CAT VIDEOS Featuring 18 different Modes that cover Aiming, Cueing & Potting, the patent pending Cue Action Trainer has a number of unique benefits which improve your game in the following ways: The Benefits You Get: The Modes You Use Confirm or correct your eye alignment and vision centre: Eye Alignment Mode Force Mode Potting Mode Centre Cue Ball Mode Get comfortable striking the cue ball with extremes of screw back, side spin, and top spin: Screw Back Mode Side Spin Mode Top Spin Mode Deliver the cue straighter through the line of aim: Force Mode Feedback Mode Mastery Mode Mastery Mode (Eyes Closed) How Your Game Improves Never miss a ball again due to incorrect eye alignment or off centre cue ball striking. You then have only two reasons left to miss: cueing errors, or incorrect angle recognition. Stop miscueing, and improve your positional play by having the full range of cue ball spins at your disposal. Quickly improve your potting by feeling how to consistently hit the cue ball on the line of aim you have selected. 1 Nic Barrow s Cue Action Trainer: Pat Pend / Regd Design / Copyright 2016 Nic Barrow & The Snooker Gym Ltd
Deliver the cue flatter and more horizontally through your chosen cue ball height: Force Mode Feedback Mode Mastery Mode Mastery Mode (Eyes Closed) Learn how it feels to have a perfect bridge hand, and to be perfectly on the line of aim: Potting Mode Learn how to deliver the cue straight on all potting angles: Angled Potting Mode Strike with the correct speed more consistently. Stimp Meter Mode Backswing Mode Tempo Mode Learn the best technique for you as an individual in normal stance, playing the cue ball from the cushion, and rest play. Technique Mode Stealth Mode Cushion Mode Rest Play Mode Quickly improve your positional play by feeling how to consistently hit the cue ball at the height you are aiming at. Experience what the professionals experience, and have no worry about the line of aim or bridge hand stability. You now only have to do one thing to pot the ball deliver the cue straight. Improve your angled potting more quickly and easily by using your natural learning process. Stop losing position by quickly learning the feel of hitting the correct speed, which will enable you to make bigger breaks. Remove doubt and frustration about your technique, and find an optimum technique that is quick to learn and adds no negative side effects in your game. 2 Nic Barrow s Cue Action Trainer: Pat Pend / Regd Design / Copyright 2016 Nic Barrow & The Snooker Gym Ltd
It is important to realise that everything you do in your technique, psychology, and practice is only to help you perform better at the Three Cueing Skills which in turn give you the Two Snooker Goals. The Two Snooker Goals: 1. Pot The Object Ball 2. Position The Cue Ball The Three Cueing Skills: 1. Deliver The Cue On The Line Of Aim 2. Deliver The Cue At The Correct Height 3. Deliver The Cue At The Correct Speed 3 Nic Barrow s Cue Action Trainer: Pat Pend / Regd Design / Copyright 2016 Nic Barrow & The Snooker Gym Ltd
The following list of 31 videos (included with your Cue Action Trainer) explain the 18 Modes and other topics. These videos represent the latest thinking on technique, and make up some of the training content for my level 2 coach certifications. They are cutting edge, and give you tools and techniques to improve your game faster than any other video instruction available (including any of my previous training videos). You will also see how using the Cue Action Trainer helps you improve your cueing even more quickly than if you had me coaching you every day. Make sure also to join the TSGCatClub private FaceBook group where we can share: o Feedback o Questions o New ways to use the CAT o Picture and videos using the CAT o Success stories o Testimonials o Latest developments and ideas o News of exclusive CAT owner events 4 Nic Barrow s Cue Action Trainer: Pat Pend / Regd Design / Copyright 2016 Nic Barrow & The Snooker Gym Ltd
Table Of Contents: INTRODUCTIONS P08: 1.1: Introduction: 1m40s P09: 1.2: Three ways to improve your cueing: 1m36s P10: 2: Three Frequently Asked Questions: 3m46s AIMING MODES Eye Alignment Mode P11: 3.1: Eye alignment set up: 0m56s P12: 3.2: Eye Alignment head position: 2m54s P13: 3.3: Eye alignment when cueing straight: 0m54s P14: 3.4: Line up to a straight pot set up: 1m10s P15: 3.5: Line up to a straight pot demonstration: 2m00s Centre Cue Ball Mode P16: 4.1: Cue ball up and down spots: 1m58s P17: 4.2: Push practice demonstration: 2m36s P17: 4.3: Push practice ultimate test: 0m38s Side Spin Mode P18: 5.1: Side spin mode set up: 0m54s P18: 5.2: Side spin mode colours on top rail: 4m50s 5 Nic Barrow s Cue Action Trainer: Pat Pend / Regd Design / Copyright 2016 Nic Barrow & The Snooker Gym Ltd
