Snooker Do You Hit Through The Ball?

In this video I explain how to strike the ball properly and how we then learn how to control the white ball.
I am a qualified 1st4Sport Level 2 WPBSA Coach. I am available for one-to-one coaching lessons and do travel to see people. If you are interested please don't hesitate to contact me!
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If you have any questions about this video, or suggestions about future videos you would like to see, leave them in the comments below. I answer all questions!
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[@maxmaxwell3787]

This is the absolute principle of snooker - you have to master this simple but complex theory. And... Mr Barton, you give the best coaching online. You have a great connection with us clubbers doing our best to make a 50 break. Thank you.

[@BartonSnooker]

Thank you Daniel. Great to help and thanks for the support 🙂

[@simonpoole3053]

Had a 2 hour coaching session this evening with Steve as I was in England to see my Mum. I have my own full size table in Chicago and am a reasonable player - 60-80 breaks in practice but want to go to another level. Steve validated what I was doing well and pointed out some tweaks that made a lot of sense. Really excited to put these changes into practice. Steve is very knowledgeable and explains things in a way that is easy to understand. Highly recommend! Will give an update in a few months to see where the changes take me. Simon.

[@BartonSnooker]

Many thanks Simon 🙂

[@tonycook615]

@@BartonSnooker Thanks

[@goforawalktwice]

How'd you go ? 100 break !?

[@chrisderrick2989]

I have just recently discovered that dropping the elbow is another great way to ensure you get through the white. My potting and cueball control improved dramatically by doing this. O'Sullivan is a great example of someone who does this.

[@aviadd843]

To everyone here, I recently had the opportunity to book a few days with Mr. Barton and I would sincerely like to recommend anyone who wants to improve his or her game to do the same. During our week of practice I learned much about the game, the technical aspect and after some observation and practice Steve gave me many things to go over in order to improve steadily. Highly recommended, please take it from me.

[@BartonSnooker]

Many thanks Aviad. Was a very enjoyable week for me also.

[@BeNeDdO]

@@BartonSnooker where are you based?

[@BartonSnooker]

@@BeNeDdO have a look at my website: www.bartonsnooker.co.uk

[@bilalyaqub2833]

You are one of the best coach around the world , please keep making these amazing videos .

[@BartonSnooker]

Thank you 😀

[@miebosia8086]

conway

[@jamesali76]

Not one of the but the best

[@asfundali6717]

Sir kindly tell how can we play slow pace shot with complete follow through

[@zilahasri5745]

Why on earth for such a great video like this there are still people dislike it...

[@chrisjordan7739]

I managed to transport my table over to rural France in the Dordogne and assembled it myself about 4 months ago. I practice every day and have matches 3 times a week. The standard here is low but I sometimes play OK getting breaks of 20 but am not consistent. Just going through these videos they make alot of sense and am definitely going to try a few lessons if he will do it remotely, many thanks for great videos

[@BartonSnooker]

I do remote lessons all the time. Would be a pleasure to help 👍🙂

[@mightymolefe5871]

I know I'm a pool player taking Snooker lessons Thanks cheers

[@123mailashish]

What a coach!!! Excellent!!! How do u manage to keep things so simple yet so powerful? No fancy stuff. Pure simple n fundamental things. People would love to have a coach like you.

[@BartonSnooker]

Many thanks! Much appreciated 🙂

[@screaminlordbyron7767]

Very good explanation. This is probably why my intended screw backs end up as stun shots even though I'm hitting hard and low.

[@questerng6900]

yet another well explained technic is our sport. Thanks steve

[@israelmaharaj5456]

Most helpful video

[@Jawakaithkuna]

I've been playing this game for last 30+ years and was struggling with the screw back, i used all my power. Thank you very much SIR for explaining. I love this game more than football or cricket.... Thank you once again.. Already, LIKED....✅ SUBSCRIBED... ✅ SHARED OF FB... ✅

[@grahampilkington252]

Watched many of these sessions and I like this the best as it is my main problem of spinning back. I have lots of problems and follow through of the cue as been at the centre of most of it.

[@amil1010]

This is probably the lesson you should do months ago. Right after pre shot routines!! Anyway, well explained as always!

