Pool players, learning to play to win a bet
 

I really suck at pool and do not enjoy it yet but some of my friends are really into it. In order to win a bet I need to beat one of the better players in a race to 7, I have 6 months to train.

Anyone recommendations on where to get started? Any good forums/books for beginners? I found a nice site called http://www.easypooltutor.com/articles.html and it seems pretty decent so far.

Any things to concentrate on?

My opponent is quite good, in 6 months I don't think I can beat him in skill but I'm thinking there must be some strategy I can employ to play defensive or something...I really have no clue at this point.

Any tips would be great, thanks!

I wish ed miller wrote pool books.

Re: Pool players, learning to play to win a bet
 

you are fooked.

My advice, lots of practice, and hope you are some sort of naturally gifted pool freak.

Re: Pool players, learning to play to win a bet
 

I may be able to get some "rules" or something changed in my favour as well.

Not sure what exactly yet but offer any suggestions that might lower my opponents edge. Thanks.

Re: Pool players, learning to play to win a bet
 

I don't know about learning pool from a book or website... it's a physical skill best learned through focused practice.

Find a pool hall you're comfortable with (one with hourly tables, not quarter fed) and go there regularly by yourself. This is important, you want to play by yourself as much as possible. Rack balls and hit them. Practice breaks, practice straight-on shots, practice bank shots. just practice!

As you get better, begin to push yourself, break a rack and just focus on the toughest shots to make. Pay no attention to stripes or solids or the 8-ball, just find the toughest shot on the felt and sink it. Then do it again.

Pool is not a difficult game, but it does reguire discipline an lots of practice. Forget about the books and pick up a que!


The only technique-advice I have is to get way down low and look down the length of your cue find the spot on the OBJECT ball (not the cue ball) that makes a direct line to the pocket and make sure the cue ball hits that spot precisely. Take a moment and line your cue stick with that spot on the object ball, really fixate on that specific spot; then back away never taking your eyes off that spot and line the cue stick up so it makes a direct line through the cue ball directly to that spot on the object ball. Make a nice even stroke (takes lots of practice) and make the cue and object balls connect.

Re: Pool players, learning to play to win a bet
 

What game will you play?

8-ball? 9-ball? Snooker?

If you're looking to win on strategy alone, you're sunk. Practice on the motor skills first (six months of dedicated study is enough) and then worry about the strategy.

Re: Pool players, learning to play to win a bet
 

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I wish ed miller wrote pool books.

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This guy is just as good maybe better.

Byrne's Complete Book of Pool Shots by Robert Byrne

What size table will you play on and the type of game is very important to your chances.

6X12 snooker just give up now

4X8 or even smaller if you can get them to agree 8 or 9 ball and I like your chances if you are smarter than them and willing to practice and study strategy.

Don't practice with them or if you do don't play well until the money game. Go to a pool hall and get some lessons also. This is doable but you will know if this is your game or not after a month or so if you su[/b]ck after a month of trying find a way to get out of the bet.

I play on a pool team with a guy with one arm and he is in a wheelchair. He is in the top 20 players in a league of over 1000 players. He tries hard and that’s what matters, and he is smart.

Re: Pool players, learning to play to win a bet
 

Byrne's good.

Drinking beers around my parents' table back in high school, we used to have a joke about him but you'd really have to be there to think it was even worth telling.

Re: Pool players, learning to play to win a bet
 

Which game is it?

I play a lot of 8-ball and, depending on the rules you use, tactics can play a major part. In the game I play it is possible to outplay a good cueist by using correct, fairly negative, tactics. I can beat guys who make regular centuries at snooker this way.

If you play 9-ball on American style tables, then I think you are really up against it. I struggle at that game and I've made a 90 break at snooker.

Re: Pool players, learning to play to win a bet
 

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I can beat guys who make regular centuries at snooker this way.

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So world-class players?

Re: Pool players, learning to play to win a bet
 

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I can beat guys who make regular centuries at snooker this way.

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So world-class players?

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Don't think you have to be WC to make centuries in snooker (the pockets in your local club are > than those used in pro circuit), but certainly you have to be damn damn good.

Re: Pool players, learning to play to win a bet
 

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the pockets in your local club are > than those used in pro circuit

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I didn't know this, and it depends what you mean by "regular", but you certainly have to be incredibly good, yeah.

Re: Pool players, learning to play to win a bet
 

[ QUOTE ]
you are fooked.

My advice, lots of practice, and hope you are some sort of naturally gifted pool freak.

[/ QUOTE ]

Yea. Lots of practice is the only answer. Six months is plenty of time to become reasonably decent if you're in a position to be able to put in a lot of hours on a table.

