After my training session with John I went over to the Wirral to have a game with Tony Cooke, Eddie Duggan and Mike. It takes about an hour to travel over and I played OK my new cue action was difficult and I decided to stick with my old one but keep my feet in the right position.
This worked OK I managed a couple of small breaks and had a reasonable nights play, the tables were really nice.
I also managed two hours practice on the Sunday where I concentrated on cue action I spent an hour potting long reds of the middle spot with reasonable success. Definitely getting much more run through on my action. Played a little billiards and struggled as the angles seems to be different for my long losers. Quite strange. I soon found the anle and felt quite happy.
Wednesday, 27 June 2012
Wednesday, 20 June 2012
New & Improved Cue action
I have not updated the Blog for some time but I have a few bits of further stuff to put on.
I have been struggling to make much improvement to my game over the last 6 months or so and have concluded this is a combination of my poor eyesight and my jerky cue action.
In light of this I have once again got new stronger snooker glasses these do seem to have corrected some of the problems such as blurring in one eye and glare outlines/ghosting on the balls.
The second stage will be to break down my cue action and try to introduce a greater follow through of the cue which is essential in billiards but will also help my play and touch shots. I probably should have done more of this two years ago but I was more interested in simply learning and playing the game.
John Ingleby has agreed to help out with 3 or 4 weeks coaching, I'm not looking forward to the change as I know it will be very difficult until I can settle down with the new action. Last time I changed something I could hardly play for several weeks.
Over to Huddersfield and straight into action. John had already got me to stand more side on and not to hold the cue tightly about 2 years ago, but he wanted to move left leg over until the edge of my cue was in line with the outside edge of my foot and then to move my right foot across slightly and further forward to regain my balance.
This was quite strange at first and I spent 45 minutes playing a red off the Blue spot from around the baulk line directly into the bottom pocket. Keeping the balls in an exact line with the pocket and my cue in a straight line playing with top. The idea being to pot the red in the bottom and follow the white into the same pocket with top.
This was very difficult and I managed only 2 pots in that time. The next stage was to slow down my back swing and have a distinct pause whilst my eyes moved over to the object ball. Also to keep my feathering to a minimum. So the action is really simply draw the cue back, hold and push through the shot. trying to accelerate the cue from slow to fast very smoothly without jerk or movement.
I managed to get this working and potted the red several times and managed the follow through 3 or 4 times. The grip on the rear of the cue was my next problem, having moved my hand position to the rear of the cue due to my stance I had to adjust and ensure my thumb was tucked under.
Practice needed this week I hope I can manage to get into the club I will keep the site updated over the next few weeks with some progress if any. John thinks this change will add 2/3 inches of follow through to my cue action and should add 25% to my breaks once I have settled into the rhythm of the shots.
I have been struggling to make much improvement to my game over the last 6 months or so and have concluded this is a combination of my poor eyesight and my jerky cue action.
In light of this I have once again got new stronger snooker glasses these do seem to have corrected some of the problems such as blurring in one eye and glare outlines/ghosting on the balls.
The second stage will be to break down my cue action and try to introduce a greater follow through of the cue which is essential in billiards but will also help my play and touch shots. I probably should have done more of this two years ago but I was more interested in simply learning and playing the game.
John Ingleby has agreed to help out with 3 or 4 weeks coaching, I'm not looking forward to the change as I know it will be very difficult until I can settle down with the new action. Last time I changed something I could hardly play for several weeks.
Over to Huddersfield and straight into action. John had already got me to stand more side on and not to hold the cue tightly about 2 years ago, but he wanted to move left leg over until the edge of my cue was in line with the outside edge of my foot and then to move my right foot across slightly and further forward to regain my balance.
This was quite strange at first and I spent 45 minutes playing a red off the Blue spot from around the baulk line directly into the bottom pocket. Keeping the balls in an exact line with the pocket and my cue in a straight line playing with top. The idea being to pot the red in the bottom and follow the white into the same pocket with top.
This was very difficult and I managed only 2 pots in that time. The next stage was to slow down my back swing and have a distinct pause whilst my eyes moved over to the object ball. Also to keep my feathering to a minimum. So the action is really simply draw the cue back, hold and push through the shot. trying to accelerate the cue from slow to fast very smoothly without jerk or movement.
I managed to get this working and potted the red several times and managed the follow through 3 or 4 times. The grip on the rear of the cue was my next problem, having moved my hand position to the rear of the cue due to my stance I had to adjust and ensure my thumb was tucked under.
Practice needed this week I hope I can manage to get into the club I will keep the site updated over the next few weeks with some progress if any. John thinks this change will add 2/3 inches of follow through to my cue action and should add 25% to my breaks once I have settled into the rhythm of the shots.
Monday, 20 February 2012
Manchester Competition 27th May 2012
This event is Cancelled due to insufficent Numbers
Sorry full refunds on their way
The event will take place at Rileys, Belle Vue, Manchester.
