Learning Foundation : Snooker Stances by JC

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Compilation of advises, tips and tricks from my experience with others

Throughout my time playing snooker, I’ve been trying to constantly improve my game my way and seriously, my way was taking me to Timbuktu via Holland. My brother is actually quite a snooker player himself but I was not given many lessons from him until later when I seriously wanted to play the game. Throughout the years, I’ve met many good players and here’s a compilations of advises they gave to me.

Snooker Stance

Recently, a lot of people, from a forum that I frequent and also outside, have been asking me about snooker stances. Some of you guys who has visited snooker parlours I’m sure have seen many good players with stances that varies from other players. I hope my article this time round can help clarify some of your questions you have about stances.

Traditional Boxer Stance

This traditional stance, if I’m not wrong, is also called the boxer’s stance. U-Wern, who is pictured above, is a right hander hence his right foot is naturally a step behind his left. This stance was “THE” stance taught and shared to everyone by no other than the granddaddy of snooker Joe Davis.

Square Stance

Jeffrey Tan, who is also a right hander, is using another stance called the square stance.

This stance is considered a modern stance and was popularized by Stephen Hendry. This stance will see the left foot being next to the right foot (1-3 feet apart) and sometimes slightly in front (2-3 inches in front).

Some might not agree to this but your sighting can and may affect your stance depending on which is your dominant eye. Those who use their left eye as their dominant eye would see that the boxer stance as a more suitable posture whilst those who are right-eyed or even sighted would feel more comfortable with both stances.

Some might say stance is not really important so as long as you already standing very steadily with both feet firmly on the ground. Up to a certain point I agree however with wrong stances, you might develop a posture that will make your back or leg feel tired after prolong play. That is only one of many other reasons why one should adopt a proper stance. Some might not know this but a wrong stance can also hinder your follow through.

Snooker stance, in concept, is very closely linked to other sports stances like golf or even maybe baseball. You must have a strong solid stance in order for you to execute the best bat or swing. Golfers face their body (stance) to the position where they want to hit the ball and that is the same with snooker.

The Approach

Before taking your shot, you must actually approach your shots. I’ve seen many people with very solid stances missing shots because of their wrong approach.

I’m sure many of you reading my article has watched snooker tournaments on telly or even live. You can see that many pro players still adopt a standard approach to shots that they are unfamiliar or have no confident with. The approach really affects your stance as when you have the correct approach your back leg will actually be standing on the line of the shot. This in turn will make your cue-ing arm be on top of the line.

So basically what you have to do is to:-

1) Sight the line of shot properly.

2) Walk into your shot, usually one step. (most people will just take the shot as and when they sight it correctly already)

3) Your right foot (for right handers and vice-versa) will actually be stepping on the line of the shot.

4) Then move your left foot to the front if you’re a boxer stance player or to the side if you’re a square stance player.

5) Rotate your body downwards to face the shot and you should be able to see that you cue-ing arm will be in line with the shot.

(Clockwise Top Left to Bottom Right : Sight the Shot, Walk in to your shot & Stand on the line, Take your stance, Go down for shot)

I hope what I’ve written helps you understand more about stances. Remember, snooker is a game that is ever progressing and there is no one best way to play the game. Look at how Steve Davis won his championships in the 80s with a cocked wrist, how Stephen Hendry storm the snooker world with his unusual stance in the 90s, don’t forget Ronnie O’Sullivan and Mark Williams with their very aggressive and fast tempo-ed game and the most recent Mark Selby with his body waving actions before taking a shot.

What I’ve written is just a guideline and if you want to improve it’s always best to approach a coach or maybe find your niche that can bring you to break into the centuries. Whatever it is, I wish all of you good luck!

A little about the writer

A 26-year-young budding and snooker/pool enthusiast who is still trying to improve his game. Scouring snooker parlours and the internet for tips, he shares a dream with JH Leong to improve the overall snooker game in Malaysia.