Tag Archives: cue

(FAQ) How do you evaluate your playing skills?

(About the Author)

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 →

(D&E) Drills & Exercises - Pocket Skills (progressive): Criss-Cross sets - 1D Rail

(About the Author)

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 →

(S&D) Safety & Defense - Cue Ball Management Exercises - Follow

(About the author)

Safety Toolbox (Advanced)

(This is today's bit of advice from the book Safety Toolbox.)

There is the old saying, "Draw for show, follow for dough." Using the correct amount of follow for the different cue ball speeds takes practice. Eventually, you can develop the correct “feel”.

The Cue Ball Clock System

The Cue Ball Clock System

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(S&D) Safety & Defense - Playing Styles, 3 of 3

(About the author)

Safety Toolbox (Advanced)

(This is today's bit of advice from the book Safety Toolbox.)

Here are more descriptions about the habitual behavior of players you will face in your lifetime of playing pool. Your opponent's default playing style make it easier to design a strategy and an efficient set of tactical tricks.

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(FAQ) What are some good excuses for missing a pool shot?

(About the Author)

Many players need to have some handy excuses after missing a pool shot. Of course, your opponents don’t care – they’re just happy you screwed up and let them come to the table. For railbirds, player excuses for a missed pool shot can be quite entertaining. As an audience, they always appreciate the more outrageous explanations for screwing up. Continue reading →

(FAQ) What does it take to become a really, really good pool player?

(About the Author)

For such a small physical area of contention, played under well-light with well-defined specifications, the game of pocket billiards has a level of complexity for players at every level. Continue reading →

(CBC) Cue Ball Control (full table patterns) - Group 10, Set 4

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, Soft 3 speed.
    3:00, Medium 1 speed.
  • Cheat: 12:00, Soft 3 speed.

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(CBC) Cue Ball Control (half table patterns) - Group 1, set 1

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: 6:00, (1/2 ball hit), Medium 1 speed.
  • Cheat: 4:30, (1/2 ball hit), Medium 1 speed.
  • Cheat: 2:00, (1/2 ball hit), Soft 3 speed.
    (At a higher speed, the cue ball can not grab the rail for the proper angle.)

Continue reading →