Tag Archives: 9 Ball

(FAQ) How do you play a cue ball on the rail?

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This is one of the more difficult locations to shoot from. Because the cue ball is so close to the rail, it is impossible to contact the ball with other than a top spin. Draws and any variations are impossible, unless you are an expert in shooting masse shots with a near-vertical stick. Continue reading

(FAQ) How do you coach a new player on a team?

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If you are one of the better players on a league team, eventually you will be called upon to coach a playing situation for a new player or a lower-skilled team member. Your superior knowledge and experience is needed to make sense of a confusing table layout. 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) 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