, give it a fair try but if you then decide it is not for you then don't use it. Good luck.

[@liyexiang666]

i try to put the 3rd finger into action but what i found is that it affect my accuracy. I was originally using my middle finger as the trigger. since when you pull back, your middle finger open up last, and when u go forward, it close first, when i change the trigger to 3rd finger, it always create a twist in my wrist action. am i doing smth wrong here?

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

liyexiang66. Not everyone has the same method of delivering the cue, if you are happy using the second finger please continue with it. The rear fingers do unfurl but should not loose contact with the cue, to ensure that they do not loose contact I encourage pupils to feel the third finger but its over use can and will cause problems as you are experiencing.

[@sj460162]

Hi barry. Ronnie says he plays with his elbow...but im really interested in this because I just dont know what it means. Sorry if ive missed you explain this...but does it mean that you start the drive with the elbow? You focus on the elbow NOT the hand?

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

Steve. Ronnie uses what is commonly known as the drive technique, watch his elbow and you will notice it drops significantly. Judd in contrast keeps his elbow high. In both instances it is the grip that makes it work, get it right and both techniques start to get a little easier.

[@sj460162]

@@BarryStarkSnookerCoach Thanks barry.

[@sj460162]

Thanks for all your snooker help. The straight cueing stitch in tbe pocket bit was very helpful and helped me realise my cue was firing to the right. I drop straight down on my cue now and find if I push my arm out to the left or right, whatevers comfortable, I make the pot! My long potting has improved a lot! I am left eye dominant and find I feel a bit uncomfortable as I get down on the shot because the cue ends up under my left eye, It feels like im not sighting right. But strangely, whenever it looks wrong..I pot the ball. Infact if it looks good I miss? Anyway thanks for your tip

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

Steve. Players do what they do because it feels comfortable but that does not mean it is correct. Sometimes we have to move away from our comfort zone to make progress.

[@sj460162]

Barry Stark Snooker Coach That makes sense and has certainly helped me. Thanks Barry

[@MrLagoboy1]

After watching how the elbow goes down, I tried it. I am not sure but how would you do it without increasing the speed. After all, you are getting some power from the lowering of the elbow. Aren't you?

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

Andre. Speed and power create errors in any players action, the dropping of the elbow comes from what is known as a driving action, it should be a natural fluent movement not a forced one.

[@MrLagoboy1]

I see. Understood. I have been practicing for a few months with the help of your videos and I am just now starting to feel the flow in my stroke. I play pool so I have made some adjustments like keeping my elbow more away from my chest so that in the future I'll have less difficulty in adjusting to more powerful strokes as you explained may be required in pool as compared to snooker. Cheers! Keep up the good work!

[@cheukyinwong54]

Thank you Barry again for the amazing video. I have tried following all the advice from your videos and improved a lot. However, when I started recording myself from the back, I found out that I have a serious chicken wing problem like Jamie Cope which my cueing shoulder is not aligned with my head and elbow, and my cueing forearm is not vertical as well. Even if I forced my cueing arm close to my body, it just naturally went outside after serveral cue strokes. I guess this could due to my stance. But anyway I have struggled all day switching my position on my dinning stable, but still cannot come up with a solution. And I watched a snooker forum where someone has the same problem and many are sadly dealing with the problems for years. So I wonder if you would have any suggestions or videos about that. Many thanks!

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

cheuk. Anatomically every body is different, the fact that your arm is not vertical can be down to muscle imbalance brought about by the work that you do or even the way you have sat down over the years or simply that you are built different. The only thing that matters is that you cue straight and that is certainly possible with what you describe as a chicken wing arm. Ray Reardon did not conform to the text book ideal but that did not stop him from becoming six times world champion. Jamie Cope was a wonderful player, without going into detail his problem in the game has nothing to do with his arm position. It is very unlikely that your stance is influencing your arm position and it would be a big mistake to force yourself into an unnatural arm position, work on your grip and there is no reason why you won't be able to deliver that cue in a straight line. Good luck.

[@cheukyinwong54]

@@BarryStarkSnookerCoach Thanks a lot for the tip, Barry. I understand what you mean. But as a beginner, I am still finding the balance between getting out of comfort zone and being stick to your natural position. But anyway, I will take your advice and find the best way for me through practicing and self-review on video. Big thanks!

