SNOOKER AIMING : TECHNIQUES & EXECUTION..(FRACTIONAL AIMING SYSTEM)

Fractional Aiming System

The Fractional aiming system refers to a type of aiming where the object ball is divided into "slices" or fractions and aiming the ghostball at the different "slices". The fractional aiming theory is the basis behind the initial aiming process taught to snooker players in Europe. Most professional players also use this technique or a variation of this technique.

The illustration below will hopefully give more clarity to what this system is all about. Typically, when using the fractional aiming system you divide the object ball into different fractions or slices as shownbelow.

The illustration above (Figure 2) shows the object ball being sliced into 8 equal parts. The slices represent where the imaginary ghost ball will overlap with the object ball. To clearly illustrate this concept, see the diagrams below.

The picture above (Figure 3) show 9 different aiming points. The first one is a full ball hit which is basically the straight-in shot. The next 8 fractional aiming points represents the aim areas for cutting an object ball to the left. The fractional aim points are 1/8 - this means that only 1/8ths of the object ball are showing and the rest are being overlapped (or covered) by your imaginary ghostball. Next, you have 1/4, 3/8, 1/2, 5/8, 3/4, 7/8 and then a VERY THIN HIT where you are barely hitting the object ball.

Below is a diagram showing how to use the fractional aiming points to cut an object ball to the right.

Again, the picture above represents the fractional aim points for cutting an object ball to the right. So, dividing the object ball into 8 equal slices will produce 17 different aim points - i.e. 1 for a full ball hit plus 8 points for cutting the object ball to the right and another 8 points for cutting the object ball to the left (1+8+8 = 17).

However, if you look at the "Phases of the moon" animation above, you will notice that there are gaps in between the different fractions or slices. For example, there are points in between the 1/8th ball hit and the 1/4th ball hit. See illustration below.

The illustration above shows two gaps between the 1/4 and 1/8th hits - it could very well be a lot more to handle the infinite number of shot angles. The gaps tells you that this is not an exact aiming system - no aiming system really is. The point of the fractional aiming system is to give you reference points that you can recognize and use as a basis for aiming. To handle the gaps in between the angles, all you can do is recognize for example that the shot requires a 1/8th ball hit but a little thinner (or thicker). Only experience (from thousands of hours playing on the pool table) will allow you to recognize a shot angle and associate it with the correct fractional aim point. For example, you might see a shot angle and your instinct will tell you that, "Tha'ts a 1/4th ball hit'' or "That angle is too thin for a 1/4th hit BUT it's to thick for a 1/8 ball hit" - in this case, you instinctively adjust your aim.

At the very least, you can slice the object ball into 3 equal parts. However, it is best to slice the object ball even further for better aiming accuracy. The example I have shown is dividing the object ball into 8 different slices and the different aim point it produces will cover many of the different aiming angles. If you can visualize thinner slices then it is theoritically the better option. For example, dividing the object ball into 16 equal slices will give you 33 different aiming points. Again, 1 for a full ball hit, 16 for cutting the object ball to the right and another 16 for cutting the ball to the left (1+16+16 = 33).

EXERCISES

Start by practicing the fractional aiming technique your have just learned above. Setup your cue ball and object ball at different angles and keep shooting until you have a good grasp of the fractional aiming technique described in this article.

Below are 2 specific Aiming Drills that you can execute to improve your fractional aiming technique.

TO BE CONTINUED..

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HOW TO AIM : CONTACT POINTS & GHOST BALL IN SNOOKER..

All the good players have a combination of a solid stroke and an exceptional sense of aim. Having learned the fundamentals of a superior stroke, you are now ready to learn the proper technique for aiming and you'll be on your way to becoming a good pool player.

Contact Point

The biggest question that a new player always asks is "Where do I hit the object ball to make it go into the pocket?". The answer is simple... you need to find the "point of contact" on the object ball. In other words, figure out the area on the object ball that needs to be hit by the cue ball. In Figure 1 below, imagine a line of aim indicated by line "a, b". This is a line that goes thru the center of the object ball towards the pocket. The "point of contact" or "contact point" is indicated by "cp". This is the spot on the object ball where the cueball needs to come in contact with to pocket the object ball.

Cue Ball Contact

Figure 2 displays where the cue ball should be when it makes contact with the object ball. Notice how the cue ball makes contact with the object ball... this is the "point of contact" that I am talking about. Let's say for example that you have a straight in shot at the one-ball, the "point of contact" will then be at the center of the "one" ball. For a straight in shot, you simply aim straight towards the center of the object ball to make the shot.

