Stroke Naturally, Mr. (And Mrs.) Bond...
Listen closely, because if you want to beat your opponents (and I mean beat them down like you're a Bond villain--can you hear the evil cackling, "Mwa-ha-ha-ha..."?) then follow this sage advice. You can take it from Tiger Woods in golf or me in the pool world and use "natural strokes" wherever possible.
This has little to do with the natural speed technique I've discussed before at this GuideSite. Natural strokes are so simple my grandma can make them, and so overlooked that something less than 1 in 100 players uses them in my observation.
You want to know who does use them? The pros, and me and pro teachers (if we remember to do so).
Natural strokes are a hot part of my private clinics right now. Don't miss them. Mwa-ha-ha-ha...!
Stroke Naturally, OO7, Or Face The Pirhana Tank, The One With The Sharks With Lasers On Their Heads
And you may also enter if you dare inside:
Photo courtesy of David Cannon/Getty Images
New 8-Ball Thoughts
I've updated the 8-Ball rules and strategy pages to address some typical concerns.
One more time, here's hoping billiards leagues, tournaments and local halls around the world will someday soon agree on rules including slop vs. call shot and whether the 8-ball on the break is a win or loss. Do you agree?
Photo courtesy of All About Pool
Roll, Baby, Roll
Natural roll (like the roll pictured here yet more delicious!), the tangent line, and skid strokes. Three weapons in the right pool shooter's hands.
Last week, I was, well--annoyed--while at pool league. I've been playing in a weekly league to 1) get out of the house and get some "fresh" air in a smoky poolroom while supporting my friend, the league director 2) socialize with my colleagues and 3) actually play pool since I teach billiards so often I barely have time to play these days.
I was annoyed because I broke and ran to a stripe and left myself behind it along the rail. After rebuking myself quietly for a few moments, and knowing I ought to play safe yet feeling annoyed, I banked it in the hard way--backwards--and finished the rack including--yes--another backwards bank, this time on the 8-Ball.
Following the scattered applause I realized I made those shots even while frustrated using the principles in today's article, starting a two-parter we can call:
Roll, Baby, Roll - Natural Roll Makes You An Awesome Pool Player, Not The Tangent Line
Watch for Part II of this article next week...
Photo courtesy of Huw Jones/Getty Images
Rooms In For Your Pleasure
Our first entries are in for your favorite pool rooms around the world. You may discover a beauty of a room only a few miles from your location, a hidden secret of pool pleasure.
Keep 'em coming!
Pool Halls Map - Good Billiards No Longer Hard To Find
Photo courtesy of All About Pool
Take Us Out To Your Pool Hall
Got great pool (hall)? Heck, I'd settle for a hall these days that doesn't totally suck.
It's harder to find a good pool hall in most locations than a good woman (or man). And I'm tired of feeling like I have to drive two hours one way to get the right atmosphere.
If you've got your sights on a fine billiards institution where readers can ply our sport with cue sticks without being nauseated, please hit this article and/or write me:
Photo (c) Matt Sherman, licensed to About.com, Inc.
Practice With Style
Robert S., a skilled player in the Washington, DC area, working hard to get even better soon, wrote me to follow up on my You Pool Like A Pro article.
I respond to Robert's questionnaire (you'll find our chat insightful also, I'm sure) at:
Practice With Style - A Primer
Photo (c) Matt Sherman, licensed to About.com, Inc.
Jump Shot Tips
I know, it's been far too long since I've posted some tips on jump shots. You too can fly like Howard Hughes off to set another airspeed record in one of his test planes (without the fiery crash, however).
I've culled 7 tips to get your cue ball airborne this week...
...It's been said that the greatest jump shot artist ever is the amazing (and oft amusing) Earl Strickland. "Earl The Pearl" practically transformed our sport by jumping more often and more boldly than anyone had yet seen.
His cue stick back then held a hard tip indeed. He'd get on the other pros for not jumping using their regular cue, and why not, since his bore an ultimate jump tool.
Most of you know the hard tip hint but let's see if I can surprise you now with:
and you'll enjoy my take as I:
Take "Earl The Pearl" For $1 Million U.S.
and don't forget to
Fly With Howard Hughes and soar with Leonardo DiCaprio as The Aviator
Photo courtesy of Claudio Villa/Getty Images
Eight Ball Help, Under Your Thumb
We can all stand a little Eight Ball help every so often, right?
Eight Ball rules can present a twisted maze of options to players. It's hard to imagine a situation as frustrating as executing a great shot only to hear, "We don't do that in this league. That's going to be ball-in-hand for me..."
Donny Lutz and I navigate the treacherous waters of rules as we drown readers in the ocean that is:
Eight Ball Rules Supreme: The Eight Ball Debates Continue
and don't miss other series entries, including:
- Break And Run: Live And Let Fly Or No?
- Straight Cue Sticks Needed?
- Big Ball Run Or Big Mistake?
- All The Eight Ball Debates In One Place
Illustration courtesy of Getty Images
Too Cool... 4 Questions To Beguile You
4 questions every pool and billiards player should ask themselves today...
Plus the answers are given, too.
4 Questions That Will Change Your Pool Game
And here's a cool pool quote I wish more players would memorize:
"I learned to approach [Formula 1] racing like a game of billiards. If you bash the ball too hard, you get nowhere. As you handle the cue properly, you drive with more finesse."
-- Juan Manuel "El Chueco" Fangio, four-time Argentinian Formula 1 Champ
Illustration (c) Matt Sherman, licensed to About.com, Inc.
League Ideas
I've got some ideas to pass along to you this week. Some are simple and obvious, others not so much, but together they should help you raise your rating in league (and other) play.
Check 'em out today at:
And look also for a fresh pool and billiards article tomorrow on our front page to close our instruction for the month of January.
Photo courtesy of All About Pool