Any billiard help?

Question

I've recently picked up the game and I'm told I'm a natural, with that being said I am supposed to be getting ready for some torny at a pool hall. Are there any websites or free resources around that have helped anyone become a better player?

Answer 1

Do you mean PROPER billiards, with a plain white cue-ball, a white cue-ball with a dot and a red ball...... or pool, which is sometimes called billiards by the ignorant?

Read about PROPER (English ) billiards here...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_bil...

Answer 2

http://www.billiardtips-e-press.com/

http://www.billiardsforum.info/pool-play...

books: Byrne's Standard Book of Pool and Billiards

             Capelle's Play Your Best Pool

Answer 3

Reading instructional books and watching videos and pool tournaments on ESPN is all good and well. However, nothing will ever prepare you more for tournament play than actually playing pool. Application, practice, and "hitting balls" with players who are better than you, is most helpful. The things to watch and learn from experienced players are numerous:

Watch and study their  -

stance (body position over the table and cue)

grip

stroke

table strategy

their repetitive moves (routine)

english (left, right, high, low) and the stoke they impart ---and the path that cue ball takes from the applied spin combined with the type of stroke they apply.

ASK QUESTIONS!

ASK FOR HELP!

Play in as many tournaments as you can (tournament play and practice play, requires a completely different mindset)

If there is a house-Pro, he/she will usually be happy to help you develop your game. Watch the best player in the place! Play with the BEST player in the place (if you can) --even if you're doing more racking than shooting!

Don't practice bad habits (lazy stroke, poking at balls, lack of any rhythm) as pool technique is instilled in your memory. Your stroke and technique is learned behavior ---good or bad.

It's better not to play at all, than it is to practice bad habits!

Take care of your legs (for great stamina) ---- swimming is the best exercise for building stamina and strong legs. Swimming is low-impact and GREAT for your arms and legs. Just don't wear yourself out swimming on the day of a tournament.

Eat well

Rest well

Stay away from drugs and alcohol ---you need to be alert to be at your best.

Wear sturdy and comfortable shoes that give your feet good arch support.

Get off the computer and go play pool! Hit balls all day long. Set up different drills on the table to improve your control (bank shots, stop shots, cue ball draw, etc).

Learn how and when to play a "safety shot". Sometimes, playing a good "safety", is  more difficult to master than pocketing balls. Learning the art of "safety-play", is crucial and a fundamental part of your game.

Take care of your cue stick:

Keep it clean and dry

Keep your hands clean and dry

Keep your tip in good shape (should always have the roundness of a nickel and hold chalk well)

Be sure to have fun!!!! If you're not enjoying the game and beating yourself up for missing shots, it'll kill your ambition and your game  -----be serious but love what you're doing.

Get out there and play, play, play!

Stay in stoke!

Remember that you are playing the table, NOT the opponent. Pool is a game of skillfully playing the TABLE well ----work on your strategy --whether you can run-out or must play a defensive shot as your BEST STRATEGY -depending on where the balls lie and your cue ball control.

Good luck in your tournament ......and remember that EVERY tournament you play, is part of becoming better ---it's a process that takes time and countless hours and years of APPLICATION (playing pool). Be patient with yourself.

If you miss an easy shot or make a position-error, DON'T beat yourself up -----think about why you made the error and what you need to do next time, to alleviate such errors. Think positive!

RACK 'EM!

Answer 4

There are a few things you can do to get started.

Purchase a book by Robert Byrne titled Standard Book of Billiards and Pool. It's an invaluable source of knowledge for anyone ranging from a novice to a well seasoned player.

Find a local pool hall and ask around to see who the best shooters are. WATCH them play and you'll find some common denominators in their styles. The typically stay down after they shoot their shot and they don't move until all the balls have stopped moving, even it the shot is going to be bad or a ball isn't going to be pocketed. They shoot soft with a nice fluid stroke. You will seldom see them hammer the cue ball and if they do it's because there's good reason for it.

Once you find out who the better players are, ask them to engage in a game with you. The better players will be reluctant at first if they know you're a novice player but believe me when I say that they are also egotistical and will be more than happy to show what they know to a captive audience. Just ask ME! :)

The upside to all of this is that you can learn the rules and fundamentals of the game in a week-end.

The downside to your quest is that it will take you the rest of your natural life to keep learning and honing and perfecting your skills. But the reward at the end of the proverbial rainbow will be worth every minute of time you spend at the table.

I hope this helped. Good luck!

Answer 5

http://billiards.colostate.edu/

There is a couple of weeks worth ,and some good pool video

tour the whole site its all there somewhere