[@sj460162]

Your videos are always helpful barry. Im always mystified by players like alex higgins who seem to play against the book and achieve such good results. Im still stuck on the baulk line sending the cueball severely off to the right? Im seeing what feels right..but I almost have to steer the cue off to the left to get the cueball to roll back nicely along the line? Im right handed left eye dominant..maybe thats the issue????? Cheeers barry

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

Steve. I used to play with unintentional right hand side, that is until I realised that a flaw in my cueing had inadvertently led to right hand side being applied to counteract that flaw. When I placed the cue exactly on the baulk line and adopted my cueing position it always appeared that I was slightly off line, I started deliberately playing with what looked like a little left hand side (actually middle) and it wasn't long before my brain accepted the difference. Now when I place the cue exactly on the baulk line and adopt the cueing position it actually looks to me as if I am on line.

[@sj460162]

@@BarryStarkSnookerCoach Thanks barry. Thats really interesting. It seems that the brain will accept what is actually RIGHT eventually. The scary thing is I think if id tried to fix this with your advice many years ago I might have progressed to become a better player a lot sooner. Im 51 now so maybe a little late lol. Thanks again. Steve

[@hamzamahmood4523]

Sir can you please make a video explaining the drive technique and the rotation of cue while cueing. And sir I am facing inconsistency in judging the line of aim especially when the distance is larger between the balls. Can u give me any tips sir.

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

Hamza. The drive is already discussed in one of my videos (87) please have a look. There is no doubt that if you can use the technique proficiently it helps you to get through the ball but more muscles are active and some players find it very difficult to implement. The rotation of the cue is something that most players do slightly., providing that it is not excessive and you cue straight it should not cause any problems. Remember I said, not excessive, in this case the main cause is generally inversion of the wrist and this needs to be looked at and corrected. Judging the line of aim can be tricky when the balls get further apart but generally that is not the problem, the greater the distance the greater the demand on accuracy particularly in cue delivery, so in view of your other questions I would urge you to examine this first.

[@hamzamahmood4523]

Barry Stark Snooker Coach Thanks alot sir. Its really an honour to get a reply from you. Thanks again sir.

[@theusmn_]

Hey Mr. Barry. I watch all your videos and my game has surely improved. I've always been interested in the elbow drop technique but somehow I can't get it right. My chest interferes and either I have to stand slightly to the left ( as I'm right handed) or move my chest up a bit. My request is for you to make a proper detailed video on this elbow dropping technique so we can get it right. Please sir.

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

Cue, Getting the drive (elbow drop) right is difficult to master, it must be natural, for some it involves changing the grip from the front of the hand to the back and this can also be tricky. Please don't try to force it just think of pushing the cue forward through the cue ball, start to do this with almost no back swing just to get the feeling of it then progressively increase the back swing until you can emulate that feeling even with a long back wing.

[@theusmn_]

Thank you so much,Barry.

[@ShortBusRuss]

Barry, do you think using a liquor bottle or a Buddy Hall cue guide is a good way to build up the muscle memory of the elbow drop?

[@theusmn_]

ShortBusRuss i think a coke or a beer bottle would do the work. It's cheap

[@daniellim8119]

Barry about the drive technique. Which part of the arm am i predominantly using?

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

Daniel. You still use the lower arm but the elbow drops as a result of the push or drive.

[@daniellim8119]

Barry Stark Snooker Coach thank you barry

[@joanescardoso2130]

Hello Barry, I´m Brazilian, here in Brazil I play a game similar to the American pool, my difficulty or problem and game strategy, do you have any tips? the game and 14 balls 7 for each player who kill their 7 balls first wins the match. Do you have any gambling strategy tips? Do you know any channel that can help me?

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

Joanes. I am afraid I don't play pool and only deal with potting and positioning the cue ball through good cue delivery. Because I don't play the game it would be wrong of me to try and advise on the tactics of the game. I have also found that when money and gambling takes place even friends can fall out so I don't get involved in it.

[@joanescardoso2130]

Thank you, Mr Barry.👍

[@stevethomas8126]

Barry. What are your thoughts on the new Taom chalk a lot of players are using now? Worth paying the extra money? Cheers.

