Snooker

Snooker s a cue sport which originated among British Army officers stationed in India in the latter half of the 19th century.

1.What is Snooker?

Snooker s a cue sport which originated among British Army officers stationed in India in the latter half of the 19th century. It is played on a rectangular table covered with a green cloth, or baize, with pockets at each of the four corners and in the middle of each long side.[Source: Wikipedia]

The game is played on a 12ft by 6ft table covered in a green cloth and is played with wooden sticks that have either pig layered skin tips on the end or soft leather.

2.How To Play Snooker?

There are 15 reds and six colours on the table and the colours are valued in points as...

  • The yellow is worth two points
  • The green is worth three points
  • The brown is four points
  • The blue is valued at five points
  • The pink is worth six points
  • The black is the highest valued colour at seven points

To play, a player must pot a red first on the table, then nominate a colour. Once 15 reds have been potted the player must clear the six colours in sequence from yellow to black. The person with the highest score at the end of a frame wins.

Here's a video which explains the rules in more detail...

3.Why playing Snooker?

There are many benefits to playing the game, but here's six benefits for you to consider. Try it yourself!

1) Snooker is a game of memory. Balls potted are the past, balls to come are the future and your memory determines how you play the next shot. For example, when you miss a ball, try to remember how you missed it by staying down on the shot. That will aid your memory for next time you have a similar shot.

2) The game is not just about potting balls and making big breaks. There's basic maths involved in keeping track of the scores and knowing how many points you need to win if you're behind in a frame.

3) You need to know angles in snooker. Remember the basic rule: When you strike the cue ball off a cushion, the ball will come off at the same angle it was struck onto it! Learn the angles and how using side affects the angles. Tip: When using side, two things will happen: The angle will widen if using reverse side. The angle will narrow when using check side. Only use side when necessary.

4) Playing the game keeps your mind active. You are constantly thinking what to do next. However, don't overthink a shot, normally, the first shot you see is the right one, but don't rush. Be aware of the table and how the balls are situated.

5) You can play snooker in clubs and some have leagues you can play in. You can then play in amateur tournaments and even find avenues to becoming a professional. Head down to a club to find out how to get involved, and also make friends also. Snooker is a friendly but competitive sport that can be played as a family, or seriously in a competitive nature.

6) Have some fun on the table: The game isn't just about winning, you can entertain people by learning trick shots and honing your skills on the table. John Virgo's book The Complete Guide to Trick Shots will give you some basic and more advanced ways to surprise your friends and family and entertain crowds.

Get Involved in Either Playing or Watching Snooker and Keep Your Mind Active!

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