Snooker Potting Technique

Modern day snooker is a game of remarkable potting. Gone are the days where a strong tactical player could rely on his ability to out-safety his opponent or construct frame-winning situations with defensive play. More commonly, the best potter of a ball will win frames and matches on the strength of the potting technique used.

  1. Stance

    • "Good balance is obtained by having a good stance," according to former professional snooker coach Richard Fountain. Keep your front leg bent and your rear leg perfectly straight when potting to provide you with a stable and consistent base. As with any other aspect of a player's game, potting varies from player to player. Keep your back foot pointed directly toward the object ball, and your right foot will naturally adopt a comfortable and useful position from which to pot. Lean your body onto the table, but do not rely too heavily on the baize to take your weight. Furthermore, you should ensure that neither your body nor your clothing contacts any of the balls on the table, as this is a foul.

    Hand Positions

    • Both hands are equally important when potting snooker balls. While your weaker arm is used as a bridge for the cue on the table's surface, your dominant hand holds the opposite end of the cue. Delivering the cue straight over a smooth and flat bridge is essential to potting well. First, find a position where your bridging arm is comfortable, whether this is straight or with a bent elbow. If your bridging hand and arm are both comfortable, then you have found a strong technique. Once again, the key to a strong potting technique is a straight cueing action, which comes from your stronger hand. Hold the cue near its end with the butt of the cue resting gently on the face of your fingers between the tip and the knuckle joint. Deliver the cue straight with your wrist slightly bent, depending on what is most comfortable for you.

    Backswing

    • Many players take several backswings, where the cue is pulled back and pushed forward very quickly prior to striking the ball. This hands the player an advantage, as it allows him to get down on the shot, line it up straight and simulate the motion he will go through when playing the shot. More aggressive, less cautious players, such as former world champion Ronnie O' Sullivan, often prefer to simply get down on a shot and strike the pot. The number of backswings you take when addressing a pot is entirely your choice, but, particularly as a beginner, you are advised to take several backswings and use that time as an opportunity to take some deep breaths, focus your vision and ensure everything is as aligned as possible before potting.

    Eyes

    • According to Talk Snooker, the eyes are "two of the most important tools available to any snooker player." Make sure the cue rests just beneath — or even touching — the bottom of the middle of your chin as you backswing and play your shot. Some players look only through their stronger eye, leaving the other one closed, while others use both eyes, one on either side of the cue, alternating between the two, to line up the ball as straight as possible. As you push through the white ball, look up toward the object ball. Talk Snooker advises that you should not look at the cue ball as you play it.