Tips to assist you in your cue sport  

  

Snooker Match preperation.

This is an area where we could spend hours discussing the in's and out's of how to approach matches and tournaments, but I will try in a few lines to sum up  what I feel is a good prior approach to matches/tournaments. Some players get nervous prior to matches some stay calm, but which ever category you fall into you must address it in your lead up to a game. Nerves are our body’s natural way of showing the stress of the situation and we can actually harness this and use it to our advantage. Alex Higgins said “he needed the nerves/stress to perform to his best”. The days leading up to a match are critical and this is a time to put planning and thought into your practice.  Work on areas were you feel less confidant. There is nothing worse than facing shots in a match were you know you are less confident and have no game plan to deal with it. Prior practice will give you the confidence and the ability to address the shots. One example or this for me was that I was struggling with safety play especially single ball from one end to the other leaving maximum distance between the cue ball and object ball. While working on it in my  practice sessions I soon worked out that if I was not confident with the straight up the table 12ft cue ball object ball away from each other then there were other areas of safe haven on the table which I did feel confident in playing. Knocking the ball onto a side cushion can be just as effective.

Match day nerves:

If like me you suffer from nerves then try the following. Arrive at the venue a good hour prior to your match and sit in the venue arena. Feel it, breathe it. Is it cold or hot?. Is there an echo, are the spectators seated close. Deal with these NOW not during your first shot. When facing your opponent at the start smile with confidence, shake hands firmly. Breathe deeply allow the nerves to flow accept that you will be nervous, and eventually they will go.

Just a few personnel thoughts give it a go. 

 

Before you start playing.

1. Try start your practise with a stretch and warm up session. Hold your cue out horizontally in front of you. Raise your arms up to full stretch above your head and then lower them to your knees keeping a straight back at all times. Do this several times.

 2.Stand with your cue vertically outstretched in front of you. Twist slowly to the left and then to the right. Do this several times to loosen up your back muscles.

3. KISS! keep it simple straight. Make all practice routines achievable. Do them for short periods of only 30 minuets max.This way you retain the very best information from the session. Remember a practice routine must have a purpose. Ask yourself the following questions. What do I need to work on, can it be done in one session or several bite size sessions. Is it bassed on fact or fiction? and will it help me achieve my end result of gained knowlage and practical application to my game.

4. Start all training sessions with the cue ball on the brown spot. Hit it down the table over the blue, pink and black spots. The aim is to see if you can get the ball to come back to the tip of your cue. This will show your are cueing straight and hitting the centre of the ball. If the cue ball doesnt come back to your tip this is an indication that you may not be cueing correctly and any practice session you start may be fruitless.