How to play snooker

Tips and tricks on playing snooker

Hi everyone, welcome to my blog. In this post, I am going to give you some tips and tricks on how you can become a better snooker player. This blog is aimed at beginners and will be written with them in mind. However, for intermediate players, I am sure there will be some useful materials that can help you improve your game and teach you how to play snooker better as well.

I am sure everybody has their own personal preference of how to play snooker. In my opinion, scoring as aggressively as possible is the key to success. To achieve this, break building is something that every snooker player should aspire to excel in to play the game well.

Here are 3 reasons why I believe scoring aggressively can help you vastly improve your game.

1. Your opponent has no chance to score against you

2. Your  opponent won't be able to snooker you and gain an advantage

3. You can increase your chances of winning.

One important part of breaking in a game, that is regularly overlooked by most players who are starting snooker, is to be able to do so while under the cooker. By playing as a predictable and overwhelming scorer, it definitely encourages you to win outlines easier. However, if you are playing under pressure and are forced to pot all of the hues to have an edge over your opponent, then scoring substantially definitely has its perks.

Why scoring substantially helps you to win games:

You become more skilled in being able to maneuver the balls to where you want them to be

You can plan ahead of where you want to ball to be to score subsequent balls easier

Your opponent will become pressured to even the score and make mistakes.

How do you become a better snooker player?

In summary, the top 2 skills you need to have to become a better snooker player are to be able to break the balls and to score substantially.

Of course this is easier said than done. But not to fret, I am going to give you some tips and pointers on how you can achieve these 2 skills. 

Firstly, many snooker players try to approach the break from a over simplified vision. They go straight into the pack and afterward attempt to score as much as possible. However, the issue with this approach is that they aren't sufficiently talented or gifted enough to be able to complete scoring everything following the break. This brings us to the next section, problems with beginner snooker players.

Problems with beginner snooker players:

Unable to have good sign ball positioning

Unable to determine or set up where the ball will end up after their shot (regardless of whether they score or not)

Have poor mechanics in shooting and aiming

Have poor concentration

Have lack of confidence in self and unable to perform under pressure

The combination of these few factors are usually what gets to beginner snooker players and cause them to be unable to play well. Not to fret, this blog was written with you in mind, and we're all here to learn how snooker should be played. Don't give up on the game just because of a few setbacks. Instead, learn and adapt and you'll master how to play snooker in no time. To guide you on how to play better, I've designed a few individual practices that will give you the basics and confidence in yourselves, your shots and your play. Read on for my recommendations on how to practice your snooker skills.

Individual practices for snooker

Try to clear the hues from a ball that is in a close by position

Try to go from dark to yellow from various sign ball positions

Try to go from pink to yellow from various prompt ball positions

Try to go from blue to yellow from various signal ball positions

Practice your break such that you can always place the balls where you want them to be

Practice your shots such that the ball ends where you want them to

Practice mentally preparing which balls you want to pot next

Practice having the bigger picture in mind, think of the next 5 shots become you make the current shot

Practice, Practice, Practice

Play the game more and instinctively, you'll master how to play snooker in no time

After you have gone through the above practices, I am confident that you'll be more confident in your games. These practices are meant to help in your muscle memory as well as planning your play that gears you up for a successful game. Do not underestimate how simple practices can immensely improve how you play snooker especially when you are just starting out. Lastly, always try to relax yourself when making a shot and not be pressured whether you are in a winning or losing position.

Learning how to play snooker involves learning break building, which is part science and part workmanship. On the off chance that you chip away at the basics of sign ball control, preparing, mechanics, etc, the prizes of training in the long run pay off in coordinate play since things get comfortable. As something gets comfortable by and by, it gets comfortable in coordinate play when you have to "turn it on" and score. As it's regularly said in sign games, "rehearse doesn't influence consummate, to culminate careful discipline brings about promising results".

