American Reacts to Unlucky & Bizarre Snooker Moments

[@SRPM-yk9xw]

8:03 the problem is not that he doesn't have a shot- he can hit several colours. The problem is the points difference. Bear in mind a red ball is a potential 8 points if you subsequently pot the black. With 4 reds on the table, there remain a possible 59 points, so long as you pot a black after each red. The points difference between the players is also 59. So if Clarke pots all the reds with blacks, he can tie the frame, resulting in a respotted black. Whoever pots the final respotted black, wins. With this shot, he was trying to snooker Williams in order to force him to foul, which would give Clarke 4+ points, and allow him to win the frame without a respotted black. Once the red went in, however, the chance of him potting the black, or indeed any colour, was nil. He had effectively lost the frame as there was no realistic way for him to make up the points difference. You need to pay attention to the score in snooker- it's the whole point of the game, and is also why snooker is far more tactical than pool.

[@Rabid-Pinocchio]

Couple of things. REALLY insightful that you noticed the sound. You can tell if a player is stroking smoothly or hitting too fast/hard. He may make the shot but a player who is 'whacking' at the ball will miss shots that he/she should make and you can predict this purely on the sound that their cue makes when stroking. Super cool that you noticed that. The guy at 3:50, King, was recently banned for match fixing. You can replace your cue mid-game but mostly they would just put a new tip on pretty quickly. All-in-all you're assessments are on track so great job with that..

[@mxlexrd]

The problem with that accidental pot on the red was moreso that he was 59 behind with 59 remaining, so he needed all the remaining reds with blacks to tie. Potting the red without being able to get on the black means he now requires penalty points to win.

[@TheAmericanDane]

Yea, came here to write that. Thanks for saving me the time 😂

[@SanderVandeWiel]

But if he could bury the cue ball between the pink and the cabinet, that would have been a very hard snooker to get out of?

[@mxlexrd]

@@SanderVandeWiel Indeed, he could. Failing to pot the black means he effectively loses 7 points, but he can only get a single foul out of it, because a miss wouldn't be called, so he's in a net negative position. I'm not sure what actually happened in the match.

[@patrickexiler9255]

@@mxlexrd I don't know what happened in that match either but there is no way you can get 2 fouls out of it because when one of the players needs foul points the refs cannot call a miss. maybe a foul with a free ball but that would be really really unlikely because the player in front doesn't actually need to play it safe

[@mxlexrd]

@@patrickexiler9255 Indeed, you're right, I had it backwards in my mind.

[@Obi-J]

The World Snooker Championship is being played at the moment. I'm watching it on the TV as I type.

[@Obi-J]

It's on BBC and Eurosport and I there's a livestream you can watch in the states.

[@ianmoone6562]

The problem is that sometimes they put so much input and effect in the ball to place it perfectly for the next play that they botch the simple.

[@Sticks31]

Yes, you can replace the tip if it comes off but it also has to be "shaped" and it will have a totally different feel, and touch shots are much harder. Players will have spare tips that have been previously "broken in" so that they don't have a completely new tip replacing an existing worn one. It normally takes hours and hours at a practice table to get used to a new tip, a luxury you don't have in the middle of a match. Players will play their whole careers with a single cue, normally made of ash. I've even heard of a player splitting the end of his cue playing a shot, afterwards having the last 5 cms cut off the cue, a new piece (also 5 cms) added to the butt end, and then the cue being sanded down to the same taper as it was previously. That, just so that he could continue using his regular cue.

[@johnp8131]

That "Guide stick" is a 'Rest', of which there are various types. They vary in length and can stradle or bridge over balls that are not in play etc....

[@kevinroyall8829]

Guide stick lmao

[@kevinroyall8829]

@@rollmops7948 Don't forget the swan

[@stumilesyt]

On defensive play and strategic snookers, it's kinda simple! There are TWO ways to earn points in snooker; potting balls, and by your opponent fouling! So if you're on the table and have a tough shot, could be better to play safety and maybe force your opponent to foul for some extra points! What's key to this though is the way snooker is scored - you know that the max potential break is 147, but at any given shot there is also max potential points left on the table (shown on the scoreboards as "points remaining"). If you come to the table and your opponent is winning by more points than there are points remaining, your only way to win is to the get the extra points from them fouling before you pot the remaining balls! Obviously if they are too far ahead it isn't worth it, but for big matches some players will keep playing even up to 4 or 5 "snookers needed" (i.e. need their opponent to foul that many times, and then pot all the remaining balls) if they think they have a chance to win still!