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

Steve. They say it eliminates or at least reduces kicks, how it does that I'm afraid I don't know. What I do know is that there are more mis-cues from players that use it, so it appears we may have solved one problem but introduced another.

[@sidhaughty]

Hello barry. Happy new year sir. I have a question for you, its regarding the follow through. Players like ronnie drop their elbows as they follow through and their wrist joint probably ends up hitting the chest but in case of shaun murphy it happens only for power shots, can u please explain the arm's movement while 'finishing the shot'. Thank you very much.

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

siddharth. You are right some players drop their elbow which is largely known as the drive, Ronnie is a classic example of this. Others keep the elbow high and Judd is a classic example of this. There is no right or wrong method only one that works for the individual. Most player's elbow will drop a little on the follow through and it usually is a mistake to try to forcibly to keep it high, just try to cue straight, get plenty of follow through and relax, the rest will take care of itself.

[@postyboy007]

Barry how much do you charge for coaching?

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

posty. I am afraid that due to family and other commitments I am not accepting any coaching assignments at the moment.

[@gordonmaclellan2041]

Hi Barry. I've heard that its good if you can point your thumb straight down. I've been trying that lately. I'm starting with what I'm going to call my chimpanzee wrists because human wrists are naturally bent inward like a chimps. I find that if I can rotate them slightly so its straight down its probably only about 30 degrees from inwards to straight even though it feels like a lot more. I like it in the sense that the wrist feels straight and everything feels more locked in. The problem is it doesn't feel comfortable yet because the wrist feels stretched. Would you recommend that I continue with the stretched feeling until it feels normal? Thanks in advance - Gordon MacLellan Toronto,Canada Show less REPLY

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

Gordon. Please see my answer below.

[@usamasaleem4692]

Sir , i have a question on cue delivery,, at the time we deliver the cue to the cue ball some people stop their cue then hit the cue ball and some people do not allow the cue to stop and hit the cue ball ,, kyren wilson stop his cue just before hitting the cue ball ,, please do minimize my confusion,, thanx

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

Usama. The pause as it is known sometimes happens at the cue ball or sometimes at the end of the back swing, sometimes a player will do both. The great Joe Davis called it a slowing down of the back swing rather than a deliberate stop, it really is down to personal preference. Most modern players pause on the final back swing, it helps to alleviate any cueing errors that can occur in the transition of taking the cue back and then forward, it also tends to help with concentration assisting the player to concentrate on the line of the shot.

[@Rehmannawaz86]

Sir when I hit the cue ball while playing my grip hand touch with chest... Becasue of this unwanted side occur on cue ball.... Guide me how to overcome this issue please..

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

rehman. If you are holding the cue in the correct position it is unlikely that the hand reaching the chest is the cause of unwanted side. If you think about it for a little while you will realise that by the time the hand reaches the chest the cue ball has been struck and is on its way, therefore the hand reaching the chest cannot influence its direction.

[@chillydk147]

Very interesting Barry, I've always dropped my elbow but having recently done some video analysis I've noticed that I drop my elbow prior to hitting the cueball, this is having the effect of hitting up higher on the white, I've tried getting the tip as close as possible to the white but it seems the elbow drop happens too early. Any suggestions?

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

David. I wouldn't try to restrict the elbow drop too much as long as you are cueing straight but I would try to practise with a spotted cue ball. Initially don't try to pot balls just knock the white around the table aiming to hit the dot on the white. This will have the effect of reducing the elbow drop without you trying too hard, you can also check to see if the cue is nearer parallel with the table on the follow through.

[@chillydk147]

@@BarryStarkSnookerCoach Thanks Barry, much appreciated, I've just ordered one of the training cue balls. I also noticed that the butt of my cue is raised quite high in the address position, perhaps that is contributing to the early elbow drop so I'll need to work on that aspect also.

[@kahafzariyat2172]

Sir i have a question plz tell me about what elbow tight

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

Kahaf. I realise that language may be a problem but because of it I don't fully understand the question, please try again.

[@kahafzariyat2172]

is elbow should be tight

[@gypsysoulgypsy]

Barry, i respect you as a Snooker Coach, but i don't agree with your or Alan McManus' observation regarding elbow drop. I've noticed Ronnie countless times, without dropping the elbow. Perhaps, it's that specific type of shot that he needed extra push, thus dropped his elbow.