Re: Pool players, learning to play to win a bet
 

If this is a significant bet and you are serious about winning, I'd start here:

Billiards School

Also, I've never taken lessons, but I've heard that they'll go a long way to improve your game (much like golf or tennis). Ask around at your local pool hall.

That said, all of the above will be useless without practice, practice, practice.

Re: Pool players, learning to play to win a bet
 

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the pockets in your local club are > than those used in pro circuit

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I didn't know this, and it depends what you mean by "regular", but you certainly have to be incredibly good, yeah.

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Pockets are definitelky tighter on TV tables. I've played on a Brunswick Gold Crown that was used for one of these tournies and the pockets were probably 15% narrower than the ones in my regular hall.

"Cheating the pocket" doesn't work so well.

Orange

Re: Pool players, learning to play to win a bet
 

You're not getting any spot? This should have been part of the bet to begin with. If he's been playing for years, then an even race to 7 will still favor him.

Any chance you can get him to play one-pocket? You could learn enough of the strategy and moves there in 6 months to really f up his game. I can beat a friend of mine getting only a ball in that game, whereas i'd need the 7,8 and probably breaks in 9-ball to even stay close.

easypooltutor is good, azbilliards has some good stuff too. how much is this bet for? toss us some more details...

Re: Pool players, learning to play to win a bet
 

Most of the others have it right in a sense....practice is the mother of great pool. I played in 3 US Opens, and on my way up, I found some great resources that helped me a lot.

1. Instructors. If your mechanics are bad, and they most likely are, this is the place to start. Before you start practicing in earnest, you'll need to make sure your stance/alignment and stroke are pretty much clean. A decent instructor shouldn't run more than $30/hr for your purposes.

2. Bert Kinister DVD's. I used these practice drills when I was building my game. Practicing a few hours a day, my game jumped through the roof in a couple of months. The very first one is great and it helps you understand exactly how a lot of great players break down the game shot by shot. His site is www.bertkinister.com. If you want recommendations for which DVD's to get, PM me.

3. Find a good sparring partner. While you're honing your skills, you'll need to test yourself, preferably against a quality player. Try to find a good player who will play you races to 7 or 9 for $10. Next to practice is experience.

4. Accu-stats tapes. All matches from pro tourneys. You'll learn a lot just by listening to the commentary, but there are also a lot of great defensive tactics to be learned from the play in these matches, among other things. If you want some recommendations, PM me.

5. Get yourself a decent playing cue. Or borrow one. Joss makes a good cue for a reasonable price. I'd also look into finding something like a used Predator sneaky pete.

6. Practice some more.

Mike

Re: Pool players, learning to play to win a bet
 

What was it? Any joke involving him has to be funny in one way or another.

Re: Pool players, learning to play to win a bet
 

Also, the Billiardsdigest.com and AZbilliards.com forums are pretty good.

Re: Pool players, learning to play to win a bet
 

I took lessons: 130ish for 5 hours, improved my stance and game imeasureably. If you can get lessons do it, then practice everything you have learned a lot.

Re: Pool players, learning to play to win a bet
 

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I wish ed miller wrote pool books.

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This guy is just as good maybe better.

Byrne's Complete Book of Pool Shots by Robert Byrne

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Good suggestion, but I'd start with Byrne's Standard Book of Pool and Billiards instead. Better info for the beginner.

However, if 9 ball is the game, pay off the bet now. You would need several hours of practice a day to go from "I suck at pool" to being able beat a decent player at a race to 7.

$150.00 for a decent cue + $20.00 for the book + (180 days x 3 hrs. x $4.00/hr. table time) = $2330.00.

Re: Pool players, learning to play to win a bet
 

I really suck at pool and do not enjoy it. . . . . .

Sounds like you are dead duck based on this statement, but MHarris's suggestions are the way to go. . . what is the bet. You will get more meaningful or realistic answers if you tell us. . .

Re: Pool players, learning to play to win a bet
 

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However, if 9 ball is the game, pay off the bet now. You would need several hours of practice a day to go from "I suck at pool" to being able beat a decent player at a race to 7.

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Not necessarily. With practice, quality outweighs quantity. If he develops a decent skill set, has a good break, has a decent knowledge of the game, and doesn't fall victim to pool's version of Fancy Play Syndrome, he has a good chance of winning this bet. Also, most players that are described as "good" by a novice aren't really very good, with a few exceptions here and there.

BTW, where in Jersey are you paying only $4/hr for pool time?

Re: Pool players, learning to play to win a bet
 

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BTW, where in Jersey are you paying only $4/hr for pool time?

