[Pool] Looking for advice on cues/learning tools.

T

ToV VendettA

Veteran XV
I've been playing pool twice a day, 3-4 days a week for a while (every time we go to lunch at a certain place.) It's a fun, cheap way to blow some time - which is hard to do where I live.

Anyway, I'm considering playing a lot more. Went today and rented an hourly table and played for 2 hours. I'm wondering if there is a good website to read up on the concepts of pool; I know that practice makes perfect, but a site to explain some of the techniques would be helpful.

Also, I was wondering if anyone can explain what to look for in a decent beginner cue. I'd like to stay under $100.

edit: This sounds like it would help with placing your shots; english and such. Or is it a gimmick?
 
Trial and error

That's what I've started doing. Hit a ball with draw and see what happens. Hit it with follow and see what happens. Put english on it and see what happens.
 
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Watch Poolhall Junkies.

It prolly won't make you any better but Christopher Walken is in it. That has to be worth something.
 
really, just find some crusty old poolhall guy to play with, he'll beat you every time but maybe you'll learn something


and practice does make perfect. one summer I spent about every day at a rec center in springfield that had a ton of pool tables and just played all day. when I started I sucked, 2 months later... you wanna make a friendly wager?
 
http://www.easypooltutor.com/ should be able to teach you many of the basic techniques you need to know. What you need to keep in mind is that your biggest focus right now should be on getting your form correct and being consistent. Once you do that, the rest will fall in place. Many times for beginners, shots that look like they were "aimed right" but didn't go in were probably caused by poor form, thus not actually sending the ball where you wanted it to go.

Players makes some good beginner cues, sub-$100 range. I recommend buying from ozone billiards; they have good prices and are really good about the service if something comes up. As a beginner, you want to stay away from graphite cues. Look for a good solid wood cue with a 13mm shaft and lepro leather tip. And get a hard case for your cue so the shaft doesn't warp.

some recommendations:

http://www.ozonebilliards.com/playercuec9913.html
http://www.ozonebilliards.com/playcuec9.html
http://www.ozonebilliards.com/playercuec9912.html
http://www.ozonebilliards.com/playcueg22.html
http://www.ozonebilliards.com/plcuecac.html
 
as for that cuesight laser cue, it is useful for beginners in placing shots, however I would recommend against it because then you rely on it too much and it becomes a crutch you can't play without. As you are learning, you should be developing your aim (knowing where to aim on the ball, compensating for throw, etc) and being able to see the angles, not just pointing and shooting.
 
as you advance, if you want a more elaborate look at banks and angles and the physics of throw and the little tricks you can do with the cue ball and english, you should consider picking up Byrne's book of Pool and Billiards. It goes over some neat stuff like rail compression and how you can get the cue ball to behave unexpectedly on certain shots
 
i actually got better by playing buckshot billards 2 on my xbox 360

although a shit game, it helped me properly angle my shots and once on a real table, i had to just not fuck up and shake like crazy
 
Soliah said:
http://www.thesnookerforum.com/ on the main page there's a google video (which most have probably seen) of O'Sullivan's '97 maximum break.
Click to expand...
Sweet Jesus and in 5 min 20 sec!

WOW

I remember when a guy came over to install my 5x10 snooker table, the slates were over a inch thick, and had con=untersunk holes to screw the slate into the wood frame. The guy used a sledgehammer to knock the screws in. I was so glad he didn't miss.

Just play alot and read a book about spinning a ball. Then practass, and practass some more.
 
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