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

Gypsy. I have the privilege of watching Ronnie practise at close quarters, I have even played him in practise and I can assure you his elbow drops on every shot. Granted this varies depending upon the shot he is playing as does the amount of follow through that accompanies it but nevertheless the drop is still there.

[@gypsysoulgypsy]

Barry, my mistake, you're right. Perhaps there were a couple of shots i noticed with least elbow drop, but when i watched his full break, he does drop the elbow on most shots. My apologies!

[@فلسطينياجرحيأنا-ث3ع]

Hey, Barry, I'm playing like that show in cue video goes right and left, and when I put my arm straight, I don't play well. Who is the player who displayed in the video what his name and thank you Barry

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

I mention his name in the video. His name is Joe Swail, an Irish professional and a very good player.

[@فلسطينياجرحيأنا-ث3ع]

Barry Stark Snooker Coach Thank you, Barry

[@minhochai3084]

Hi, Mr Barry. I remember once you correcting me on dropping my elbow when delivering the cue. I have tried to correct it but I found out that I can’t get enough follow through. So now I have changed to dropping my elbow slightly but too much. But I have a small problem, because of I didn’t bend my body fully when I am aiming, I have a slight gap of 1-2 inches between the cue and my chin. Is this the correct way of aiming? But I found out with this way, I can aim the ball more accurate. I’m from Malaysia by the way. Thanks in advance.

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

Minho. I don't believe a player can aim consistently correctly if the chin is not on the cue. If you have a medical problem preventing you from bending fully then fair enough but otherwise I would suggest you try to get a little lower.

[@minhochai3084]

Barry Stark Snooker Coach My Barry, I don't have the problem on bending down to put my chin over my cue. But, if I did so, I can't see the ball that I'm hitting. I saw the the ball in a blur vision.

[@theznooker]

i put my legs correctly on line when standing, but when i am down my cue is offline. because my elbow and body position is like nigel bond or mark william or ray reardon, the elbow is slightly out which means the cue is more inside and when i am down i am always offline. which means the cue is little but inside my body thats y when i am down my cue is offline. how do i fix this? should i change my stance, or should i move the cue and change the chest contact point?

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

Snooker Artist. The stance should only be used as an aid to putting the cue on line, the eyes and brain are the organs that do this. Place your cue on the baulk line, then adopt your stance, at this stage you can then observe where your stance is formed in relation to the line of the cue. This stance position can then be repeated for most of the shots you play.

[@kyuzozzzz]

Hi Barry , how do I rectify an elbow alignment issue ? My elbow is sticking inwards towards my body. Tried changing my stance but it doesn’t work. It feels uncomfortable if I force it to be straight. Thanks!

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

Beginner. I have the same problem due to an old injury. I say problem but straight away ask myself the question, "Is it a problem?" I still cue straight with it. Every ones anatomy is different and we don't all conform to the text book. To make sure you are cueing straight just experiment with your grip a little, I find that a slight adjustment in the angle of the wrist with some players is all that is needed. If you are still concerned perhaps you could try some shoulder mobility exercises, they sometimes help.

[@kyuzozzzz]

Hi barry, my elbow is not aligned with my head. its leaning into my body by quite a considerable degree, i tried to straighten it but it feels like my cue is completely off my body once i do that and i feel like theres no chest contact and the cue is wobbling around during my feathers and backswing. I am a right hander, right feet pointed out slightly and left feet just slightly forward. my cue is very parallel to the table , just slightly off the cushion. Have been trying to correct this for a long time, any precious tips please? Thank u!

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

Beginner. Everybody's anatomical make up is slightly different but assuming there is no shoulder injury or anything else hindering you getting into what is commonly thought to be the correct position. Try standing squarer to the shot this can have the affect of bringing the elbow more into line. Failing that examine your grip, if you are inverting the wrist this can also give you problems in the elbow area. Forcing the elbow out should not have any bearing on whether your chest is touching the cue or not, you could use a mirror opposite the baulk line to ensure the cue is on line and that your elbow is perpendicular and then bring your chest to the cue. Grooving the muscle action in a way that is strange to your body takes time and patience, the fact that your cue is wobbling around during the feathers and back swing substantiates this but if you are keen you will give it the necessary attention.