Contact Point versus Aim Point

Aiming for a straight-in shot is fairly simple because the contact point would be the center of the object ball. However, aiming for cut shots or angle shots are a little more difficult. Look at the Figure 3 below... as you'll notice the "point of contact" (cp) is no longer at the center of the object ball, instead it is located a little bit on the left of center. One of the most common mistakes that a newer player makes on cut shots is aiming at the "point of contact" (cp) on the object ball instead of aiming at the "aim point" (ap) as shown. Aim Point is the spot where you aim the center of the cue ball at to pocket the object ball. In the illustration below, line "x, y" is your aiming line. Along the aiming line is the center of the ghost ball and the Aim Point.

Ghostball Aiming Technique

One technique for aiming is using an imaginary ball besides the object ball that lines up directly towards the pocket. Refer to Figure 4 below. The imaginary ghost ball is represented by a solid circle. Now all you have to do is aim at the center of the imaginary ball as if you are doing a straight-in shot with the imaginary ghost ball.

It takes a while before you can feel comfortable with your sense of aim but if you spend enough time practicing it you will slowly learn to aim even without using an imaginary ball

Cue Stick Aiming Technique

Another technique for aiming is by the use of your cue stick. Refer to the Figure 5 below.

Figure 5: Cue Stick Aiming Technique

• First, you need to determine the line of path of your object ball to the pocket and point your cue stick in that direction.
• Measure the diameter of the object ball. A pool ball has a diameter of 2 and 1/4 inch.
• Place the tip of your cue stick at half the diameter (1 and 1/8 inch) from the object ball along the line of path of your object ball to the pocket. This is your aim point
• Next, you need to do is simply draw a line from your aim point (ap)to the center of your cue ball. This is your aim line (x,y).
• Lastly, line up your cue stick along the aim line and shoot.

Margin for Error

Depending on the size of the pocket opening (which varies between different types of tables), you normally have an allowed margin for error. Just remember that the closer the object ball is to the pocket, the larger is your margin for error and the farther away the object ball is from the pocket, the smaller your margin for error will be. However, it is always a good idea to strive for a perfect shot right in the middle of the pocket so you won't have to worry about your margin for error regardless of the size of the pocket opening.

Exercises

Start by practicing the techniques you have just learned above - The Ghostball Aiming and the Cue Stick Aiming technique. Setup your cue ball and object ball at different angles and keep shooting until you have a good grasp of the techniques described in this article. Repetition is key. Keep aiming and shooting until it becomes second nature to you.

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THE INCREDIBLE STORY OF HOW "INDIA" GAVE SNOOKER TO THE WORLD..

Jabalpur to Ooty: The Incredible Story of How India Gave Snooker to the World.

The game of Snooker was born when young British Lieutenant Neville Chamberlain experimented with the classic game of black pool.

It is undeniable that India is a cricket-crazy nation. No other sport enjoys the privilege of cricket, which is extended to the people who practice it. Hence, when India won the Asian Snooker Championship earlier this month against Pakistan, the tweet by the captain of the team Pankaj Advani cheekily made a reference as to how they are not cricketers or demi-gods, hinting at the abysmal amount of media attention they received for their win.

The Indian team consisted of Malkeet Singh, Laxman Rawat, led by Pankaj Advani and coached by Ashoka Shandilya.

This was Bengaluru boy Pankaj Advani’s second tile of the season and 8th overall. He is unarguably the most celebrated of Indians among cue players — along with Aditya Mehta — who for a brief period of time was directly responsible for increased interest in the game, at least in Bengaluru. In fact, the first-ever Indian Open of 2013 was a milestone in the history of Snooker in India.

Including Advani, the city has produced exceptional cue players since as early as in 1987, when Usha Rao crowned as the National Champion. Though the state-of-the-art facilities at Karnataka State Billiards Association (KSBA) still largely remains underused.

The reputation of the game as elitist may have been a contributing factor.

It isn’t hard to trace the roots of such a reputation. A peek into the nation’s colonial history has many stories to tell. Indeed, not many people are aware that the game of Snooker was invented in India. The World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA) website proudly declares India as the birthplace of Snooker.

Snooker is one among the many popular cue sports — a stick called cue is used to strike different coloured balls on a billiards table to pocket them. It has its origin in 16th Century English Billiards, but achieved its modern form only around the 19th Century.

