How To Play Pool: Tips & Tricks From The Experts!

Billiards Break

After receiving many requests and questions on how to do a good, solid billiards break, I've decided to respond and share with you some easy to follow guide lines which will help in this matter. Ready? Let's dive in!

Billiards Break Tip #1 - Keep them nice and tight!

This part is soooooooo crucial. I see so many players practicing the same break shot over, and over, and every time they don't understand why on earth the balls refuse to budge. Well that happens because you don't arrange them (like the title says!) tight enough. This causes the balls to make tiny movements inside the formation, which will "waste" most of the power/momentum of the shot. So please take a second to ensure all the balls are closely together before making your break. OK? OK! Now let's move on.

Billiards Break Tip #2 - Tame your cue stick

This is important also. If you'll think about it, your goal at the break shot is to strike the balls formation as hard as you can. Most players concentrate so much on applying a lot of strength in the shot, that they don't realize they are wasting "strike power" if the cue isn't parallel to the table. The reason is simple, you want 100% of the force you apply to be directed towards launching the cue ball forward, and striking it with an angle will "steal" some of that force and convert into spin (English/action for some of you).

Billiards Break Tip #3 - Just a little bit backwards...

What I mean here is to strike the cue ball a bit beneath it's center, to make a "stop shot." The reason for this is to force the cue ball to stay in place after striking the other balls. Why? Common sense people! We all know how frustrating it is to make a good break, put a ball in the pocket, start to rejoice only to watch the cue ball make his way into one of the pockets... So to make sure this won't happen, do me a favor and take you stick just a little bit down, OK?

Wrapping It All Up

So these were 3 really easy to follow (At least that was my intention) tips about the break shot in this wonderful game of billiards. Hope you've enjoyed it, and stay tuned for more...

Now go out and practice!

Want to know more? Go to http://professional-pool-billiard.com/ and get your FREE copy of 5 simple steps for playing billiard like a pro.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Adam_Gold

All Star Pool Challenge Winners Announced

Stuart Wilson is the ‘fastest pool player’ in the UK.

Stuart, 30, of Crewe, won the Rileys All Star Pool Challenge with a clearance time of 30.33 secs.

The Rileys All Star Pool Challenge – staged with talkSPORT radio – was a nationwide competition to find the fastest player to clear an English pool table ending on the black ball.

Stuart said: “I’m in complete shock! I knew my time was fast but I never thought it would be enough for me to win the Challenge.”

As the winner of the Challenge, Stuart has landed himself an all expenses paid trip for two to the Formula 1 European Grand Prix in Valencia in June 2010.

And Stuart can hold his head up high – his time is quicker than snooker legend and Rileys Ambassador Ronnie O’Sullivan – who only managed 1 min 06secs!

Stuart, who plays snooker for Rileys Crewe, was presented with his Rileys All Stars Pool Challenge trophy on December 14 by manager Louise Rennison.

Louise, said: “Stuart’s clearance time is a fantastic achievement. We’re very proud of him.
“Rileys has uncovered some amazing talent all over the country with the All Star Pool Challenge. Stuart is right up there with the best of them.”

Rileys Chief Executive Maurice Kelly said: “We are delighted with the success of the second Rileys All Star Pool Challenge. Congratulations Stuart, and very well done.

“Over 4,500 people took part – 2,000 more than in the previous challenge! The continued success of the Challenge means we will be launching a new one in January.”

Other prize-winners include:

• Fastest Female – Michelle Sothern, 26, of Preston: 1 min 05.32 secs
• Fastest Over-50 – Ray Beamer, 51, of Manchester: 46.36 secs
• Fastest Under-18 – Adam Miller, 17, of Bournemouth: 44.72 secs
• Fastest Student – Darren Murphy, 19,  of Ipswich: 40.27 secs

See Rileys Website for bookings and offers: http://rileys.co.uk

Angle Shots - How to Make More of Them

An angle shot in pool can be one of the most difficult shots to make. It is important that you take into consideration the entire layout of all of the billiard balls on the table. What some players misinterpret is that you don't have to hit the cue ball in the center to make an angle shot successful.

What you want to do is draw an imaginary line where you would want the object ball (once you hit it with the cue ball) to end up. Ideally you would want that object ball to end up in a pocket. In addition, you want to set yourself up for additional shots. All of this can seem a little overwhelming especially if you're not particularly good at shooting from different angles. Generally speaking the more distance you have to travel the more difficult an angle shot can become. And with a greater distance, you don't have to compensate for the angle on the cue ball as much as you would for shorter shots.

One way to become better at successfully sinking angle shots is to practice making 45 degree shots. Try it at different distances and with varying amounts of speed to determine the right amount to duplicate the desired results. You will have to hit the cut ball at different angles as well (you don't always want to hit it in the center). In the shorter shots for example it will become necessary to hit the cue ball off center at a wider degree then longer shots.