Sorry full refunds on their way
The event will take place at Rileys, Belle Vue, Manchester.
The rules will be as follows:
A fully Open/Random draw out of a hat on the day of the event.
Dress Code - None I am hoping for a round robin format with 45 or 60 minute matches again depending on entry numbers.
Dress Code - None I am hoping for a round robin format with 45 or 60 minute matches again depending on entry numbers.
The event is not affiliated with any organisation and is therefore Open in every respect. There will be no rankings and all prize money will be paid out in cash on the day of the event. Whatever money we get from the entries will be paid out to the winners/runner up. semis and a high break prize. This is dependant on you entering. A small trophy will presented to the winner of both plate and main tournament. The plate event is sponsored so prize money is £ 50 to the winner £ 25 to the runner up and £ 25 for the high break.
We will have a few refs available on the day and we have one for the final, a sponsor has offered money for a small amount of EASB refs. The final will be done by a well known and reliable international ref.
I am hoping for a good entry field and hope that you will support the event as it is simply just billiards and nothing else. The club is hoping that you will order food and plenty of drinks. As the event is one day only a maximum limit of 32 players will be adopted. (if by some miracle we reach that amount)
To enter simply pay £ 20 by credit/debit card using PayPal by clicking the Icon embedded on this page. If you wish to withdraw from the event you are free to do so up 14 days before the event and I will send a full refund to your nominated card.
Monday, 24 October 2011
Australian String
As you may be aware I keep very accurate records of any notable events worthy of a mention.
I entered the warm up event of the World Billiards championship in Leeds and managed to get Mathew Bolton in my group. I played pretty well as expected the standard was just to good for me. But I managed a single win. I might have made it 2 but lost narrowly to Brian Dix after getting a kick and leaving him an easy 20 points to narrowly beat me.
The most important news of course is that Mathew Bolton failed to beat me at the string. He may have won the match but he enters the String List of shame.
Mathew Bolton
Geet Sethi
Rupesh Shah
Chris Taylor
Rob Hall
Mathew Sutton
I entered the warm up event of the World Billiards championship in Leeds and managed to get Mathew Bolton in my group. I played pretty well as expected the standard was just to good for me. But I managed a single win. I might have made it 2 but lost narrowly to Brian Dix after getting a kick and leaving him an easy 20 points to narrowly beat me.
The most important news of course is that Mathew Bolton failed to beat me at the string. He may have won the match but he enters the String List of shame.
Mathew Bolton
Geet Sethi
Rupesh Shah
Chris Taylor
Rob Hall
Mathew Sutton
Friday, 6 May 2011
Police National Championships 2011
Left to right, Chief Constable of Norfolk Phil Gormley, me and the Cup, Miss Potter
I stopped updating the blog some time ago, however there is one post left to make. I entered the police championships at Potters Holiday Camp in Norfolk three years ago and was promptly thrashed by everyone in the competition. I was determined to come back the following year and beat them.
I set about learning this strange game and this blog is my diary of the years as they unfolded. The following year after spending a silly amount of money on coaching, playing and practice, I entered and got soundly thrashing in the semi finals.
I have been playing reasonable well this year getting to the final of an Ebos plate event and the semi of the Northwest championship, I also managed a few decent wins in the ABC events finishing just in the top 32 after only entering four events.
So this years Police tournament was my next challenge, I had drawn last years winner in my round robin group and a couple of past winners. So it was going to be tough. I played really well winning all five of my round robin matches. Hammering the defending champion 140-324. In two of my hour long games I scored over 300. I also put together a string of breaks, not massive but constant 20-30 breaks in every match. I managed a 42 and a 54 which ended up as the highest break mainly due to the tables being very tight and slow.
In the semi final I drew Colin Childs from one of the welsh forces, he was a past winner of both snooker and billiards so it was a tough draw. The match was scrappy and poor, The highest break being a 23. I managed to run in 17 unfinished at the end to win by 8 points.
In the final I was playing Gareth Wakeford another past winner and last years runner up. I started off really well getting 80 in front in 15 minutes with a few little 20+ breaks. He then changed tactics and started double baulking me and before I knew it he was 44 in front. We had 5 minutes to play I scored 7 points and left the table quite safe. Gareth tried to double baulk me but left a difficult Jenny in the middle I got the jenny and then slammed the red in the bottom pocket leaving me perfect top of the table. I then proceeded to hold the top gradually scoring a nice 41 to run out the time and take the match.
That completes my billiard year (s). My goal has been achieved. In the other events Ron Bickerdike managed another win in the serving billiards and Euan Henderson managed a 147 break on a really poor quality table in his first round matches, went on to eventually take the title for the third year in a row.
Sunday, 21 November 2010
Coaching
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.
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.
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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