Today, the term Billiards is generally used as an umbrella term, including pool and snooker. Snooker is different than other sports in the size of the cue stick, height of the rails, size of the balls and the pockets color of the balls used, which includes 15 red balls and one ball each of yellow, green, brown, blue, pink and black. Each of these colors have different point system from 2 points (red) to 7 points (black).

In his 1939 article The Billiard Player, author and essayist Compton Mackenzie credited a certain young British Army Lieutenant Neville Chamberlain as the inventor of the game of snooker.

In 1875, in an officers’ mess in city of Jabalpur, MP, Chamberlain experimented with the classic game of black pool, by adding many coloured balls to the existing 15 red balls and a black ball. Thus, the game of snooker was born.

Since the amateur or rookie cadets at Military Academy were called ‘snookers’, Chamberlain seems to have jokingly referred to everyone around the table as ‘snookers’ in this version of the classic English Billiards. That’s how the unique name stuck.

Though it was conceived in Jabalpur, the rules of the game was solidified and developed in Ooty, the essential birthplace of the game. Chamberlain was posted in Ooty or Udagamandalam or popularly known then as Snooty Ooty, a remark over its exclusivity. It was at the colonial Ooty Club that the game made a headway, growing closer to the contemporary version. Chamberlain was so devoted to the game, that he even named his horse after Snooker. Soon after its invention by Chamberlain, it became one of the most popular games among British soldiers stationed in the Indian Subcontinent.

Even today, the Ooty Club has a billiards room, where a snooker table from the period is carefully preserved, singing the songs of history to every visitor.

Today, snooker is played in 90 countries by over 120 million people and watched by 450 million people worldwide. The days of it being included in the prestigious Olympic games is not far. The game is reaching epic proportions of popularity in China with more than 60 million people playing the game! However, as the birthplace of snooker, India needs to step up its game. The first-ever Indian Open of 2013, was a step in the right direction.

With Pankaj Advani dividing his time between his “wife” English Billiards and “mistress” Snooker, India only has Aditya Mehta as the torchbearer of the sport in India. Hopefully, Laxman Rawat and Malkeet Singh’s first title of the season in the recent Asian Championship will summon many more.

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"JOE DAVIS" FIRST PERSON WHO WON WORLD SNOOKER CHAMPIONSHIP IN 1927..

Joseph Davis,was an English professional Snooker and English Billiards player. He was the dominant figure in snooker from the 1920s to the 1950s. He won the first 15 World Championship from 1927 to 1946.

After his 1946 victory he no longer played in the World Championship but continued to play in other tournaments and exhibition matches until the late 1950s. He was World Billiard Champion 4 times between 1928 and 1932.

Joe Davis became a professional billiards player at the age of 18, having won the Chesterfield Championship at age 13. In 1926 he reached his first World Professional Billiard Championship final but was unsuccessful against defending champion Tom Newman. He reached the final again the following year and was runner-up again to the same opponent. It was to be a case of third time lucky for Davis when he defeated Newman in 1928 to become the world champion at English billiards for the first time. He would defend his title for the next three years – against Newman again in 1929 and 1930 and New Zealander Clark Mcconachy in 1932. He contested the final two more times in 1933 and 1934 losing on both occasions to Australian Walter Lindrum.

Coinciding with his peak as a billiards player, Davis's interests shifted to snooker and he helped to organise the first snooker  world championship in 1927 and won the tournament by beating Tom Dennis, for which he won UK $ 6 10 s. He went on to win the world championship every year until 1940. Joe's brother Fred, twelve years his junior, was also a snooker player and multiple World Champion. When Joe met Fred in the world championship final of 1940, Joe won 37–36.

Following the outbreak of world war II the world championship was not held for the next five years. On resumption in 1946, Davis defended his title making it his 15th consecutive win and thereby holding the title for 20 straight years. To date, he has won more world championships than any other player. He retired from the event following this victory making him the only undefeated player in the history of the world championships.

Davis proved he was still the man to beat up to the 1950s by winning the News Of The World Tournament on three occasions during the decade. His nearest rivals were his brother, Fred, and future world champion John Pulman who each both won it on two occasions. He made history in 1955 by achieving the first officially recognised maximum break of 147 in snooker in an exhibition match at Leicester Square Hall. He had previously made the game's first official century break in 1930. In 1959 Davis attempted to popularise a new version of the game called snooker plus. This game had two extra colours, an orange and a purple and was used for the 1959 News of the World Snooker Plus Tournament but it never took off. In 1962, when over 60 years of age, he made the first televised century break. This break of exactly 100 was his first visit to the table in the very first frame of a match against the sitting World Champion John Pulman and consisted of seven blacks, two pinks and five blues. The break came to an end when Davis missed a long red into the top right hand pocket, the only time during the break when he was faced with a difficult pot, such was the quality of his positional play. 

