pool tutorial - how to learn and play pool and billiards

8/9/2019 Pool Tutorial - How to Learn and Play Pool and Billiards

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For teaching and learning, these specific resources can be very helpful:

Instructor and Student Resources (drills, handouts, templates, references, etc.)Video demonstrations of pool techniques and principles (and here's another good categorizedvideo resource: ForceFollow's video collection )

http://billiards.colostate.edu/resources/index.htmlhttp://-/?-http://billiards.colostate.edu/http://-/?-http://-/?-http://billiarduniversity.org/http://dr-dave-billiards.com/aiming/http://billiards.colostate.edu/http://dr-dave-billiards.com/book/book_description.htmlhttp://-/?-http://dr-dave-billiards.com/vepp/http://billiards.colostate.edu/normal_videoshttp://-/?-http://dr-dave-billiards.com/veps/http://web.me.com/forcefollow/Site/Video_Library.htmlhttp://-/?-


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http://billiards.colostate.edu/pool_tutorial.html 2/27

Answers to frequently-asked questions (FAQs) about pool topicsPool tips, "secrets," and "gems" that all top players knowIllustrated Principles of Pool and Billiards (excellent book for learning and teaching pool)Video Encyclopedia of Pool Shots (VEPS) and Video Encyclopedia of Pool Practice (VEPP)(excellent video series for teaching and learning pool)Billiard University (BU) instructional video series

If you ever come across a term of phrase you don't know, you can usually find it in the online glossary

of pool and billiards terms and phrases .

Introduction to the game

Here is some basic terminology dealing with a cue and a pool table:

Here's information on standard table and room dimensions for various standard size tables .

and here is some terminology related to a pool shot:

http://dr-dave-billiards.com/vepp/http://billiards.colostate.edu/resources/glossary.pdfhttp://billiarduniversity.org/dvds.htmlhttp://billiards.colostate.edu/pool_secrets_gems.htmlhttp://dr-dave-billiards.com/book/book_description.htmlhttp://billiards.colostate.edu/threads.htmlhttp://dr-dave-billiards.com/veps/http://billiards.colostate.edu/threads/table.html#size


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Here's a concise rules summary for 8-ball and 9-ball (based on the WPA World Standardized Rules ).Information on rules for different leagues, along with a video-based rules quiz, can be found here: poolrules resources .

Fundamentals

Here are some useful documents and resources for helping you diagnose problems with and improveyour fundamentals (grip, bridge, stance, and stroke) and pre-shot routine:

fundamentals "best practices" check-sheet pre-shot routine advicestroke "best-practices" routine summary

http://billiards.colostate.edu/resources/index.html#ruleshttp://www.wpa-pool.com/index.asp?content=rules_tournamenthttp://billiards.colostate.edu/resources/stroke_best_practices.pdfhttp://billiards.colostate.edu/threads/pre-shot_routine.htmlhttp://billiards.colostate.edu/resources/rules_summary.pdfhttp://billiards.colostate.edu/resources/fundamentals_check_list.pdf


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http://billiards.colostate.edu/threads/drills.html#MOFUDAT


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How to Aim

Here is some terminology related to aiming a pool shot:

The biggest challenge of pool is visualizing the necessary shot line that sends the cue ball (CB) to theghost-ball (GB) position to contact the object ball (OB) at the point where the line of centers through theGB and OB heads to the target direction (e.g., to a pocket). Here's a video demonstration showing arelatively easy way to visualize the line of aim at the pool table:


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And here are some other resources that can help you learn and practice the ghost-ball aiming method :ghost-ball aiming method and drillghost ball template (for visualizing and practicing aiming, ghost ball center, line of centers, andtangent line)

NV 3.1 - Practicing contact point and ghost ball visualization NV B.3 - Mike Page's aiming video (part 1, part 2)introduction to aiming from Jerry Briesath

More information about various aiming methods can be found here: Aiming Systems . How to Aim PoolShots (HAPS) covers the basics of aiming along with aiming systems for all sorts of pool shots.

A key part of aiming is body and head alignment. If your vision is not centered properly, you won't perceive the line of aim of the shot correctly:

http://billiards.colostate.edu/threads/aiming.htmlhttp://billiards.colostate.edu/threads/aiming.html#ghosthttp://billiards.colostate.edu/normal_videos/new/NVB-3.htmhttp://billiards.colostate.edu/resources/ghost_ball_aiming.pdfhttp://billiards.colostate.edu/normal_videos/NV3-1.htmhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YpbNlnS9GFkhttp://billiards.colostate.edu/resources/ghost_ball_template.pdfhttp://dr-dave-billiards.com/aiming/


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Adjusting Aim for Throw

It is important to understand how friction between the CB and OB can change the direction of the OB.This effect is called throw . Throw is not very large with fast speed shots, and it is less when the CB hastopspin or bottom-spin, but the effect can be significant with slower-speed shots, especially with stun.

http://billiards.colostate.edu/threads/throw.html


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Examples of how throw can be used to your advantage can be found here: throw shot examples

And a summary of how throw varies for different types of shots can be found here: squirt, swerve, andthrow effects

http://billiards.colostate.edu/threads/aiming.html#English_effectshttp://billiards.colostate.edu/threads/throw.html#examples


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Cue Ball Position Control

Once you know how to aim and execute basic shots, the next step is learning and controlling where theCB will go for the next shot. The most important goal in pool is to pocket the OB, but the 2nd mostimportant goal is to leave the CB in a good spot to allow you to pocket the next and remaining OBs. It isalso important to predict CB motion when needing to detect and avoid a scratch, plan position routes,

avoid "traffic" (obstacle balls), and to aim carom (kiss) shots and break-out (cluster separation) shots.Below is an illustration of reference directions useful for predicting the path of the CB. For moreinformation, examples, and video demonstration links, see: Fundamentals - Part V: CB position control(Billiards Digest, January, 2009).

http://billiards.colostate.edu/bd_articles/2009/jan09.pdf


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Shot speed has a significant affect on the path of the CB. For more information and demonstrations see:speed effects .

