Starting up snooker?

**owtte** · 05-16-2011 04:20 PM

I really love watching snooker, and I'd really like to give it a try. My exam period finishes next week, at which point I'll have roughly 4 months to kill, and it seems like getting a job is near impossible =( so I figured I might try taking up snooker.
The thing is, I don't really know where to start. I'd consider going to a local club, but I get really nervous about the idea because everyone seems to know what they're doing and I have zero experience in playing snooker, so I'd probably be terrible.
Anyone have any ideas for how else I might get into it? I'd really appreciate it ^^

**jns** · 05-16-2011 07:12 PM

Read up on it and then go down and watch it being played. After watching a while try to get in a games with others who are also amateurs. Maybe some pub somewhere with a snooker table would be a starting place during their low time. Learn about the scoring. One thing I don't know, is deliberately jumping the cue ball a foul (I ask because I know how to jump the ball to escape a trap)?

**spurzzz** · 05-17-2011 02:39 AM

Hello owtte,

I play Snooker/pool quite regularly, love it.
No need to be nervous one bit, you will be surprised at the amount of "noobs" who take to the clubs for a bit of fun.....the one thing to remember is that no one will be "watching you" as they will be concentrating on their own game!

The best thing is practice, go and shoot some balls! You'll learn the more you play, if you ask the guys at the desk, they will probably know someone who will teach you either for free or some money. Where I play, a few pro snooker players play too and we got talking to one of them who said he teaches on the side if we were interested! The one good thing about snooker is that the sport commands respect and you will find that the snooker players convey this to the core....most of them anyway.

**owtte** · 05-17-2011 02:17 PM

Hey guys, thanks for the advice =D Thanks per your suggestions, I'll be hitting the books (not sure about whether you're allowed to jump the cue ball, actually), and if I can muster up the confidence, I'll find a local club too.
Unfortunately my area's not that great so I don't imagine a pub would be such a sensible idea >.<

**spurzzz** · 05-18-2011 01:49 AM

You can't play snooker at a pub, only pool or american pool (larger version with bigger balls) .... lol
There may be a venue nearby that does both pool and snooker and for starters I would recommend starting of on pool to get used to potting and good cue control so that when you hit the longer snooker tables you will not find it as daunting as you would first starting out.

**owtte** · 05-19-2011 11:10 AM

Ohh that's a thought! Actually, I think someone in my family might have a pool table. I'll be sure to try that, thanks ^^

**RashmiKamani** · 09-30-2011 01:44 PM

You can go to the local club and watch some of the people play, after a few days, you can ask one of them to teach you. The more you practice, the faster you learn

Also, you can watch a few tutorials online and read before you go to the club.