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Snooker looks so easy on T.V.. When I try it, I can't pot a ball! How can I guarantee I get balls in?

Snooker is by no means easy. It may look easy on the television, and indeed players like Ronnie O'Sullivan sometimes make a farce of the game's difficulty, but at the end of the day it is one of the most frustratingly difficult games you are ever likely to play.

The thing to remember is that players such as Ronnie O'Sullivan have spent hours and hours, every day of every week of every year (more or less) for many years, practising their game.

If you want to become a Ronnie O'Sullivan, then firstly, you've got to adopt a practice regime that improves your game.

If, however, you just want to stop making a fool of yourself in public by not being able to pot a ball, but don't want to be able to compile a 147 every time you visit the table, then there are a few key points that can help you:

-Your cue action should be such that the cue follows through straight after the shot.
-Your eyes should remain fixed on the object ball once you have established your cueing on the white ball.
-Your shot should not be rushed - three or four strokes to address the cue ball before you hit it will help you.
-Your mind should remain focused and positive (visualising the ball going in can often help)
-Your body should remain absolutely still before, during and after the shot.

Finally, there is no way of guaranteeing balls going in. Everyone misses shots, and if they were a formality the game would not be as difficult as it is generally accepted to be. Just enjoy your snooker, and you'll probably succeed.





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