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How To Make The Cue Ball Jump

admin — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 00:00:00 +0000

At some point in a game of pool you can always count on your opponents ball, or the eight ball blocking your path, making it difficult to make your shot. Sometimes we go for the bank shot to maneuver around those balls that are in our way, but you can also jump the cue ball. You want to be sure that if you are going to take the jump shot that you are not going to pocket the eight ball or your opponents ball. Usually the shorter the distance you are jumping the cue ball, the better for you.Additional information can be found at http://themactrack.com/2011/07/21/obstaball-a-cue-ball-adventure-on-the-iphone-and-ipod-touch/. You want to line up your shot like you would any other shot. Then your going to angle your cue stick so that you strike the bottom of the cue ball. Make sure that you don’t strike the cue ball too low, you do not want to hit the table with the cue stick. You want to hit the cue ball with a little more force than a normal shot, but don’t hit it too hard or it will go flying off the table. Hit a straight shot with the correct position and force and you should have no problem making your shot.

Banking: Know Your Angles, Make Your Shot

admin — Mon, 22 Aug 2011 00:00:00 +0000

If you are serious about becoming the best basketball player that you can be, then adding a bank shot to your repertoire is a must.

Becoming comfortable shooting a bank shot takes time and practice. The best way to practice is to position yourself about 5 ft away from the basket and to the side of the rim at about a 45 degree angle. When you shoot, instead of shooting the ball straight in the hoop, aim for the square on the backboard. When shooting from an angle you don’t want to aim for the middle of the square, you want to aim for the top corner nearest you. Keep practicing and aiming for different parts of the square so you can become accustomed to how the ball bounces off the backboard. Once you feel comfortable from that spot, move to another. Repeat this process from both sides of the floor and from different distances and angles. Once you feel confident enough, take what you’ve learned and use it in a game situation.

The good thing about the bank shot is that you don’t have to be as precise as you do with a regular straight in shot. With plenty of practice and hard work the bank shot can help you become a more complete basketball player.Keep looking, there’s more: Cheat with Science: Why Smart B-Ballers Bank on the Bank Shot

Clean Slate: Making Sure The Table Is Level

admin — Thu, 18 Aug 2011 00:00:00 +0000

When you play pool or billiards, can be challenging to win when the player you are going against has a high level of skill, but if you have a clean slate making sure the table is level, it can be easy to play. By doing this, you will be removing any of the advantages an opponent may have.

One reason that you will want to do this, is it will generally lead to you being able to find the way to win. When you are able to find these ways, it will be easy for you to understand what kind of changes you need to make to your game to start to win.This/tag helps explain it more.

Another reason to use a clean slate, is the chance of being able to win more of the games that you want to. Then you will not have to be anxious about losing any of the games that you are playing.

Being able to play pool and win is a great feeling. However, it can be even better of a feeling when your opponent has a higher ranking or skill level. You just need to make sure you are using a clean slate and the table is level for you.

Best Pool Movies

admin — Sat, 30 Jul 2011 00:00:00 +0000

If you’re slowly developing carpal tunnel and you need to take a minute off to regroup and relax it may be time to turn on your Direct satellite TV and watch some of the greatest pool movies ever made. There are a lot of them, but here are our favorites:
The Hustler – The most classic pool movie of all time, The Hustler came out in 1961 but still rings true today. It stars a young Paul Newman as an up and coming star and will teach you a thing or two about betting your limit.
The Color of Money – If you loved The Hustler you’ll love this movie. It stars Tom Cruise as a young hotshot and Paul Newman’s back for some more action – it’s got the drama and all the trick shots you could ask for which makes it one of our top picks of all time.
Stickmen – Though it was released to little fanfare in 2001, this modern day pool drama offers a lot in the way of drama and money. If you like thrillers, this is your best bet.

Combos: Never Miss A Combo Shot Again

admin — Tue, 21 Jun 2011 00:00:00 +0000

The biggest difference between really solid billiards players and the everyday pool player is the ability to make combination shots. Combo shots give you the ability to stay on the table and run through racks. Once you learn these simple steps, you will never miss a combo shot again!

The first part is to setup the final ball. Line up the ball into the pocket. The spot on the far side of the ball corresponding to this line is where it needs to be struck.

The second step is the second ball. Treat this as your normally would the cue ball. Line up this ball with the spot you want to hit the second ball, and find your spot on this ball on the far side corresponding with this line.

Now line up with the cue ball. You need to strike the cue ball in such a manner to hit the spot on the second ball. This will cause a ricochet into the final ball, ultimately landing in the pocket. The cue ball is the most important step because you want to consider adding english to leave you with a solid follow up shot.

Following these easy directions will leave you shooting combo shots like a pro!

Advanced English – How To Leave The Cue Ball

admin — Thu, 26 May 2011 00:00:00 +0000

In an effort to improve your game when playing any form of billiards, you must understand and utilize English. Using this form of cue ball control will assist you in setting up shots and to minimize the risk of scratching.

While playing the game, you may come across a shot which is “straight in” but if you hit it too hard you will scratch. Simply aim your cue stick at the bottom of the cue ball while lining up the shot. When taking the shot, be sure to follow through with a smooth and even stroke. The result will be a cue ball which has stopped or has reversed direction.

In order to cause the cue ball to continue forward after contact with the object ball, simply aim at the top portion of the cue ball while lining up your shot. This “follow” English is typically used to move the cue ball from one end of the table to the other or to break out clusters of balls which may need separating.

Different variations of “follow” and “reverse” English can be initiated by aiming high/low and to the right or the left. Individual practice will help any player to learn and apply this tool to their game.

Beginner’s English – The Regions Of The Cue Ball

admin — Fri, 20 May 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Pool is a game enjoyed by many, but mastered by few. However, with a basic understanding of how to put spin on the ball a person can be on their way to playing competitively. To simplify the explanation the ball can basically have top spin, back spin, left spin and right spin. These are used for different purposes and can be an awesome tool on those tricky shots.

Players who want the ball to have top spin, which allows the ball to continue forward momentum, they need to strike slightly above center. As a result of striking the ball above the center of gravity, it will continue rolling down the target path. For shots where hitting the ball in the center or slightly above would result in a scratch, players should apply backspin. Backspin shots are probably the most important type to learn and all the player has to do is hit the ball slightly below center. Side spin is the result of striking the ball slightly left or right of center. This is typically used in combination with one of the bumpers to set up the next shot. When players simply hit a straight ball the whole game, they will not be playing to their full potential.