Pool / Billiards

Get your act together and get in shape. THE DRILL INSTRUCTOR DEMANDS THIS OF YOU.

See what he and I mean in this month's feature:

Pro Skill Drill Workout With The Drill Instructor

What do you when you've tied for lag for break three times, and then your opponent plays the greatest break shot you've ever seen? Why you play safe--as safe as anyone has ever played in pool, and then there's:

The Kid Vs. The Killer 12 - The Impossible Bank

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The Killer And The Mosc, Part I: 13-Rack Ride
The Killer And The Mosc Part II: Roll Two Million Balls
Part III: Pickle Juice Paul
Part IV: Arness Gets A Taste
Part V: Ralph Greenleaf Kicks Willie Mosconi's Tail
Part VI: Mosconi's Madness, The Fire Down Below
Part VII: The Old Man's Three Rules Of Great Pool
Part VIII: The Men In Town To Clash
Part IX: Stand And Fight
Part X: Showdown On Cloth
Part XI: Cue Ball Killing It

Photo courtesy of Photodisc/Getty Images

Aiming by instinct is a pile of pool nonsense. See why and improve your billiards skills immediately with this helpful article...

..."In the people' s case of Instinct v. Fractions," one aiming system will do much better than the other. See why I say it's pure bunk that "everyone who plays well aims by instinct."

Bunk!

Aim Primer 4: Instinct Vs. Fraction Aim

Aim Primer 1: How To Use The Aim Manual
Aim Primer 2: Glossary Of Key Terms
Aim Primer 3: Stance And Stroke

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

Stroke on with About.com--it's the bomb. Do it right and sink shots all night!

Continuing my primer on aim by getting your stroke and stance touched up. Clear, simple and all in one lesson. Read the latest articles with a cue stick in hand. These are the techniques I'm using to win, all the time. People are afraid to play me and rattling shots. It's great!

Aim Primer 1: Why A New Aiming Manual?
Aim Primer 2: Glossary Of Key Terms
Aim Primer 3: Stance And Stroke

Illustration (c) Matt Sherman, licensed to About.com

This glossary will put us on par on my terms so you can adapt them for your own and get your aim in gear!

I introduce key concepts within such as cue ball point and ball numbers, ball edges and cling.

Aim Primer 2: Glossary Of Key Terms

Aim Primer 1: Introduction And Techniques

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

I've written extensively on aiming in pool and billiards, especially the past two years--but not enough. I'm opening a new aim primer today, a manual of how to aim, so that you understand what playing professionals have in their toolbelt. How would six or seven different pros aim the same shot?

Read on with me this month, and discover the answers for yourself. Try all the aim methods and find the one(s) that work best for you.

Aim Primer: A New Aim Manual

Photo courtesy of Ascent Xmedia/Getty Images

Drill, baby, drill, for the Drill Instructor!

The Drill Instructor, a.k.a. Dominic Esposito, is a knowledgable billiards teacher who whips (okay, encourages) his students into shape... pool shape.

Do this drill he recommends in April's lesson and you'll be more ready than ever to compete in tournament and league play.

Get Ready With The D.I. Now

Illustration courtesy of The Drill Instructor

Faced with a do-or-die situation in a tournament this weekend, my opponent leaving me with a very clever position with only one stripe left and the 8-ball, I made a very difficult backwards bank to get shape on the eight for the win. The other player is a local standout and I felt good about my accomplishment.

At least I felt good, however, until I saw what Paul and Willie pulled off after they had tied for the lag for break three times in a row. See what they're up to next in our latest installment of The Killer And The Mosc:

Part XI: Cue Ball Killing It

Photo courtesy of Scott Goldsmith/Getty Images

Score more often with these 2 pro bank shots types of techniques. I contrast hard banks and spin banks and give diagrams so you can shoot both in:

Score More, Contrast Two Kinds Of Pro Bank Shots

Try these banks in your warm-up session and you're banking percentages will--this is no exaggeration for most players--double. Have fun!

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

For a weekend treat, I won't keep you in suspense but will tell you what happened next as Paul Arness fought Willie Mosconi for all the marbles:

The Killer And The Mosc Part X: Showdown On Cloth

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