Thursday 21 May 2009

Practice Videos

I decided to take my camera and practice a few more standard shots. All these Videos were first time attempts at the shot. The quality is not spectacular and my resulting position was not great in some of them. The cross loser gave me a nice loser in the middle and the middle loser came back to finish within an inch or two or the starting position.

The long loser I hit a little thin which left the ball short of the middle.


Cross Loser

Middle Loser

Follow Through Loser

Long Loser

Middle Cross Loser

Loser Around the Pink Spot

Wednesday 20 May 2009

Walter Donaldson Cue

My trusty Walter Donaldson Cue began to split just below the tip. The cue is was made in 1947 and they generally did not fit a ferrule in those days. I took it to the Snooker shop in levenshulme to let them have a look at it.

The only way to stop the split getting any bigger was to take 1/8 inch off the end and have a ferrule fitted. Whilst he was doing this I decided I would try one of the new composite Talisman tips made of 11 layers of pig skin which are supposed to not spread or change the feel of the tip as it wears away. The cue won't suffer much as it is 2 inches longer than my John Parris Cue.

They made a good job of the repair and later that day I took the cue for a test drive. The tip felt very good not spongy at all. After a few hits I realised this tip does not even need playing in, it just needed sanding into a slightly more domed shape.

I practiced some general play with the cue, mainly cannons and some screw losers. I am delighted with the tip, very different feel but nice to play with. I am off to St Peters, Stalybridge tonight hopefully get a few games in.

Wednesday 13 May 2009

Long Jenny

This video shows the Long Jenny. The ball is close to the middle bag so the Short Jenny is not possible. So the Long Jenny is played. I set the balls and got the camera ready and hit this first time.

I was so shocked I stopped to check I had actually set it recording and knocked it on the floor. I may try this one again but I don't want to push my luck. I struggle with this one I only get it 4/10 attempts.

I will try the very Long version next time I seem to have better luck with that one. The sound when the ball goes in the pocket is simply great. The side makes it thump into the back of the pocket when you hit it sweetly. Better than a pot any time.

Short Jenny

I have decided to include a few videos of me playing and hopefully getting a selection of the shots from Martins Goodwills Website (http://www.englishbilliards.org/). The camera is a small Cannon Digital A85 which does not give a brilliant image but is small enough to sit on the table near the shot. If you want to see great videos of these shots and how to set up the shots please see Martins site mine are just a bit of fun to prove his system works.

I am not trying to compete with Martin's site I just want everyone to see that it is possible to learn these shots from his site and after a bit of practice to actually be able to play these shots in your own game. This is one of the hardest shots to learn not because its a tricky shot but because I learned to play snooker before billiards I was hitting or stunning the shot to get the side on. WRONG!

Instead you simply push the cue ball through at slow speed and let the weight of the cue do the work the cue ball really floats the white into the pocket. I missed the shot first time and managed it the next three.

After a lot of practice I usually get the shot 7/10. I have now played and got the shot in a match several times. It can also be played without side you just have to be very accurate where you place the white ball. The side helps widen the pocket it whips the ball into the pocket.

Tuesday 12 May 2009

Milage

I have added a little running total of the distances covered in order to play Billiards. Next year I will be entering 6 ABC competitions run by the EABA. I think they have a couple of other comps I can enter such a the English AM and another Open. Plus the Jock Mcgregor Handicap again.
In addition there are 8 EBOS events to enter. These are all over the place. Scotland, Wales, Jersey etc. (I will fly to a couple of these rather than drive.)

I have slowly begun to realise this is a massive commitment for the next year and is not to be undertaken lightly but it should be entertaining. Anyone thinking of doing this much in one year must be slightly mad but the experience will be superb.

I have allocated £ 500 to pay for the year. Probably not enough but it should cover petrol and entry fees and the odd hotel. Anyone just starting billiards does NOT have to do this. I would suggest joining a local league for a year or two and then entering some of the ABC's.

I am committed to this now, there is no going back to Snooker. It's strange I have gone from being a good all round Snooker player to a cr*p billiards player but I don't seem to mind. It's only 12 months (well more like 14 as I started a couple of months early).

I hope my blog helps anyone out there thinking of taking up this sport. It's great fun. I can't think of any other sport where you can play to a very high standard from 8yrs to 80. In fact I am getting used to being thrashed by kids and pensioners, They seem to take a special delight in beating me. However revenge will be mine one day when I eventually learn how to play this game properly.

Jock McGregor ABC Handicap 10th May

Just back from Norfolk and then off to Derby for the Jock McGregor. Arrived at the Conservative Club just as Peter Cooper and Clive Scott Arrived so at least I am at the right place.

It's a nice club with 4 tables, 3 downstairs. This is the sort of club I like playing at they always have a friendly atmosphere. Clive kindly explained who Jock Mcgregor was and how he left a trust fund to the EABA to play matches in his memory. The trophy is a lovely train as he always travelled by train to play his matches with bottles of red wine which was his favourite drink.