The CB reference directions are also very useful for aiming carom shots, as demonstrated in this video:

http://billiards.colostate.edu/threads/position.html#speedhttp://billiards.colostate.edu/threads/30_and_90_degree_rule.html#30-degree_rulehttp://billiards.colostate.edu/threads/stun.html#90-degree_rulehttp://billiards.colostate.edu/threads/draw.html#trisect


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More drills and advice can be found here: cue ball control resource page .Disc I (Basic Shot Making and Position) of The Video Encyclopedia of Pool Shots (VEPS) also coversCB control in detail.

Draw Shot

The draw shot can often be a challenge for beginners. Here is a good drill and technique advice to help:

stop/follow/draw drilldraw shot technique advice

And here are video demonstrations of draw shot technique advice, physics effects, and game situationexamples:

http://dr-dave-billiards.com/veps/disc_I.htmlhttp://billiards.colostate.edu/threads/position.htmlhttp://billiards.colostate.edu/threads/draw.html#advicehttp://dr-dave-billiards.com/veps/http://billiards.colostate.edu/resources/stop_follow_draw_drill.pdf


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Disc I (Basic Shot Making and Position) of The Video Encyclopedia of Pool Shots (VEPS) also coversdraw technique in detail.

English (sidespin)

English refers to sidespin imparted to the CB by hitting the CB off center. Here are the different namesused to refer to the type of english:

The purpose for sidespin is to alter the path the CB takes when it hits the rail cushions:

http://dr-dave-billiards.com/veps/disc_I.htmlhttp://dr-dave-billiards.com/veps/


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English is also given different names based on how it is used:


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Here are some good resources and demonstrations to help you understand how sidespin is used:

English quick-reference sheetEnglish drill NV 4.10 - Effect of left english NV 4.11 - Effect of right english NV 4.25 - Positioning the cue ball at all spots on the table from an easy side-pocket shot NV B.73 - Leaving an angle and coming into the line of a shot, from VEPS II NV B.74 - Center-of-table position and routes, with the 45-degree rule, from VEPS II

To use sidespin effectively, you need to be aware of the effects of squirt, swerve, and throw illustratedhere:

http://billiards.colostate.edu/normal_videos/NV4-25.htmhttp://billiards.colostate.edu/normal_videos/new/NVB-74.htmhttp://billiards.colostate.edu/normal_videos/new/NVB-73.htmhttp://billiards.colostate.edu/normal_videos/NV4-11.htmhttp://billiards.colostate.edu/resources/English_drill.pdfhttp://billiards.colostate.edu/resources/English_quick_reference.pdfhttp://billiards.colostate.edu/normal_videos/NV4-10.htm


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Information about how to adjust your aim to compensate for all of the effects can be found here:

aim compensation for squirt, swerve, and throw

Here are demonstrations covering the basics of how to adjust your aim when using sidespin:

http://billiards.colostate.edu/threads/aiming.html#compensation


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Disc I of How to Aim Pool Shots (HAPS) and Disc II of The Video Encyclopedia of Pool Shots (VEPS)also covers all topics related to using english.

Strategy and Safety Play

Disc III of the The Video Encyclopedia of Pool Shots (VEPS) covers all important principles involvingstrategy and safety play. Here's an explanation of some of the basics:

http://dr-dave-billiards.com/veps/http://dr-dave-billiards.com/aiming/disc_I.htmlhttp://dr-dave-billiards.com/veps/disc_II.htmlhttp://dr-dave-billiards.com/veps/http://dr-dave-billiards.com/aiming/http://dr-dave-billiards.com/veps/disc_III.html


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http://billiards.colostate.edu/normal_videos/new/NVB-77.htmhttp://billiards.colostate.edu/normal_videos/new/NVB-79.htmhttp://billiards.colostate.edu/normal_videos/new/NVB-80.htmhttp://billiards.colostate.edu/normal_videos/new/NVB-74.htmhttp://billiards.colostate.edu/normal_videos/new/NVB-78.htmhttp://billiarduniversity.org/dvds.htmlhttp://billiards.colostate.edu/normal_videos/new/NVB-76.htm


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and here's another useful video, from Disc III of the Billiard University (BU) Instructional DVD series :

http://billiards.colostate.edu/threads/banks_and_kicks.htmlhttp://billiarduniversity.org/dvds.html


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Good bankers often use fast speed (see advantages of fast speed ), and a system that can be used to aimfast-speed banks is demonstrated in the following video:

http://dr-dave-billiards.com/veps/http://billiards.colostate.edu/threads/banks_and_kicks.html#speedhttp://billiards.colostate.edu/threads/banks_and_kicks.html#effectshttp://dr-dave-billiards.com/veps/disc_IV.html


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For more information see the break shot technique advice resource page .

Here's a good demonstration of proper jump shot technique:

http://billiards.colostate.edu/threads/break.html#advicehttp://billiarduniversity.org/dvds.html


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For more masse shot information, advice, and demonstrations, see the masse shot resource page .

Disc V of the The Video Encyclopedia of Pool Shots (VEPS) covers jump, masse, and other advancedshots in detail.

http://dr-dave-billiards.com/veps/http://dr-dave-billiards.com/veps/disc_V.htmlhttp://billiards.colostate.edu/threads/jump.htmlhttp://billiards.colostate.edu/threads/masse.html


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pool tutorial - how to learn and play pool and billiards

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