148. Straight Through the Middle

Can you hit the cue ball in the centre and still add side? You certainly can. Cueing across the ball is a common flaw, and usually unintentional, but it will cause inconsistency in your game. Correcting it will help add that consistency.

[@corey1845]

So great to see you teaching us consistency during these turbulent times. Cheers

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

UF. Many thanks.

[@alanroll4272]

Another excellent video Barry and reinforces the importance of hitting through the ball rather than “at the ball“.Top golfers have known this little secret for many years and there is so much to link the two games.

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

Alan. Glad you share my views, its so important to get through the ball.

[@battlefieldclips7013]

Welcome back Barry

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

Battlefield. Many thanks.

[@gaugeonesteam]

Many many years ago a good amateur player in my local club gave me the following tip: "Watch people playing, you will see most people miss the thick shots on the thin side (ie: 3/4 ball they hit 2/3 ball) and miss the thin shots on the thick side (ie: 1/4 ball they hit 1/3 ball). I was guilty of this fault and I found my aim and my game improved a lot after following this advice. As others have said: good to see you still doing these videos. always full of great tips and advice. I've always felt that long shots like that lovely blue you potted it is better to hit the clue ball slightly above centre so it is rolling from the moment you strike it. Hey, I'm happy if I get a break of 30 but I love the game.

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

Robin. For me one of the fundamentals of this wonderful game is the ability to cue in a straight line, it sounds easy but is probably the hardest thing in the game to do time after time.

[@Charleyking99]

thanks allot Barry, great to see you back.

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

PBF99. Many thanks.

[@michaelbarnes5719]

Always great to see a barry stark video thank you

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

Michael. Many thanks.

[@jackmack1061]

Great to have you back, Barry. I use this method (hitting across the contact point on the cb) on small tables to ge some work on the too-straight options. Especially with draw close to friendly cushions. I find winding the cue on the follow through also helps. It's the sustained contact moment that makes this possible, i reckon. And again, great to see you posting again.

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

Good stuff!

[@knutewales1171]

Always good seeing you, Barry! Hope you're well.

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

Thanks, you too!

[@nickmiller3319]

Glad to see you back, looking forward to more of your coaching tips and your continued good health!

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

Nick. Many thanks.

[@supercue1]

Brilliant to see you again. Your tutorials are excellent. Thanks

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

Ray. Many thanks.

[@davidmcgowan8388]

Mr Stark really brilliant to see you back, excellent video, the basics are the points most people forget, I advise the team I play for, go back to basics, thank you for videos, 😊

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

David. I believe the beat way to teach any skill in any sport is to isolate that skill from the game, practise it, hopefully perfect it, then put it back intro the game. In snooker the first skill to learn is the cue action.

[@davidmcgowan8388]

@@BarryStarkSnookerCoach Mr Stark, that is the best piece of advice I have heard from any snooker coach, and tell my team members the same, don't walk before you can run, brilliant to have your back with your wealth of knowledge, thank you

[@HuntForTrophy]

Thx for your tutorials - I learn so much - greets from Germany 🇩🇪

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

Seelenverwandt. Great to hear, many thanks.

[@arunnehra87]

Welcome back, love from New Delhi

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

arun. Many thanks.

[@iain8567]

Many thanks Barry, another very informative video.

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

Iain. Many thanks.

[@robholmes4498]

Great your back, look forward to the videos Kind Regards

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

Glad you like them!

[@tentso7771]

so nice to see ur vids each n everytime...

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

tentso. Many thanks.

[@harpreetgrover7859]

👋👋 Very Nice Sir 👋👋

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

Many many thanks

[@faizankamal2817]

So glad your back

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

Faizan. Many thanks.

[@jamesbrowning1535]

Great tips coach!

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

james. Many thanks.

[@Andy-li9is]

Welcome back Mr Stark!

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

Many thanks.

[@JamesWillson008]

Great to see you back Barry, Ironically you post this today as I discovered last night am going off when I bring my cue back for the back swing It wobbles a little, maybe I'm over extending or I need to move my hand further back from the white ball. 🤔

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

James. Difficult to answer without seeing you play but analysing your action on the baulk line with the cue resting on the chest and then off the chest can answer a few questions. Good luck.

[@oneplus5562]

This is exactly my problem and I didn't know how to fix this earlier. Had to change my walk in and stance and sighting , it's much better now.

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

Oneplus. Problems can creep back in, keep checking. Well done.

[@shaneholmes6977]

Looking well Barry!

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

shane. Not bad for an old one, many thanks.

[@TheSnookerShed]

Excellent video Barry Nearly all the people I meet don’t want to work on the cueing straight because it’s just hard work. It is for me thee fundamental to playing,I say all the time what’s the point of anything after you strike the CB is you can’t strike it straight. Cheers mate

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

The Snooker Shed. At least someone thinks like me.

[@TheSnookerShed]

@@BarryStarkSnookerCoach hahahha hey your massive on KZbin. Very respected indeed.

