What are ways to improve your pool game?

Question

I play often but I feel I am at a standstill right now and it is frustrating me to no end.

Answer 1

We all hit slumps where we arent getting better or are just plain playing worse. This is when you need to let your ego go, dont try to compete, try to learn, shoot several racks by yourself just working on things you know you have problems with. It also helps to play regularly with someone else who is very honest with you you can call each other on decisions show each other things and generally talk about your mistakes and strategies, with out reverting to your closed down competition mode.

some things I do when I slump are play racks against myself, shooting the easier lay oposite handed, play where you have to try to put the cue ball in the middle of the table after every shot. bank every shot, cut every shot, combo, etc. the hard situations that rarely come up in a nine ball game can really open you up when you practice them.

Answer 2

I just answered a similar question but I think it will apply for you too.

Some of this will seem like homework but any endeavor demands research and development. I would suggest a fews things for the time you're going to invest in playing.

Find someone that is a superior player and knowledgeable about the game. Play them as often as you can because you aren't going to learn anything playing somebody that knows less than you do.

Spend some time just watching seasoned players. Study their stance, stroke, ball selection, execution of shots, and any little nuances you can pick up. Don't be afraid to ask questions. A superior player may seem arrogant when you confront them but they will be more than willing to start talking and imparting their knowledge once they know they have a captive audience. You'll be making them feel important. :)

Purchase "Standard Book of Pool and Billiards" by Robert Byrne and read it cover to cover. There is a wealth of information there and you will find yourself referencing the pages over and over and over again for the better part of the rest of your life.

All that brings me to "playing" time. Practice as much as you can, one, two, three hours a day if you can, and take a week off about every three months. Don't pick up a cue during that time. The mind and body get stale after too much of anything so you need some time to refresh yourself. I hope all of this helps.

Answer 3

I think the best thing to do is play people who are better than you and who are worse than you.  Other words play as much against as many different people you can.

The better players will show you stuff you do not know.

The worse players will cause you to have to work on kick shots and everything since you might be hooked more.  

I also think it would be good like the guy above me mentioned, to practice shooting english into the rail to see what the cue ball does.  After that, take a ball and hit it, then watch what both moves do.  

Practice long shots and when you get the hang of them, throw a ball in there to make it tougher and so on and so forth.

You may also need to take all the balls and put them in a circle.  That way you can practice your bottom english.  But maybe plan ahead where you want each ball to go.

Answer 4

there is a warm up you can use for your stroke, Just move it back and forth until you get the feel for it

Answer 5

One word: Practice

Answer 6

Play several games by yourself. Practice with just the cue ball by banking it off different rails and see the outcome. Hit the cue ball at different angles and see what the out come is. I play pool to this day in Vegas and these are the step I use to practice.

Answer 7

Dogs....especially old ones like me should always be willing to learn new tricks....an old sales saying..."  the results you are getting are the results you should be getting...if you want different results then you must change what you are doing! There is no prize without the price"....this not only means practice but maybe like in sales....some "role" playing with someone above your level to not only improve your game but see the changes to make....read some books....get some training tapes....I don not know what level player you are but go to some "scratch" tournaments and see what and how the good players shoot ....take mental notes and maybe even ask them questions......but without the will you will stand still and it sounds like you are serious....I am serious and have the will but just do not have the time....its called "life" but if you have the time and dedication....."look to change your game or your game won't change"....good luck on the tour....send me my 1% when you make it!!!

Answer 8

Practice ur English against the bank only till ya get a hang of it. Then work on it by hitting straight end shots w/ english. Then use real game situations wit English

Answer 9

play everyday no matter what!

Answer 10

You might want to try pool lessons. No matter what level your playing at a good instructor or coach if you will can usually help. Some of the top pros still use instructors. In their case it's usually to get out of a slump or to try and strenghten up any weakness they may have in their game. I like the idea of playing people who are better than you and more experienced as long as you don't mind trading a loss for a lesson. Some players take losing so hard that they only play weaker opponents , not a good way to improve. I don't mind losing a game to somebody as long as i learn something from it. When you practice by yourself just practice things that are difficult for you. Theres not much point in going over and over the things that your already good at. That might be okay for a warm up but pretty useless as far as advancing your game goes. A lot of the bigger pool halls have house pros that give lessons. And a BCA certified instructor is always a good bet. Check around and see what you can find.

Answer 11

Bowling has impoved many a pool game, if played with the pool cue.

Answer 12

If you always do things the same way, you will always get the same results! This is so true for anyone who perceives they have hit a plateau in the growth of there skill. No one does anything because they know they are doing it wrong, so it is most likely that you believe you are doing everything right and can not readily realize why your skill and game is not growing sharper with all the table time you get.

There are simply so many things to work on, and so many exercises to practice. We can post thousands of exercises here but it’s futile if its not what you need. The big question is, “What is it that you need?” You must find out where your skill is troubled in order to choose the right remedial action and for this you need a billiard coach. There are certified billiard trainers. My friend hired Grace Nakamura for a one hour session, who is a certified trainer as will as a carded professional player. He explained to me that it was the best seventy-five bucks he has spent in a long while. She put him through some exercises and in only an hour had evaluated where his skill gaps were and why his growth was challenged and advised him on what he had to do to correct numerous things. A thing like his stance was consistently lined up 10-15 degrees off the natural line of the shot. Just knowing such bad habits were present enabled him to consciously change things that quickly increased his game play.

If you want to kick start your skill growth, you need someone knowledgeable to evaluate what you are doing that potentially hold you back and show you the specific remedies to practice on your own time!

Good Shooting!

Answer 13

Study Geometry ;)

Answer 14

I think you should slow down and always chalk your cue, look at the ball you are about to hit and look at it carefully, if you are snookered always look at the cushin and hit the part of the chushin and slowdown, always practise and you will be a pro some day!!

Answer 15

dont play with people less able than you, people you know you're gonna beat.

play with people better than you, coz then you try harder to beat them, and the chances are you can learn alot from they way they play. i did anyway