Break Building

Andy Dines (Maidstone & District Snooker League) | Posted on Tuesday, January 30, 2007

Try not to think of it as break building, try more to just think about the next few shots each time and concentrate on the position that way. Try and make the chances to open up the cluster of reds as early as you need to, either by being low on the black so you can stun/screw into them, or by being the D side of the blue and going into them from that way. If it helps, have someone else score the break but not do it out loud, knowing what your on can also put you off.
When you start to build higher breaks, the pressure will naturally get more as you get higher so try and make the first 50 harder than the last. ie. if the chances arise between taking an easy or a harder pot for position, take on the harder ones so the easier pots are left for when the pressure is greater.
Also if you have a fairly easy red below the black, try and leave it there as long as you can because if you overrun position and become too low on the pack of reds, you will still have the backup of the one near the cushion.
These methods won't always work or be practical for the particular game you're playing, but hopefully they might help a bit.

Regards

Andy Dines

Andy Dines (Maidstone & District Snooker League) | Posted on Thursday, February 1, 2007

There is one other thing worth noting Ivan. One mistake often made is when going from the cluster of reds up for a blue and ideally finishing on the D side of it so you can easily position back onto loose reds, but worrying about sending the cue ball too far and ending up short leaving either a longer pot back to the reds or having to go in and out of baulk from the blue to try and get back to the pack. Always make sure that if anything you go a little too far for the blue rather than too short, that way if it is too far for the blue you can still play off the baulk colours to go back up the table, either screwing back up, or stunning off the side cushion and into the reds etc.
Hope these are of some help but I will post any more thoughts that spring to mind.

Regards

Andy Dines (Maidstone & District Snooker League) | Posted on Thursday, February 1, 2007

Oh sorry, there was one more thing! :)

I find that the most common time I slip up is not just to do with concentration, but moreso too much concentration on the harder shots and not enough on the easier ones.
It is very easy to get into the mindset during breakbuilding that the easy ones should just go in and you need to concentrate on the harder ones. This is not the case, all shots regardless of difficulty should be treated with the same level of concentration, preparation, decision on where you will leave the cue ball after the pot etc.
If you manage to do this you will find that breaks will start to come more naturally because you are maintaining a more consistent approach to your game, rather than intermittent levels of concentration!

Good luck!

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Andy Dines (Maidstone & District Snooker League) \| Posted on Tuesday, January 30, 2007 Try not to think of it as break building, try more to just think about the next few shots each time and concentrate on the position that way. Try and make the chances to open up the cluster of reds as early as you need to, either by being low on the black so you can stun/screw into them, or by being the D side of the blue and going into them from that way. If it helps, have someone else score the break but not do it out loud, knowing what your on can also put you off. When you start to build higher breaks, the pressure will naturally get more as you get higher so try and make the first 50 harder than the last. ie. if the chances arise between taking an easy or a harder pot for position, take on the harder ones so the easier pots are left for when the pressure is greater. Also if you have a fairly easy red below the black, try and leave it there as long as you can because if you overrun position and become too low on the pack of reds, you will still have the backup of the one near the cushion. These methods won't always work or be practical for the particular game you're playing, but hopefully they might help a bit. Regards Andy Dines
Andy Dines (Maidstone & District Snooker League) \| Posted on Thursday, February 1, 2007 There is one other thing worth noting Ivan. One mistake often made is when going from the cluster of reds up for a blue and ideally finishing on the D side of it so you can easily position back onto loose reds, but worrying about sending the cue ball too far and ending up short leaving either a longer pot back to the reds or having to go in and out of baulk from the blue to try and get back to the pack. Always make sure that if anything you go a little too far for the blue rather than too short, that way if it is too far for the blue you can still play off the baulk colours to go back up the table, either screwing back up, or stunning off the side cushion and into the reds etc. Hope these are of some help but I will post any more thoughts that spring to mind. Regards
Andy Dines (Maidstone & District Snooker League) \| Posted on Thursday, February 1, 2007 Oh sorry, there was one more thing! :) I find that the most common time I slip up is not just to do with concentration, but moreso too much concentration on the harder shots and not enough on the easier ones. It is very easy to get into the mindset during breakbuilding that the easy ones should just go in and you need to concentrate on the harder ones. This is not the case, all shots regardless of difficulty should be treated with the same level of concentration, preparation, decision on where you will leave the cue ball after the pot etc. If you manage to do this you will find that breaks will start to come more naturally because you are maintaining a more consistent approach to your game, rather than intermittent levels of concentration! Good luck!