CUEING MODES Force Mode P19: 6.1: The first step in cueing: 2m56s Feedback Mode (including The Yips) P20: 7.1: Feedback mode The Yips: 4m06s P21: 7.2: Feedback mode coach s view: 2m17s P21: 7.3: Feedback mode players view: 0m55s P22: 8: Bridge Hand Mode: 2m01s P23: 9: Mastery Mode: 3m33s P24: 10: Tempo Mode: 3m08s P25: 11: Backswing Mode: 3m58s Shot Approach Mode P26: 12.1: Shot approach mode side on: 6m11s P27: 12.2: Shot approach from front on: 6m27s Shot Approach (Mastery Mode) With Eyes Closed P28: 13: Mastery Mode with eyes closed: 4m04s P28: 13.1: Mastery Mode with eyes closed clarification: 1m36s Technique Mode P29: 14: Overview of technique: 3m00s P30: 15: Grip Hip Gap: 6m10s P31: 16: Technique serves cueing only: 4m32s P32: 17.1: Grip side view: 3m09s P34: 17.2: Grip rear view: 1m15s P35: 18: Cueing arm angle: 4m23s POTTING MODES Potting Mode P36: 19.1: How To Setup: 0m57s P36: 19.2: Potting Mode Demo: 5m10s P37: 20.1: Angled Potting Mode Overview: 0m48s P37: 20.2: Angled Potting Mode Demonstration: 3m22s P38: 21: Angled Potting Mode Experimenting & Guessing: 4m08s 6 Nic Barrow s Cue Action Trainer: Pat Pend / Regd Design / Copyright 2016 Nic Barrow & The Snooker Gym Ltd
BONUS MODES & VIDEOS P39: 22: Stimp Meter Mode: 3m38s Cushion Mode P40: 23.1: Introduction: 1m37s P41: 23.2: Open bridge: 2m57s P42: 23.3: Closed bridge: 2m14s P43: 24: Screw Back & Top Spin Mode: 6m00s Rest Play Mode P44: 25.1: Rest Play Mode Introduction: 1m19s P44: 25.2: Rest Play Mode Grip Hand: 3m40s P45: 25.3: Rest Play Mode Bridge Arm Front View: 1m59s P46: 25.4: Rest Play Mode Bridge Arm Side View: 1m09s P47: 26: Rest Play Mode Stance Side View: 3m24s P48: 27.1: Rest Play Mode Foto Finish: 2m04s P48: 27.2: Rest Play Mode Mastery Mode: 0m38s P49: 28.1: Rest Play Mode Shot Set Up Reference: Side On View: 3m10s P49: 28.2: Rest Play Mode Potting Mode Front On View: 2m29s Safety Play Mode P50: 29.1: Safety Play Mode Half Ball Demonstration: 5m14s P50: 29.2: Safety Play Mode Back To Baulk Safety: 11m18s P52: 30: Stealth Mode: 1m59s OVERALL SUMMARY P53: 31: Overall summary: 1m54s 7 Nic Barrow s Cue Action Trainer: Pat Pend / Regd Design / Copyright 2016 Nic Barrow & The Snooker Gym Ltd
INTRODUCTIONS 1.1: Introduction: 1m40s Worldwide exclusive premier of the CAT. Helps Aiming Cueing Potting. Quick demo of Mastery Mode. 8 Nic Barrow s Cue Action Trainer: Pat Pend / Regd Design / Copyright 2016 Nic Barrow & The Snooker Gym Ltd
1.2: Three ways to improve your cueing: 1m36s To Pot The Object Ball: Delivering the cue straight, making it easier to deliver on the line of aim. To Control The Cue Ball: Delivering the cue at the correct height. Delivering the cue at the correct speed. 9 Nic Barrow s Cue Action Trainer: Pat Pend / Regd Design / Copyright 2016 Nic Barrow & The Snooker Gym Ltd
2: Three Frequently Asked Questions: 3m46s Different bridge hand modes. NOT using the bridge hand is the best mode: This gives best feedback, quickest learning, and indirectly reinforces bridge hand stability and the perfect V for the cue. We chose not to make the legs out of rubber as the friction is too high, and it carries grit which will mark the cue. The high end, bearing grade plastic we use has the right combination of hardness and smoothness. The shape is cue friendly. The magnet strength is enough to hold the cue, but not so much that it will bruise the cue. We did 6 months testing with 50 preferred clients and with me using the unit on my cue for six months. Designed to be cue friendly and help you to cue perfectly. Bridge in front of CAT Bridge in middle of CAT Bridge behind CAT backswing position Bridge behind CAT Follow through position Most preferred bridge position (bridge V adjacent to front legs of CAT) Smooth, rounded legs 10 Nic Barrow s Cue Action Trainer: Pat Pend / Regd Design / Copyright 2016 Nic Barrow & The Snooker Gym Ltd
AIMING MODES Eye Alignment Mode 3.1: Eye alignment set up: 0m56s Setting up three straight balls to the CAT. Extra help to find centre cue ball with Ultimate Training Ball? With one eye closed, double check the cue and the balls are straight from both ends of the table. 11 Nic Barrow s Cue Action Trainer: Pat Pend / Regd Design / Copyright 2016 Nic Barrow & The Snooker Gym Ltd
3.2: Eye Alignment head position: 2m54s Before angled shots, you must first be able to pot straight shots. Before straight shots, you must first be able to recognise a straight shot so you eyes need to be in the correct position above the cue. 90% of players naturally find the correct eye position 10% are confused by opinions and advice from others or the internet. How to improve or confirm your correct eye position (which is unique for everyone): o Slide the head o Tilt the head o Twist the head o Tipping the head back may also help you get better vision of the ball 12 Nic Barrow s Cue Action Trainer: Pat Pend / Regd Design / Copyright 2016 Nic Barrow & The Snooker Gym Ltd
3.3: Eye alignment when cueing straight: 0m54s Double check the eye alignment with Force Mode legs. Seeing the balls straight in the previous test, and seeing the cue as moving straight in this test should give the same eye position. 13 Nic Barrow s Cue Action Trainer: Pat Pend / Regd Design / Copyright 2016 Nic Barrow & The Snooker Gym Ltd
3.4: Line up to a straight pot set up: 1m10s Align the CAT line of aim toward a pocket. Locate the cue ball in the CAT base. Locate a red in a straight line to the pocket and mark that spot with chalk. 14 Nic Barrow s Cue Action Trainer: Pat Pend / Regd Design / Copyright 2016 Nic Barrow & The Snooker Gym Ltd
3.5: Line up to a straight pot demonstration: 2m00s Use the LO feedback mode legs (the small legs with black feet) in their position on the base unit. Seeing the cue as moving straight in this test, and lining up to this straight pot and the eyes agreeing it is a straight pot, should give the same eye position. Play the shot and pot the ball to train the eyes to see that as a straight pot. 15 Nic Barrow s Cue Action Trainer: Pat Pend / Regd Design / Copyright 2016 Nic Barrow & The Snooker Gym Ltd
