Pool Drill Workout - Notes From A Dominic Esposito Pool Drill Workout

I've been reviewing my pool drill notes from a recent session with Dominic Esposito, better known as "The Drill Instructor" of pool. His pro-level pool drill workouts are of the highest standard and his teachings are well regarded in the industry. Dominic is a heck of a nice guy too, who pastors a church in Orlando, Florida while not bent over his Diamond brand pool table at home.

I'm heading to another session with him after the New Year. While I have some modifications to some of his techniques (such as his recommending a suite of ten speeds for play rather than modifying speed with a grip change as I suggest), much (okay, most all) of his information is dead on. He has come to classify and taxonomy the tools pool players need to win, working in tandem with legendary instructor, Tom "Dr. Cue" Rossman.

Take this tip for example from a pool drill mini-session on otherwise dreaded calculations for massé strokes. Place the cue ball along a bit off the short rail one diamond distant from the bottom right corner pocket. To curve the cue ball into the top right corner pocket (the far corner on the same side of the table) it must curve the distance of one diamond sideways while traversing the length of the table ahead.

Shoot the shot with what Esposito calls "5 speed" (a bit more than lag speed, force equal to sending the cue ball to the far rail and back again to the near rail and up to the middle of the table, lag plus another table half) while elevating the cue 30 degrees from horizontal and applying 2 tip widths of english on the side where you want the curve, aiming straight ahead to the opposite diamond. It rolls right in the pocket most every time.

Again, that's a bit more than lag speed, cue elevated 30 degrees, 2 tips of english (with a striped ball, number facing you, that's basically hitting the edge of the stripe closest to the number with a parallel english stroke) and bam! The ball goes to the pocket every time.

You still hit the same speed and english for two, three or even four diamonds of curve distance across the length of the table. You merely adjust the elevation of the cue and I leave it to you to experiment rather than give away Esposito's secrets.

The point is I recommend few of my fellow pool instructors and authors, not for jealousy but because I want to ensure I recommend only the highest quality teachers including the pro drill instructor, Dominic Esposito.

Check out Esposito's pro skill drills site for his pool drill instruction, and write him personally for more or for your personal or group lessons to be scheduled. Two thumbs up!