[@bobsnooker.3950]

Great to see you back Barry hope all well. I notice when Ronnie brakes off he seems to cue across the ball . i know that his break needs a little right hand side but he does not seem to put the side on in the conventional way. Love your view of this.

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

Bob. I think the view of this is exaggerated partly because of the camera positioning and also because the cue ball is closer to the brown ball.

[@TheBlueTechnology]

can you make a video about hip, and how to turn or twist it properly ? i have problem and this is why my elbow is not behind my head becaz i cannot bend my left leg as much and cannot turn the hip thank you

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

Gupp. There is no conscious effort to turn the hip, just place you right foot on the line of the shot (right handed player) Place your left foot so that it is about shoulder width away from the right foot and about the length of you foot in front of it, then bend forward naturally. If you have an injury to your left leg preventing you from bending it then you will obviously need to adapt this slightly but this should not cause your elbow problem, perhaps a lack of shoulder mobility is the problem.

[@oneplus5562]

Try standing in a full boxer on stance rather than squarish. That way the hips don't have to twist . You would still be naturally twisting the upper torso naturally to get the elbow behind the eye and the shoulder.

[@mehranaslam375]

Great video ❤️

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

Glad you liked it!!

[@geerteree6336]

Nice

[@petrij7660]

Coaches never talk about the fact that we have two eyes, which makes it difficult to see if you really are on the line of the shot or not. I have been playing snooker for years and I have not found a way to aim straight consistently. If I focus on the line of the shot, it's difficult to see if the cue is exactly on that line (because neither of the eyes are on top of the line). If I focus on the cue, it's difficult to see if the cue is on that line. Usually cue is not parallel to the table but in an angle which also makes it difficult to see if it's really pointing in the right direction. Do you have any thoughts on how to fix this fundamental issue? I have been looking for an answer for this for years but have not found one that works consistently. Cueing through the ball definitely helps most of the time, but if I'm not exactly on the line of the shot then I will not pot the ball. Practicing this on the bulk line doesn't help either because when I'm down on the shot the cue is not below my eye, but it's on the side from the point of view of both of my eyes.

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

Petri. This can be a dilemma for some players. What you need to do is establish which is your dominant eye,( I have explained this in one of my videos) When you use this correctly on the baulk line you can establish a pre-shot routine that incorporates how you stand and how you place the cue on line. From there you repeat the process on every shot you play.

[@petrij7660]

@@BarryStarkSnookerCoach Thanks for the answer. I will practice this and see if it helps. Cheers

[@graememcgregor8407]

Barry, I have a sighting issue that makes this more than difficult for me. When I see the cue straight and hitting the middle, I am actually cueing across to the left. I have to make it look as though I am cueing across to the right to hit the centre, which is difficult to do with any degree of consistency. I struggle like hell with this! Just playing a straight blue across the table ends up with the ball to the side of the pocket. What can I do with this issue?

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

Graeme. The vision through the eyes is sent to the brain for interpretation, you may be sending the wrong message to the brain by using your dominant eye incorrectly. Try putting the cue on the baulk line (exactly) before taking up your cueing position. Now look along the cue adjusting your head position so that the cue is near to or under your dominant eye, careful here though you can move too much. Patience here is also necessary, changes can also need a little time to become established.

[@graememcgregor8407]

@@BarryStarkSnookerCoach Thank you, I really appreciate your advice on this. Are you saying that correcting my use of the dominant eye can make it look right to me and be aligned at the same time?

[@mehranaslam375]

Always helps

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

Mehran. Glad you share my views.

[@gebbi80]

Hello Barry, interesting video. I also have this problem with the "unnatural" side-movement during delivery. Is there any way to get rid of it? Thanks

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

Matthias. Judd tends to put more weight onto his lead foot as he delivers the cue, this in turn moves his body slightly and hence the cue. There must be some movement somewhere, may I suggest you place yourself on video and really analyse your action. I would be surprised if you cannot find some movement somewhere.

[@paullongobardi13]

Looking for suggestions. I’m right handed and my right ulna is 1.33 inches longer than my left ulna. Surprisingly 1.33 inches is roughly the diameter of a pool cue. The result of this extra length is that I end up playing a lot of screw shots or stun shots. While many will laugh and say I’m ridiculous but try taking your proper stance, and then lower your cue arm an inch or raise it by an inch and hit a series of shots. Bridging over a ball is typically a waste of time. Every shot must allow for the extra length.

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

Paul. Whilst obviously not ideal, without seeing this I cannot really understand how the differences in the length of each Ulna bone can cause you so many problems. If the right arm is normal and the left arm bent because of the disparity between the Ulna and the Radius bones I am afraid it is a question of finding ways to make adequate bridges to play all shots. I sympathise but I am afraid without seeing you play I cannot help.

[@paullongobardi13]

@@BarryStarkSnookerCoach I’ve started using a bridge where the cue is between the 1st finger and the middle finger. By forming a “v” with those fingers it forces the left arm to straighten so that the cue must point squarely at the cue ball. It’s almost like having an aiming sight as the cue must follow the “v”. Looks strange but I’m after consistency not looks. Works really well when bridging across a pocket.