Centre Cue Ball Mode 4.1: Cue ball up and down spots: 1m58s Centre cue ball mode. Cue ball up and down demonstration. If the table is level and the spots don t push the ball off line, this test can help you learn centre cue ball. 16 Nic Barrow s Cue Action Trainer: Pat Pend / Regd Design / Copyright 2016 Nic Barrow & The Snooker Gym Ltd
4.2: Push practice demonstration: 2m36s Push practice demonstration (as opposed to striking the cue ball). Increases the tip/cue ball contact distance from 3mm in normal shots to 300mm. This magnifies tiny side spin errors, making improvement much easier. Import the eye alignment position we have already established. This helps to confirm the eyes can see (or re educate the eyes to see) centre cue ball. This method helps you see the vertical centre cue ball line on the cue ball and ignore the shadows below the ball and light reflections above the ball. Listen to the silence of the push shot! 4.3: Push practice ultimate test: 0m38s The ultimate push practice test length of the table down the side rail. Being able to do this will give you great confidence. 17 Nic Barrow s Cue Action Trainer: Pat Pend / Regd Design / Copyright 2016 Nic Barrow & The Snooker Gym Ltd
Side Spin Mode 5.1: Side spin mode set up: 0m54s How to set it up. With the cue on the line of aim, move the centre of the cue ball to the side spin locator line. 5.2: Side spin mode colours on top rail: 4m50s The side spin and speed of shot determines how much cue ball deflection you have. For example right hand side spin deflects the cue ball first to the left before the right hand spin spin turns the cue ball back to the right. Observing the cue ball Playing 8/10 speed Playing 3/10 speed Playing 5/10 speed The amount of side, speed of shot, and distance to object ball determines the cue ball deflection and thus the compensation you need to make the shot. Straight cue delivery makes learning this calculation much easier. It will also teach you the extra difficulty required if using side. Jimmy White s advice: Don t use side spin until making regular 40 breaks. 18 Nic Barrow s Cue Action Trainer: Pat Pend / Regd Design / Copyright 2016 Nic Barrow & The Snooker Gym Ltd
CUEING MODES Force Mode 6.1: The first step in cueing: 2m56s Designed to force the cue to stay on the line of aim, which forces the arm to feel what a piston like action is horizontally and vertically straight. There is feedback (if you try hard enough!) with legs moving and the base moving. Allow the grip fingers to open as the cue comes back. Allow the grip to finish in the same part of the chest every time. The biggest barriers to good cueing are what the cue does at both these forward and backward limits of the cueing action. I am blown away by how quickly players learn good cueing with the CAT and WITHOUT verbal instruction much quicker than I have been able to do when throwing the coaching kitchen sink at the player! 19 Nic Barrow s Cue Action Trainer: Pat Pend / Regd Design / Copyright 2016 Nic Barrow & The Snooker Gym Ltd
Feedback Mode (includes solving The Yips ) 7.1: Feedback mode The Yips: 4m06s More sensitive legs which don t hold the cue. The wheels can fall off if you move the cue off line! Bridge hand adjacent to front legs, so that you have your regular bridge distance. Before cueing, make sure both pairs of legs are straight. At the back: Stop And Check (that both legs are straight). At the front: Stop And Check (that both legs are straight). Different ways players move the legs. Checking at the back and the front is the essence of your feedback and learning. Different to force mode which forces a straight action, feedback mode trains the arm to learn a straight cueing action on its own. The Yips (I prefer to call it Not Cueing Smoothly because you are then thinking positively about cueing smoothly, rather than negatively about yipping & snatching ). Feedback mode helps greatly with Not Cueing Smoothly. 20 Nic Barrow s Cue Action Trainer: Pat Pend / Regd Design / Copyright 2016 Nic Barrow & The Snooker Gym Ltd
7.2: Feedback mode coach s view: 2m17s Coach s eye view of the cue and legs. The legs give very sensitive (and immediate) feedback. The front leg geometry is very specifically designed to come off centre if you lift the butt of the cue at the end of the backswing. This prevents head and cue lifting at the end of the backswing which will pull the cue off line and also send the tip of the cue to the wrong height on the cue ball. Usually players react to feedback mode by ADDING CONTROL, and REMOVING SPEED from their cueing. 7.3: Feedback mode players view: 0m55s Player s eye view of the cue and legs. Seeing the back legs moving. Seeing the front leg geometry working at the end of the backswing. Flat cue butt during backswing Front legs are both straight Cue butt lifting during backswing Front legs move off centre, encouraging cue correct by dropping at butt end 21 Nic Barrow s Cue Action Trainer: Pat Pend / Regd Design / Copyright 2016 Nic Barrow & The Snooker Gym Ltd
