The Snooker Gym Live - Show 3 Replay

[@kamalbahanwal7378]

So Many Valuable lessons, thanks a lot.

[@TheSnookerGym]

Thank you Kamal

[@bobsnooker.3950]

Great show Nick. it is a bit like the snooker . the more we learn and try to understand and practise the better it gets. Tried a few of the easier exercises and was amazed how stiff i have become. Will build in a routine to help with this. Would love a video on 2 cushion escapes and how to go about them when you get time. Enjoy your travels.

[@TheSnookerGym]

Thankyou BOB. Just focus on 1 cushion escapes... the better you get at those, the easier 2 cushions will be for you to 'see' the line of the shot

[@markim5409]

Parabéns Nic, excelente vídeo, com certeza ajudou e irá ajudar muitos jogadores pelo mundo....

[@TheSnookerGym]

Gracias!

[@CharlesHarrisonMusicTuition]

Thanks for the advice, Nic. Lovely cameo from your mother!

[@TheSnookerGym]

Thank you Charles - people love this video! And so do I because I love my mum!

[@nedren1434]

Nic, thank you so much for answering my question, even looking at my youtube videos! Lots of wonderful tips in this video, it does shave years off tweaking by myself. I really wish I lived somewhere closer to your training facility :-)

[@TheSnookerGym]

It really is a pleasure and thankyou for the thanks! If you email me at nic147 at the snooker gym dot com we can discuss ways to improve your game further without having to but a flight ticket and come over here

[@bastian.michel]

What great informations. Feels like a breakthrough. Especially the periphical vision. wow....

[@TheSnookerGym]

Thank you Bastian Michel, the peripheral vision aiming is mind blowing to so many players and helps them relax about aiming a lot. Most players obsess far too much about what ball they look at when in fact it makes little difference as long as your eye patterns are consistent and as long as you have a sensible distribution of eye contact on cue ball and object ball (pro's spend around 75% of their time on the cue ball, and I recommend club players to start their journey with a 50/50 split)

[@joeygonzo]

Mr BarrowI don't play snooker. I only play pool. But, your lessons have definitely changed my game. I have gained more in watching your lessons than in all of my years of playing and taking lessons combined. The setup/pre-shot routine is gold. I wish I can fly to there, take more lessons and get certified to be an instructor of your system ( but for pool ). I am subscribe 12,275. I did not notice I wasn't one until today.

[@TheSnookerGym]

Hi Rocky Thank you for the kind message Do you ever come over to the uk? I am available for Skype coaching if you want to save an airfare! You can contact me here: www.thesnookergym.com

[@ganmruk]

Thanks for great advice!!

[@TheSnookerGym]

It was a lovely question - I hope I pronounced your name right! Dziekuje bardzo! Dowidzenia, powodzenia!

[@ganmruk]

It was great... very good pronunciation

[@batlin]

This episode was an absolute goldmine! I'm going to have to write a list of things to check (like the "front check") when I'm at the club next. Starting to realise that maybe I've overcomplicated my approach to the table, as I often end up getting down to find the white is to the left of my cue (playing left-handed). Then I "adjust" until it looks better, but it doesn't help. Nic, do you have any plans for an Ireland training trip over the next year?

[@TheSnookerGym]

Hi Batlin - thank you for the interesting review of your game. Try this: Test straight shots from middle distance to start with... Keep your eyes on the object ball as you approach... As bridge hand hits the table, look to the cue ball. AS SOON AS the tip goes up against the cue ball, STOP & FREEZE everything! Then, EVEN IF YOU KNOW YOU ARE AIMING WRONG, pull STRAIGHT BACK and go STRAIGHT FORWARD. The priority in this drill is NOT to pot the ball - the priority is to FIND OUT WHERE YOU ARE AIMING WHEN YOU GET DOWN. Within 20 shots you should be better at getting down as the drill forces you to pay proper attention to getting down properly - which most players never do as they are so fixated on the balls and on potting If I am invited I would be delighted to come for a weekend for example - just you or a group from your club?

