(FAQ) How much practice does it take to become an “A” player?

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The best way to determine a player’s skills (A, B, or C), is with BPI (Balls Per Inning) average. This is the number of balls a player can make over a series of innings. Some innings may have zero balls pocketed – if there is no playable shot, or the player misses on the first ball. Other innings can be 4, 5, 6, even 7 balls put into pockets.

To calculate BPI, add up the number of balls made over 10 innings, and divide by 10. That is the player’s  BPI. So, an “A” player would have a BPI average above 4.0. (A “C” player might have a BPI of 0.5.) Continue reading →

(BSC) Billiard Skills Challenge – Small Area Maneuvers: Set 4 of 6 (Intermediate & Advanced layouts)

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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:  Pocket the balls in sequence to clear the table.
Start with Ball-in-Hand.

This is from the Small Area Maneuvers (Intermediate & Advanced) Test Groups. Continue reading →

(AWAP) Art of War v. Art of Pool – Chapter 4 – defeat impossible

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AWAP-new-125

At it’s most basic, the pool table is a small battlefield. An excerpt from “The Art of War” is provided with how it applies to the competition between opponents.

This segment is from:

Chapter 4 – Tactical dispositions

Hence the skillful fighter puts himself ….

(If this is the first post you’ve seen, read the AWAP Introduction & instructions post.)

This information considers how battlefield strategies and tactics can be used to win more games. If this seems interesting, read these AWAP posts.

Continue reading →

(AWAP) Art of War v. Art of Pool – Chapter 4 – security against defeat

(About the author)

AWAP-new-125

At it’s most basic, the pool table is a small battlefield. An excerpt from “The Art of War” is provided with how it applies to the competition between opponents.

This segment is from:

Chapter 4 – Tactical dispositions

Security against defeat implies defensive tactics; …

(If this is the first post you’ve seen, read the AWAP Introduction & instructions post.)

This information considers how battlefield strategies and tactics can be used to win more games. If this seems interesting, read these AWAP posts.

Continue reading →

(CBC) Cue Ball Control (full table patterns) – Group 9, Set 11

Cue Ball Control Cheat Sheets

This is today’s set of Cue Ball Cheats. These practice setups (and others in the book and blog) help you learn HOW to apply an exact speed and spin. That precision is how to get perfect shape on the second ball – and how to string a run together. For these layouts here are the Cheats for this post:

  • Cheat: 1:00, Medium 2 speed.
  • Cheat: 12:30, Medium 2 speed.
  • Cheat: 6:00, Medium 2 speed.
    12:00, Soft 3 speed.
  • Cheat: 10:30, Medium 1 speed.

Continue reading →

(CBC) Cue Ball Control (full table patterns) – Group 8, Set 7

Cue Ball Control Cheat Sheets

This is today’s set of Cue Ball Cheats. These practice setups (and others in the book and blog) help you learn HOW to apply an exact speed and spin. That precision is how to get perfect shape on the second ball – and how to string a run together. For these layouts here are the Cheats for this post:

  • Cheat: 12:00, Medium 1 speed.
  • Cheat:

Continue reading →

(AWAP) Art of War v. Art of Pool – Chapter 9 – running around

(About the author)

AWAP-new-125

At it’s most basic, the pool table is a small battlefield. An excerpt from “The Art of War” is provided with how it applies to the competition between opponents.

This segment is from:

Chapter 9 – Maneuvers

When there is much running about and the soldiers fall into rank, …

(If this is the first post you’ve seen, read the AWAP Introduction & instructions post.)

This information considers how battlefield strategies and tactics can be used to win more games. If this seems interesting, read these AWAP posts.

Continue reading →

(AWAP) Art of War v. Art of Pool – Chapter 11 – carefully accommodating

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AWAP-new-125

At it’s most basic, the pool table is a small battlefield. An excerpt from “The Art of War” is provided with how it applies to the competition between opponents.

This segment is from:

Chapter 11 – The nine situations

Success in warfare is gained by carefully accommodating ourselves …

(If this is the first post you’ve seen, read the AWAP Introduction & instructions post.)

This information considers how battlefield strategies and tactics can be used to win more games. If this seems interesting, read these AWAP posts.

Continue reading →

(D&E) Drills & Exercises – Pocket Skills (straight): OB 2 D to Pocket

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

This setup concentrates on progressive pocketing skills. There is no concern about where the CB ends up.

This is a multiple cue ball speed and spin drill. See Cue Ball Speed and Spin Variations. Make sure to observe the cue ball action (path from OB, any rail action, etc.) until it stops. You need to remember the results when you are in competition. Continue reading →

(BSC) Billiard Skills Challenge (video) – Frozen Rail, set 2 (Advanced) Test Group

(About the Author)

Billiards Skills Competition Training Program

Here is Today’s Test Group Challenge from the book. This progressive set develops personal confidence when similar shots come up during competition – and define Comfort Zone limitations.

PURPOSE:  Pocket the 1 Ball on each of the the designated attempts – for each layout in the Test Group.

This is the Frozen Rail, Set 2 (Advanced) Test Group. There is also an Intermediate Test Group. Continue reading →