Extra tips

Gripping a snooker cue: Grip the cue you would a fork. Not too tightly that you injure your fingers but not too soft that it causes you to drop the fork when picking your food. The snooker cue should rest comfortably in your hand. Once you learn how to hold the cue in a comfortable manner, be sure to practice your strength with your new found grip. Ensure that you are able to control the strength you put into each shot and be able to accomplish what you envision with each shot.

Your standing position: Be sure to stand with your legs shoulder width apart as this will give you the most stability when making your shots. Also, try not to rest your body on the table too much but instead, be more accustomed to taking shots without needing to rely on the table. Forming bad habits by leaning on the table will definitely impact your ability to play and improve yourself in the future.

Aiming: One of the most controversial topics in snooker is how to aim your shot when it is your turn. Be sure to gauge the strength and angle that you need in a bird's eye view of the playing field before going into your shooting stance. The shooting stance narrows your field of vision and can cause you to miss the shot entirely. Remember to keep your attention on both the cue ball as well as the ball you are intending to pot. Narrowing your vision during a game is never a good idea, always bear this in mind.

Hand positioning: When using your hand to position your shot better, it is important to keep your hand in a position that provides maximum stability. Also, try to use your knuckles as a base for your snooker cue rather than forming a circle with your fingers. Good snooker play depends on your stability and ensuring your hands and shots are stable starts with having good hand and cue positioning.

The shot: When taking your shot, always try to keep a 90 degree angle of your arm and elbow. Do not keep your elbow at an awkward position as this can can cause your shots to veer right off course.

Snooker is a game that relies heavily on having good basics of the understanding on how to play the game as well as having good fundamental skills and correct posturing of your body. Be sure to mentally take note of these points in your games

Conclusion

In summary, how to play snooker better involves regular practice and being an aggressive player and confident breaker so your opponent has no chance of snookering you. It also involves training regularly to develop your skills which will allow you to perform well under pressure.

More information can be found at the official wikipedia page:
http://www.wikihow.com/Play-Snooker
If you need more information on the rules of snooker, read my other blog post here!
https://mastersnookerandpool.blogspot.com/2017/08/rules-snooker.html

Rules of Snooker and Pool

Basic rules of Snooker

One stop guide to learn the rules of snooker!

Introduction to the rules of snooker:

International or English snooker is the most popular type of snooker that is played throughout the world.

The game is typically played on a 6 by 12 foot English billiard table, however, the main difference is that the pads are different from that of a billiard table. Snooker pads bend much more into the pocket openings as the balls used in snooker are smaller and hence need to be easier to be pot. The material for the table is wooden with a coarse felt-like texture for the table top. This provides friction for the balls.The table is also designed to be ass flat as possible so that the balls do not slide accidentally.

A little history of snooker

Snooker was actually born from billiards. The first billiard game was played close to 400 years ago while the first snooker game was played less than a 100 years ago. The history of billiard is much longer than snooker which also explains the difference in popularity of the 2 sports. Snooker was first played and popularized by the Chinese and Indians during its emerging years. Nowadays, the sport is dominated by people from the United Kingdom. What is most interesting, is that snooker was formed by the combination of two spin-off games from billiards, life pool and pyramid pool. These 2 spin-offs were created due to the stringent rule of billiards being a 2 person sport. While the popularity of snooker has never been particularly high, many still enjoy it due to it being more challenging that billiards and having more variations in play. Snooker can be described to be designed for those who want to be challenged by the game whereas billiards is seen to cater to casual players.

Equipment to play snooker

Typically, snooker is played by 2 players but there are certain variations where 4 players can also play the game.

A set of 21 balls are used in a typical game of snooker. These balls, unlike pool balls, are unnumbered. Of these 21 balls, 15 are red (called reds) and 6 are of different hues (called hues). The scoring ball or white ball is referred to as the cue ball. Each red ball is worth 1 point while the points for the hues are listed below:

Yellow Ball -2 points

Green Ball -3 points

Brown Ball - 4 points

Blue Ball - 5 points

Pink Ball - 6 points

Black Ball - 7 points

All the balls are typically made to be 2 and 1/16 inches in size.