Davis was awarded the Order Of British Empire (OBE) in 1963. He continued to play professionally until 1964.

Davis died two months after collapsing while watching his brother play Perrie Mans in the 1978 World Snooker Championship semi-final. His home, in whitewell  Derbyshire bears a plaque commemorating him.

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"SNOOKER"...DON'T KNOW HOW TO PLAY?NOT TO WORRY, JUST FOLLOW THESE STEPS..

Snooker is one of the most popular parlor games in the world. A variation of billiards, it is played on a felt-covered table with six pockets lining the perimeter. The object of the game is to sink a group of colored balls in the correct order using a thin wooden cue. Snooker requires considerable precision and concentration, and the complexity of its rules makes it harder to master than other forms of billiards like pool. Once you get the hang of it, however, Snooker plays much like other beloved billiards games and is a fun way to challenge your sense of spatial awareness and control.



Learning the Rules

1.Score more points than your opponent to win. In order to secure victory in a game of snooker, you have to end the game with a greater number of points than the other player. This means that you should try to secure as many points per turn as you can. Snooker can be tricky to get the hang of at first, but with time you’ll learn how to place your shots to run the table and make the best of each turn.

• There are 22 balls total used in a game of snooker: 15 red, 6 multicolored (yellow, brown, green, blue, pink and black) and a single white “cue” ball, which is used to pocket shots. The point value of each ball is as follows: all red balls =1, yellow = 2, green = 3, brown = 4, blue = 5, pink = 6 and black = 7
• Players score points every time they successfully sink a ball. By the end of the game, every ball must be in a pocket for there to be a winner. Because of the player's ability to pocket colored balls repeatedly during the opening stage of the game, a winning score will rarely be below 50.

2.Set up the table properly. Before you can begin playing, the balls must be arranged in the right configuration. Each of the colored balls has a specific location on the table. The 15 red balls are arranged in a triangular formation at one end of the table, with the pink ball directly in front of the point of the triangle and black ball a few inches behind the red balls. The blue ball rests in the center. The yellow, brown and green balls are lined up horizontally on the breaking end of the table.

• Whichever player begins the game will break from the end of the table opposite the cluster of red balls.

3.Decide which player will break. Flip a coin or come to an agreement on who will shoot first. This player will be responsible for breaking the formation of balls. For their opening shot, the player will position the white cue ball behind the line of yellow, brown and green balls. They will then aim to gently dislodge a red ball from the cluster, officially starting the game.

• Unlike in pool, where the object of the break is to scatter the balls across the table, a snooker break should be conservative. That way, your opponent won’t have the advantage of multiple shots should you miss.
• The cue ball can be placed anywhere within the D-shaped semicircular section of the table.

4.Alternate between red and colored balls to earn points. Points are scored by sinking the right balls in the right order. The active player will attempt to pocket a red ball first. Once sunk, red balls remain where they are. The player will then aim for any of the colored balls, which are returned to their designated spot on the table after they’ve been pocketed. Continue the game in this manner, going back and forth between red and colored balls, until all of the red balls have found their way into a pocket.

• A player’s turn is over if they miss a shot.
• If a player scratches (pockets the cue ball by mistake, or fails to hit a single colored ball) or shoots a ball in the wrong order (for instance, two colored balls in a row), it’s considered a foul. Typically, they lose their turn, and in competition there may also be a point deduction.

5.Pocket the rest of the colored balls in the correct order. After all of the red balls have been pocketed, a player can close out the game by consecutively sinking the remaining colored balls in order of their point value. In this stage of the game, the balls no longer go back to their original position. If one player misses, it becomes the other player’s turn. The game is over when there are no more balls on the table.

• Following the red balls, the colored balls must be deposited in this order: yellow, green, brown, blue, pink, black.
• Since missed colored balls stay on the table in the final stages of the game, it becomes a free-for-all to see which player can snag the most points.

Making Shots

1.Take a comfortable grip. Grab the cue near the bottom of the thick, weighted end. The closer to the end you grip, the more control and extension your shots will have. Make sure your hand placement is comfortable and secure to prevent the cue from drifting when you’re aiming.

• Snooker cues tend to be somewhat heavier and have narrower tips than the cues used in other forms of billiards. With a slender tip, the player can manipulate the cue ball more precisely.
• How high or low you choose to place your hand on the cue is mostly a matter of personal preference.