8: Bridge Hand Mode: 2m01s Most players (even some pros) have a bridge which is unstable, or correcting errors in the back hand, or does not have a stable V channel. Most club players have the incorrect bridge distance, and are also inconsistent from shot to shot the CAT trains you to feel what a consistent professional bridge hand length looks and feels like. Bridge Hand Mode indirectly teaches the hand to commit to the line of aim before playing the shot. Players who are learning the game may choose to have a slightly closer bridge hand for more confidence with cueing accuracy. Nic demonstration. Lining up a simple pot, then commit to a simple delivery, and play the shot. The pros have visualized potting the ball in advance of pulling the trigger and making the backswing / delivery all they need to do then is pull back straight and deliver straight. Bridge hand mode removes any concern of line of aim or bridge hand issues so you are now ONLY concerned with delivering the cue straight. which is exactly what the pros are feeling! It also helps your real bridge hand become your own individual Cue Action Trainer! 22 Nic Barrow s Cue Action Trainer: Pat Pend / Regd Design / Copyright 2016 Nic Barrow & The Snooker Gym Ltd
9: Mastery Mode: 3m33s I have used the CAT with pros who all benefitted very quickly. A great cueist from Germany went through Feedback Mode very easily. So to add difficulty, I created Mastery Mode with balls from Aramith. Master Mode also puts you under pressure to keep the balls on the legs. You can even close your eyes while doing so! Using Mastery Mode with your eyes closed allows you to FEEL perfect cueing, allowing you to focus on watching the balls when you play snooker rather than being preoccupied with what the cue is doing. 23 Nic Barrow s Cue Action Trainer: Pat Pend / Regd Design / Copyright 2016 Nic Barrow & The Snooker Gym Ltd
10: Tempo Mode: 3m08s With feedback mode, almost ALL players end up Adding Control, Removing Speed from their action: o More speed = less control like a doctor s handwriting! o Less speed = more control like a calligrapher. The x,y, and z axes of cueing: o Smooth Cueing = x axis of cue movements o Straight Cueing = y axis of cue movements o Flat Cueing = z axis of cue movements Listen to the quality of cueing maybe with eyes closed Jerky cue action. Controlled cue action. Cue to change direction gradually (with smooth transitions) to keep the arm relaxed and keep the cue on the line of aim. 24 Nic Barrow s Cue Action Trainer: Pat Pend / Regd Design / Copyright 2016 Nic Barrow & The Snooker Gym Ltd
11: Backswing Mode: 3m58s Turn the base unit around. Use the short pair of legs only ideally feedback mode legs. Explaining the ten backswing marks, and references at 1/10, 5/10, 10/10 backswing length. As you practice, your 10/10 speed will get higher and higher. To start in the game, use this rule: The length of backswing = speed of the shot. Backswing length control comes first, cue speed control comes second. Most club players have no idea how far they pull the cue back. Many players these days (even club players) have a very long backswing even on soft shots due to the current fashion in snooker and they find it very difficult to modulate their cue acceleration and speed meaning they hit too hard too often. Before you have a long backswing on each shot, I recommend learning how to use length of backswing = speed of shot first and then layer the advanced method on top of this when you have the required cue control to do so. 25 Nic Barrow s Cue Action Trainer: Pat Pend / Regd Design / Copyright 2016 Nic Barrow & The Snooker Gym Ltd
Shot Approach Mode 12.1: Shot approach mode side on: 6m11s Learn to approach table consistently without a cue ball first. Take two steps (back foot/front foot) into shot NOT three steps! Tip forward instead of moving the legs first. Tip the shoulders forwards first for a more elegant and economical way to slide into the shot like a swan landing smoothly on a lake. Slide the bridge hand onto the cloth instead of placing it in one helicopter drop as the latter method gives tension. When you are consistent in your approach, plant the cue ball in front of your tip after you get into position. The distance the body chooses to approach the shot from is usually one full cue length out from the body. Start with toes level and both at 90 degrees to the line of aim. 26 Nic Barrow s Cue Action Trainer: Pat Pend / Regd Design / Copyright 2016 Nic Barrow & The Snooker Gym Ltd
12.2: Shot approach from front on: 6m27s Find the line, STAY ON THE LINE, be on the line of aim when you land on the table. Two choices of how to stand behind the line of aim (both must have eyes in the same position): o Back foot on line of aim o Both feet either side of line of aim Shot Approach Mode helps you keep the cue on the line of aim as you approach You must mould your body to the CUE, rather than club players who mould their cue (and taking it off the line) to their body in a way that feels natural but that pulls the cue off the line of aim. Take care when you approach to keep the cue on the line so instead of writing like a doctor writes, take the care of the calligrapher. Start with Force Mode, then try Feedback Mode. If you can t feel the legs as you approach and look at the cue ball then look at the legs as you approach (looking at the legs gives you MORE feedback than looking at the cue) Mastery Mode 27 Nic Barrow s Cue Action Trainer: Pat Pend / Regd Design / Copyright 2016 Nic Barrow & The Snooker Gym Ltd