[@rickywong4054]

Hi coach, I noticed after I have played the shot, I did not drop my elbow, however, my elbow position change from vertical to slightly inwards. It only happens on shots that require pace, shall I be worry about it?

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

Zin. If you watch a lot of professionals they do exactly what you are describing, as long as you cue in a straight line please don't worry about it.

[@rickywong4054]

@@BarryStarkSnookerCoach Thanks! your replies are always helpful

[@daddyarmin8781]

Hi barry its me again , before every thing o want to thank you for your good anwers , and i have a question again , in one of your vue delivery videos you said that its important to achive the 6 inch of follow through , i want to ask why its important , beccause even in first inch of follow through the cue ball is gone , am i wrong? Thank you sir

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

Armin. There is no doubt that the cue tip is not in contact with the cue ball very long but that is just the same at golf where the club is only in contact with the ball briefly yet the follow through is vital. It helps to keep the action fluent, there is no jerk in the action and getting through the ball straight keeps that ball on the intended line and helps with the timing of the shot, by not decelerating at the point of impact.

[@daddyarmin8781]

Thank you su much sir

[@charleybennett4113]

I sometimes make contact with my ribs when my elbow dropping and the hand comes into the chest is that correct or should my hand completey miss my body but be in line with it?

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

Charley. The object is to cue in a straight line, how you achieve that is an individual thing. Some players will hit the chest others will go past. Start with the cue on the chest and bring the hand forward to it, don't be too regimental about what is happening from there but make sure that you cue straight, if you are not cueing straight then that is the time to look for the problem and keeping the cue on the chest without the hand going past it may just be of help.

[@runrun5642]

Considering pros aiming after approaching the table. 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

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

Run Run. I must be losing the plot I thought I had answered this question, either that or I pressed the wrong key. I really do believe you are complicating the issue. When you get down to play the shot the majority of the aim should have taken place, any movement in terms of aiming should now be very minimal. If this is not so then that is the time to get up and start your pre-shot routine again.

[@runrun5642]

Thanks Mr Barry Yes you answered it cause I copied it to the latest video (elbow matters) Thank u again

[@ihsan708]

You mentioned that thing in ur video same thing happens with me when i put myself on video i start my cue it cueing straight when i deliver it comes offline into the body what flaw m i facing smtime?

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

Ihsan. Check the distance between your grip hand and the body, it may be that you need a little more room. Also, try cueing without the cue touching the body, you may be able to spot something. Don't play like it but its a good practise exercise.

[@ihsan708]

Barry Stark Snooker Coach tell me any practice to increase cue power

[@bobbyjaybeaumont]

Which game did alan mcmanus commentate, does anyone have the link ?

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

Bobby. Not sure which one it was now, it will be on KZbin somewhere.

[@bobbyjaybeaumont]

To update this, I found it randomly today!. kzbin.info/www/bejne/moKum4yChsZqadE

[@Mrphilharmonic]

@@bobbyjaybeaumont Wow! Thanks. Brilliant. I was thinking 'somewhere on KZbin? Yeah. Sure!! ha ha" and HERE IT IS! Nice one!

[@AlexFower]

I have a technique question for you please. When delivering the cue, should you attempt to move the cue through with increasing acceleration (ie deliberately starting off slightly slower and speeding up), or should you try to immediately start the cue moving at the pace you end up at? I know both is acceleration but hoping you can clear what the intention is, thanks.

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

Alex. Please don't complicate the issue with thinking like this, just allow things to happen naturally, hit the ball smoothly, get well through trying to feel the cue ball and the acceleration will take care of itself.

[@AlexFower]

Thanks Barry, appreciate the advice, that helps. Keep up the great videos they are fantastic.

[@DarkMatter1919]

The tip stays in contact with the CB slightly longer? I'm sorry Barry but this is rubbish. I think you've made this up on the spot. It's certainly not physics. Unless you are able to explain what u mean? :)

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

Dark. We hope to show this shortly by borrowing a high speed camera, perhaps you can explain what timing is, not so much how to achieve it but what it actually is.

