There is a certain amount of courtesy expected when playing competitions in various circumstances, such as matches and tournaments. On starting a match, you cannot go wrong with a handshake and generic good wishes such as “Good luck.” If there is a history between the two of you, add a personal statement relating to a past good competition. Continue reading
A cushion is considered dead when the reaction of a ball off the rubber is less than perfect. The speed off the rail is noticeably slower and at a more direct angle out then when the ball went in. Continue reading
Every time you hit an object ball with a cue ball, there is a minor wonder of physics that affects the cue ball, known as the tangent line. What is amazing about this little bit of table billiards activity is that you can use it to predict cue ball behavior. Continue reading
Almost all players have difficulty being consistent with banking. Most people (rightly so) consider banks to be low percentage. When you make an attempt, you can protect yourself by playing it as a two-way shot. If you make it, you are on the next ball. If missed, it doesn’t hurt you. Continue reading
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
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
Gambling money on your table skills can sometimes be an opportunity to learn how you play under pressure, or simply be a way to pass some time for pocket change.
Your reaction to risking the available cash in your possession depends on your experiences and the amounts being risked. Here are a few suggestions and recommendations. Continue reading
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
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
In the process of becoming a better shooter over your lifetime, you will find yourself exposed to the bar boxes. These 3-1/2 x 7 foot tables provide their own challenges unique to their size and locations. Continue reading
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