I am always amazed how Billiards enthusiasts are so different from Snooker players they are just a different breed. They are just so caring about the sport, its not even the winning just the taking part. It's a little like football fans verses Rugby fans. Football supporters just care about winning, Rugby supporters care about the Game if they win that's nice but if they don't they are still happy as along as it was a good match.

We kicked off on time and I played Liam Clark ( 10 year old still in nappy's ) my god he could play though. He had every shot in the game. His runs throughs and drop cannons were a dream. His long potting was fantastic with a lovely cue action. His Dad refereed the match it was clear right from the outset I was outclassed he was very aggressive in his play and simply out scored me from the start I was receiving 25 points but it was not enough. I lost 195-263. I was quite pleased in a way to have just kept with him until about 10 minutes from time when he ran in 25 and 31 to pull away. If this is the standard of the the young players coming up into the game then this sport will keep growing and go from strength to strength. Well done Liam.

I played a lad called Paul Bennett in the plate. I had not seen him before but he could pot anything, he was mainly a snooker player but did play billiards in his local league. I was getting 65 start which I was happy with. I had got my arm going after my first match but I was struggling with the lights on the table. They were normal light bulbs and with my glasses and stance they were glaring, I think the shades would be better a little lower. I did win by quite a margin 181-59. I finished with a 20 and a 29 which cheered me up.

I played an old chap called Branson Hoole who was giving me 40 start. He played the usual very tidy old style game. I knew right away he could out play me, but I tried to keep my start and attempted to score a few at every visit even if it meant potting his ball. I managed to stay ahead of him and with 10 minutes to go I was 50 ahead. He then knocked in 30 and was unfinished on 12 when the clock went off. He beat me by one point with his last stroke of the game. Damn!!!!.
Still it was a good game he was the better player by a mile. 141-140. Just looked him up in the rankings he is 42 so I should not be surprised.

I enjoyed the tournament I realise after playing so much in the past week that I am a capable potter and can play the half ball shot quite well but I really need to work on the positional side of the game. Controlling the balls is absolutely critical. Most of the players who beat me were not better than me at potting, hitting the ball or playing with side. They simply know where the next shot was going to be. When I play a loser around the pink spot I have no idea where the red is going to be, it's just luck if I have another shot. Certain shots I can predict and get the result such as a middle loser or a cross loser.

I have to make an effort to play my losers softly with plain ball and control where the ball ends up. There must be no hitting hard unless I am trying to force the balls in the pocket. Break building and control of the balls must be my target over the next few months.

I am getting a high percentage of shots such as the short jenny which I have spent hours practising I even played the shot several times in my matches.

When I am near the cushion I am still struggling with my glasses but I am due another eye test soon I will see if my eyes have got worse or my glasses need to be changed.

Monday 11 May 2009

Police Competition 5th-8th May 2009

The big day has arrived, off to Potters Holiday resort Norfolk. The place has really improved since the last time I was here in 1995.

There is a new hotel and restaurant on site and the chalets have all been done up very nice. I meet a few people I know who are still in the police. Brian Sweeny and Tony Crompton.

Also met Tony McKevitt a Cheshire bobby who I joined with and shared a room for 14 weeks during our basic training.

Off to Pot Black Club to play the retired Billiards. It is played on a round robin with 2 groups of 6 as BT and Northern Ireland failed to provide any players this year. Geoff Mayor is the holder having won for the last 5 years. I am rather unlucky with the draw as I managed to be in the same draw as the holder and last runner up from last year. The other group only having 5 players as another one failed to turn up.

Never mind it's random, but it would have been nice to be in the other group. My first game was against Jim Malcolm from strathclyde. He beat me 210-196 with me unfinished on 8. Rather disappointed as I felt I played really well.

My next match was against Derrick Hey from West Yorkshire. He absolutely thrashed me. He ran in 48, 42, 31,31, 38. Final score 152-290.

Next match was against David Keels from Essex. I ran away with the game getting a few 20 and 30 breaks. 191-80 to me.

My next match was against Gareth Wakefield last years runner up. He was clearly a really good player as I had refereed one of his matches. I started with a 25 and quickly followed it with a 43, which is my highest match break so far beating my 39 in Newmarket. However he started to claw back and eventually beat me by 3 points. Still I was very happy I scored 241 and he got 244.

My last match was against the holder Geoff Mayor. He was outstanding running is 79, 58 and 49 along with several 20-30 breaks. He never left me much to go at. I did manage to reach the 100 mark but it was a hopeless game for me. His ball control was fantastic he played every shot half ball and just seems to be able to push the balls over the middle bag at will. The half ball loser and start again. I spoke with him he did no play much not being in a league but he learnt the game when he was in the North East. 348-110.

