Regardless of which game of billiards, or pocket billiards you choose to play, there are a few basic tips that can help you to increase your shot making ability and leave you looking like a pro in no time at all. Take the time to practice these basic tips when no one is around to watch you, and you can really focus on your game. Then once you feel confident in your new skills, you will be ready to show your friends “how it’s done” the next time you are in the pool hall or your own billiards room.
Now, the most important tip for playing better billiards is to learn to stay down on your shot. Much easier said than done. Most people have a tendency to stand up as they stroke through with the cue stick and this will cause your cue stick to wobble and hit the cue ball at an angle rather than straight on. To remedy this tendency to jump up, practice shooting a ball down the rail and freeze after the shot. Keep your head down until the object ball is in the pocket. Sounds simple, right? It’s harder than it sounds and very few people have the tenacity to practice (perhaps at your local pool hall or in your own game room) something this simple, but imperative, over and over until they have it down. That is why there are so few really good billiard players.
The next tip for playing better billiards is to learn to stroke straight. Again, the practice shot for this is very simple, but most people won’t take the time to really practice it. Set your object ball one half of an inch from the rail, on the side rail, two diamonds from the top of the table (the end you are standing at). Set your cue ball at the first diamond, also one half of an inch from the rail. The shot is down the rail into the end pocket. At a half inch from the rail, if you don’t stroke straight, you are going to miss. Watch your arm movement as you hit the ball, you elbow should not move from side to side as you stroke back to front.
Another important tip for playing great billiards is to learn a closed bride. The bridge is the hand that supports the cue stick on the table as you stroke the shot. A closed bridge, (fingers around the cue stick), is much more stable than an open bridge (cue stick laying across your thumb), and will help reduce the wobble in your stroke, making it easier for you to pocket the ball.
Last but not least, learn to think at least a few shots ahead. Nothing can cause a pool player more sorrow than to make a great shot but leave the cue ball in a position where there is absolutely no way to make the next shot. Cue ball control makes the game, using proper billiard supplies and thinking ahead provides the information you need to position the cue ball to run the table.