When you want to learn how to play pool better, you need to work on developing essential fundamental pool skills. Practice is necessary to develop these skills. It can be tempting to jump to more complex concepts like learning how to spin the cue ball, draw shots, or combo shots.
However, learn the fundamentals first, as they make it easier to learn to be better at playing pool as well as master advanced techniques later.
Beginners often make the mistake of gripping the pool cue too tightly. Doing this limits control over the cue ball and decreases shot accuracy. This tight grip can even lead to accidentally launching the cue ball off the table. Developing a relaxed, balanced grip is key to smoother, more controlled play.
To achieve this, practice holding the cue as if lining up a shot. It is important to avoid gripping it as firmly as you would a baseball bat. Aim for a light grip where the cue rests on your fingers, allowing easy back-and-forth movement without touching your palm. If the cue handle touches your palm, you're likely gripping too hard, so ease up to maintain fluidity and accuracy.
Practice Your Stance
Your stance greatly impacts your shooting accuracy and comfort at the pool table. Ideally, position your dominant foot about two feet behind your non-dominant foot. For right-handed players, this means the left front foot points forward, close to the table. The right foot stays slightly back at a 45-degree angle.
Maintain a stance that lets you bend over without straining, allowing your right arm to form a 90-degree angle as you grip the cue lightly. Lower your head to look directly down the cue, positioned just below your chin. Practicing this stance around the table helps you find a balanced, comfortable position for lining up shots with precision and, ultimately, play pool better.
Practice Your Aim
When you hit the cue ball, your objective is to have it go where you want it to go. To achieve this, practice your aim and understand the concepts of shot line and point of contact.
Shot Line
The shot line is the imaginary aiming line you make using the pool cue as a guide. The line should run directly through the cue ball and continue toward the object ball you want to hit.
Point of Contact
The point of contact is the contact point on the object ball that you need to strike it with the cue ball to make it go in the direction you want. Many players use the “ghost ball” technique to help improve contact point.
“Ghost Ball” Technique
This technique is where you picture an invisible ball next to the ball you want to hit. To learn this skill, take your cue and hold it above the ball, and point it in the direction you want the ball to go. Now move your cue back slightly to the contact point the imaginary ball must strike the real ball.
Last, keep the cue stick over the center of the imaginary ball. Then, carefully move it left or right until it is directly over the cue ball. You now know the angle of the point of contact and aiming line you need to make the cue ball hit the object ball in the desired direction.
Practice Your Swing
How you swing the pool cue is just as important as how you grip it. You want to swing the cue back and forth like it was a pendulum moving gently back and forth under a clock.
As you move backward, the movement should be slow and steady. Then, as you move forward toward the cue ball, you can adjust the swing’s momentum. This is to make the ball travel the desired speed and distance.
Practice Your Bridges
It will not matter how good your stance, swing, and aim are if you cannot maintain consistency with your bridges. Two of the more common bridges you use in pool are the open bridge and the closed bridge. You also need to know the elevated bridge, rail bridge, and mechanical bridge when making tight shots.
Open Bridge
Position your hand on the table, ensuring your thumb is elevated off the table. Place the pool cue between the “V” your thumb and index finger make. You can raise or lower your other fingers as needed to help you line up your shot.
Closed Bridge
A closed bridge is where you take your index finger and gently wrap it around the pool cue, so it creates a circular opening. Then, the cue stick can be slid over the top of your middle finger for better control.
Elevated Bridge
An elevated bridge is the same as an open bridge, except you use your fingers to create a “tripod” to elevate your hand off the table. This is to help you line up your shot when there is an obstacle in the way.
Rail Bridge
A rail bridge is for shots when the cue ball is too close to the rails and there is insufficient room to place your hand on the table. Instead, you lay your hand flat on the rail and use either an open bridge or a closed bridge to take your shot.
Mechanical Bridge
A mechanical bridge is a special pool stick that you use for shots out of your natural reach. First, place the mechanical bridge on the table with your non-dominant hand. Then you use your dominant hand to place the cue on the bridge and take your shot.
Practice Breaking
Breaking is an essential part of the game that can allow you to continue playing when you pocket at least one ball. Your objective is to adjust the speed and power you use on your forward cue swing when striking the cue ball.
You also want to practice hitting the top ball in the racked balls at different angles to determine how it affects the break. After each break, pay attention to where the balls go. Rerack the balls and practice again until you find a break shot with the right amount of speed and power. You want the shot that allows you to pocket one or more balls.
Remember to Use Pool Chalk
Pool chalk is an essential part of your pre-shot routine. Always make sure the tip of your cue is chalked. Chalk helps increase the friction between the cue and the ball to ensure your shot contacts at the right point and does not slip off the cue ball when making impact.
Practice Post-Shot Follow-Through
Beginner pool players have a bad habit of standing upright as soon as they hit the cue ball. For starters, this can affect the follow-through part of the shot. You want to be able to stop the cue just short of touching the table after it strikes the cue ball. If you were to stand up right away, you could alter the forward motion and contact point on the cue ball.
Secondly, remaining in place makes it easy to see how the balls move after making your shot. When you stand up, you change the viewing angle, so it can be more difficult to grasp how the balls move based on the contact point the cue ball made.
Understand Your Angles
To become a better pool player, you need to understand how angles work since you will often make bank and kick shots.
- Bank shots require using the cue ball to cause an object ball to bounce off a rail and go into a pocket.
- Kick shots are where the cue ball is bounced off a rail to strike an object ball at the correct contact point. This causes it to move into the desired pocket.
Furthermore, angles are crucial for other types of shots to get the balls to move in the desired directions. You will also find that angles are vital when making complex shots. For example, you may need to use the cue ball to strike an object ball, then have that object ball hit another ball into a pocket.
View Shots From Different Perspectives
Take time to walk around the pool table to view shots from different perspectives. Sometimes a shot can be made from a different position, making it easier to pocket a ball. Remember also to consider the angles of the shots to envision where the cue ball and object ball will travel.
Use the Right Pool Cue
Pool cues come in different lengths and weights. You will want to try out different ones to determine which one feels the most comfortable and that you like the best. In addition, your swing span and size of the room will determine the cue’s length. Once you figure out which cue you like, you will definitely want to invest in your own quality cue set.
By using these tips, you can improve your pool skills and simply play pool better.
Quality Pool Cues and Equipment Sets
It is easy to find quality pool cues and equipment sets at Blatt Billiards. Explore our selections to find everything you need to play pool. Be sure to check out our handcrafted pool tables for your home. If you have further questions about how to play pool better, require additional information, or want us to build a custom pool table for you, please feel free to call us at 866-487-7872 today!
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