[@morganfreemanwannabe]

As a total amatuer who's only ever played based on intuition, I've been snap-shotting everything for my entire life, lol. Very excited to try this out

[@omk_alltheway]

This is the best snooker video ever. You explain so clearly. Yeah you are right, but I did not even followed through on top spin, and I wondered why I don't get the cue ball to go forward as I much as I wanted. And same was the case with screw, sometimes it happened, most of the times screw turned into top spin, because I was not following through, as soon as the tip of my cue reached cue ball, I would stop. I understand now. My basic problem is that my bridge and stance is not as you said in some other videos. I will work on first forming a perfect v, so that the cue can easily go all the way back in the v, also my hand did not reach my chest, on any of my shots. Although I followed one of your videos on pre-shot routine, and now I take pause at the white, then back-swing, which improved my delivery especially on long pots. I know every angle in my mind, and I wondered why I can't pot this long ball, even tho I know where to hit it. Now after I worked on that, I use less power and pause before delivering the cue, which greatly improved in a way that the cue ball hit the object ball where I wanted to most of the times, as I remembered a ronnie video, in which he was saying that we prefer accuracy over power in case of long pots. But I still can not use a lot of power, as it is needed in some shots, and make a pot. I guess practice will make it easier for me to use power in long pots. But the thing is that I am usually playing at the clubs, where we pay if we loose, and most of the time, if I take a long pot slower, and it just wobbles in the pocket, the object ball stays there, so the other person has an easy pot. But your video gave me confidence after seeing the results, that with slow power I can make almost every angled shot, which is a long pot, 8 outta 10 times. So anyways, great video, especially its gonna help with my game, and screw shot too. You are awesome. I would love to be with you on a table and get 1 on 1 coaching from you. I am from Peshawar, Pakistan. Waiting for your next video now.

[@Rahul_aka_Bazinga]

Exactly what ronnie describes in videos :) Zip through the ball

[@zanebeasley6246]

Thank you good information

[@alexpaic2984]

You know you cueing straight when you screw the white back hits the cue and stops on tip of the cue. Can’t cue more straight than that. Great job as always and thanks for the video Steve.

[@BartonSnooker]

Many thanks Alex 🙂

[@peterf9456]

Thank you Mr Barton ive been appliying this follow through and found it had drastically improved my ball control Thanks so much for the video

[@stevegribble8461]

Will try this on my next practice, I'm new to snooker and find these videos 👍 great

[@ernoeskeli1139]

I'm a pretty good player myself and I can tell you that getting a nice response from the cue ball is absolutely not about hitting it hard and aggressively. Sometimes I find myself getting the same reaction (if not better) by using no more than 50 % of the "maximum" cue speed and just hitting the white very smoothly, gradually and with a loose grip hand. Letting the cue do the work instead of using your own muscles is something every aspiring amateur should realise. Having a long loose flowing cue action (talking about the back swing and follow through, not necessarily the waggles) will give you that confidence of being able to do everything with that cue ball.

[@stuartbond2280]

Agreed 💯👍

[@jas2819]

Good stuff! 👏👏👏

[@julianeyre173]

Ive just started playing and find your videos and explanations very clear understandable and helpful. Thank you very much dor helping me improve.

[@richardbrougham1801]

Excellent advice-thank you.

[@lafaelerobertson2573]

Great video

[@davidlong1313]

great info

[@kfmctell]

Excellent, so easy to forget to do this. Great on screen graphics also- very professional video 👍🏻

[@lafaelerobertson599]

Thank you Steve. I like playing Pool

[@markclayton626]

Very interesting, and well worth knowing, thank you 👍

[@saishvi1]

nice lesson

[@benharris8777]

I found this video very useful. I am glad you’ve explained that. Carry on the good work.

[@gilpercik2442]

Excellent explanation! Spot on!

[@fielding68]

Great advice. Thank you.

[@Teologi-kd2nl]

Thank you from Malaysia

[@streetcat1510]

Thanks a lot helped tremendously.

[@akumakuma2547]

Probably, you are the only one coach making video on this topic, Nic and Barry not done before⋯so I‘m deeply appreciated！ However I can’t totally agree, for example：when we want cue ball go short distance after a thin cut, when we play soft stun, or a stop shot just like you shown in this clip@2:24⋯what we need may be just keep a short follow through, not to the chest⋯it comes more natural and effective！ Hope you reply ^_^

[@lolgags1605]

Hello, it s very instructive video thank you so much, I m wondering if you can do a special video about screwing back the cue ball

[@cameronquick1157]

Thanks for this one, El Barto

[@speccyiiii]

I could have done with watching this before tonights game!

