Setting
Targets
To
progress at any sport it is important to regularly assess
your own development. This can be done in a number of
ways at snooker, but one way, which is widely used, is
to monitor and record the level of breaks you are achieving
on a regular basis.
This can be done in practice exercises on your own, perhaps
completing the 'line-up' and in competitive frames against
your peers. Lastly, the range of breaks you are achieving
in match play may also provide some useful guidance.
Although a person's highest break score is not an accurate
reflection of their ability the average break a player
regularly achieves provides useful information to the
coach helping them improve performance.
A regular 20 -30 break player, may need to practice shots
which dislodge more balls from the cluster, in order to
enhance his break building potential. A 70 - 80 break
player however, may need to work on the mental side of
the game to achieve the holy grail of century breaks.
Assessing your game will allow you to begin to practice
some of the things required to improve. 'Work smarter
not harder'
Breaks 1 - 30
If you regularly achieve breaks between 1 and 30 you are
clearly just beginning the game and have not progressed
beyond many of the basic requirements of snooker.
You are capable of potting four or five balls in succession,
but nothing more. Your cue ball control will be poor and
it is doubtful if you are cueing straight.
Careful consideration of everything that you do at the
snooker table is now required, from your grip, stance,
sighting, cue action onwards.
It is imperative that you now begin to practice the right
things in the right way or you will not improve.
Breaks 31- 60
To be regularly achieving breaks between 31 - 60, displays
a decent level of ability and represents a useful achievement.
You will have practiced a lot to achieve your knowledge
and expertise, working hard at certain aspects of your
game to become this good. Progressing beyond this stage
to the next will however be difficult. This will require
many hours practice and dedication, honing your cue action,
learning to control the cue ball and discovering the shots
that facilitate bigger breaks.
At this stage your learning curve remains very high, with
a study of the more advanced techniques required to progress.
Breaks 61 - 99
Well done! Regular breaks at this stage demonstrate dedication,
talent and ability, and a determination not to be defeated
by one of the hardest games to master.
You have the determination, work ethic and many of the
shots to make centuries but do you have the natural ability
and mental strength to carry you on?
It may be years before you reach a century - of course,
you may never do it. To reach your goal you must increase
your practice regime and heighten your learning curve.
Continue to work on your cue action and technique, whilst
learning from others and perhaps most importantly focus
your mind to the task in hand.
Crossing the century barrier can be very difficult, mentally.
It may take a number of near misses, spread over a number
of months before you get there.
'Don't give in now, keep the dream alive'.
Breaks 100 +
The century plus player combines talent, dedication and
mental strength. A player's first century break is one
of the highlights of his snooker career, and details of
it are remembered forever. Clearly, to achieve this standard
takes many years of hard work, development and continuous
improvement.
There are very few shots that the century plus man does
not know or cannot play, but reaching this stage does
not guarantee a total understanding. There are many famous
examples of top sportsmen who have reached a tremendously
high standard in their chosen sport, but have watched
it tumble around their ears because they could not spot
a fault developing and put it right.
So where do you go from here? Reaching the century plus
pinnacle represents your own personal achievement and
satisfaction, but does not guarantee an income from the
game. It is a harsh fact of life that reaching this stage,
however difficult, represents only the first stage of
your snooker career.
Developing this further to become a professional player,
requires unswerving dedication, outstanding talent and
aptitude for the game and unfortunately, large financial
support and mental toughness.
'With these factors in place however, there are still
no guarantees'