Snooker cues: The cue stick should be at least 3 feet in length and comply with official snooker regulations. For more information about snooker cues, please refer to my other blog post:
https://mastersnookerandpool.blogspot.sg/2017/09/choosing-snooker-cues.html

The Setup

Rack the red balls into a pyramid shape. Place the pink ball at the head of the pyramid but ensure that it does not touch any of the red balls. Place the black ball behind pyramid, with it being in line with the center of the pyramid.

Place the blue ball between the pink ball and the balk line. Place the yellow ball on the edge of the half circle and the green ball at the other edge. Finally, place the brown ball in the center of the half circle.

The balk line refers to the straight line drawn on the snooker table. It is located 29 inches away from the face of the table.

The half circle is, as the name suggests, a semi circle that is drawn above the balk. When the game starts, the player who is breaking the ball can decide to place the cue ball anywhere within the half circle or on the edge of the half circle. However, once he endeavors to make his shot, the cue ball can no longer be moved.

Rules - Scoring

The point of the game, similar to every other game out there, is to score a greater number of points compared to your opponent.

It is possible to earn points in 2 different ways. Either from fouls committed by your opponent (this will be elaborated on later) or by legally potting the red and hue balls. Each legally potted red ball is worth 1 point while the hues are worth the number of points mentioned above

One round of snooker closes when all the balls have been potted but the balls must be potted according to the official playing sequence.

In the special event where only the black ball is left on the table, the game is then determined by whoever scores the black ball first or makes the first foul. In the off chance that the score of both players are equal after potting the black ball, the ball is returned to its original position in the setup. Players then decide among themselves who will take the shot. The first score or foul will then end that round of play.

Rules - Starting the game

It is customary for the players to toss a coin to decide who gets to break first. Or it can be given to the more inexperienced player. Following the first round, the players then take turns to have a shot at breaking the ball first. For the first shot, the player must always cause the cue ball to hit a red ball. Failing to do so results in a foul. (He does not need to score the ball, only to hit it)

Standard rules of play

1. Potting balls allow the striker to keep scoring until he finally fails to pot a ball or commits a foul

2. The striker must always pot a red ball before being allowed to pot a hue ball (failure to comply results in a foul)

3. The striker must always hit the red ball first with the cue ball if the intention was to score the red ball.

4. Any shots that are scored by pure luck is accorded as a foul, no points would be awarded and possession of play goes to the opponent.

5. Jump shots are strictly not allowed, failure to comply leads to a foul and possession is given to the opponent

6. If no reds remain in play, the player must go in numerical ascending order of potting the remaining hues

(Rules) In the event of fouls:

1. Hues that are illegally potted return back to their original position as depicted in the setup, red balls are not returned in play.

2. Jump shots that cause balls to jump off the table are subject to same rules as being illegally potted.

3. If the position where the ball is supposed to return to is occupied, it is placed in the next possible location. If all locations are taken, it is placed as close as possible to the location without touching the ball occupying that space.

4. If the cue ball lands outside the table, the possession of play transfers, and the player can place the ball wherever he desires to. (Free ball)

5. Touching the ball, either with the cue or with your hands is subject to the same penalties as that of the cue ball landing outside the table.

6. If you pot the white ball, it is considered a foul. The penalty of doing so is the same as the above 2 fouls

7. It is mandatory for at least one foot to be touching the ground when a shot is made. Failure to do so will lead to you committing a foul.

(Rules) Fouls and points awarded.

Committing a foul is a grave sin and the penalties reflect this. A foul results in 4 points being awarded to your opponent. However, if the ball in question is worth more than 4 points, then the value of the ball is given to the opponent in points.

I hope this blog spot was enjoyable for you to read and helped you understand more about the rules of snooker. Thanks for making it thus far and all the best in your snooker endeavors!



More information can be found on the official wikipedia page:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rules_of_snooker
If you want to find out how you can get better at snooker, simply read my other blog post:
https://mastersnookerandpool.blogspot.com/2017/08/how-play-snooker.html