Life can be a bowl of cherries or it can be the pits. Any opponent who uses this has chosen the low road and decided to be that bowl of pits. His efforts also put him at the top of your “DO NOT be friends with” list. Continue reading
Tag Archives: pool
(H&S) Hustles & Sharks – Compliments
This is an insidious effort, and one of the easiest sharking tricks that a pool hustler can implement. His compliments on various aspects of your pool game are delivered with obvious sincerity and clothed in good sportsmanship. This shark is successful when you react with touchy-feely enhancements to your self-esteem. Continue reading
(D&E) Drills & Exercises – Long Table Kicks, Set 1 of 4
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 Challenge – Large Area Maneuvers (Advanced)
This is from the Large Area Maneuvers (Advanced) Test Groups.
Your ability to run out these table layouts will develops personal confidence when similar maneuvering is needed to win a game win during competition.
PURPOSE: Pocket the balls in sequence to clear the table.
TO MAKE THIS WORK FOR YOU:
1. Set up the donuts for all the balls. Start each layout with ball in hand.
3. Shoot in sequence: 1, 2, 3 (you can also shoot in reverse sequence – 3, 2, 1).
4. You own the set when you can run-out three times in a row.
5. Move to the the next layout.
(D&E) Drills & Exercises (precision) – OB Rail & Back: Long Table sets
This progressive exercise to improve your shooting skills is in the book Drills & Exercises for Pool & Pocket Billiards.
This setup concentrates on precision cue ball control skills. The purpose is to send the OB to the cushion and return to hit the CB.
Suggestions: Start easy with follow (12:00, 1 tip up). Proceed from slowest possible speed up through Medium 2.
When 12:00 is controlled, use 6:00 (1 tip below center). Proceed with slowest speed through Medium 2 speed. The returning OB must chase down CB.
(FAQ) How to use a playing “edge”?
An edge is something you have that gives you an advantage over the other player. It can be any kind of secret skill or special refinement you developed – just to use when your opponent least expects it.
An edge shot must be properly timed. It’s not something that you put on display at every opportunity. The table layout must look seemingly tough. The cue ball and object ball angles also have to be right.
But when those conditions exist, you can blow away your opponent’s assumptions about your skills. When you shake his evaluation of your abilities, you also introduce a certain amount of uncertainty in his thinking. THAT re-evaluation time frame can last several innings, which gives you opportunities to advance.
(FAQ) How can you improve side pocket shooting?
The obvious answer is more practice. Most players tend to avoid side pocket shots unless the object ball is directly out from the pocket. Anything with an angle makes them try a cross bank or an extreme cut to the corner. Other players will use extreme efforts (spin & speed) to avoid a cue ball position that forces an object ball shot to the side pockets. Continue reading
(FAQ) How to keep score with coins
When another scoring system is not available (moveable beads, balls, etc.), coins are placed under a cushion at each diamond to track the score of a race to a number. Continue reading
(H&S) Hustles & Sharks – Smoking
There are still a few jurisdictions and countries where smoking in a public place (pool halls, bars with pool tables, etc.) is not strictly prohibited (or totally ignored). These lonely locations are usually in areas where tobacco has not been super-regulated. If you play in pool halls where smoking is still allowed, watch out for this shark attempt. This requires a relatively limited air space with limited air flow. A small bar with a beat-up pool table would be an excellent venue for this effort. It does not work in outdoor situations. Continue reading
(H&S) Hustles & Sharks – Missing Ball
This pool shark combines some delaying tactics with the game of hide and seek thrown in. The hustler only needs to use this a couple times during a match to throw your game focus off kilter. It is rarely the only shark being used against you. But, piled on top of other distractions, it can be one more nail in the coffin of your loss. Continue reading
