Snooker

[tooj]

This week, in one frame, the black was twice in the middle of the middle pocket (about an inch away) and I had got the cue ball in front of the other middle pocket. I hit the cue ball at six o'clock quite gently, but both times it followed the black in, and it cost me fourteen points. Can anyone tell me how I can stop giving points away like this?

[joggerjayne]

Is this some sort of "spin" thing ?

[jno]

hit it even more gently/hit it harder so it bounces back? (Just guesses.)

[Sgt.Rock]

Strike the cue ball slightly below the middle,it should spin back away from the pocket.

[DTCwordfan]

yes - first of all I would need to see your stance - assuming you are standing square, your head over the ball (and it stays over the ball), your cue set parallel to the direction you want to hit the cue ball towards the object ball (a common error) - then watch John Higgins - his head is over the ball when the struck ball is entering the pocket!

Then you have a choice - hit the object ball a tad under centre to stop it, a little deeper to stun it, or go through about a quarter up to back-screw it.

Now with your head down, try letting the cue go sliding "straight through" the ball - do not let the cue stop or you will "stab" the ball and put wrong spin on it, the biggest error at snooker.

Snooker is like any racket sport or golf, you have to let your weapon run right through and let it complete the swing, otherwise chickening out causes the wrong swing.

I am assuming that you are a "beginner" - if you aren't my apologies. I did play this game to a pretty good competitive level.......

[DTCwordfan]

(and practice this - it takes a little feel to get the control and then practice to understand how far you can screw back or stun a few inches for various set differences between the cue ball and the object ball.

Master it and you will get a big kick out of playing the game and I bet your top breaks go zooming up in points terms.....

[Mattk]

You can create a slight angle by using the left and right sides of the pocket then no follow-through.