[@DarkMatter1919]

Barry. Thanks for your reply. I don't see how that is relevant to how long the tip is in contact with the CB. When you do your slow motion camera shots, please do the same speed shot comparisons and please ensure you hit the CB in the same place (ideally centre ball, no spin). I'm certain you won't find that the tip is in contact with the CB longer. In answer to your question. I would define timing as a cue stroke that felt smooth, effortless and you got the desired spin/direction. And I'd define it physically as a smooth acceleration of the cue (so that the velocity time graph is a smooth continuous curve with no sharp kinks in it). The longer follow through (drop of elbow) allows a slower deceleration of the cue, but this is after the stroke has been played and the CB has gone.

[@krishnambetala3643]

Barry sir, you are saying that some players elbow start in line and after the shot it goes offline, in that case what shall we do?

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

Snooker Addicts. The object is to cue in a straight line, everyone is anatomically slightly different and not every ones joints work identically. There are so many things that can influence this, ranging from the work that an individual does to how he sits in a chair. Anything that is done repetitively can and will influence muscle development and therefore anatomical function. If your elbow starts on line and then goes off line after the shot is played just work on cueing straight, it does not matter, the arm and/or wrist will adapt automatically given the necessary time and practise. Trying to force keeping the elbow on line will only cause you more problems.

[@mehwashsaleem1170]

👍

[@kahafzariyat2172]

Waiting for reply

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

Kahaf. Tight implies tension and that is bad in any aspect of the game, try to relax.

[@MBDubIdolo]

Hi Barry, I'm looking to purchase a snooker cue and I'm looking at spending between £85-£120, do you have any suggestions or recommendations? Thank you

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

MB. A snooker cue is an individual thing, what suits one player will be useless to another. At the price you are prepared to pay you can do no better that use the company that made mine in the video I published. They have a wide range of cues in most price brackets. I understand Judd Trump used one of their cues in his early days. CueCraft.

[@MBDubIdolo]

Barry Stark Snooker Coach thank you for your swift reply! Great content, finding it very useful

[@郑鸿-p8n]

听不懂

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

I am sorry you do not understand, perhaps if you enlarge on your query I may be able to help.

[@Oparapetrolina]

Faça um vídeo com dublagem ou tradução para o Português.

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

Jair. I will have a word with my cameraman to see if this can be done.

[@Oparapetrolina]

Muito obrigao pela atenção.

[@Oparapetrolina]

Muito obrigado pela atenção.

[@mohsinalid1685]

language in urdu

[@sahibzadashahzaib3586]

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.

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

Sahibzada. I have already covered this topic on a video, please have a look. The pause should used as an aid to concentration, it can also help in the transition phase of taking the cue back and then forward. The length of the pause is an individual thing and there is really no right or wrong. In my case I have a long pause because with my ageing eyes I need time to allow my eyes to focus on the the object ball once I have lifted them from the cue ball, A youngster generally does not need this time because his eyes are young and responsive so his pause will be shorter.

[@sahibzadashahzaib3586]

@@BarryStarkSnookerCoach Thanks Sir ...

[@unclequack5445]

I changed my whole stance to mirror Steve Davis, when he made that 1st TV 147, My accuracy improved immediately, It felt foreign at first but now it feels like the only way to go. It helped my potting dramatically.

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

Skeefoo. I understand that initially Steve used to stand somewhat like a boxer but found that the squarer stance suited him better. What suits each individual is right.

[@unclequack5445]

One thing I've learned about the Cue art's is you can always learn more, I'm still picking up on things that improve my ability,and I still have room for more. Thank you Coach Barry, you are the best.

[@kirstyfeatley9885]

The boxer stance was used by late joe davis.A coach told me because he was left eye dominant and this stance is better suited for people who sight that way.The modern day square on stance makes it easier to get the right eye on the line of aim.To much is focused on stance if your leading foot goes on the line and your stable thats the right stance .On speaking to an optician about dominant eye in snooker they said to me your eyes focus different over different distance so is the text book wrong?Iam right eye dominant and after that information played and sighted bang in the middle the long potting improvement was astronomical.

[@lewis1544]

I vaguely remember reading a piece about, I think, Ian Woosnam the golfer. Experts examined his form and found it flawed, in particular his wrist movement. He tried to correct it and found that his game got much worse. His drives lost tens of yards. After further mechanical examination, the experts found that his wrist movement actually increased his range. He'd discovered it unconsciously himself. He returned to his normal swing. I suppose the point it, as Barry says, is that we are all physiologically different. If something improves your game, adopt it.

