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An edge is something you have that gives you an advantage over the other player. It can be any kind of secret skill or special refinement you developed - just to use when your opponent least expects it.

An edge shot must be properly timed. It's not something that you put on display at every opportunity. The table layout must look seemingly tough. The cue ball and object ball angles also have to be right.

But when those conditions exist, you can blow away your opponent's assumptions about your skills. When you shake his evaluation of your abilities, you also introduce a certain amount of uncertainty in his thinking. THAT re-evaluation time frame can last several innings, which gives you opportunities to advance.

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Pocket billiard tables are rectangular in shape, twice as long as wide. Table sizes are usually measured by the playing space inside the cushions. Most table sizes are: Continue reading →

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The break is the start of a new game. Who breaks is determined by a variety of ways, for example: lagging, coin toss, or by some other mutual agreement. On subsequent games between the same opponents, the options are: alternating breaks, loser breaks, winner breaks, or other mutual agreement. Continue reading →

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The cue tip is a piece of material placed at the end of the cue stick that hits the cue ball. It's shape and condition is more important to good players than whether the cue stick is straight. A serious player will always use a warped cue stick with a well-shaped tip then any other stick with a less then optimal (bad) tip.

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When gambling with individuals who regularly put money on their skills, they have ways to define some of the parameters (weight) given to a shooter. Here are the terms with short descriptions. The descriptions below assume you are getting the spot (advantage). Continue reading →

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Most tournaments are done in a day or two. Some last longer. You are going to have to consume some food. Don’t eat foods that will bloat you, slow you down, or otherwise interfere with your concentration. Continue reading →

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In every stroke, your stick forearm comes forward to make the cue tip contact the cue ball. The quality of a player is determined by the precision on where the cue ball is contacted by the tip and the precision of the stick speed. Continue reading →

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There are times when you get yourself in a playing situation where you will be playing for hours and hours. Tournaments are a good example. Few of these are finishing in a couple hours. Unless you get knocked out early, you are going to be there for a long time, some of the time playing, some of the time waiting. Continue reading →

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There will be times when you want to determine if you are getting more skilled as a pool player. Are you advancing or standing still? Within your group of friends are you gaining or losing your place in the pecking order? Are you being greeted with greater or lesser respect when you meet last week’s opponent on the street? Continue reading →