[@kevwelyk]

You were on the right track regarding why the player in the clip around 7:30 doesn't want the red to go in. The specific issue is that he is down in the score by 59 points, but if you add up the balls on the table the maximum score he can achieve is 59 points, which is only good enough to a tie, so he is trying to lay a snooker at this point in order to earn points from a foul, such that he could then win the frame with a clearance of enough points. So by accidentally sinking a red he now needs to earn points from even more than just a single foul to win the frame.

[@WildlifeMattersUK]

Get watching the world championship you will get a much better idea of the tactical side of things.

[@vinniamsterdam700]

Many mistakes are made when they need to put too much effect into the white ball. This happens if they get to much out of position, they then try to force it back into position. The guy that snookered himself by accidently potting the red ball was to far behind in the frame and needed to snooker his opponent to get some points back and still win the frame. When he potted the red and snookered himself he took points away from the table(every red gone is 8 points less on the table) and he then conceded the frame.

[@mehallica666]

Sometimes you concentrate too much on your cue ball position for the next shot and take your eye off the pot. These were mostly down to the need for extreme spin on the cue ball, thus striking it too far off centre.

[@Kualinar]

At 10:20, he wanted to impose a strong back spin on the cue ball so that it would roll back and get in an advantageous location for the next red.

[@ryanrysdale2214]

I won’t just be tuned in, I will be glued to the World Championship. I think the best way to learn is to watch a full match. You will get to see the attacking and the defensive shots and pick stuff up as you go. If you wanted to watch snooker with someone who has been watching it for over 20 years, I would gladly watch some with you.

[@josefsad1502]

Players have a few different cues and always play with their favorite. It takes some time for them to get used to a new one. So missing the shot by cracking his favorite cue was bad for him in multiple ways.

[@meverkko]

Many of those missed shots were due to the player trying to put extreme spin into the cue in an attempt to move it to the next shot. The pot itself might be easy but they are trying a lot harder shot by trying to control the white ball.

[@Assassin020780]

the last one is a perfect example. the mistake hasn´t been shown...it was the placement of the white on the shot before..there is no angle, which should be to get the perfect spot for the next red. That´s why he tried to make a backspin by hitting hard on the lower side of the white ball

[@ronnielove5254]

The World Snooker Championships started on Saturday 20th April at the Crucible Arena in Sheffield, on BBC2, BBC4 and occainally on BBC1 it's showing the 1st round matches just now.

[@philipebbrell2793]

You can see how players lose concentration or be 'pushed' into rash shots over the sessions.

[@marciusnhasty]

8:15 With so much left spin (English), basically masse', it's quite easy to pot the cue ball exactly like it happened. You just expect professional to avoid that mistake, but unlike some other errors that one is super easy to replicate by amateur players.

[@CarlosSastre1013]

You can get your tip replaced during the frame

[@bema1908]

But you prefer if you don't have to. That's the real problem.

[@andrewclayton4181]

A common problem is chalk. They rub chalk on the cue tip to prevent slip, but as the frame progresses, particles of chalk can accrue on the white ball or even transfer to the coloured ones. This causes miss hits, so if they remember, they'll ask the referee to polish the balls from time to time. The bits of chalk affecting the shot is called A Kick. Some of the errors with apparently simple shots are because the player is more concerned with getting the white ball in a good position for the following shot. You were right about the player not wanting the red ball to pot, he'd placed the white ball in a difficult position for his opponent to play, now he was faced with the problem.

[@stevehartley7504]

Sometimes a spot of chalk can explode and ball nolonger is on course Why some will ask for cleaning if opponent misses

[@Senator315]

If the cue tip gets damaged or falls off, they have 15 min to repair it.

[@kevinroyall8829]

Super glue is needed when a tip falls off. If it breaks a new tip is required but it can take some time to wear them in.

[@-sandman4605]

Some of those shots where 🤪

[@herb6677]

The problem is not the shot but the thinking, where the ball should end up after the shot.

[@SRPM-yk9xw]

10:00 not such an easy shot, playing with deep screw and reverse side. It's not all about the pot, it's about the position of the cue ball after the pot.

[@Mus.Anonymouse]

The last one was due to too much backspin, or not enough chalk on the tip for the backspin wanted.

[@adamaalto-mccarthy6984]

Gods of Snooker. A BBC documentary, its worth a watch.

[@stevehartley7504]

It's a rest 2 lengths Then another long called spider long arm plus u on the end

[@stevenartmann2642]

Are you watching the world championship? It's on BBC at the mo

[@Jeni10]

It’s the Rest.

[@GenialHarryGrout]

Not bizarre or even unlucky but in his first round match against David Gilbert. Luca Brecel missed an easy green which cost him his grip on his time as World Champion.