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

Lewis. Well said, whilst the basics are important we all do the same thing slightly differently.

[@LearnEnglishwithHamidAli]

Is it improtant to bend as my as profrssional do keep your chin on the cue? As I am tall and have developed a habit to hitting the ball like pool players, but the reason is that I can't move my cue straight enough while dekivering it. I shall be pleased to hear from you.

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

PARAGON. Being tall should not really be problematic to the extent that the chin cannot be lowered enough to reach the cue. Its really just a question of altering the stance, widening the feet will help to lower the body but if that is not enough try bending both legs, there are one or two professionals that adopt this position. Once you have played a certain way for a lengthy period of time players are very reluctant to change, it will feel uncomfortable and go against what is natural for them. Change will certainly take time and standard of play will probably decline for a period but these are changes that need to be made if the overall standard is going to improve.

[@geligelisangat9922]

Thank you coach,really love your video.

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

geligeli. My pleasure, glad you like them.

[@makauleygrindrod6558]

Hi Barry, I drop the elbow on every shot, but I also find that by dropping the elbow my chin comes off the cue even though I've delivered the cue straight. Sometimes especially when screwing the cue ball I can sometimes lift because of it. I have made regular 50+ breaks but I've always dropped the elbow

[@makauleygrindrod6558]

Are there any routines to prevent the elbow from dropping?

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

MacAuley. Dropping the elbow is favoured by many players even at the top level. You say you deliver the cue straight and can make regular fifty breaks and have always dropped the elbow. Changing to keeping the elbow high would change your action totally and you would find it very difficult. The only problem you may have is the head or bodily lift when executing certain shots, particularly screw shots, this is the area you need to work on and perhaps trying to reduce the elbow drop rather than eliminating it is the answer

[@makauleygrindrod6558]

@@BarryStarkSnookerCoach I miss simple balls especially when screwing back and my chin comes off the cue a lot. I'm struggling a lot more with keeping the chin on the cue at the moment

[@kyuzozzzz]

Hi Barry , I have a technical issue which I hope u can help me with! I used to be a centre ball player .. but as I started to play with side I improved to make 70s,80s and now it has been a habit. However, I realised my elbow is tucked inwards towards my body whenever I play with side, and not so much when I’m hitting centre ball. What do u think could be happening and should I Make any changes please ? Thanks Barry

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

Beginner. Difficult one to answer without seeing you play, I can't really understand why side is affecting the position of your elbow, I assume it is the same whether you play with left or right hand side. Playing with too much side can become a bad habit, that is not to say that you should eliminate it totally from your game but I would certainly try to reduce its use a little.

[@LIVERNIL723]

I think purely from my own experience, this boils down to maximising on the full range of movement re the involvement of the arm and the elbow. It means you do allow yourself a proper follow through, plus, I'm led to believe there is more accuracy.

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

LIVERNIL753. Certainly there is generally more follow through, as a result there is slightly more contact time between the cue tip and the cue ball and possibly greater control. However, because of these points the player had better make sure he/she gets through it straight.

[@blackrockkk]

Hi Barry, I'm a beginning player from Russia and I've watched a lot of your videos, many of them were really helpful! Finally I've formulated the problem in my technique that bothers me the most. When I'm playing the shot, and as my right arm comes from back swing closer to the final position at the chest, cue may change direction slightly to the left, and give either an unintentional side to the ball or make it fall out of line. It is especially noticeable when playing shots with more pace. I thought, maybe my right arm position, and position where the swing ends, can be the problem. What do you think can the problem be? Is it a mistake in the stance, or arm position and swing? How can I correct this? Your advice will be highly appreciated

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

Lev. This is a common problem and is one that requires a little frustrating work. It is unlikely to be the stance but check it against my video anyway. The arm position could be the problem but again unlikely because it normally falls into something like the correct position. It is more likely to be the swing and this is where the work starts. Get on the baulk line and cue along it without a ball, resting your cue on the chest, this should be fairly easy to keep the cue in a straight line. Next do the same thing but without the support of the chest on the cue. Don't move the chest away from the cue a lot, just enough so that the chest is not touching the cue, now perform a long and slow cue action trying to keep it straight. This practise done regularly will discipline those muscles in the correct manner. Remember, slow motion. Good luck.

