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Billiards is a great past time, whether played among friends or strangers. Get tips on how to play billiards from a pool enthusiast in this free video series on sports and recreation.
There are 17 videos in this series:
To bank a shot in pool, imagine two lines from the related pockets intersecting at a point where the ball will cross in order to fall in the pocket. Learn one of the methods for sinking a bank shot with tips from a billiards enthusiast in this free video on the sport of pool.
Shimming with something like playing cards is a way to level the slate of a pool table before laying the cloth. Use a level at each stage of putting a pool table together with tips from a billiards enthusiast in this free video on the sport of pool.
Chalk a pool stick by brushing the chalk across the tip or rotating the chalk on the tip of the pool cue. Use a color of chalk that won't mark the felt, like green or red, with tips from a billiards enthusiast in this free video on the sport of pool.
Breaking for nine-ball pool should be done from one side, a few inches from the rail with the cue in the middle of the table. Break properly with tips from a billiards enthusiast in this free video on the sport of pool.
A pool table that will only be used in the home can have thinner slate since it will not get as much play. Know the importance of slate thickness when buying a pool table with tips from a billiards enthusiast in this free video on the sport of pool.
The two biggest considerations when buying a pool table are space in the prospective room and the cost of the table. Measure a room for a pool table and choose the right company for the purchase with tips from a billiards enthusiast in this free video on the sport of pool.
When buying a pool cue as a beginner, look for straightness, a good tip, a nice wrap, comfortable weight, sound joint materials and proper balance. Identify the wraps and tips that you like on a pool cue with tips from a billiards enthusiast in this free video on the sport of pool.
Know at the outset that pool hustling is not a good idea. Hustling involves sizing up an opponent and playing just well enough to win. Stay safe when hustling pool with tips from a billiards enthusiast in this free video on the sport of pool.
Proper stance in shooting pool finds the right foot at 45 degrees, a forward step and bending from the waist for accuracy. Extend the arm at proper distance to stroke a pool ball with tips from a billiards enthusiast in this free video on the sport of pool.
To grip a pool cue, find the balance point of the stick and grip it six inches back from that point. Grip the cue as you would a canary. Choose between a full-fingered grip and three-fingered grip with tips from a billiards enthusiast in this free video on the sport of pool.
The fundamentals of stroking a pool cue correctly and effectively include a relaxed grip, a level stick and a straight strike. Line up, practice and follow through a pool shot with tips from a billiards enthusiast in this free video on the sport of pool.
To make a closed bridge when shooting pool, spread the fingers, make an OK sign, bring the middle finger down and put the stick through the hole. Make an open bridge for shooting pool like a closed bridge, only using the thumb on the forefinger to make a V, with tips from a billiards enthusiast in this free video on the sport of pool.
Cutthroat pool is a game for three players where each player tries to make the other players' set of five balls. Win cutthroat pool by having your balls on the table last with tips from a billiards enthusiast in this free video on the sport of pool.
To improve a pool game, a player must spend hours each week on shooting drills, learning fundamentals, such as aim, and playing with English. Shoot set-up shots until they become second nature with tips from a billiards enthusiast in this free video on the sport of pool.
Caring for a pool cue involves not leaving it in a car, cleaning with a magic eraser or lighting fluid, keeping the tip rounded and wiping down the stick. Protect a pool cue from heat and cold with tips from a billiards enthusiast in this free video on the sport of pool.
To jump a cue ball over another pool ball, raise the stick to 30- or 40-degrees and hit straight down into the table so the ball bounces. Jump a cue ball with a regular stick or a jump cue with tips from a billiards enthusiast in this free video on the sport of pool.
Straight pool can be played to 50, or as high as 150, with the break coming from behind the head stream and requiring two balls driven to the rail. Players can shoot on any ball, with re-racking the balls when only one ball is on the table. Learn the intricacies of straight pool with tips from a billiards enthusiast in this free video on the sport of pool.
The game of pool, or pocket billiards, was developed, like other cue sports, from outdoor stick-and-ball lawn games similar to golf or croquet. Pool was originally played on tables without pockets. Holes were added later, used first as a hazard and later as a means of scoring. The term "pool" was derived from "poolrooms," which were off-track betting facilities, where gamblers would pool their money to determine odds on horse races. These facilities were often equipped with a few billiards tables, and the words pool and billiards soon became interchangeable. In this series of free video lessons, learn the basics of the game of pool, including the proper shooting form, how to hit the cue ball and how to use English to alter a shot. A veteran pool enthusiast offers tips and techniques to help you develop a litany of shots that will make the next visit to a pool hall a fun and triumphant experience.
Joe Nichols Joe Nichols has been playing the game of billiards for more than 43 years. While he has no formal training, he has studied the game and its players for the past four decades, picking up skills along the way. Now, with his long history of play, he teaches the game to anyone who asks. Nichols has competed in several tournaments in North Carolina. He currently plays at Break Time Billiards Sports in Wilmington, N.C.dkdk
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