[@BartonSnooker]

Ha! Hopefully it will help next week's game Simon! 😀

[@speccyiiii]

@@BartonSnooker you'll be the first to know! Lol. I kept snatching snatching tonight because the table is a little faster than the average table speed, and subconsciously I stopped the cue going through to reduce the speed rather than letting the cue accelerate and control the speed. My brain said no for some reason.

[@dermotshaw6775]

@@speccyiiii this is what someone once called #safemode.... those who know, know!

[@irfanellahi4794]

Very informative. Thank u. P.s. any chance u can post certain shots in slow motion plz

[@TrickshotTimeHeiko]

Very well explained, that helps me to further improve my technique. Thank you very much. I'm looking forward to your next video. greeting Heiko

[@orthodoxwriter]

Simple. Common advice. Yet worth a million pounds. I did everything but could understand why I was missing. I did this on intension and suddenly everything changed. Like John Higgins I have a bad habit of putting the tip a bit away from white and then on top of that if I’m not hitting through and tip is already away from white I have problems. I’ll keep this in mind and also try to bring tip near the white in order to control my premature elbow drop. Let’s see. Thanks coach.

[@harpreetgrover7859]

Hello Sir, You are a good teacher Steve. Just one thing i wanted to ask is whether we have to hit from the cue ball or from the tip of the cue for follow through on each and every shot ? Waiting for your answer.

[@Staycie313]

Thanks steve!

[@miketait1640]

Great video. A few years ago I saw a video from another coach who said that for stun shots you “stop the cue on the white”. This really confused me. Really happy that you have explained this properly. One question I have. Is there a rough rule of thumb on how many inches the cue should follow through?

[@andyturner2982]

Was the video by Terry Griffiths? I had his book when I was a kid and I thought he said the same, I've just had to buy the book again to see what he actually said! Going to try following through like Steve suggests on stun shots, might explain when I'm a bit jabby on stun shots!

[@andyturner2982]

@@miketait1640 I know who you mean. Yes, Steve's videos are quality.

[@BartonSnooker]

Hi. Thanks a lot for watching. As a rough guide 2-3" of follow-through is fine. As long as you push through a bit that's good. Just make sure you are never 'jabbing'!!

[@CueBald]

Great video as ever 👍

[@myoldskool]

I'll give it a go tomorrow night! 🙂

[@Teologi-kd2nl]

Thank you

[@soroushm3862]

That was vary great video. Tanx

[@BartonSnooker]

Thanks for watching 🙂

[@Meant2exposeradicals]

Excellent videos. Is it possible to put uppitiest up videos on basics of billiards.

[@rvic11]

Some good insights here.

[@Tyris1013]

Good instruction video. Funny enough that one establishment with snooker table banned draw shots cause it damages the cloth somehow... I'm a two year pool player and decided to have a go at snooker to improve accuracy. To my surprise, no draw shots and hateful remarks about cloth scars... Are snooker cloth that fragile that cueball draw damages it??

[@graememcgregor8407]

Steve, I know there are a lot of myths about these things, but I heard once (from a fairly decent player) that players will decelerate to avoid spinning the white on gentle shots like just dropping a ball into a pocket. So they would hit low but intend a plain ball sort of shot. Or maybe I misunderstood.

[@BartonSnooker]

Yes sounds like what I would call a 'mini drag shot'. Sounds like that person is doing the same thing, but just explained it in a weird way (because you're not actually decelerating). Remind me about it when you come and see me again 👍

[@graememcgregor8407]

@@BartonSnooker I'll add it to my growing list of questions!!!

[@zulhakimibahtiar436]

U are my coach now. Auto subscribers n bell.

[@karlsonyap699]

Brilliant.

[@simon19841]

Thx so much

[@betoleonardi]

Barton, hit with just the weight of the club with the grip loose and stop the club on your chest while remaining still, correct?

[@davesmith208]

Just was wondering how do I turn a ball over when pot just won't go do apply the side on cue ball to opposite side than you would think you would

[@asfundali6717]

Sir kindly tell how can we play slow pace shot with follow through

[@adilshah2388]

Coach Thanks for sharing this video it’s very helpful for players. I have a question I can’t play consistent every time, some time I play good in rhythm and make 100 + Break and sometimes I play different and missing easy straight ball and lost Que ball control and temperament What should I do for playing consistent every time same style Thanks. 🙏

[@BartonSnooker]

The best thing to do is accept we have good days and bad days! We do not always play our best each time. Secondly, if you are struggling, go back to the very basics. Make sure you are controlling the cue properly and approaching the shot in a consistent way each time.