[@batlin]

Thanks for the reply Nic! Would you advise putting one's bridge hand on the table before starting to get down on the shot? I find the moments between "arriving" in my stance and getting my chin down on the cue to be ambiguous and inconsistent... perhaps because my head comes down almost simultaneously with the cue, and I'm not sure whether to look at the object ball or cue ball during this movement. If I keep my eyes on the white while getting down, sometimes it feels like I've rotated my head to the left (perhaps a right-eye dominance thing), before noticing the cue tip is slightly offline. I will definitely try this exercise -- the point about not focusing on potting the ball is well-made, and seems like a good separation of concerns so I can fix one aspect of my game at a time. Another problem which might be addressed with the "stop and freeze" is that sometimes my back hand starts the waggle before I'm fully down on the shot, which is probably not good! I'd like to organise a group session with my club, although right now membership turnout is really bad so that might not happen for a while. Thanks again!

[@TheSnookerGym]

Get both hands - and therefore the cue - on the line of aim before your bridge touches the table

[@nitrotreize9898]

great vidéo , Good job :-) . thanks to France .

[@TheSnookerGym]

I will be in Frejus in May if you want to join us for training? Or in July we are near Paris....

[@nitrotreize9898]

nice i hope see you .

[@alabbadi]

hi Nick , thanks for the answer to my question about the line of the shot. just to clarify i am in the UK (Sheffield), not Pakistan. in fact we have met on several occasions down at the Star Snooker Academy in Sheffield, and i have had a half day coaching session with you about 3 years ago in Milton Keynes . in regards to my question , i do use cueball more when i am in the address position when sighting and look at the OB on strike. my issue is determining the line the cueball will take to make contact with the point to make the pot while standing. i find when i get this right i pot most of the time. your answer gives me something to try. but i still feel that i am missing something fundamental that is hindering my progress. i will report back to you once i have had the chance to practice a few of the things you suggested

[@TheSnookerGym]

Adjusted that fact!

[@johnsargent4939]

Watched you - in awe - doing your exercises. I am 73 and have no chance of completing any of them.

[@TheSnookerGym]

Sorry to hear that John!

[@Foodandtravelamritsar]

even in practice or line up not making a break of 20 but earlier i used to play really well. went till the 3rd round of punjab state senior snooker championship.

[@TheSnookerGym]

Well done Judd

[@NZHapiman]

Great show Nick, it does feel as though Snooker is starting to make a mini come back here in NZ after it dropping off in the 80s and 90s a bit. We have many good young players coming through finally and at our last ranking tournament that Harry, a good friend of mine and someone I know you're familiar with, won. He's easily the biggest practiser still at his tender young age :-). Four centuries by four separate players in that weekend tournament, one of 140, one of 122 where the green was missed on way to a 147. Your teaching methods, particularly the ability to pass on knowledge that players 'do but can't teach', combined with modern media technologies greatly increase the chances of players learning a lot more quickly, correcting those long held habits...something I see in every club I've been to over the years, as well as in myself. Enjoyed this session and will look forward to others and might even send you a curly question one day. Well done Nick, and hope you're enjoying a break over the Xmas period.

[@TheSnookerGym]

Yes I guess Arthur King and Rob Elvin and the crew are doing a sterling job....

[@TheSnookerGym]

I love the curliest questions!!!!! If I could only install 6 good habits in every player below 100 break standard, then the standard of snooker at that level would go up 50% IMMEDIATELY!

