Category Archives: (FAQ) Frequently Asked Questions

Lots of useful details and information for players at all levels.

(FAQ) How do you plan to run a table layout?

If you've ever watched good players compete, every shot is designed to accomplish two objectives - pocket the current object ball and move the cue ball into a table location where the next object ball can be targeted. The only significant difference between the good players and the better players is their ability to do this on a routine basis. Continue reading →

(FAQ) How can your shooting game go wrong?

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When your shooting game goes off into failure-land and your shooting results begin to significantly deviate from your intentions, something has gotten out of kilter – usually your fundamentals. The problem is – how long does it take before you notice that something is wrong and take corrective action? Generally, by the time you do wake up, the game count is tough. You might recover – but the struggle to win becomes a low probability proposition. Continue reading →

(FAQ) Do you calculate the odds on a shot?

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When facing a table layout and figuring out what to do, every shot you consider falls will be within your comfort zone or in your chaos zone. A shot within your comfort zone means you can make it 7 or 8 times in 10 tries. As the chances of success get smaller, it falls into your chaos zone. Every shot has to calculate the odds. Continue reading →

(FAQ) How do you move up to the next level?

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Assuming that you are not already a near-pro player, here are some tips that will help.

Maintain and reinforce the mental attitude that you are able and capable of becoming better. It is the positive attitude necessary to improvement. Continue reading →

(FAQ) Should you gamble?

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There are a considerations built into this question. When something of value is at risk, the pressure to play well goes up. It gets worse if the amount lost impacts your lifestyle (the rent money, etc.). Basically, the decision to bet (and how much) on your skill depends on how the loss would affect you. Continue reading →

(FAQ) How does someone concede a game?

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There are times when your opponent is shooting the game winning ball and the shot is well within his skills. The shot is so simple, that he couldn't miss if you blindfolded him. In such situations, you want to concede the game and get on with the next. Continue reading →

(FAQ) How can you stop missing cut shots?

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Most of the time when you are cutting a shot into a pocket and miss, the cue ball almost always hits the object ball too full. The example below shows what usually happens. Continue reading →

(FAQ) How can dings be removed from a cue shaft?

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The information is provided on a provisional basis. These are designed for dings (very small indentations), not dents in wood shafts. There is no assurance these will work for your specific shaft. Continue reading →

(FAQ) How to check your stroke for flaws

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This is the basic setup for this self-evaluation process:

Five (5) striped balls
Line up balls about 1 diamond from short rail.
All shots are done on the vertical center line:
12:00 contact is one tip above center
6:00 is one tip below center
All balls are shot into one of the far corner pockets Continue reading →

(FAQ) How do you learn ball speeds on different tables?

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When you play regularly on the same table (or tables), you pretty much have a dialed in stick speed standard for that table. You know how far the cue ball will go on a lag shot. When you can cut a ball into a corner, you "know" what speed is necessary to pocket the ball and come off the cushion into rough position for the next shot. For you, these are part of your natural shots, and the calculations for the shot hardly require any effort. Continue reading →