HOME       ABOUT US       CONTACT      THE VAULT       FAQ      SITE MAP      SEARCH

Happygrrls' How-To:

---

Be a pool shark...


Making a Shot

QUICK TIP Some people form a bridge by making an O-shape with their index finger and thumb. When I first started, this is how I held a cue stick. But it's not recommended that you hold the stick like this because it doesn't form a steady enough bridge. Make sure to lay your palm flat on the table for support. The only part of your hand that should lift is your thumb.

Everyone knows that an important aspect of pool is having a great stance. Not only will you intimidate your opponent (and look good while doing so) but it helps greatly for balance and to get your shots right.

1. Stand close to the table with legs perpendicular to the table.
2. Your feet should be parted at shoulder length; balance your weight equally between feet.
3. Slightly bend your knee closer to the table (the same knee on the dominant side) while keeping your back knee straight; lean towards the table (this should feel natural, not like you're auditioning for a contortionist act).
4. Grip the butt of the cue with your dominant hand.
5. The other hand goes palm down on the rail or surface of the pool table, about 10 - 15 inches away from the cue ball.
6. Lift your thumb slightly and lay the shaft of the cue (that's the first third of the cue) in the crease between the thumb and side of the hand; the stick should slide evenly and smoothly - your hand becomes the "bridge."
7. If you can't reach a shot, use the mechanical bridge.
8. Slide the stick back and forth in the bridge of your hand to get a feel for the arm movement and balance. Also makes it look like you know what you're doing.
9. Mentally draw a line from the pocket to the centre of the ball, extending the line through the ball. Aim the cue ball at this imaginary spot. If the ball cannot go directly into a pocket, then there is no shot.
10. When the stick comes into contact with the cue ball, your arm should be at a 90-degree angle; remember to follow through (extend your dominant arm in a straight line following the direction of the cue ball) - this should be a couple of inches on all shots, and a foot or more on powerful shots or breaks (but don't go crazy here and accidentally throw your stick across the room).
11. If you're breaking, hit the cue ball hard to get the balls to scatter. A good break will send at least three balls to the walls of the table and move the 8-ball from its spot.

Playing 8-Ball
This is the most common billiard game. Utilizing the standard 15 balls, the object of the game is to sink your balls (either all solid or all striped) and the 8-ball before your opponent. Keep in mind that there are many variations to pool, so it's better to double-check the rules before you get into any arguments.

When racking the balls, place the 8-ball in the middle, and alternate the rest of the balls starting from the top (i.e. solid, stripe, solid, stripe). Decide who will break, and take turns until someone sinks a ball. If you pocket a ball on the break - let's say a solid, the table is still considered "open," meaning that you don't necessarily have to go for solids. If you pocket two or more balls, the same rule applies. You do get to go again, and the next type of ball you sink is what you automatically take. If you miss, the table is open and your opponent can go for whatever they like.

Once you've determined what type of ball you are, take turns and only go for your balls. Be careful about scratching. Scratches include sinking the cue ball (even if you've sunk your own ball in the process), sinking your opponent's ball, or not hitting anything. Usually, sinking the cue ball makes you lose your turn, and your opponent can place the ball anywhere on or below the head spot (but he/she can only shoot forward). If you have sunk your ball, then it comes back out and is placed on the foot spot. If you sink your opponent's ball, you lose your turn and their ball is kept in the pocket. If you don't hit anything, but the cue has hit at least three walls of the table, then the ball stays where it is (otherwise, your opponent can place it anywhere on or below the head spot). If you intend to do a combination shot, you can only hit your own balls (some variations will allow you to hit your opponent's ball as well). Or, if you're brave and want to involve more than two balls in the combination, then make sure that the first and last balls you're hitting are your own. If you hit your opponent's ball first while sinking your ball, you lose your turn (some variations will consider that a scratch).

Okay, now you're down to the black 8-ball. Normally, this is a "called shot," meaning that you have to call the pocket that you intend to hit it into (most of the time, people will play as if every shot is a called shot, that way there are no rooms for flukes, just ability). If it goes into a wrong pocket, you lose. If you accidentally sink the black while still having some of your balls left on the table, you lose. If you miss the black altogether, you lose (although some variations just call it a scratch). If you happen to sink the 8-ball off the break, congratulations, you automatically win.

[ Variations to keep you on your toes. ]