Category Archives: (FAQ) Frequently Asked Questions

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

(FAQ) Do you perform a post-shot routine?

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If you watch players compete, there is one habit that the winners consistently have in common. Those are the shooters who always stop after a shot and appear to be momentarily frozen in time. What they are really doing is going over their shot, comparing the new table layout with what they were attempting to achieve. These are the players that learn from their mistakes. Continue reading →

(FAQ) Game Rules - 9 Ball

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These series of "Game Rules' provide rules of many different games for the pool table. The rules here have been simplified from the official versions - to make them a little easier to understand.

There are other games that have been invented, copyrighted and generally available to the playing public. Web searches will turn these up and the rules printed out for use.

Continue reading →

(FAQ) How do you find a good pool instructor?

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It is surprising, but the vast majority of pool players have never taken any kind of lesson from a qualified pool instructor – not even a basic check on their fundamentals. They will spend hundreds (even thousands) of dollars on a cool cue stick. They aren’t willing to spend $20, $50, or $100 for lessons that will improve their game for the rest of their lives. They are perfectly happy to go on for years and years (and years) believing they are just too intelligent to need an instructor. Continue reading →

(FAQ) What if your opponent is an ass?

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Some players are so wrapped up in their own world, they can't even recognize other players as being worthy of respect. In previous decades, you could walk into any pool hall and watch some of these arrogant SOBs strut their stuff in their own little kingdoms.

Nowadays, the worst cases have been relegated to little hole-in-the-wall bars and dives. But there are always wanna-be bullies who couldn't recognize common courtesy if it was <insert an appropriate simile here>. 😉

Continue reading →

(FAQ) Game Rules - Bank Pool

(About the Author)

These series of "Game Rules' provide rules of many different games for the pool table. The rules here have been simplified from the official versions - to make them a little easier to understand.

There are other games that have been invented, copyrighted and generally available to the playing public. Web searches will turn these up and the rules printed out for use.

Continue reading →

(FAQ) How do you handle an opponent who is a poor sport?

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Sometimes you get into a match with an opponent who takes bad playing situations as a direct insult. It would be funnier, if he simply asked the table directly, “Are you dissing me?” It’s the same thing. Or, he might consider every poor playing situation to be an intentional personal insult from you (as if you have any control over his poor playing and planning skills). Continue reading →

(FAQ) How can you practice with a friend?

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Most of the time when you get together with a partner during a practice time, you end up just playing each other with no real goal in mind or anything accomplished. You spend a couple of hours together just to bang balls around and no one's skills were improved. That's a wasted amount of time. Continue reading →

(FAQ) How do you make accurate 1 cushion kicks?

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There are two common techniques when you need to kick to a rail to make contact on the target object ball. One is the ghost table/mirror technique. Another is "Cross the X"  Both are easy to implement with the instructions below. Continue reading →

(FAQ) What kinds of drills can improve your game?

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Once you have learned the basics skills and developed a decent stroke and have some ability to play position - where do you go from there? There are a lot of answers. One of them is the practice of various types of drills. Drills have a specific purpose. The ball setups are constant, usually identified with paper reinforcement rings or positions identified along the diamond lines (up/down, and sideways). Continue reading →

(FAQ) How should you pack cue sticks for airline baggage?

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With the current airline restrictions on all things that could be considered a weapon or even a threat of a weapon, you are unable to carry your cue sticks on the airplane as carry-on baggage. For individuals who have sticks that are more than a little important to them, this restriction has made it more difficult for those who fly to tournaments and other places. Continue reading →