Tag Archives: table billiards

(FAQ) How can you get more pool practicing time?

(About the Author)

Unless you have our own home table, finding a table for pool practicing is one of the problems you face in your goal of becoming a better pool player. It often takes more time to get your stuff together and drive back and forth to your local playing environment (pool hall, senior center, lodge) than actually spend time with practicing pool shots and setups. A dedicated practice trip will take 20-30 minutes to get there for a practice time of a half hour, and then the trip back. BTW, playing with friends is NOT practicing, so get that idea out of your head. Practice is practice. Use your playing friends to demonstrate your new skills. Continue reading →

(FAQ) How do you fix a bad shooting habit?

(About the Author)

The term “bad shooting habits” takes in a lot of territory. It could fall into one of the body, i.e., feet position, butt (yours) position, head position, arm & elbow, etc. It could be due to your cue handling, i.e., bridge hand position/length, butt (cue) grip, etc. It could be a shortcoming in your stroke, such as jerky movement, follow-through failure, speed control, or unintended cue ball spin. Or, it might be a problem based on your mental abilities, such as layout analysis, shot selection, unwanted consequences, etc. Continue reading →

(FAQ) Why do pool players love pool?

(About the Author)

There are may aspects and elements of this game that almost defy description and definition. There is such a variety of complexity, and difficulty to a seemingly simple playing field. Yet, people’s lives have become entangled in the effort to jubilantly demonstrate greater mastery of the battle field over your opponents. Continue reading →

(FAQ) Why is luck a big part of pool?

(About the Author)

Sometimes you hear a player say something similar to, “If it wasn’t for bad luck, I wouldn’t have any luck at all.” This kind of statement usually occurs after a bad roll, a scratch, a missed shot, or just plain less than expected ball behavior. Continue reading →

(FAQ) How to forget your pre-shot routine

(About the Author)

Every once in a while, for one reason or another, you approach a shot, bend over, and the next thing you know – the cue ball is moving and you don’t even know what happened. You just allowed your back brain to take over your consciousness and totally ignore your pre-shot routine. Or it could be your evil self took momentary control. There are two ways for your pre-shot routine to vanish. Continue reading →

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

(About the Author)

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 →

(FAQ) What is Gamesmanship & Sharking?

(About the Author)

Random House Dictionary definitions:
gamesmanship – 1. the use of methods, esp. in a sports contest, that are dubious or seemingly improper but not strictly illegal. 2. the technique or practice of manipulating people or events so as to gain an advantage or outwit one’s opponents or competitors.

shark – 1. (v) to obtain by trickery. 2. (n) a person regarded as ruthless.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Continue reading →

(FAQ) Do you perform a post-shot routine?

(About the Author)

If you watch players compete, there is one habit that the winners consistently have in common. Those are the shooters who always stop after a shot and appear to be momentarily frozen in time. What they are really doing is going over their shot, comparing the new table layout with what they were attempting to achieve. These are the players that learn from their mistakes. Continue reading →