Tag Archives: pool

(D&E) Drills & Exercises – Cross Side Kicks, Set 4 of 4

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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 →

(FAQ) How much fair play is fair?

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When you are playing pool and you see a rule violation about to be made by your opponent, how far will you go to ensure fair play? Do you do anything to win, salivating over the opportunity to get a cheap and quick advantage? Or, do you try to ensure a level playing field. Do you point out the potential error? Do you expect you opponent to be similarly concerned with an equal sense of sportsmanship? Continue reading →

(FAQ) What should you consider when buying a first cue?

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(This is just a general set of guidelines for beginning players getting ready to get their first personal shooter. It’s a starting point of things to consider, not a solid buying guide.)

There are a lot of sticks available (custom and production). Most anything in the range of $150 to $400 will work. When you first start thinking about a personal playing stick, it’s always a good idea to talk it over with several players and get some understanding on why they like their stick and how they decided on that as their primary pool tool.. Continue reading →

(FAQ) How do you shoot one-handed?

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Knowing how to do this is not a critical playing skill. It can be a useful skill that can cause your opponent to believe you are a much better player – basically scare him a little. It is a handy skill for situations where a mechanical bridge is difficult to use. Continue reading →

(D&E) Drills & Exercises – Double Groups (side pockets) Runout Game, version 4 of 4

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

Purpose: Runout all the balls on the table. Decide the sequence before running the balls. Any failure, reset balls and start again. Continue reading →

(D&E) Drills & Exercises – Pocket Skills (shallow): OB 3, 4, 5, 6 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 →

(D&E) Drills & Exercises – Double 3 Ball Runout Game (horizontal), version 1 of 4

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

Purpose: Runout all the balls on the table. Set the sequence before running the balls. Any failure, reset balls and start again. Continue reading →

(D&E) Drills & Exercises – Turn the Corner Game (5 Ball Groups), Version 2 of 2

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

Purpose: Runout all the balls in a group – 3 successful attempts. Then repeat on the second group. Then repeat on the third group. Continue reading →

(FAQ) Pool Sharking, Gamesmanship, & Other Mind Games

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First of all, let’s properly describe the term “sharking”. To people who lose, their first complaint (and justification for losing) was that they were sharked. Let’s set aside that notion immediately – you were not sharked when losing against someone of superior skill. You just didn’t have enough shooting competence, plain and simple. Continue reading →