[@jackstranger2292]

Hey Nic. Thanks for these wonderful videos. Question for you: I know you advise against using side until a player has reached 100 break standard, I myself (high break of 70) have found this an invaluable tip, but am wondering if there are there exceptions, where you would advise a player at my standard to play with side? For instance splitting the pack off the blue or black, or creating an angle off a straight black on the spot? In essence, are there potting situations where you would suggest breaking your very good advice? If so, could you go over what situations present themselves most often where the average player might consider the use of side? Very best to you, -Jack Vancouver BC

[@TheSnookerGym]

From high blacks off the spot to manoeuvre the cue ball around reds is vital to know at your level. Especially cushion running side (object ball check side) as that is rarely used.

[@rosscuthbert9988]

Hi nic , my question is how are you able to know what the aiming angle is when you play with side , everytime I try to play with side whilst potting a ball I miss Scotland

[@TheSnookerGym]

Forget using side until you are making regular 40 breaks. It is tough enough sending the cue ball in a straight line, let alone judging a curved path properly! Side makes NO difference to the cue ball path after striking the object ball so it is not needed unless you need to distort the angle off a cushion. Just go up and down the centre line of the cue ball and change the cue speed - as that is the only way to control the white. Apply this for one month and report findings! www.thesnookergym.com/ultimate-training-ball/

[@rosscuthbert9988]

Thanks very much !

[@bobdog69yes]

Hi Nic ...superb show really informative. Could I ask a question on aiming ... how much aiming is done after you have got down on the ball compared with the approach to the shot and is this before or after you put your chest on the cue (if you use this method)? Keep up the great content :)

[@TheSnookerGym]

Not everyone places chest on cue - most notably Steve Davis and also me! 90% of aim is done before you get down. When cue pushes up against cue ball before you start cueing is when you must be on the line - adjustment after that is not desirable... you are not a fisherman for the potting angle!

[@Foodandtravelamritsar]

last year i asked you that should i go to indian national coach sanjay sawant for coaching? you said 100 percent do it. i went there for 11 days he asked me to have a front pause on cue ball and a back pause on backswing. it improved my potting so much that i was not missing a ball. even he was shocked to see me playing that way. but now when i am back here i have again started playing really bad. can't make a 20 break now.

[@TheSnookerGym]

Sorry to hear that - Here are some free resources that you may enjoy... kzbin.info - tons of problem solving videos facebook.com/TheSnookerGym/ - all things The Snooker Gym www.thesnookergym.com/blog - regular ideas to improve your game www.thesnookergym.com - free membership at The Snooker Gym

[@stevethomas8126]

Hey Nic I've been learning to play billiards for a while now and find that I play much better snooker after warming up with billiards. I think it helps improve consistency in my cueing. Do you think learning to play billiards would help improve a lot of players snooker game?

[@TheSnookerGym]

100% I wish more players would do it until they made at least a 50 break in billiards. Superb game to learn natural cue ball angle, smooth cueing, and the half ball cue ball contact and path

[@sunilgaikwad4352]

Hello Nic, I have started playing snooker and various games related to snooker but I am always facing issue or can say facing problem while potting the ball. How can I aim to put the ball in correct pocket. Also help me in cueeing using left hand.

[@TheSnookerGym]

Here are some free resources that you may enjoy... kzbin.info - tons of problem solving videos facebook.com/TheSnookerGym/ - all things The Snooker Gym www.thesnookergym.com/blog - regular ideas to improve your game www.thesnookergym.com - free membership at The Snooker Gym

[@Eziballbilliard]

Hi Mr.Nic...I have a question if possible. I made my cue butt a little bit thinner, it feels more comfortable for me, as I do have small hands. I have come to notice when I play shots that are between 1-4 level of strength, I seem to hit the object ball on the right...the opposite is true for more powerful shots, I hit the object ball on the left. I am not sure if it is a follow through problem or something else. Any advice will be greatly appreciated, as this is driving me crazy a little bit. I do try to stay as still as possible on the shots, do you think a shorter or longer pause might help a little bit? I do make centuries from time to time, but this always seems to creep into make game occasionally. Thank you, your videos are a great help.

[@TheSnookerGym]

This will probably be to do with tightening the hand too much on delivery - pretend you are holding a raw egg.

