OK it aint a chat room so Snooker to pool ??

Question

From the point of making shots Yes thats all snooker is-do you ever see a bank shot much less 3 cushions or a real safe shot their idea of safe is just 1 ball to obstruct and very few of them can come out if a ranked snooker player ever did a 3 rail kick he would be the talk of Europe for years A national hero!! we do them almost every day and its just another shot to us

If we shoot straight we can put them in any size pocket with very little pracitce could they learn our skills in such a short time I dont think so there is a H of a lot more to pool than sinking a ball in fact that is a ways down the list in snooker thats the whole game

But Thanks Mickey

Answer 1

So much to say about such a foolish comment, because I can't understand why it is that you think Snooker is so easy (unless you're only referring video games).

I don't know how many pool players that have come over and dominated  - or for that matter even competed at snooker! on the other hand, I do know that Steve Davis who is a pretty decent snooker pro (and was dominant in the early '80s) has come over and done alright at pool. Oh, and trust me no-one over in Europe or Asia thought that this was amazing and far from thinking him a national hero! At best most thought it curious.

However, it seems to me the whole Pool v Snooker banter is just the typical jingoism from both sides of the pond. Pool is regarded as a poor form of Snooker over there, just as much Snooker is seen as being second rate over here. It's often what is familiar is seen as being superior. The same could be said for Rugby and Gridiron (I won't call it football - you need to use your feet more to call it that :) ), or Indy/NASCAR vs. F1.

But the truth-be-told, they are both different disciplines that require different skills - they just appear to be similar.

> Would you say that a guitar player could master a Cello in half the time as a Cello player could a strum a guitar? They both play music and they both have strings - so why not!? Because they are still very different.

> Similarly a scrum-half playing gridiron, would have as much trouble as a quarterback playing rugby - this despite the games looking so similar!

But let's look at another of your comments - three bank shots! Make a snooker table the size of a pool table -  then you'll see those shots a lot more often. If you've ever watched many games you'll see there are good amount of multiple bank shots made (despite it's increased size). Or conversely, let's make the pool table a darn sight bigger (you know 6ftx12ft) and while your at it make the pockets of smaller and round-off their edges (so that every shot won't necessarily bank-in to pocket almost every time.)

Finally (for a bit of clarity) from someone who likes and occasionally plays both games (disciplines) what you said in your 'question' is akin to saying the following: "A miniature golf player can adapt to golf (18-holes) in an hour and beat a golf player (yes its a bet) how long would it take a Golf player to do the same - in days is ok-to beat a miniature golf player?"

If that's true, "Tiger Wood has got nothing on me!"

Answer 2

Here's what I've observed playing pool with snooker players:

1.) When a shot requires any amount of power, they're completely lost. When the shot requires any kind of cue ball movement from more than a half table away, they're in trouble.

2.) Snooker players can't use english effectively.

3.) Snooker players don't know how to play more than one rail position.

4.) Snooker players don't know how to effectively play safeties in 9 ball.

5.) Snooker players don't manage the table well.

Overall, I believe a snooker player can jump right into pool and be a decent mid level player because of their shotmaking abilities. But they're not going to beat good pool players without at least 6 months of consistently playing pool. It takes time to learn to use english and play proper strategy. I believe most snooker players who think the game is easy have never really played good pool players.

Going from pool to snooker can vary from player to player. I've met plenty of good players who weren't great shotmakers, and that will really hurt them on a snooker table. That type of player will really never be a good snooker player.

On the other hand, a great shotmaker at pool will likely excel at snooker almost immediately. The table's size can be intimidating at first, but you can get over that in literally a day. This type of player could be a top snooker player in a matter of a week or 2. The strategy at snooker is so simple, once you can pocket balls you're going to be a solid player.

A pool player who's more in between may need to change something about their stroke, would could take time to get used to. They may need to become a bit more focused on accuracy, but once that's done, they're on their way. This type of player would be ready for snooker tournaments in a few months or less.

Answer 3

I don't know if this is true or not, since I haven't played snooker yet..but I've heard that once you excel in snooker or are a pretty decent shot in the game, then you're pro status in regular pool...since snooker's way harder & takes more skill *apparently*...I guess Allison Fisher, Karen Corr & Kelly Fisher were pro snooker players before coming here and instantly taking over :)..So I'm assuming a snooker player will clean the table (regardless of size) instantly in reg. pool .....DreO

Answer 4

I would bet the other way....I have played some snooker and the pockets and really make me adjust my game.....I would think that coming the other way would be a lot easier with the bigger and not as tight pockets....but I am just a little above average player and maybe not experienced enough to really answer this....but it just seems to me a lot easier coming from snooker to pool.....just looking at the shooting and not the strategy in the two games!.......its kinda like you said once Johnny, you can spot a bar table player with the louder and harder shooting they are associated with, with the heavier cue ball.....I guess that is my problem....."speed"....if I had this speed that goes with a good player then maybe no problem....I used to watch this "A" player(he would tell you or let you know)...he would practice on a snooker table with regular size american cue balls.....it was amazing to see him "ram" some of these balls so easy into the snooker pockets....long or short shots....he never missed regardless of the speed...as a result making regular pool a lot easier....I would make the bet against you from my view..

Answer 5

johnny, u opened up a can of worms here lol. i knew it once  i read your question:) i would live to see efren do nothing but watch snooker matches and stragity on tv for about 20 hours, and him go play a tourny against, a top snooker player, just to see what would happen. just to be curious, i think it would be very cool, just to see the outcome. i watched many snooker matches while, i was in the philippines, alot of great safty play, but seemed to me, that it was almost the same safety over and over, getting the cueball locked behing the 3 color balls lined up in the kitchen. im not an expert by any means on snooker, but learned the game on the only pc game i play, cueclub, and found myself playing it alot, and really learning the game, and the stragities fast, and the certian angles you need to imagine to obtain, to compensate for the different style pockets. i think as a pool player, 8,,9 str8, carom, that snooker is just another pool game, like onepocket is, and there are different stragities, and cant understand the big fight there is between pool, and snooker players. dont thumbs me yet, gota get off here, and will finish my thoughts later. thanks