Shot Approach (Mastery Mode) With Eyes Closed 13: Mastery Mode with eyes closed: 4m04s Be careful that your hips don t pull the butt of the cue off line as you approach. Nic learning across 5 attempts to complete the task eventually the key was to break down the approach into four quarters, stopping at each quarter to be more conscious of what the cue and I are doing. Find the line, stay on the line, be on the line at the table! unlike most players! 13.1: Mastery Mode with eyes closed clarification: 1m36s Mastery Mode with eyes closed should we approach the shot at that speed in a match? This mode is the ultimate test which makes the correct and fluid landing swan technique much easier. 28 Nic Barrow s Cue Action Trainer: Pat Pend / Regd Design / Copyright 2016 Nic Barrow & The Snooker Gym Ltd
Technique Mode 14: Overview of technique: 3m00s The cue is the priority and you are secondary to that. You don t need to know what you are doing wrong with technique or why it is a problem the body very often will find its own optimum solution when given a straight cueing action to follow. Correcting a bad habit can sometimes be easier than installing a new habit. The beauty of learning technique this way is that it bypasses instruction, and helps you economically find your own ideal technique. The base of the iceberg is the technique, the visible part of the iceberg is what the cue needs to do move on the line of aim. 29 Nic Barrow s Cue Action Trainer: Pat Pend / Regd Design / Copyright 2016 Nic Barrow & The Snooker Gym Ltd
15: Grip Tip Gap: 6m10s 1. Bridge hand length. a. Consider going shorter if you are new to the game. 2. Bridge arm elbow. a. Ram Rod Straight was dogma from the 1960 s. i. This lifts the elbow off the table. ii. It can therefore push weight onto shoulder, causing shoulder soreness. 3. Shoulder angle relative to line of aim. This changes in response to: a. The front foot position. b. Any twist in the hips 4. Cue arm angle at cue ball address. a. 95% of players cue best with the cue arm vertical at address position as the hand is then at the bottom of the pendulum swing when the tip strikes the cue ball. b. The other 5% may have a physiology that means their chest crowds the cue in their optimum set up position, so that they need to pull the arm backwards of vertical to allow a proper follow through. 5. The above test determines where you need to hold the cue (relative to the end of the cue). 6. Without getting the Grip Tip Gap correct, you will be blocking yourself from your optimum cue action. 30 Nic Barrow s Cue Action Trainer: Pat Pend / Regd Design / Copyright 2016 Nic Barrow & The Snooker Gym Ltd
16: Technique: Stance, and technique serves cueing only: 4m32s Everything in technique serves what the cue is doing. The four major variables for helping you find your optimum stance, which allows the top half of the body, and the cue to move effortlessly straight. o Back foot position of foot relative to line of aim o Back foot angle of foot/toes relative to line of aim o Front foot width from back foot o Front foot position forwards or backwards relative to back foot Side on demonstration of the above with two or three full cue actions in each position to give them a fair trial regarding how straight you will move the cue in that position. Nic finding his optimum stance with the above method. Rear on view of the above stance. This allows the top half of the body to move the cue without resistance or applying a sideways torque into the cue, and automatically moving in a straight line. 31 Nic Barrow s Cue Action Trainer: Pat Pend / Regd Design / Copyright 2016 Nic Barrow & The Snooker Gym Ltd
17.1: Grip side view: 3m09s Most club players are holding the cue too tight to be able to move it straight. Where to hold the grip hand?... In the front V of the grip hand. In the middle fingers like Ronnie. In the back fingers this is an unusual grip as holding at the back often stops the fingers opening which restricts cue movement. What is the ideal tension of hand which allows the cue to move most easily and accurately? Make sure you allow the back fingers to open as you pull the cue back. Grip hand to chest as a stopper. Keep the grip hand and forearm in one single line (rather than reverse breaking the wrist which happens if you hold the cue too tight). 32 Nic Barrow s Cue Action Trainer: Pat Pend / Regd Design / Copyright 2016 Nic Barrow & The Snooker Gym Ltd
33 Nic Barrow s Cue Action Trainer: Pat Pend / Regd Design / Copyright 2016 Nic Barrow & The Snooker Gym Ltd
17.2: Grip rear view: 1m15s Rear on view: Which angle of wrist allows the cue to move the straightest. Demonstration: Most professionals hold the cue at the front V of the grip hand. Summary: What tension to hold the hand? Where to hold the cue in the hand eg front/middle/back? What wrist angle (from the behind cue view)? 34 Nic Barrow s Cue Action Trainer: Pat Pend / Regd Design / Copyright 2016 Nic Barrow & The Snooker Gym Ltd
18: Cueing arm angle: 4m23s Professionals have an optimum arm position unique to them. The cue arm angle normally falls into place on its own after your stance and grip are optimised. To fine tune this, use feedback mode to establish which arm angle moves the cue straightest. Once we have our default technique settings you can lay it to rest and concentrate on and enjoy the game. Maybe check your defaults every 2 3 months. You want a repeatable action! The more automatic your action is, the easier it is to be consistent, the easier it is to diagnose any errors. Hopefully then you will reduce your variables so that the only reason you can miss is due to aiming. 35 Nic Barrow s Cue Action Trainer: Pat Pend / Regd Design / Copyright 2016 Nic Barrow & The Snooker Gym Ltd