[@Eziballbilliard]

@@TheSnookerGym Thank you... I'll pay more attention to my grip strength on the delivery🙏

[@TheSnookerGym]

Let us know how you get on with it

[@Eziballbilliard]

@@TheSnookerGym It helped a lot, thank you Mr.Nic...It also helped my billiards game when I softened my grip...made my first 103 break in billiards...thanks again for the advice

[@TheSnookerGym]

@@Eziballbilliard Many congrats for the ton. Excellent!

[@theznooker]

hi good coach i have a question! i really hope you can reply to me after playing years of snookers, i finally found out why my game isnt consistent "line of aim" when i am behind the shot i can sigh the line of aim perfect but when im down on the shot, i can see myself offline, even after adjusting myself (standing more than 5 times) still when im down the shot , i get offline. i recently tried to lock my eyes on the object while while standing, and keep looking at it while going down for that shot, and line of aim seems to be better i was wondering to know whats the best exercise to practice this ( to perfect your line of aim etc) as i said, i get offline while im trying to get down. something goes wrong when i get down, although i try to be solid and dont move my head etc i will be glade if you can reply me, thank you nic you are a great coach

[@TheSnookerGym]

www.thesnookergym.com/aim-frame-page/ will give you a very thorough overview of the subject you are asking about

[@battlefieldclips7013]

@42:00 all u r teaching me is how to do NAMASTE !!!

[@TheSnookerGym]

Namaste also!

[@allanjones4991]

im enjoying my practice snooker but in the league games I can feel my nerves making me tense up on the shots taking me miles away from the way I know I can pot. it makes me feel like everything is wrong when I approach the table. I dont suppose you have any tips for this or is it just practice?

[@TheSnookerGym]

Having a pre shot and post shot routine is vital to give your mind something to do on the shot - even counting 1.2.3 in your mind on your cue actions on every shot can anchor you mentally for a match

[@KarnageGaming]

i got a few questions for u. hopefully u can provide some insight. 1. i have a pendulum stroke which as u know has a fixed elbow position. (club tables arent the full size table) at what points in the backswing and forward swing do i lose control? 2. as a somewhat addon to my last question i have a rough idea of where i lose control so i try to stop the cue at that point. but ive seen you say your elbow hits the chest but thats for an elbow drop stroke. so any advise on maintaining control without having to focus on stopping the cue? 3. the amount of players i hear saying u need a smooth accelarted cue action is unreal. but i feel like my stroke is either moving at one constant speed or just as fast as i can. neither can be good i imagine. so is it possible to see maybe like a slowly done version so we can see how the stroke should be speed wose any maybe some advice on achieving it?

[@TheSnookerGym]

If the cue goes through in a piston like action you hit the cue ball where aiming, and achieve good cue ball control. Then, the chest stops the hand going further forward without thinking about it. the pendulum swing means you have to cue with your chin above the cue meaning you lose chin contact on the cue (vital for feedback on cueing straightness and flatness) and lose aiming as your vision is not low enough to the ball.

[@legendboy227]

Nice

[@TheSnookerGym]

Thankyou Nadeem - what is your best break in your life?

[@oussamazbair1479]

Your Mother Is Lovely She Looks Like A Nice person

[@TheSnookerGym]

Thank you Oussama - lovely!

[@dilshikista143]

Hallo . I have a question

[@TheSnookerGym]

Then ask it!

[@dilshikista143]

I never get the Cue ball to hit , where I aim, so what should I do??

[@TheSnookerGym]

www.thesnookergym.com/cue-action-trainer

[@tuljan142]

Hi Nick I sent you a message on youtube and an email regarding CAT.Can you get back to me because I would like to buy it. Thank you in advance.

[@TheSnookerGym]

Yes Jovan sorry I am overwhelmed with email so will reply when I can!

[@tuljan142]

The Snooker Gym Thank you