Why Can't I Shatter My 9-Ball Break Shot?

Another pool myth explodes on our site today. I'm asked, "How do I smash a 9-Ball break shot, because if I could, I'd run the simple rack that's left most every time?"

Can you really run 'em all out if you had the monster break stroke? True? Myth? Fantasy? You decide:

Why I Can Shatter My 9-Ball Shot!

Photo (c) Matt Sherman, licensed to About.com, Inc.

Get On The Pro Skill Drill Bus

I'm scheduled for a follow-up with Dominic Esposito, Mr. Pro Skill Drill Instructor for pool and the inventor of the Jesper Jump Cue.

He comes highly endorsed and highly recommended by me personally. I'm the author of a pool book and DVD, so is he. I have a pool website, so does he. I am a regular columnist for a top pool magazine, so is he. If I'm paying good money to pick his brains for a few excellent hours of pool instruction, you know he's highly knowledgeable.

But we all need a refresher in the basics sometime from someone we respect. And we all love tips of insight, like Esposito's recipe for massé aim, shared with you in today's feature called:

A Pro Skill Drill To Bless You, Not Distress You

The Jester Jump Cue

Photo courtesy of The Drill Instructor

To Tap Or Not To TAP Your Pool League?

"Matt,

My wife and I are currently members of 2 APA teams and have been for several years.

We have experienced the Las Vegas trip to the nationals and found it fun. As you know the inherent problems of the APA I don't need to repeat them. I am currently looking into the TAP league as a player and as a league operator and would like to know what you think of that league.

Thanks, George"

Great question, George. There is no perfect pool league, and there are some rules and other quibbles that make people for or dead set against the American Poolplayers Association or "APA" and its league. I've discussed some of those problems and tried to balance the good and bad of it before.

Bearing in mind, therefore, that operating a league effectively can be a headache and a trial, the TAP league staff really care about our sport. Their passion makes all the difference and I suspect they will be an even-faster growing tour/league in the years ahead.

I also like the up-and-coming American Cue Sports (ACS) league. So much so that I'm working with a local club to do a hybrid league blending some of the best of the ACS rules with that of the Billiards Congress of America (BCA). I started a thread on this new local league in Florida with me, Donny Lutz and other fine participants and teachers participating, online. For you and for those interested, I'm pleased to provide some contacts or perhaps we can set a conference call to discuss these issues and keep best promoting the game of billiards.

New Local Pool League, TAP Or What-Have-You, I'm Game

Photo (c) Matt Sherman, licensed to About.com, Inc.

I Tried A New Jump And A New Break Cue And Report On My Findings

Got a good question today regarding the purchase of a jump break cue. That had me thinking about seeing The Drill Instructor, Dominic Esposito, at a pool clinic this week.

Dominic, along with other super-cool pool dudes like Donny Lutz and Carl Oswald, was recently named to "The Top 20 Pool Instructors" by Pool & Billiards Magazine, itself a fast up-and-coming pool publication with a powerful staff of instructors aboard.

How would you answer Matthew Lim's question regarding a new jump break cue?

"Matt,

Hope this message finds you well.

Want to get your opinion on jump break cues. I've been searching for all the info I can get on them online but still can't answer my questions.

I prefer a heavy cue to break but a light cue to jump. So if I were to buy a jump break, what would the ideal weight be?

On most retailers' websites you can choose the weight of the jumpbreak but I suppose this is for the whole cue. What is the weight of the thing with the bottom part pulled off then?

I notice popular cues like the Stinger, BK2 and Sledgehammer all still feature phenolic tips. Aren't these illegal under BCA?

On my belian wood - I got hold of a cuemaker in Bali and he told me belian is not good for cue making because the wood naturally secretes a type of "oil" slowly over the years.

That's what makes this wood 'waterproof'. This also means any inlays, joints and finishing will have a hard time staying bonded to the wood!

Regards..."

Buying one hybrid jump break cue will save you some dough, which leads paradoxically to my question:

Photo courtesy of The Drill Instructor