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Step 1
Place several solid balls at the end of the pool table. Place a striped ball in line with a corner pocket on the long side of the table. Align the 8-ball with the opposite corner pocket on the short side of the table. With the rest of the balls as obstructions, practice sinking the striped ball while making the cue ball stop in a position that leaves you with an easy shot on the 8. You do this by hitting the ball you want to sink dead center with backspin on the cue.
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Step 2
Use the same basic setup as Step 1. However, move the striped ball back several inches so that a stop shot will result in balls still being between the cue ball and 8-ball. Practice putting topspin on the cue ball so that it continues rolling after it strikes the striped ball. Knock the balls around a bit and reset to try different situations.
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Step 3
Practice your draw shot. Place your cue ball in the middle of the table with a lined-up shot on the striped ball in the corner pocket and a few solid balls blocking a shot on the 8-ball to the side pocket. Practice sinking the striped ball with enough backspin that the cue ball ends up in a position from which you can make the 8-ball. Use enough force to get a clear shot, but be careful not to overdo it.
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Step 4
Critique your stroke. Fix some of the bad habits you may have formed. Check for things like gripping the cue too hard, not standing balanced or neglecting your follow-through on your shot.
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Step 5
Learn some trick shots. Perfecting a trick shot requires discipline and practice, which can result in making better decisions in an actual game.
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Step 6
Get out there and play. Put all that you have learned and practiced to good use by going out and playing. Get some friends together and have fun, but remember to work on improving your game and make better decisions.
