The High Performance Podcast

Stephen Hendry: I Put Snooker Before Everything, Even Family

13 snips
Apr 24, 2026
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INSIGHT

Relentless Winning Comes From Innate Greed

  • Stephen Hendry attributes relentless winning to an innate, insatiable greed to win rather than teachable technique.
  • He describes returning to practice the Monday after Sunday title wins and never feeling satisfied, which fueled serial victories.
ANECDOTE

How A Small Table Hooked A 13-Year-Old

  • Hendry got a small table two weeks before his 13th birthday and immediately made 50 breaks, discovering snooker was where he first felt exceptional.
  • He left school early, supported himself from age 13–14 with winnings, and prioritized practice over typical teenage life.
ADVICE

Adopt Relentless Structured Practice Early

  • Do adopt a disciplined, high-volume practice routine if you want rapid improvement; Hendry trained 10am–6pm seven days a week under a manager who 'cracked a whip'.
  • That regimen produced immediate results: he won the Scottish professional soon after and felt his game sharpen.
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