Once you become comfortable making 45 degree shots you will want to move on to wider degree shots until you reach out to 90 degrees. The wider the angle the more difficult the shot can be. Many people believe that the best way to lineup for angle shot is to get close to the table and view all the balls at eye-level to get a picture of what you need to do in order to make a successful shot.

Successfully sinking any shot on a consistent basis will take time and practice. There are many programs and techniques out there that claim to have the best approach in regard to angle shots, but there is no substitute for experience. Get in a rhythm, and practice angle shots until you feel more comfortable with them. Never rush any of your shots. Take as much time as you need in order to prepare yourself for any additional shots that you will create.

For information on angle shots and pool visit http://pooltips.net
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Joe_Adams

Dead Stroke And The Games Of American Pool

Dead stroke, now that's something we need to talk about, so this is what I ask, if you wish to participate, Grab your cue, Grip it as tight as you can, hit a ball, then gradually loosen up (while hitting balls) to find where you need to be..

Now I want you to open your mind, forget about everything, nothing matters, when you close your eyes, you mind must be quiet. this is the first step. Don't go any further until you can do this.

And remember, keep your eyes closed, set, or lay down, we are going to prepare you for your next match.

Once your mind is clear, you need to breathe, concentrate on this, we need to take your attention and focus beyond random thoughts.

Now contract and relax every muscle you can 10 times.

Concentrate on the air entering your body, if a thought enters your mind, try to push it out and away, let your breathe expel it.

I want you to Visualize the cue ball, and your cue, both separate, align them in your mind, as if you were about to shoot a stop shot. Don't force it, let it happen, focus on your breathing, visualize this for as long as you can........

now you play what game? what is your favorite? 8 ball?

Once you can connect the cue ball and your cue, as your looking at a shot, look a little further, see the rack, and where you want to strike it. all the time your focus is on your breathing, think of the air going in as a positive action, all the missed balls, are coming out when you exhale....... stroke the shot, back swing as you breathe in, forward as you breathe out, let this set your rhythm, like while playing a guitar, you can double an triple the rhythm, but you must first have a constant and steady beat to go from. This is your Key when you want to enter dead stroke, after you mind and body is relaxed, all you need to do while playing is Breathe, let this set the tone, this is your Rhythm, this opens the door for you to become who you really are.

The ability to erase all thought and concentrate on the air you breathe has for centuries been the key to many things, pool is no different. Yes, I was having some fun with ya, but, did you do it? could you visualize the things I ask? if you try you can. and if you can do that that you can do anything.

There is no Magic not really, if anything its you, your are the magic, you can do things no Animal on this planet can do, you have a gift... If you learn to use it, you may forget pool, you may never get any better, but you will go places and do things you never thought possible.

Realistically How long can it take before you enter Dead Stroke?

You need to have good basic fundamentals, if you have this, and have 3 years at the table, talking to the right people you can enter dead stroke as it is associated with pool.

You can look at shots and balls, and banks all your life, and never see what a player does entering dead stroke, people tend to try to use intellect rather than emotion, you think therefore you miss. you can look at the table, you perceive what needs to be done, but you do not think about it.

You can see a spot on the cloth, or target the rail for position, but you don't say to yourself, okay, high right, medium speed, 30* cut to the right, hmm, now let me compensate for throw, no, your just aware what you need to do, in most cases, there are some situations and methods for kicks, and banks, if its a shot that is strange to you, if you own that shot however the same rule applies, and this is what you practice.

Certainly you cant practice every situation, so some thinking is involved, so it would be a good idea to buy a book or DVD to show you shots that are important, 99 critical shots in pool by Ray Martin, may be a great book to do this, Ive never read it, but I have heard a lot of good things, and an easy way to learn banks.. (someone was telling me about how the book describes one rail banks. I think its accurate from what I was being told) This you take to the practice table, and you own those shots, that way you need not think about these shots, because you have burned them into your memory.. If you see someone calculating every shot, they have no confidence, bet... they may make a few tough shots, but if you hang with them they will likely self destruct, they incorporate Pressure, the wrong kind. Positive pressure is what you feel when the crowd around you feels pressure. That is shear motivation...and you can feed from that.

Why are Home teams tougher to beat? hmmm.. What about the third string lineman, setting on the bench, does he feel it? of course.. you cant alienate people because they may not have the hours in that you do.. honestly I think the best student would be a person in their first year of playing.. you can eliminate the fear, and replace it with a positive emotion, instead of seeing certain death, they will realize this is a special moment and embrace it.

There is always going to be professionals, and they are always going to be a winner and a looser in every match. Why not give yourself a fighting chance? Why bound yourself to percentages and do the expected......FAIL.

About the Author

American Cues