How to Improve Your Pool Game

[bw]

How to Improve Your Pool Game

Skilled pool players have an annoying habit of making the game look easy. The following steps will help you overcome the most common challenge in pool--handling very long shots where the smallest error will result in a wide miss.

Steps:

1. Develop a consistent, smooth cue shot. Place your forward hand on the table so that it is as stable as possible. The cue stick needs to slide smoothly through this hand.

2. Use your cue stick as a sight by placing the tip of the cue stick in the target pocket. Align the stick across the middle of the ball you intend to sink. The stick now traces a line through the ball to the pocket. Where this line (your stick) crosses the outer edge of the ball is the point where you want to hit it with the cue ball.

3. After you are in position and have lined up the shot, don't look at the target ball, look at the cue ball. Strike the cue ball with your stick slightly below the center line.

4. Keep your shooting arm close to your body and your elbow bent at 90 degrees. The shooting movement should come from your shoulder. Use only enough force to make the shot. Additional power is not necessary and can disrupt your aim.

Be comfortable

Be comfortable when taking your shot, if you aren't comfortable, then you are more likely to miss the shot.

Focus

You need to focus on the ball you're shooting at after you get the cue lined up on the cue ball. If you focus on the cue ball, you could mess up your angle without realizing it, or you could still hit the cue ball in the wrong spot. Also, if you only take one or two pre-strokes before you actually hit the ball, you're better off.

[bw]

How to Avoid Being Hustled in Pool

Pool hustlers are out there, but you can't always tell who they are. It's the ones you don't notice that are the most dangerous. Here's how to avoid being hustled, whether you see it coming or not.

Steps

1.Practice abstinence. If you don't gamble, you can't lose. If you can follow this rule, you won't need any others.

2.Bet only with people you know. This means people you "really" know - the new friend you just met at the bar might be nice, but you never know. Hustlers play characters like wolves wearing sheep suits.

3.Quit while you're ahead. Good hustlers will let you win a game or two to build your confidence, then get you to double the stakes. If you suspect you might be being hustled, finish your game and make up a very good excuse.

4.Identify hustlers. Keep an eye on players eager to bet and more eager to raise the stakes.

Tips

Avoid backing a hustler. It's generally an unwise investment no matter how good it looks.

Pool is a great game to gamble on, but don't wager anything you can't afford to lose.

Beware of Drinkers and Older fellows

Don't let a drunk guy fool you in the wee hours of the morning. And beware of those old fellows - they've been playing for YEARS and will clean your clock and take your pay-check, especially when you are a younger guy that acts like he knows it all. You will be sorry !

Whose Stick?

Beware of the fellows with their own pool cues. If their cue is in good repair and all the 'house sticks' are shoddy (as usual), better beware. And look out for the guys who might live in the bar you've never been in before: their friend the bar-tender keeps their stick set aside for them. They will take your money, your car and anything else you are foolish enough to put on the line. Most of these guys are friendly as can be, and excellent drinkers. Beware.

[Arlene]

remind me not to show off my pool trophies

and you forgot to mention the female hustlers are better hahah. we shake that thang and get a little too comfy with the table and the stick...


and yes I carry my own stick and used to keep it behind the bar... but then again I worked there hahahahhaa ;D

[bw]

No Comment on that.

[Arlene]

c'mon you know you want to

that was before Mitchell. ;D

[bw]

Yes I do--but I won`t--

[silkifyre]

Hey Ar, didja wear that white shirt, too??? LOLOL ;D

[bw]

Thanks silkifyre

[Arlene]

probably

we used to have tournaments and my boss would let me play.. I wuld run up and sling beer and cook etc. and then when my turn came I would run down to the pool area and shoot..

we had a few mop and broom tournaments.. trophies and everything hahah. you had to use the stick part of a mop or broom and shoot with it.. I tried but not very good at it. ;D they were chalking up the darn things hahhaah. I took so many pics back then. when I have time I want to scan all my photos and put them on cd... I will have plenty of time this winter to do it I guess.

I had so much fun back then..

[bw]

With the white shirt serving the beers?

[Arlene]

[silkifyre]

You're welcome, BW.