POTTING MODES Potting Mode 19.1: How To Setup: 0m57s Place CAT with its line of aim. Place the four Feedback Mode legs (the ones with black feet) into the CAT. Locate cue ball in CAT. Place red ball on line of aim. Mark red ball position with chalk. 19.2: Potting Mode Demo: 5m10s Place cue on line of aim in CAT. Triple check ball positions from both ends of the shot with one eye closed. This mode removes: o The variable of the bridge hand. o The tendency of the back hand to adjust during the shot. o Fishing for the line of aim ie a lack of commitment to the line of aim. Pros are only moving the cue to check the cue is moving straight, and perhaps feel the speed and weight of the shot (which they will have decided on and committed to before they begin to get down to the shot). Nic demonstrating a pot and cue ball following into the pocket. After the shot, perform the Foto Finish. When you make a cueing error, stay in position even when you miss! Stay in position until both balls stop moving. You want to remove all variables in your game until there are only two to choose from after a miss cueing or aiming. 36 Nic Barrow s Cue Action Trainer: Pat Pend / Regd Design / Copyright 2016 Nic Barrow & The Snooker Gym Ltd
20.1: Potting Mode Angled Pots: 0m48s Setting up the AimFrame on a high quarter ball black to help locate the CAT. 20.2: Potting Mode Angled Pot Demonstration: 3m22s Club or intermediate players hope and guess if they are on the line of aim. Pros commit to a line of aim, keep cueing on that line of aim, then when they are ready pull the trigger to the shot and make the backswing and delivery. This helps to remove pocket stress because you have already irreversibly committed to a line of aim BEFORE you approach the table just like a pro! Pros only pull the trigger when they have committed to the line of aim and are happy they are cueing straight. Nic demonstration of playing the shot. Commit to a line of aim, commit to a straight delivery, then pull the trigger. 37 Nic Barrow s Cue Action Trainer: Pat Pend / Regd Design / Copyright 2016 Nic Barrow & The Snooker Gym Ltd
21: Potting Mode Angled Pot Experimenting & Guessing: 4m08s How to set up the exercise. Commit to a straight delivery on every shot. Change the red position on every shot. Experiment with different red ball positions. You will then start to naturally guess where the red is going. At this point, then guess where you think the red will go before you pull the trigger. This teaches you the 3D view of the whole shot which will help you see if any shots you are on are being aimed wrong. GUESS where object ball will go did you deliver straight? if so, did you GUESS correctly? 38 Nic Barrow s Cue Action Trainer: Pat Pend / Regd Design / Copyright 2016 Nic Barrow & The Snooker Gym Ltd
BONUS MODES & VIDEOS 22: Stimp Meter Mode: 3m38s An idea taken from golf. Helps you learn table speeds, and the difference in ball speed when travelling with and against the nap. Nic demonstration. How to release the ball consistently. Use the same balls each time for reliable results. With the nap, the cue ball is 5 7% faster. Describing the CAT engineer s home table and how slow it was against the nap. *Stimp Meter Mode works as a great metaphor for controlling your cue ball speed. The theory for players learning the game is: Length of backswing = speed of shot. This gives you a simple starting point from which to control your cue ball speed. Stimp Meter Mode works in the same way and shows that you don t need a jerky backswing or a rushed delivery (the two most common faults) to get cue ball speed. You just need to be controlled in how far you bring the ball back on the Stimp Meter scale of 1 10 (a metaphor for having a controlled backswing), and carefully release the ball applying no unnecessary force with your finger (a metaphor for gradually building up your cue speed and acceleration during the delivery and through the cue ball). 39 Nic Barrow s Cue Action Trainer: Pat Pend / Regd Design / Copyright 2016 Nic Barrow & The Snooker Gym Ltd
Cushion Mode 23.1: Introduction: 1m37s Use the force mode legs. Top spin cue ball position will see the cue touch the cushion when using the closed loop bridge as with a real shot. Screw back cue ball position will see the cue ride slightly above the cushion when using the open bridge as with a real shot. 40 Nic Barrow s Cue Action Trainer: Pat Pend / Regd Design / Copyright 2016 Nic Barrow & The Snooker Gym Ltd
23.2: Open bridge: 2m57s Open bridge move the cue floating above the cushion for more cueing accuracy. The cue glides along the first finger, the thumb being to stop the cue falling away from the finger. Which bridge angle and shape allows you to feel that the cue is running straight through the legs. Then pull the cue out of the legs and back to the V of the bridge hand. Changing the angle of the CAT relative to the cushion forces the hand to remain loyal to the straight cueing action. 41 Nic Barrow s Cue Action Trainer: Pat Pend / Regd Design / Copyright 2016 Nic Barrow & The Snooker Gym Ltd