[@keyoguitar]

Thanks for this vid Steve, you've verified a discovery I made recently.. I was trying to figure this shot out and through practice I realised that I must follow through to play this shot. I wonder if this idea of stopping the cue to stun the ball in place, is from the distant past? I'm sure my dad-who was a handy player- told me to do this. I wish I lived closer to you because I'd ask for some coaching. I live in Cardiff, never mind. Thanks very much for the videos; they're very clear and helpful.

[@BartonSnooker]

Yes, it's a common myth about "stopping" just after you hit the white. The white has no idea whether you stop just after striking or not. The only things that matters are: 1) where you strike on the white 2) what power you use That's the only thing that determines where the white ball goes and how we control it.

[@rimos67]

Hi Steve, Can I please have your vision on cleaned balls vs not cleaned balls? I play in a regular club where they do not clean the balls so much but they do when I ask them to. To me it makes such a huge difference to be honest. What’s your opinion? Looking forward to your reply and wishing you a very good Sunday. Regard, Richard.

[@BarmyFP3]

Thanks for the informative video. I've been playing for years and am still learning things. Have you ever tried 3-cushion billiards? I play it quite often here in Korea. It seems that some shots need long strokes and others need short strokes. Generally, longer strokes give more spin and wider angles off the cushions. Thus, for certain angles, a short jabby action works better. Would you agree?

[@danielosullivan7940]

I’m trying to get more than a 3 break, any advice?

[@lloydshanahan555]

Great video as always Steve and looking forward to our coaching session in days few. In order to consistently follow through the white, aim correctly on the cue ball and cue accurately I’ve swayed towards looking at the cue ball before striking and not at the object ball. I know this debate is a well trodden path but I appear to get better results. However, strangely for long shots and safety shots I find looking at the object ball better. 🤣. Something for you to work on with me I think! What’s your thoughts on what ball to look at Steve?

[@BartonSnooker]

Hi Lloyd. I always teach object ball but we will have a good chat about it next week 😀

[@TariqMahmood-yo5op]

Thank you Steve, your every single video, very helpful 👍 I need little help for my cue tip, 🙄 In Last 3 weeks, I changed three tips, because I buyed elk master tip from Leeds, first few sessions very well, then going to be to hard, even I use little scratch on top with sand paper, but won't help, Just tell me with tip, you are using 🤔

[@dermotshaw6775]

He uses a century pro g1 tip

[@TariqMahmood-yo5op]

@@dermotshaw6775 thanks 👍

[@dllee5930]

When hitting a draw or a stun shot I see the cue Tip travels and gets closer to the table when you push thru. What about when hitting a follow shot, does the Cue tip also get closer to the table or should it stay parallel with the table or even away from the table?

[@TheSnookerShed]

Hi Steve wee question pushing through works but can you explain why as the contact between tip and ball is a tiny fraction of the distance the cue travels ? Cheers Andy

[@BartonSnooker]

Hi. Because we are human, so the only way for the cue to be accelerating nicely when we hit the ball, is for us to push through past where we need to strike. If you built a machine to hit the ball, you could make it stop 1cm after it hit the ball because the white ball is travelling and long gone. If you only went through 1cm, you couldn't possible be at maximum speed when you hit the white, because it's not possible for a human to slow back down in 1cm. That's why for us humans, we push through nicely, so that we are accelerating as we hit the ball. Hope that helps 🙂

[@TheSnookerShed]

thanks for the reply excellent answer Steve

[@dermotshaw6775]

I second that... well said 👌

[@checkitnow639]

Plz i want ask you that how to stand behind the ball.. Straight and in angles.. Plz tell me and play few shots with front cam..

[@bfgskittles4247]

Do you play billiards? I would love to see some billiards tutorial videos!

[@simon19841]

Just wondering if i play a power shot. Is it same way to play as the video mentioned.

[@tedcontreras9729]

What if we don’t play snooker,just regular pool,will all this information be good for my pool game??

[@vitoralmeida1976]

Hello Barton, I am Brazilian and many of the things you say the translator does not translate correctly. One question: it is correct to push the arm or push the hand. Thank you very much!

[@MarkWestcott-k1f]

What causes the cue ball to jump when striking it low for backspin - can you hit it too low?

[@BartonSnooker]

@@MarkWestcott-k1f yes

[@sidhaughty]

Hey Steve, hope you are alright. A quick question. Does the POWER OF THE ARM, make a difference? Do we need to sit with more power in the arm for power shots, or just the length of cuing is enough to dictating the pace of the shot. So basically how much power should one sit with? Cheers!

