Unwanted SIDE SPIN: What is the Reason? / Snooker Tutorial for Beginners

If you notice unwanted side spin in your game, you need to take a look at your aiming.
Many club snooker players use side spin unconsciously in their snooker practice even when they think they don't know how to play with side spin at all.

Take a video of yourself and look at your aiming. That is the big question when we are talking about unwanted side spin. It is important, because unwanted side spin can make you miss the ball.

Some of the players, whom I coach usually reckon the problem with unwanted side spin comes from their cue action and they do not pay attention to their aiming. In lots of cases, the issues is actually bad aiming. It can provoke players to put more side spin in their shot.

I see how most players aim a little thick, when the angle is to the left. They apply unwanted side spin without realising it. This is not big problem when the player makes soft shots. In such cases side spin would even work fine. But when the player has to play a power shot, power stun or a power screw back, that little side move can make you miss the ball. Aiming when the angle is to the right leads to the same thing - players aim a little thick. Then they add a touch of right side to pot the ball. Shots with side spin do not work on every shot though.

It is much better to strike the white ball perfectly in the middle.

Unwanted side spin and aiming:
When you are aiming a little thick, your brain tells you - "you need to twitch, apply side spin to pot the ball. If you strike in the middle of the white, the red ball is not going into the pocket!" And that is why you apply unwanted side spin.

The more inexperienced a player is, the more side spin they apply.

In my coaching, I use a white ball with red dots to help players recognize that they are putting side spin in most of the shots.

So what is the problem with side spin?
The cue ball draws a different curve, depending on how much power you use and how high you strike the white ball. If you put more side spin when playing a power shot, the white ball will be pushed further to one side, and that is why you will miss.

Maybe you are very good at it and do not even know!

As a snooker coach with 10+ years of experience, I know that wrong aiming technique could be a problem for both beginners and experienced players that have developed the wrong habits over time. They often tend to blame their cue action for missing certain shots while their real problem is not aiming correctly.

Are you making the mistakes I mention in the video? Let me know in the comments down below.

I am Brando - the EBSA Assistant Head Coach and WPBSA World Snooker Coach. A full-time snooker coach. I am also a Eurosport commentator and a snooker player myself.

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[markgilmore]

I have watched over 200 snooker coaching videos, and this could be the most useful yet. Excellent.

[scassidy]

Great insight. This is exactly what I am doing is compensating with side spin at the last second. However, I never realized it until you explained it. Thanks you!

[SnookerOveranalyst]

Just so so so true. Most folks just don't recognize that.
Best demo I've ever seen on Youtube.

[brianb.]

A very good lesson Brando. Thank you.👍😊

[qazzell]

Your English is very good. Great advice as well .. keep them coming 🎱👌

[kendalltroy]

Hi, Snooker Coach Brando. This is a very informative video. I have never heard about this subject before. At the moment, I am spending most of my practice time on learning how to pot each of the coloured balls off their spots, from different angles. I am also practising potting the black from off its spot at different angles. Are there any secrets to lining up pots? Do you think that the ghost ball method is good guide. Thank you!

[jiaqixu]

The best way to solve this is to find you vision center, normally a little left or right of your nose. Then practice potting a straight shot without any side spin(blue in the middle pocket for example). That's where you should put you cue under your chin.

[friedcrispy]

Could unintentional sidespin come from a warped cue?

[bencayago]

Coach how to find the middle of the white ball?any tips thanks