On 28th April, 1985 at midnight, millions were glued to their TV sets watching the World Snooker Final between Steve Davis and Dennis Taylor ( I was 19 ) the famous black ball finish after 34 frames!
The next morning, snooker was on the TV, in the media & newspapers, it was everywhere! Snooker was popular!
But it wasn't until the year after in 1986, when Joe Johnson a snooker player from Bradford won the World Snooker Championship. That's what really got me into Snooker and like many others because I'm from Bradford. Joe put snooker on the map in Bradford and as it goes for many other snooker players, when I played snooker I was hooked!
I played OK because I had played a bit of pool, but snooker was harder just because of the size of the table! I wanted to improve my snooker but back in the 80's we didn’t have YouTube etc wasn't out yet! so the only way I could learn was from books!
My first book was ‘How to play snooker’ by John Pullman, learned how to stand, cue and delivery and I was off!
I WAS LUCKY TOO...
That was because we had a Snooker World Champion right on our doorstep that I could go watch practice. I got to know Joe over the next few years and when his practice partner didn’t show up sometimes, he’d say ‘go grabyour cue!’
Wow playing a world champ! I was buzzing! But all I did was pick balls out and learn to be a referee!
If you would like to book the 1986 World Snooker Champion, Joe Johnson for personal coaching? Just let him know Shabir Ditta referred or you can email Joe on joey86@yahoo.co.uk and for my students it's the same rate which is much lower than what Joe really charges!
Obviously, watching and learning (sometimes playing) one of the worlds best players my snooker skills improved. About 7 to 8 years later when I was good enough, I entered Bradford Snooker Championships in 1994 (I was 28) I was 3-0 down and ending up winning 4-3!
Then entered the Bradford Doubles and won, then also the Bradford Team and won! By that time, I was making centuries, my personal best being a 136 total clearance.
I did stop playing for 15 years around 2002 to 2020 due to health reasons which I don't want to bore you with but when a very old friend Andy Pap joined Mentone Snooker Club he invited me to join.
The snooker bug was back!
Fast forward to present day, I enter local league snooker competitions to keep my game sharp. Just recently I won the Otley Open and the Otley Handicap in the same year (trophy pics below) and I play for the Harrogate Snooker Team.
I know the game well and I've helped dozens of snooker players improve their snooker and make bigger breaks, I know I can help you do the same
I have a snooker student at 9 and a student at 82 so your never too young or old to learn!
So, if you want to improve your snooker skills, get in touch, I can help
Speak soon, Shabir :)
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TESTIMONIALS
I’ve had a couple of lessons with Shabir and he drills it home about keeping still on every shot. You will improve your game within the first hour! I had a 58 break that day and now my game is in better shape than it ever has been
–Luke Cruse
My first lesson was a bit nerve racking but Shabir made me feel comfortable, we all know how hard it can be, I play much better now that I’m cueing correct. I now feel that I can be more confident on my shots as everything is correct.
–Darren Sheilds
Shabir has a nack for getting the best out of you, starting with the foundations of stance and cueing, above all keeping still! We had a winning debut when Shabir joined Menstone and the cups keep coming! Cheers..
–Brain Wescott, Pete Brogen, Johnny Westcott
I didn’t know the basics so I thought I’d get that right first with my snooker game. Just the solid stance makes a massive difference, I’m improving all the time and look forward to playing more
-Maz Shah
We played 1 frame and Shabir managed to pick up a few faults in my cue action straight away. We also some ajustments to my stance and it made a big diffrence to my game, highly recomemded.
-Zohaib Shakoor
I have had a few lessons with Shabir and I can say that my game has improved a lot. Learning to keep still on the shot was a big thing for me and now I don’t miss easy balls! lol
-Shaan
I even didn’t realise that I was aiming with my right eye! just a slight alignment for my cue action and I’m potting much better, Shabir has real knowledge at the game of snooker and will help you get better I’m sure
-Carl Person
Shabir plays for the Harrogate team along side us, he is fun freindly (loud) guy with a love for snooker and spending time with him can ONLY improve your snooker!
-Ian Brotherston, Tom Harris, Kaif Shazad (Harrogate Teammates)
Everytime I play I want to beat my highest break, its a goal that makes me practice and want to get better, I make regular 30+ breaks now and I’m happy that I learned the basics from Shabir
–Sagir Ditta (Dan)
I had my first snooker lesson from Shabir and I was very impressed how much he knew and what I was doing wrong for years. I’m cueing much straighter now and happy with my game…
–Shah (Bradford)
I have been playing for 3 years and in all that time I was cueing off centre! With only one lesson Shabir taught me how to hit the ball in a straight line. Now my game has come on so much and I now know it’s all about keeping still.
–Richard Underwood
We have been playing the game for 6 years now and still we learn everytime we play. It does help us because Shabir is our uncle (mates rates! lol ) so we learn so much about position and cue ball control. Shabir just makes it look easy!
–Adam & Aarun Ditta
Thanks for visiting, speak soon
Shabir Ditta 07538654201
BEFOREAFTERBEFOREAFTER
Let’s Improve Your Snooker Game Together
After your first lesson my goal for you is to improve your snooker game immeadialty