[@blackrockkk]

Thank you very much, I will definitely try that

[@nikbinaz]

Hi coach, correct me if I'm wrong, but I've come to notice that Mark Allen doesn't have much follow through with his cue ball and strikes the ball pretty fast. Is that a good technique?

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

Aziz. All players have subtle differences in technique, whatever suits one may not suit another. My views on this are if it works it is right, if it does not work then something needs to change. Mark Allen is slightly unusual in terms of technique but his timing is superb, its not one I would encourage anyone to copy but as they say, "If it isn't broken, don't fix it."

[@nikbinaz]

Barry Stark Snooker Coach Thank you very much! I learn something new from you every day.

[@nirmal209]

Barry i have little confusion if i am drop elbow but where can i stop the cue which part of cheast .. and my question is it cue still contact with cheast after drop elbow or lose contact with cheast

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

Nirmal. Take a look at Stephen Lee on KZbin, notice how he drops the elbow but changes the front of the grip to facilitate the large follow through that he has. There are degrees of elbow drop which differs with players, some drop the elbow minimally, others a massive amount, what suits one player does not necessarily suit another. Don't try to force a stop with the cue just let it happen naturally, forcing it will only cause tension. If you use a slight drop then the cue will likely still be in contact with the body but again don't try to complicate the issue by picking a specific point. Its one thing to have a method, its another to take it to extremes and become a robot.

[@nirmal209]

Barry Stark Snooker Coach thank you so much sir

[@pockenandy]

Hi Barry, I have followed you for a year! Your video helps a lot! I want to ask a question, my elbow goes inward every time I play power shots. What can I do to fix the problem?

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

pockenandy. Are you sure that this is indeed a problem, not everyone is built the same we all have slight differences anatomically. If you watch a top player like John Higgins even his elbow moves inwards slightly of his original position. Just ensure you are cueing straight, don't try to force your elbow into an unnatural position this will only cause tension and other problems. Certainly there are guide lines to follow but that's what they are, guide lines, they are not to be viewed as something that must be.

[@pockenandy]

Barry Stark Snooker Coach thank you very much Barry!!

[@nuruddinarif2078]

Hye Barry. Would you mind doing a video with your sleeve folded so that we can see you wrist movement ? This is indeed helpful. Thankyou in advance Sir!

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

Nuruddin. I don't mind doing it but remember it would be a mistake to copy me as whilst the overall principles are the same everyone does it slightly differently.

[@nuruddinarif2078]

Barry Stark Snooker Coach I am aware of this sir. But looking at the glass half full, maybe there's something to learn. Thankyou

[@TheProf62]

Hi Barry. I'm wondering if you are familiar with the 360 Purecue or have ever tried one? If you know about it, what are your thoughts?

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

Andrew. I am sorry but I am not familiar with this product.

[@TheProf62]

Ah, okay. It's a training cue with a self-centering spring joint towards the butt end. The spring bends, breaking the line of the cue if undue force is applied in any direction, which tests a player's cueing and gives them feedback. Here's a video about it, you might find a use for it. kzbin.info/www/bejne/iIO8o3Wkjaxlms0

[@samt6125]

Hi barry theo from nz here. I'm trying to cue straight as I can and I feel when I don't drop my elbow or I do my elbow tucks in to my body. My arm is straight but after contact with my chest it tucks in causing unintentional side iv tried everything but it keeps happening any suggestions? Thankyou

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

Theo. Every ones anatomy is slightly different and it is common for a player to have his arm perfectly aligned at the start but also to have his arm tucked in, as you say, at the finish. This is a natural phenomena for you and nothing to worry about. However, you believe that this is the cause of the unwanted side but I believe that this is unlikely. Cue along the baulk line with the cue resting on your chest, examining your cueing. Then do the same thing but this time do not use the chest to support the cue, you will probably find that it is hard to keep it straight. This is where the work needs to be done, little and often to groove that muscle action, good luck.

[@samt6125]

Hey barry thankyou again for responding to me. I really appreciate it. Since I have msged you I have worked a on this and have been cueing quite straight again . Thankyou