[@Erkkremlinklum]

For better results have the cue ball follow the object ball into the pocket

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

Eric. Good practise I agree.

[@theznooker]

i used the spotted white to see why i miss those long blues, if it spins its bcaz i put side but mine wont spin and if i try to put from green area to put long blue i miss the blue to the right of pocket and if i try to put the blue blue from black pocket area i miss the blue to the left of the pocket (yellow pocket) and no spin on the spotted cueball i have no idea what is wrong and why i miss these long blues differently if the pocket is to my right side i miss the blue to the right of pocket and if the pocket is the left side of my body i miss the blue to the left of pocket what is causing my aiming to miss them ? as i said i deliver the cue straight and no spin on the spotted cueball, which shows i hit the white centre but aim incorrectly

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

snooker. Difficult one this without seeing you play but it does sound like a sighting issue, maybe you are using your dominant eye slightly incorrectly, be careful with though as moving under the dominant eye too much can cause other problems.

[@theznooker]

@@BarryStarkSnookerCoach hy barry how much do you charge for 1 week camp if i come to UK? tnx

[@jlnismo1004]

Hey Barry, I had a question, what is the height of the rails for 2 1/16" balls? From the bed of the table to the bottom of the cushion that makes contact? If anyone knows please help me out, thanks!

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

JL. Sorry but I do not know this measurement, I will however try to find out.

[@antoniomoreirajuniormoreir6362]

❤️

[@silvershadowjsh]

Has video 147 been skipped??

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

Silver Shadow. Thanks for the comment. I'm saving it for something more special. I have posted a community comment answering your question. kzbin.info/door/DQiSi2iaA-FWw1J-cf8c6Qcommunity

[@zahrazarei9604]

Hello, it was great. Can you please teach how to play eight balls I like to learn it as well

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

Zahra. I am afraid eight ball is not my game, I concentrate on snooker. However, if you work on your cue action I am sure it will improve any game on a snooker, billiard or pool table.

[@zahrazarei9604]

@@BarryStarkSnookerCoach Thank you very much🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼

[@billylapworth]

Where's video 147?

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

Billswax, Thanks for the comment. I'm saving it for something more special. I have posted a community comment answering your question. kzbin.info/door/DQiSi2iaA-FWw1J-cf8c6Qcommunity

[@DANTHETUBEMAN]

I was working on this and noticed even when I made the long straight shop my cue ball still went crooked. I'm going to keep at it till it rolls on the shot line. To me,, this is pool shooting 101,, if you don't achieve this, every other shot will leave you guessing what went wrong.

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

DAN. It is important to keep examining your cueing and this is just one way of doing this. Try potting long straight blues checking if the cue ball remains on line, don't be alarmed if you don't achieve 100% but please look for a reasonable percentage.

[@DANTHETUBEMAN]

@@BarryStarkSnookerCoach I have done this twice this week, and my cue ball after impact does not fallow the object ball to the picked even though I make the shot. So I'm working on it.

[@wiliam5442]

Barry, where are you look at in the moment of the back pause?

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

wilsnooker. This varies between players, some players will take a last look at the cue ball before lifting their eyes to the object ball, this is fine if your eyes are young and responsive because they will focus quickly,. My eyes are old and less responsive so I need a little more time to focus, certainly more than a youngster. A youngster will generally lift his eyes to the object ball as the cue is on the backswing, my eyes do not lift until the cue is stationary on the back pause. One of my videos covers this in detail, but remember what suits one player does not necessarily suit everyone.

[@wiliam5442]

Thank you so much Sir, you are the best, thank you

[@addy5066]

❤👌🙌

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

Many thanks.

[@collinz5923]

Barry, how do you increase confidence when playing against an opponent? when I'm down on the shot, even an easy one, i feel like I'm not 100% sure that I'm going to pot it.

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

Collin. Confidence comes from a sound technique and the ability to ignore everything that is happening around including your own self talk. You must try to establish a pre-shot routine in your practise, obviously one that works and one that you are comfortable with you can then take this to the match table. Don't forget that this routine must be there for every shot, watch John Higgins, see how he prepares for the shot, every shot. He has worked out you cannot divorce the physical from the mental side of the game and even when he is under pressure he knows that if he prepares for the shot in the same way every time he is giving himself the best possible chance of a successful shot. Don't try to copy John's routine but work one out for yourself then repeat on every shot. Good luck.

[@collinz5923]

@@BarryStarkSnookerCoach thank you, Barry! good luck to you and Kyren!

[@collinz5923]

@@BarryStarkSnookerCoach Barry, one more question regarding cue maintenance, can you wipe the cue with a slightly damp cloth when its sticky?because lots of people told me its a bad idea. Also, a little about breathing pattern would be nice

[@leanm235]

When I watched Joe Davis or Ronnie O'Sullivan play.. a Left Dominant Eye player but right handed. In my case, I am a Right Dominant Eye player but left handed. When I place my cue under my right eye close to the chin with bended knees (low stance), I experience stress in my neck and back. This is my issue.

[@omidrastin3745]

first