Over to John Inglebys (head EABA Coach). We had a half hour match which I won by 2 points, first time I had got anywhere near John on his own table. Played OK and got my arm going.
Now the coaching bit. John had me hitting a straight ball and gradually positioned my feet so my cue arm was away from my body. Simply doing this was enough to give me an extra 2 inches on my follow through. However it also meant I could not hit a ball. He also had to adjust my head position and back arm position.
I gradually started hitting the ball better and introduced a nice pause in the stroke.
To aid this he has a specially designed cue called a 360 Degree Cue rather interesting as with it I could not even hit a ball. I would cue up the shot swing back and the tip misses the cue. Quite staggering how it works. I would watch the videos for further information see Gravity cue videos.
After three hours I was gradually getting the shots and feeling quite good with my game. Its going to take many hours to practice to stop playing my old style but I will put the effort in to improve my game long term.
I have work this week so monday is my next practice day.
Simply hitting the balls with that cue was so difficult. I gradually got going with it and could hit the ball failry often towards the end. I would recommend this cue to anyone suffering with cue action problems.
Sunday 21 November 2010
Lots of Changes
Due to working nights I have had to leave the Macclesfield League until February which is a pity as I was quiote enjoying it and playing ok. Had a few decent breaks a couple of high forty breaks and a 50 odd.
I have been getting quite fed up with Billiards lately not because I have lost a lot of games but because I know I am much better than most of the players I am playing. For example the chap I played in the Bury league last weelk could pot a bit but could not play an in off to save his life unless it was hanging over the pocket. I lost by about 10 points after giving him 70 start.
When you play someone who is rubbish you tend to play billiards and generally leave the balls together when you miss a shot. This leaves them an opening which they may score five off. When they only have to score 60 or so to win they can quite often beat you.
If I get a break or something then things are different but they tend to leave the balls very awkward whereas when you play a decent player they nearly always leave the balls in a decent position certainly in mid table at the least.
After much thought I have decided to concentrate on simply getting better. I get regular 20,30 and 40 breaks. Then I also get the odd 50,60 and rarely higher breaks but these tend to be when I play the longer matches.
So I have decided the only thing to do is improve my cue action. Several people have commented that I do not have enough follow through. This is due to several faults developed over the years. These include being half blind, being rather fat and simply not trying to sort out my stance and grip many years before.
For snooekr this has not been a problem I have always been able to pot a decent ball but I am prepared to ruin my current game in order to replace it with something better. Going right back to basics.
I have been getting quite fed up with Billiards lately not because I have lost a lot of games but because I know I am much better than most of the players I am playing. For example the chap I played in the Bury league last weelk could pot a bit but could not play an in off to save his life unless it was hanging over the pocket. I lost by about 10 points after giving him 70 start.
When you play someone who is rubbish you tend to play billiards and generally leave the balls together when you miss a shot. This leaves them an opening which they may score five off. When they only have to score 60 or so to win they can quite often beat you.
If I get a break or something then things are different but they tend to leave the balls very awkward whereas when you play a decent player they nearly always leave the balls in a decent position certainly in mid table at the least.
After much thought I have decided to concentrate on simply getting better. I get regular 20,30 and 40 breaks. Then I also get the odd 50,60 and rarely higher breaks but these tend to be when I play the longer matches.
So I have decided the only thing to do is improve my cue action. Several people have commented that I do not have enough follow through. This is due to several faults developed over the years. These include being half blind, being rather fat and simply not trying to sort out my stance and grip many years before.
For snooekr this has not been a problem I have always been able to pot a decent ball but I am prepared to ruin my current game in order to replace it with something better. Going right back to basics.
Saturday 13 November 2010
Practice Silktown Macclesfield 500 up
Had a knock with Wayne Holbrook last Wednesday we have started playing 500 up to give us both a target.
I started playing some of the best billiards I have managed for a long while, I had 5 breaks in the 30's and a couple of 40's, I never missed a ball, Wayne was also playing proper billiards normally he tends to pot and throw in some billiards. He really played well considering I played well beyond my normal standard.
I won 500-410 but the match was really interesting, Wayne had a lovely break of 21 with some the best long distance cannons I have seen. I threw in a little break of nursery cannons I got about 11-12 nice little touches before reaching the pocket and playing an loser. I also ran a 40 break off the red ball which was nice.
Waynes really going to try and stick with billiards and avoid potting as we both feel this is the way forward. Neither of of missed many pots as we hardly played any difficult ones, things are getting better my luck has ccertainly changed and I am playing with more side and more follow through.
I started playing some of the best billiards I have managed for a long while, I had 5 breaks in the 30's and a couple of 40's, I never missed a ball, Wayne was also playing proper billiards normally he tends to pot and throw in some billiards. He really played well considering I played well beyond my normal standard.
I won 500-410 but the match was really interesting, Wayne had a lovely break of 21 with some the best long distance cannons I have seen. I threw in a little break of nursery cannons I got about 11-12 nice little touches before reaching the pocket and playing an loser. I also ran a 40 break off the red ball which was nice.
Waynes really going to try and stick with billiards and avoid potting as we both feel this is the way forward. Neither of of missed many pots as we hardly played any difficult ones, things are getting better my luck has ccertainly changed and I am playing with more side and more follow through.
Bury League
Played well on the Monday after Chester finally got some running and won an easy match scoring 145 in 8 visits.
English AM
Went over to Chester for the English AM, my group consists of Dennis Marr, Peter Shelley, Wayne Holbrook. Not good prospects over 90 minute matches.
I played Dennis first I managed a very quick start getting 48 first visit, I scored a few more and got abotu 80 ahead before Dennis got going, he was out for revenge after me beating him in Cambridge. He soon got going and had 52, 53 and a few 40 breaks without me scoring much more. I got a few chance and scored 20's but eventually lost by quite a few. Thats the problem with longer matches the better player will generally win over the longer matches.
On the table next to me Peter Shelley was set, getting 200,170,100 in three visits poor old Wayne hardly had a visit. I was playing Peter next so I was rather worried. Peter out played me however I did win the string and managed to get 40 ahead, before he set off, I played very well in the few chance I got. Mainly because when he did miss he left you in a good billiards position I lost biut scored nearly 250 points and Peter got 500, So I did ok and he didnt make a 100 only a 97.
I played Wayne next the less said the better it was a crap game, I won by 30 points but we both played really poorly. Not a bad days practice for £ 20 entry and i gained 5 points in the rankings.
I played Dennis first I managed a very quick start getting 48 first visit, I scored a few more and got abotu 80 ahead before Dennis got going, he was out for revenge after me beating him in Cambridge. He soon got going and had 52, 53 and a few 40 breaks without me scoring much more. I got a few chance and scored 20's but eventually lost by quite a few. Thats the problem with longer matches the better player will generally win over the longer matches.
On the table next to me Peter Shelley was set, getting 200,170,100 in three visits poor old Wayne hardly had a visit. I was playing Peter next so I was rather worried. Peter out played me however I did win the string and managed to get 40 ahead, before he set off, I played very well in the few chance I got. Mainly because when he did miss he left you in a good billiards position I lost biut scored nearly 250 points and Peter got 500, So I did ok and he didnt make a 100 only a 97.
I played Wayne next the less said the better it was a crap game, I won by 30 points but we both played really poorly. Not a bad days practice for £ 20 entry and i gained 5 points in the rankings.
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