Lost 4-1 in the group, but my result did have an impact of the table as Gareth only beating me by 3 meant he lost on count back and did not qualify for the first time in several years. Overall the standard was high with breaks of 92,79, 72, 71,68, 58 and several 40's being recorded.

The other group was weaker the highest break being 47. Geoff went on to win in the final by a massive margin. In the none retired Billiards it was Bob Patterson against Mick Stocks in the final. Mick started of well knocking in an 80 and a 90. Bob held his own and clawed back but just go pipped at the end if it had gone on a little longer he would have won. The standard in the full billiards was really high. I really am going to have to improve for next year to stand a chance.

Friday 1 May 2009

Cannon Practice

Went for another hours practice. I decided to play general billiards rather than practice any particular shot.

I have been breaking down around the 30 mark when I should be getting more. I have not been playing enough cannons. So today I spent an hour just playing drop cannons and close ball work. This seemed to go quite well and made a change from my normal routine.

I managed to get a break of cannons going, floating the white around the top of the table. If you can get in good position you can score 30 very quickly. I managed a 40 and a 56 just potting the red once or twice and throwing in a cannon every other shot. Again nothing to shout about but my ball control and thinking where my next shot is going to be really worked today.

I even played a shot Paul Dunning had show me with the white on the red spot and the red on the black spot. I played across half ball and gained a very easy cannon which also pushed the red over the middle bag. This left me two middle losers as the white came back across the oppsite bag.

I have noticed I am still not placing the white in the 'D' at the correct natural angle I am always a little wide so I am having to just move it a little left or right on a drop cannon. I know what the correct angle is but I am having to watch out for this all the time otherwise I don't push to red towards the bag and I hit it full in the face

Time Running Out

We are finally getting towards the end of the Snooker season for some reason I keep winning in the all the cups and knockouts which is having the side effect of extending the season.

The Police Championship is only three days away. I am getting a little nervous, the standard was good last year, I spoke with a lad who played in the billiards two years ago he said he was quite a good player but got knocked out in the round robin stages. He didn't even qualify for the quarter finals. A couple of players had 50+ breaks against him. I know he is a snooker player but it is still a worry as I my goal is to get to the semi's.

I have a couple of days practice left. I forgot to update the blog with my last two practice sessions. But the basic gist is practice is boring and drives me mad.!!!

It is not the practice that drives me mad it's my apparent lack of progress. For example yesterday I went armed with some printouts of the long loser, short jenny and long jenny to the club to practice them for 30 minutes each.

The diagrams are great and the videos of the shot look fantastic but in practice they are very hard as you cannot see the aiming point and the tables nap differs. I played on table 6 in the club which has a very thick nap but it rather a poor table for general play as I wanted to see the effect side has against a proper nap.

I place the ball as per Martins picture and failed every time to get the shot. I placed for the natural angle but still got no where near the bag. I had placed the red half way between the middle bag and the baulk line and out about 5 inches. After missing 20 times. I finally move the white around onto the baulk line 3/4 way between the green and brown spot and when the shot is played slowly with a good amount of 5pm side( really floating the side through the ball) I managed to get the shot 6 times out of 10.

Looking at the shot its really hard to get the natural angle as the ball is so close to the side, indeed the angle looks wrong it looks rather narrow compared to the angle of a drop cannon.
Aiming for the half ball shot the side takes effect but the white does not hit the red ball at half ball it hits slightly thicker due to the side. Allowing for the throw off caused by the side is causing me problems. At least I am getting the shot now.

I practiced this at numerous positions for at least an hour, tedious but I did find I managed it from a few different spots.

Today I played the very long loser, It is actually easier to make than the short Jenny as I can actually see the angle, you can get very close to the pocket just by getting the natural angle the side just helps to whip the ball into the pocket. It's still a 5 from 10 shot but does allow you to recover from a bad position.

I am gradually realising my follow through is still not enough and that I need to play slight drag on long slow shot's. However I can now spot when I am cueing wrong and try to correct it. If I feel my follow through is poor I revert to long losers off the middle spot and screwing the red into a bottom pocket (clock face) as these wont go in unless you are cueing sweetly.

I suppose deep down I am making progress with the shots it's just an uphill battle. I have been reading a few billiard books available of on the Internet these were written in 1905. Even then they say the only way to become proficient at the game is to practice the same shot time after time after time. Even then they stated that cueing was the most important part of the game.

I know I have made progress, passed the exam played in a comp and won a match and can beat team players from Stalybridge who play the game on a regular basis.

The one thing about this game above all else is the absolute fact that this is a beautiful Game. I have watched the snooker this week on television and have seen many nice shots. But none of them a good or as interesting as getting a short jenny which whips into the pocket and doesnt touch the sides. If I can convince a few of the young lads in the club to take up this game I am sure their snooker would improve tenfold.