Tag Archives: pool

(FAQ) When should you change cue tips?

(About the Author)

The tip on your shooting shafts gets worn away little by little. Every time you apply chalk (especially if you do so viciously), there is a gradually wearing away of the tip material. This is also the continuous tip reshaping and roughing with various tip tools. When the tip edge wears down to a narrow side band of a millimeter or so above the ferrule, the tip should be replaced. The tip can also be replaced at whim. Continue reading →

(FAQ) Should you own your own set of pool balls?

(About the Author)

If you are a casual player who goes down to the pool hall as a once a week league player, or you go to the senior center four times a week to play, or if you are an avid bar table player - nope, don't consider owning your set of pool balls. There is no reason to waste your money, simply because you would never have any place to use them. Continue reading →

(H&S) Hustles & Sharks - Back & Forth

(About the Author)

Learn how to Beat the Sharks

On this sharking effort, the pool hustler wants to interrupt the game flow and rhythm. He does this by continuously moving from the table to his equipment and burning up groups of seconds and minutes. These back and forth movements are only done during his turn at the table. Continue reading →

(H&S) Hustles & Sharks - Shockers

(About the Author)

Learn how to Beat the Sharks

A shocker shark is any activity designed to destroy your game focus and make it difficult to recover any ability to play effectively. It does this with an action that is a complete surprise. It can be a shock to your sensibilities or to your nervous system. It can even go so far as to be a dangerous threat to life and limb. At its more intense levels, this is a gross violation of the spirit and idea of sports. The lesser shockers often fall within the spectrum of juvenile horseplay. Continue reading →

(D&E) Drills & Exercises - Long Table Kicks, Set 2 of 4

(About the Author)

This progressive exercise to improve your shooting skills is in the book Drills & Exercises for Pool & Pocket Billiards.

This is a simple center ball hit. This drill dis designed to teach adjustments for the first rail contact point, based on the cue ball position on the table.

Take some time to dial in the correct contact point. Then experiment with different slow and medium speeds. It's a good idea to shift the cue ball up and down one or two ball widths. This helps you dial in the small adjustments. It is VITAL to know how to consistently succeed with one rail kicks. (Not to mention a discouragement for your opponent to attempt hidden ball safeties.) Continue reading →

(BSC) Billiard Skills (video) - CB Safety Maneuvers, Zone 1 (Advanced)

(About the Author)

Billiards Skills Competition Training Program

Here is Today's Test Group Challenge from the book. Several run-outs in a row develops personal confidence when similar maneuvering is needed to run-out to a game win during competition.

PURPOSE:  Kiss the CB off the OB and roll the CB inside the Target Zone.

This is from the CB Maneuvers Test Groups. Continue reading →

(FAQ) What is a cue extension?

(About the Author)

There are shots when the cue ball is mid table and you must aim it towards a ball at the opposite short rail. If you are a tall person, the shot might not be difficult to stretch out and shoot. If you are a shorter individual, you can't stretch your bridge hand out far enough to get a stable bridge for your shaft. The cue just isn't long enough to hold the cue in a stable manner that is needed for a trustworthy stroke. Some part of your fundamentals must be abandoned, making the stroke prone to major failures. Continue reading →

(FAQ) Why are some bar table cue balls different?

(About the Author)

There are a variety of cue balls with different sizes and weights. When you are playing on a coin-operated table, and a ball goes into the pocket, it stays down until the next set of coins is inserted. To be able to return the cue ball to a player after a scratch, it has to be different from the object balls. Continue reading →