[@TheCarlhungness]

I see you DO have a ball that is split in two colors. You will find many times if you hit the ball on the brown side you will be able to see where the cue tip made contact, and that would provide another visual for your viewers.

[@hamzaharshad5367]

hey pal! I hope this msg finds u well, I just want to ask u a basic thing that is how to pick the potting point? I am a beginner so just wanna know how you pick the potting point ..............

[@snookernews1547]

Is it better for a beginner to play on a medium size table first ?

[@NirajRai-v2u]

Science of body sir

[@jamesdoolan7966]

What do you do when the object ball is too close to the cue ball and pushing through would cause a double hit?

[@BartonSnooker]

Good question James. I will try and do this in a video. I would elevate my cue and dig down on the white ball a touch, so that I can hit the white well without getting a double hit.

[@USMANaka007]

thing go veryyyyy difficult, when i play on wiraka m1... all of my technique lineup never even works anymore.. dunno why

[@robay3398]

Hi Steve, my wrist keeps bumping into my chest when I am playing power shots. That puts the cue off-line and stops the cue from accelerating. Any solution for this? Cheers. Have a good day Steve

[@islamandworld5094]

Hand grip on stick tight and lose explain

[@mattstereo1943]

Hello steve, how to play & aim a side ball.. Thanks

[@huaweit5354]

Hi, do you think the same concepts can be applied to 5-pins billiard?

[@BartonSnooker]

Yes!

[@diomartin3816]

Another great video, thanks! which camera do you use for your videos ?

[@BartonSnooker]

Hi thanks. My videos are filmed using my phone! Samsung Galaxy S8 🙂

[@jekporkins1958]

How to do I stop hitting across the cue ball and inadvertently putting side on the ball?

[@nerdvananc]

Hi! Thanks a lot for all your videos - I always watch them as soon as I get the notification. I had a question: I'm having quite a bit of trouble with trying to generate good follow-through/topspin. My cue-ball instead ends up having a stun-follow effect, wherein it doesn't roll forward and through as freely on the line that it should. I've made it more and more of a point in my practice to make sure my cue is following through on shots and I don't stab at the cue ball. Any comments you have on this would be very helpful. :)

[@BartonSnooker]

Hi there! Thanks a lot for watching 🙂 I would say it's common for players to not quite hit exactly where they have aimed. The other thing is maybe going a bit higher on the white than you feel comfortable with. I find maximum top spin, is a bit the same as screw for a lot of players. Pure top-spin is often a touch higher than we think. Start off cueing more slowly so that you can more accurately deliver the cue at the top of the white. Build up the speed of the cue smoothly and don't hit AT the white. Hope that helps!

[@nerdvananc]

@@BartonSnooker It does! Thanks a ton. 🙏

[@mrunal2friend]

I think you should reduce the distance between your bridge hand and cue ball. Also distance between Cue tip and Cue Ball. That would help.

[@saadkayani029]

Keep up...👍

[@braveheart5665]

great sir.

[@benharris8777]

I meant to say as well that I struggle to get through then white ball. Some shots I can screw back perfectly but other times I struggle. I think my cue action needs some work. If you look on my KZbin channel I have uploaded a couple of practice line ups. Will you please have a look and give me your opinion. I would appreciate that if you can. Thanks 🙂

[@mojtabamirsadeghi6412]

Great video once again. May I just remind that follow through is not advised when cueball and object ball are close.

[@watsong24]

Its like reading a book but much better

[@esnemin]

Super continuous:)

[@clwin33]

There is 1 thing that I don't know why I can not do it. When I screw back the white ball, I hit the lower white ball but I can not make the mark on the table. When I try to hit very very lower white ball, the white ball jumps up but still can not make the mark on the table. I see a lot of professional snooker players always make the mark on the table but me and my friends can not do it.

[@SomeGuy-tz8dz]

Say... Where can I get one of those fancy cue balls that change from all white to half red and white just before my last stroke?! 😉

[@jamescahill9522]

A stella fridge with no Stella only milk :( lol good videos subbed

[@BartonSnooker]

Ha! Thanks James!

[@delboy9234]

I knew you pushed through the cue ball on follow through and screw shots, but thought you stopped the cue on stun shots. I 'm sure some old instruction books/videos said this. I guess you'll always cue more consistently by using the advise in this video.