23.3: Closed bridge: 2m14s Closed bridge the hidden thumb is guiding the cue. Don t pull the bridge fingers in front of the cushion edge as you lose cue contact from the fingers and therefore control the CAT forces the fingers to lay on top of the cushion. Nic testing different hand positions to see which hand formation guides the cue the best. 42 Nic Barrow s Cue Action Trainer: Pat Pend / Regd Design / Copyright 2016 Nic Barrow & The Snooker Gym Ltd
24: Screw Back Mode: 6m00s This is an extremely emotive subject for players. This mode is designed to help you learn what screw back is, and is not. Showing the base plate and how it prevents miscuing and removes the fear of hitting too low. Hover the cue just above the base unit. The base is like the bicycle stabilisers we had as kids. A good exercise is to leave the cue in the follow through position so that the cue ball comes back to the cue tip. Most players are unnecessarily scared of playing a screw shot and the white ball fouling the tip. You only discover how difficult that is when you try to do it on purpose! Start slow, and build up your speed gradually. Screw back is about the HEIGHT you strike and NOT about the SPEED! Learn to hit the HEIGHT accurately, and the screw will come automatically. Most club players are scared of aiming too low, and miscueing and jumping the cue ball. As a result they hit too high, meaning even LESS screw back, making them hit even harder, which makes cueing less accurate, giving EVEN LESS height control and screw back! Practice pulling the cue ball back to the base unit with accuracy distance control comes first, THEN length of screw back comes after that. Most club players try to do too much too soon with screw back with the result being that they learn nothing and get nowhere. One day, you may even be able to perform a Judd Trump Special! 43 Nic Barrow s Cue Action Trainer: Pat Pend / Regd Design / Copyright 2016 Nic Barrow & The Snooker Gym Ltd
Rest Play Mode 25.1: Introduction: 1m19s Bragging rights for The Worst Player In The World With The Rest! This mode will help you play with control, rather than rushing the shot as most players do. 25.2: Rest Play Mode Grip Hand: 3m40s Two fingers over, two fingers under. Allow the grip fingers to open as the cue moves forward. Pull the cue to the chin, not under the chin. Allow one inch of the cue butt showing behind the grip hand. Holding the cue at the end will see the cue fall out of the bottom of the hand with a full follow through, so players who do this will have a stunted follow through. The thumb and finger separate on delivery keeping these locked together causes tension on the delivery meaning no delivery, or a delivery yanked to the side. Practice the range of motion of a full backswing to a follow through position where the grip hand elbow is pushed through all the way until it is straight. The top half of the body needs to be working with you to allow a straight cue arm action. 44 Nic Barrow s Cue Action Trainer: Pat Pend / Regd Design / Copyright 2016 Nic Barrow & The Snooker Gym Ltd
25.3: Rest Play Mode Bridge Arm Front View: 1m59s Don t keep the rest under the cue. o It tightens the body. o It makes the body less stable. o It gets in the way of the grip hand when using top spin. o You don t aim the shot with the rest you aim it with the cue. Keep the chin in the same plane and line as the cue, whatever the cue ball height you are aiming at. For top spin, widen the bridge elbow away from the body. For backspin, bring the bridge elbow under the shoulder. 45 Nic Barrow s Cue Action Trainer: Pat Pend / Regd Design / Copyright 2016 Nic Barrow & The Snooker Gym Ltd
25.4: Rest Play Mode Bridge Arm Side View: 1m09s Keep the bridge arm vertical from the side on view this is much more stable. Have a full hands length from the chin to the cue butt at cue ball address position to allow a full backswing when you need it. 46 Nic Barrow s Cue Action Trainer: Pat Pend / Regd Design / Copyright 2016 Nic Barrow & The Snooker Gym Ltd
26: Rest Play Mode Stance Side View: 3m24s Use your normal stance for a sense of familiarity. Keep your forwards/ backwards lean the same as with the normal stance also. Very often a player stands at an angle which makes straight cueing delivery impossible. Test which stance angle relative to the line of aim gives the easiest and straightest cueing. o You can test this by getting down to the shot without the rest, keeping the stance the same, and then pick up the rest to find out which angle the cue should point for easiest and straightest cueing. o Most players find that the optimum rest play cueing line is 30 degrees or so to the right of the non rest line of aim (for a right handed player). 47 Nic Barrow s Cue Action Trainer: Pat Pend / Regd Design / Copyright 2016 Nic Barrow & The Snooker Gym Ltd
27.1: Rest Play Mode Foto Finish: 2m04s Finish the delivery straight, finish the delivery flat. You want the ability to have a free delivery with thumb and first fingers opening until the elbow is straight. Without this freedom, delivery is restricted and a snatch will result. Don t let the grip hand give in to gravity such that the hand drops onto the table bed on delivery keep the cue flat and disciplined on delivery. 27.2: Rest Play Mode Mastery Mode: 0m38s Nic Demonstration. Move the cue as slowly as you feel you need to keep the balls on the legs. 48 Nic Barrow s Cue Action Trainer: Pat Pend / Regd Design / Copyright 2016 Nic Barrow & The Snooker Gym Ltd