2.“Bridge” the cue with your non-dominant hand. Lay your non-shooting on the table and use it to guide the cue as you shoot. Most people prefer to use either an “open bridge” (lining up the cue across the groove of the thumb joint) or a “closed bridge” (enclosing the end of the cue between their thumb and pointer finger). Bridging helps you steady the cue as you strike the cue ball, allowing you to place your shots with more precision.

• Use a solid bridge to keep your cue from wiggling around during your stroke.
• Elevating your bridge by lifting the bottom of your hand off the table can enable you to pocket balls that are too close to the rails or other balls.

3.Move the cue in a smooth, straight line to shoot. In one tight, controlled motion, draw your shooting arm back a few inches and thrust it forward, hitting the cue ball in the upper part of its center. Keep your elbow relaxed and close to your side. Try to make your movements as fluid as possible. A jerky or halted stroke will most likely be inaccurate.^[11]

• Practice shooting straighter by bouncing the cue ball off one of the rails and seeing how closely it returns to the tip of your cue.

4.Use a precise stroke to place the balls into pockets. Sink balls by shooting them straight for the pockets, or striking one side of the ball so that it rolls in at an angle. You can also use the rails, or the edges of the tables, to bounce balls into pockets on the same side of the table you're shooting from. The balls will be in many different positions throughout the game. Take some time to line up your shots every time it's your turn at the table.

• Keep your eye on the ball as you line up your shot, and don’t let your shoulders come up until you’ve completed your stroke.
• Calculate the angle you need to strike the ball in order to knock it into a given pocket by aiming for the point on the ball that's directly opposite the pocket's opening.

5.Use extensions to assist with difficult shots. Because of the size of a snooker table, and the number of balls cluttering the table, there may be times when it’s impossible to make a successful shot using the standard technique. In the situations, an extension tool such as a "rest" (also known as a “bridge”—not to be confused with the hand position used while aiming) or "spider" will come in handy. Rests resemble normal pool cues with the exception of an arched stand at the end. The player’s cue can be fitted into this stand, which takes the place of the bridging hand for steadying shots.

• A rest is a valuable aid for making shots that would otherwise require you to lean across the table.
• The spider extension has a higher arch, and should be used in situations where the cue ball is too close to a ball or group of balls to give you a clear shot.

Playing a Winning Game

1.Calculate the value of each shot. Red balls are worth 1 point each. The remaining colored balls are worth an increasing number of points in sequence. Remember, these balls can be pocketed multiple times before the end of the game, which will help you quickly drive up your score. The fixed position of the colored balls means you should always have a clear shot at one, no matter where the cue ball is on the table.

• Players should either keep score mentally or have a pen and paper nearby to record the number of points earned after each turn.
• If the losing player’s score is so much lower that it’s impossible for them to close the gap by the time all the red balls have been cleared from the table, it’s customary for them to forfeit to the winning player.

2.Plan your shots strategically. As you assess the table, make it your goal to sink a red ball that will leave you with a follow up shot at one of the colored balls. Keep in mind the value of each ball and go for the ball that will earn you the highest number of points whenever you can. Use an appropriate amount of power for each shot so that the cue ball comes to a stop as near as possible to the center of the table. This way you’ll always have an unobstructed path.

• The ability to use one shot to set up the next is the hallmark of a skilled snooker player.

3.Play it safe. In general, it’s best not to take unnecessary risks. By staying composed and opting for modest, well-executed shots, you can keep your turn going longer, putting you in control of the table. Look over the entire table and determine what your best option is before trying to pocket a ball at a distance or angle you’re not sure you can make.

• The closest shot will usually be the easiest.
• Avoid sharp angles or bank shots that require you to use the rails. The small size of the pockets makes it more likely that you’ll miss.

4.Take your time. Snooker tables are quite a bit larger than standard billiard tables, and, to make it even more complicated, the pockets are slightly more narrow. For this reason, you should always pace yourself when picking, lining up and taking your shots. Being hasty or getting overly excited about scoring could cost you the shot, and if you’re playing against an experienced opponent, one missed shot could mean the end of the game.

• Regulation snooker tables measure 12’ (3.6m) long by 6’ (1.8m) wide, whereas most pool tables are only 8’ (2.4m) long by 4’ (1.2m) wide.
• Additionally, the pockets on a snooker table are about 1.5 (roughly 3.7cm) inches smaller than those on other playing surfaces.