Training Exercises
The Snooker ‘T’ Line Up
The snooker T line up exercise is a slightly more difficult exercise than the more common line up exercise.
The snooker T line up exercise is useful to all standards of snooker players but aimed more at intermediate and advanced players.
This exercise helps the player develop all the shots required when in a tight area when trying to build a break.
It certainly looks similar to the standard line up exercise but you will quickly see that a very different approach is required.
We are all at different levels of the game so as always, set yourself realistic targets to improve and understand patterns when the exercise breaks down.
Setting the exercise up
- Place all the colours on their spots
- Set the reds up as follows
- I have placed:
- 5 reds evenly spaced between the pink spot and side rail
- 5 reds evenly spaced the other side of the pink and to the other side rail
- 5 reds evenly spaced between the pink and black ball
- I have placed:
- Choose a starting red
There are various opinions with this depending on how you feel the exercise should be conducted, for example:
Initial exercise suggestions
The Snooker T Line Up – Exercise 1
- Choose which red you want to start with the white between the reds and the blue
- Pot a red and a colour as usual
- When all the reds have been potted, pot the colours in usual sequence
- If you miss at any point, it is normal to set the balls up and start again as a punishment to help you focus
- Record your score to gauge your improvement in practice sessions
The Snooker T Line Up – Exercise 2
- Choose which red you want to start with but place the red within the ‘T’
- Pot a red and a colour as usual but you must remain within the ‘T’
- When all the reds have been potted, pot the colours in usual sequence
- If you miss at any point, it is normal to set the balls up and start again as a punishment to help you focus
- Record your score to gauge your improvement in practice sessions
Other points to consider
The Snooker T Line Up:
Try and avoid the white ball touching the rails (cushions) at any point so you develop skills in not moving the cue ball very far.
If you get really good then try and pot the reds in an order, this will really test you!
It is also worth mentioning that although most players count their breaks, some just want to develop flow so only see how many reds are left when they miss as it help clear their mind, the choice is yours, just try and ensure you build this routine into your practice sessions as you advance from the standard line up exercise.