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I used to get a practice rate from a membership at Comet Billiards in Parsippany. I haven't played there for quite a while. It looks like they don't offer it anymore and the hourly is up to $5.50. Still a good rate to play on well maintained Gold Crowns with Simonis cloth.

Re: Pool players, learning to play to win a bet
 

I know Bert, he used to live near me here in chicago burbs...hes a real loud mouth, no wonder he got his ass kicked those many years ago for hustling.

Re: Pool players, learning to play to win a bet
 

Pay the guy of your gonna have to play half the bet..then he dumps to you. Thats the only shot you have to win. i have been playing for 15 years, and can still only run a few racks in a row..good luck.

Re: Pool players, learning to play to win a bet
 

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This is important, you want to play by yourself as much as possible. Rack balls and hit them

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What exactly are we talking about here?

Re: Pool players, learning to play to win a bet
 

I've played at Comet a few times. Really nice room, and I love that there's plenty of room between tables.

More info
 

The bet is about $200 plus some odd stuff. It is more of a competitive thing than about the money. I suspect part of the bet also is because my friends simply want me to learn the game to play in their league if needed and some kind of bet would be the only way.

The origin of the bet started when I stated a good pool(not pro) player didn't require any special sort of god-given talent, I thought almost anyone could study and be just as good as some pretty good players (not professionals). I compared it to poker and said if I took the same approach to pool as I did for poker (lots of practice/study/thought) I bet I could be pretty successful as well.

Anyways I want to win the bet not so much for the money but to say I could do it.

We are playing 8 ball on those smallish tables you find in bars (coin operated) because that is what my friends play on in their pool league. My friend also just purchased one of these tables and I can practice on it almost any time I want.

I have a few friends willing to coach me for a bit so I will take them up on their offer as well.

I appreciate all of the advice given in this thread.

Thanks.

PS. Had my first short day of practice today. A friend just showed me some pointers and set me up to shoot 1/4 and 1/2 table length straight and angle shots for a few hours. I never enjoyed the game before but now that I see it takes quite some skill to it I think I will enjoy it more (I like competitive games).

Re: More info
 

Pool and poker aren't all that similar in my opinion. Poker requires no physical skill. Pool requires knowledge, but it also requires that you execute a precise stroke. It looks a lot easier than it is.

Re: Pool players, learning to play to win a bet
 

you should have made the Amarillo Slim stipulation... you get to choose the cues.... and then practice playing pool with a broom and bring two of them to the game six months from now....

cubs

Re: Pool players, learning to play to win a bet
 

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The only technique-advice I have is to get way down low and look down the length of your cue find the spot on the OBJECT ball (not the cue ball) that makes a direct line to the pocket and make sure the cue ball hits that spot precisely. Take a moment and line your cue stick with that spot on the object ball, really fixate on that specific spot; then back away never taking your eyes off that spot and line the cue stick up so it makes a direct line through the cue ball directly to that spot on the object ball. Make a nice even stroke (takes lots of practice) and make the cue and object balls connect.

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unfortunately, nothing in pool is that simple. suppose you wanted to cut a ball as thinly as possible, as close to a 90-degree angle as physically possible. so you want to the cue ball to contact the object ball all the way on the side. well now, according to your instructions, you would aim the center of the cue ball at the side of hte object ball. unfortuantely, because the cue ball as width, it will not hit the outer edge--it will hit half-way in between the outer edge and the dead center. and you will get a 45-degree cut, not a 90-degree cut.

you have to use a complex system of estimation: 45-degree = half ball hit. 77-degree = quarter ball hit. etc. it is a cruel game. practice and more practice is the only way.

note also, spin on the cueball will affect the correct contact point, as will to a smaller degree speed of the cueball. but, because of friction ("throw"), the correct contact point given a cue ball with no side spin ("english") is in fact not the point directly opposite the target. it just gets worse and worse.

Re: Pool players, learning to play to win a bet
 

[ QUOTE ]
you are fooked.

My advice, lots of practice, and hope you are some sort of naturally gifted pool freak.

[/ QUOTE ]

I agree, you're hosed.
If your opponent is really 'quite good', you have a very slim chance of beating him. Yes, you may get lucky, but the odds are against you.

There's a possibility that your current definition of 'quite good' will change after 6 months of practice. By that I mean that you may pick up some very practical skill and fundamental understanding of the game and realize that this opponent is really 'just average'.
Compared to your original 'I really suck' skill, 'just average' may look like 'quite good'.

If this is the case, your 6 months may put you somewhere around a coin flip.
If this is not the case, and he really is 'quite good', you will not win a straight 7 game race (very outside chance if it's 9-ball). One suggestion I have is to learn to play soft shots. If you're gonna miss, block the friggin pocket.