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Tips for playing pool?

fustercluck

fustercluck

Diamond Member
Anyone got tips for playing pool? It's a hard game. I'm not sure how anyone could have any "tips" really...but good luck 😛

Can we get through this thread without any sarcastic replies?
 
finess before power. Especially when its a tight squeeze. And always ALWAYS think about where you want that cue ball to go after the shot.
 
best advice or tip? Rent an instructional video from a library. It'll help more than anyone here could.
 
It depends on what game of "pool" you're playing... but as with anything, if you wanna be good: practice
 
get low.

most often you see people up real high, almost looking down on the shot. when you watch pros play, they are always real low.
 
Originally posted by: iamme
get low.

most often you see people up real high, almost looking down on the shot. when you watch pros play, they are always real low.
Click to expand...

also how you position your feet, head, right hand, left hand, etc. There is a lot.
 
Practice. Take your time. Figure out your angles before shooting and know where both the object ball and the cue ball are going to go. Use finesse, shoot only as hard as you need to. Power doesn't look cool except on the break. Learn to put English on the ball, and to control it. Making the shot is only the first part, you need to leave the cue ball for your next shot as well. Keep a firm grip on the cue and a steady hand on the table. Shoot smoothly and through the cue ball -- don't stab it. And if you're playing 8 ball, for Gods sake call your fsckin' shots!

I'm sure I'll get a lot of sarcastic remarks from this post. 😀
 
get your cue to be as parallel to the table as possible. follow through with your shots. and shoot straight. one of the most basic steps is to line up your shot, step into that line, and make sure you shoot straight. one of the tips is to put your chin over the cue so your sight and cue are on the same line.

hope that helps, it's been a long time since i played.
 
make an imaginary line from the pocket to the center of the target ball, then aim for the lowest point on the ball...where the ball touches the table. try to keep your stick as parallel to the table as possible. the harder you hit into the rail, the sharper the angle...lighter, wider angle. learn to follow through your shot instead of bringing the cue up right after, beginners do this a lot. hitting the cue ball on top follows, the bottom draws it back. learn geometry. and most of all practice.
 
Originally posted by: aplefka
Originally posted by: Vic
I'm sure I'll get a lot of sarcastic remarks from this post. 😀
Click to expand...
Nah, no one likes you enough 😛
Click to expand...
🙁

😀

From the movie "The Hustler", with Paul Newman as "Fast" Eddie and Jackie Gleason as Minnesota Fats (yes, I googled the script).
FATS Your shot.
EDDIE You miss? Well, you don't leave much when you miss, do you, fat man?
FATS That's what the game's all about.
 
I don't play much but when I do, I try to judge the right weight for each shot. I like my balls to barely fall into the pocket. When you are starting out just be careful not to chase your balls in with the cue ball. Aim a little lower on the cue ball and when it strikes your target ball it should either spin back or stay at the point of contact depending on how low you strike the cue. I'm not very good but I tend to get a little better after a couple :beer:s. Probably just the relaxation effect. When you hold the cue, just let your arm bend at a 90 degree angle and don't grip the cue too hard.
 
Originally posted by: pyonir
Originally posted by: iamme
get low.

most often you see people up real high, almost looking down on the shot. when you watch pros play, they are always real low.
Click to expand...

also how you position your feet, head, right hand, left hand, etc. There is a lot.
Click to expand...

i agree....also with your statement about an instructional book or video.
 
For those new to the technique of putting English on the ball, I suggest practicing by lagging across the table against an end rail. The object being to learn where to stroke the cue ball in order to make it go where you want it to go after it strikes another object (i.e. the rail, or the object ball).
When you consistently shoot straight down the middle of the table and can bring the cue ball off the end rail back into either side or long corner pockets on call, or stop it cold on the rail, then you have a very good feel for proper English technique.
Just some practice before you start dancing the cue ball around the table...
 
Just swing your cue like a bo like Tom Cruise and you'll win all the time. 😉

In all seriousness though, much like any other sport, go to a local pool hall and see some of the local sharks in action. Watch ESPN2 and see what all the pros have in common. Much like golf, I think that an initial 1 or 2 hour lesson is a GREAT way to start off your game, since building from a poor base is so hard to recover from since your motions are so limited.

a good strong bridge, proper grip, stance (left foot should be pointed towards the direction you're shooting, right foot turned 60-90° to the right to allow your shoulder and elbow proper clearance from your hip)...basics. get the fundamentals down and from there it's just a matter of time at a table and learning the physics of shooting.
 
I think it'd also help if i could find a decent table around, but you play with what you get i guess, no matter how lopsided 😛 - Also, here's a tip i thought of, which is kinda good i guess. Play Virtual Pool 3 or Virtual Pool Hall, they'll help you a bit with angles and english, they're fairly accurate games.
 
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