Technical Assessment: Helen

Here we have a new starter to the team, Helen Devenish, from Perth WA. She made the Women's WA State Team in 2022 and realised she had a lot of work to do on her game to compete at the National level.

Helen suffers from the typical frustration players have, that being, inconsistency. Some days things seem to go well, and the next, struggle to pot simple balls. It's this up-and-down rollercoaster that brings players to their knees in despair wondering how their game can swing so much. A lot of players end up quitting!

This is where I plan to help bridge that gap.

I do this by first helping them accept that it's okay to have a bad day. One bad day doesn't mean you're a poor player and doesn't define you. The same as a fantastic day doesn't. What we are seeking is consistency.

A lot of players wonder why they are so inconsistent when they don't have a consistent approach to the game. How can they be consistent?

The session went on for about an hour and a half. Upfront we assessed her cue action and made some subtle changes. From there I provided a way she can approach each shot with consistency. It's this approach that lays the bedrock from which my students will succeed.

Fundamentals are important!

We finished with some practice drills she will be doing as part of her regular training so I could get a good indication of her skills. These included potting off the cushion, potting balls down the cushion, and a simple line-up pattern.

By the end of the session, Helen felt more confident in her ability and now has the approach she needs to improve her game.

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