28.1: Rest Play Mode Shot Set Up Reference: Side On View: 3m10s The biggest problem club players have with the rest is not getting consistent at their set up position this makes proper cueing impossible. o Firstly, bridge distance correct. o Secondly, distance from butt to chin correct (most players are too close). o Thirdly, vertical bridge arm position (this determines where you hold the rest relative to the end of the shaft different rests are different lengths). o Fourthly, make sure your stance is balanced and as usual. o This pre shot set up is more important than potting, as it precedes potting. 28.2: Rest Play Mode Potting Mode Front On View: 2m29s Move the cue enough until you feel it is moving straight, then pull the trigger. Add control, lose speed if need be. Players usually freeze their cueing elbow which twists the delivery to the side allow the cueing elbow to extend fully with the grip fingers opening. Start slow and easy with the shots, and build up your confidence which you can then import into the full range of rest play shots. 49 Nic Barrow s Cue Action Trainer: Pat Pend / Regd Design / Copyright 2016 Nic Barrow & The Snooker Gym Ltd
29.1: Safety Play Mode Half Ball Demonstration: 5m14s The first part of safety is knowing half ball contacts. For billiards players, this is all obvious. For snooker players, learning this is often a revelation. o Half ball demo. o Thinner than half ball demo. o Thicker than half ball demo. Half ball is the widest natural angle (or throw ) you can get from the cue ball. Knowing and getting familiar with this helps you know the widest possible cue ball path on any safety shot. From here, you can then opt to play thinner (not thicker) accordingly to the cue ball destination you need. Nic demonstrating this on a back to baulk safety shot. 50 Nic Barrow s Cue Action Trainer: Pat Pend / Regd Design / Copyright 2016 Nic Barrow & The Snooker Gym Ltd
29.2: Safety Play Mode Back To Baulk Safety: 11m18s Learning half ball contact with straight cueing. 90% of all safety shots involve: o Top spin. o No side spin. o No stun / no screw. o Half ball or thinner on the object ball. o Controlling the direction of the cue ball by shifting the contact on the object ball. Not knowing the half ball contact and cue ball path stops benefits not only in safety but in positional play when potting. Most players have a big barrier to learning half ball contacts. Most players don t know how to aim half ball. If they do, they often aren t aiming it properly. If they are, they don t know if they have hit half ball or not. How to set up a half ball back to baulk safety shot with the CAT. We then commit to a straight delivery on every shot. There is no agenda for where you want the cue ball to go we are ONLY learning how to hit half ball consistently, and learning of the cue ball path will come as a side effect of that. We then will come to learn what a half ball contact looks and sounds like. Nic demonstrations: If the cue ball and the object ball stop at the same time after your shot, you have hit half ball. Not delivering the cue correctly and not getting a half ball contact. Diagnosing half ball / non half ball contacts. Setting the red to a thinner contact position, with commitment to a straight delivery only (no agenda or target for any cue ball path). This trial and error process dramatically cuts down the learning time for safety shot cue ball direction and cueing quality. A good idea is to place the red OUTSIDE the contact zone. Learning what it looks like to MISS the red by 1mm will reduce fear of missing the object ball on thin safety shots, which will give you great freedom in playing thin safety shots. 51 Nic Barrow s Cue Action Trainer: Pat Pend / Regd Design / Copyright 2016 Nic Barrow & The Snooker Gym Ltd
30: Stealth Mode: 1m59s Away from the prying eyes of your stiffest competition and closest friends You can now ingrain the muscle memory for perfect cueing in the comfort of your own home. The cloth base is dining table friendly. If the surface of the table at home is smooth, hold the base down gently with your hand. 5 10 minutes a day is all a player needs to learn the muscle memory for perfect cueing. You can now have a great daily cueing workout before going to work! If the table is full, you can use another surface to iron out your cueing issues. This is important for beginners, amateurs and professionals alike! 52 Nic Barrow s Cue Action Trainer: Pat Pend / Regd Design / Copyright 2016 Nic Barrow & The Snooker Gym Ltd
OVERALL SUMMARY 31: Overall summary: 1m54s The CAT has taught us: The perfect bridge hand. How to commit to a line of aim. How to cue straight. The correct cueing tempo. Backswing / shot speed control. The Foto Finish / post shot diagnosis to improve on every shot. Nic testing whether all the above has worked! We want to remove all variables (including cueing) from your game so that the only reason you can miss is due to aiming removing these variables is a huge factor in helping players at beginner, intermediate, and even professional level. 53 Nic Barrow s Cue Action Trainer: Pat Pend / Regd Design / Copyright 2016 Nic Barrow & The Snooker Gym Ltd