There are many books available on the market today that teach fundamentals of pool. Those works focus on different parts of the game such as form, stance, grip, bridge, balance, aiming, etc, etc. Some of the information is better than others.
I've been playing this game for over 30 years and like many of you I've tried to consume just about any training material I can to improve my game. I've found that some of the information is very good and others are mostly fluff. The books that have taught me the most have been the ones that focus on strategy and/or the mental part of the game. I've never seen a book that can really teach the basics of the game. That is what has inspired me to launch this site.
One of the biggest problems I've seen with pool players is this...
They want to advance to quickly.
Without building the foundation of skills that they need to be a solid consistent player.
They tend to get ahead of themselves. I know because I am guilty of the same sin. In my excitement and passion for the game I would consume as much information as possible looking for that secret nugget that would get me to that next level.
If you want to really develop consistency in your game, then you have to do some very specific things. Focusing on the wrong things will either slow you down or degrade your game. The one thing you need to develop is your stroke.
I have developed a system that has helped me to fine-tune my stroke. On this site I am going to show you the techniques and tricks that I use. I'm not going to teach you the basic fundamentals of form. There are other texts that do a good job of that.
Whether you are just starting out or have been playing at a high level for some time, these tools could be very helpful to your game.
Cheers,
Skippy
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
what is the best way to improve my consistency in limited practice.I try to play atleast one night a week for a few hours.I’ve thought about joining league but feel I’m not consistent enough.Also,I am so confident in my game and shot making,that I don’t ever try to play a defensive game,which has hurt me at times.Any advice please.
Hi Luke,
The best way to practice is to do it in a structured manner that addresses the areas of the game that you need to improve. When you say you are inconsistent, what part of your game is inconsistent (shot-making, position play, etc.)?
I think leagues can be a lot of fun and can be a good place to “test” your skills against other players. Most of them are handicapped, so you should be able to have a fair chance to compete and win.
Don’t make the mistake that a lot of people make when they consider “going out and playing” as “practice”. There is a time to practice and a time to play. If you really want to improve, then you need approach the game with specific goals and put a plan together to reach them.
I think consistency can be improved with practice, but if you want to learn when and how to play safe, then I think you should watch strong players or getting one of them to mentor or coach you. There are a lot of great and free resources out there to watch great players play. I have another website that links to some great free pool videos on the net http://www.TubeBilliards.com. If you don’t have local great players to watch, then check out that site. Look for videos with world-class player commentary, they offer a lot of great insight to things like strategy, safety play, etc. My site has a category just for matches with commentary.
Let me know what part of your game needs work and I’ll be glad to help you develop a plan of attack, if you like.
Cheers!
Skippy
heyy i have a pool table at home..i like to play like every day just with my friends but im starting to really love the game, but im not so good at it. Like i can get really easy shots but when it comes to a scratch and the ball is on the other side of the table so i would have to bank it to one to hit my ball on the other how could i fix that to where it actually hits the other ball…..
Hello Danielle,
I’m not sure if I’m completely clear on the shot you’re describing. I think you are referring to your opponent’s scratch and your ball is stuck behind the line. Then you are left to “kick” the cue ball off the rail to come back and hit your ball. Please, correct me if this is wrong.
These types of shots are, typically, very difficult even for experienced players. Depending on the layout of the table, sometimes it is more effective to make sure you leave your opponent a tough shot.
If you have a specific shot in mind, send me a diagram. You can use cuetable.com to diagram the shot. Just copy and paste the code in a reply and I’ll do what I can to help you analyze the situation.
Thanks for reading!
Skippy