[@stevehartley7504]

They were on the colours so he had to hit only the yellow which he was now snookered on by himself 12

[@MartijnFrazer]

Great to see more snooker! I hope you're able to watch the World Championship that's happening at The Crucible in Sheffield. Some of the best snooker you'll see all year is at this event.

[@UncleJoeLITE]

They only have pool tables where I play poker - bummer. _A 'spider'. You have to stay on the black to get all those possible points btw._ _ps: fouls are 4pts except on blue, pink & black which foul at their face values._

[@9madness9]

Hope you can access BBC as there is world snooker championship going on at the moment

[@EvieWillNotDie]

Still gotta check out best snookers and snooker escapes

[@colingregory7464]

@7.30ish he had an easy snooker behind the pink still but having pocketed the red if he didn't take a high colour and then the snooker (technical term for hidden ball that means opponent has no direct access to a ball that he is required to hit, as well as the name of the game), even if the opponent fouls a high value ball he is only back to where he started and requiring to do it again to catch up the points he is behind with fewer balls to work with. Potentially if the shot is difficult enough then one snooker can be worth multiple fouls (but the rules change when snookers are required (fewer points on table than needed for the player to win) and I do not remember the specifics of how they change, someone may inform both of us !)

[@colingregory7464]

A new tip takes time to settle and for the player to get acquainted with it (so I am told and assuming one is readily available that matches the old one)

[@thenorseguy2495]

I hope your watching the Snooker World Cup in Sheffield right now. I love watching it

[@vidcapper1]

If your cue tip comes off, you are allowed 15 mins to re-glue it.

[@John-jw8rx]

Happy St. George's day 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

[@Snorting-tuna]

I got a bit of a different one for you to watch off-road trailing in the UK whether use over 100 year-old vehicles and try and take them up a hill in the mud

[@siryogiwan]

the worst shot you can ever do (as in feels the worst to ego), is the super close shots, besides hitting table with cue, that is lol, nothing worse than only just miss judging it to me

[@siryogiwan]

I think cue moved in his hand, with number 19

[@siryogiwan]

blue balls you say lol

[@willgeorgakis1500]

Have you had a chance to play yet mate? The table is daunting.

[@brettporter2388]

Yes you can have a time out to replace your tip

[@Jeremy-rt7ou]

Are you watching the world snooker championship at the crucible? It’s on the BBC iPlayer and I think Euro sport. The world’s best players and snooker tournament. A required watch for snooker lovers

[@JohnWhite-nq5kn]

Yeah dude, snooker is a funny old sport, but mainly the top sixteen, those televised at least, don't screw things up as bad as just shown, good video though, allowing us to see even the best can get it so wrong, blessings on your family, keep up the great videos, from your ex pat down south

[@TommyReid147]

Guide stick

[@jeeveseventynine9263]

It's not easy, even the easy shots. The balls are smaller, and the table is huge. In snooker, almost every shot is hard :)

[@liveinhope]

The pockets are also smaller than pool and well guarded by the jaws. You thought you might only 2/10 of the easy pot on the black. Think again, you might get 3/20 until you get the feel of the table. Its also worth noting that unlike in pool, players do not use a special cue for the break off, in snooker you use the same cue for the frame.

[@jasonwales6502]

Mate you cannot play on a snooker table.every pot is double from a pool table

[@heffo67]

Dude, I hope you have found a way to watch the World Championship which started on Saturday 20th and goes on for 16 days. Savage entertainment. Find a way to watch it, you will not be disappointed.

[@jasonwales6502]

Love your interest, I don’t think you have Loks at Stephen Hendry..a humble Stephen says Ronnie is the goat but a humble Ronnie always says Stephen is the GOAT

[@jakubracko8881]

Reaction- HILL CLIMB Preteky automobilov do vrchu Jankov vršok 2015

[@johnkobling]

Hope you get to watch some snooker world championship these days. Looks like Ronnie is on fire 🔥 in his first round match ◀️ (to be continued Thursday)

[@garywoodcock8020]

He lost his footing ,listen to the commentator .

[@MottaFilms]

BROTHER you really really really reeeeeally need to watch this I BEG YOU →→→→→''FULL ONBOARD - SS20 Fourmaux / Coria | WRC Croatia Rally 2024'' I BEG YOU!!! IS INSANITY!!

[@blahmcblahface3965]

Well...at least you can pronounce snooker....just work on the car makers!

[@coloripple]

Most of these players are playing right now at the World championships right now. Watching high stake maches like that live is the perfect way to really get a feel for the game itself. I watch the livestreams on twitch myself. recommended, especially as the WC goes on en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2024_World_Snooker_Championship