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A question to those that play the game more than I do: First the situation. I'm playing on a ball-return table, so balls have to be taken out of the return and put on the correct side of a rack attached to the table for score-keeping. I broke the first game, and when my opponent broke in...

This is true, because of the height of the rails, but it's possible to break with a pretty-close-to-level stroke, which doesn't result in much, if any, air-time for the CB after it hits the rack. -Andrew

I think you're right. Rifling into a side pocket means you're not hitting the 1-ball full. If you made the same error, accuracy-wise, in your "pop up" break, the CB would fly off the table. Coming back to scratch in an uptable corner means you put draw on the CB, and the "pop up" break will...

Of all the negative things I've ever heard said about MD, "he's not that good at 10-ball" has never been one of them. -Andrew

I also find the "every Tom, Dick, and Harry don't miss a ball" quote to be quite interesting. He seems to imply that more of today's amateur players are run-out players than the amateurs of a generation ago. I've only been playing and following pool for about a decade, but I'm curious whether...

You're right about energy being proportional to speed^2, but you're wrong about the 7 diamonds, because the distance the ball rolls before stopping is also proportional to speed^2. Your greater point seems to be that the math gets complicated quickly, and that's quite true. While I do believe...

Play a lot and watch a lot of pool. You get a sense for how much of its speed the CB will retain after cutting a ball at a certain angle with forward roll, stun, slight draw, etc. A formula could be derived, but it wouldn't help, even as a stop-gap until you have more experience to draw from...

That's how I've always seen the call shot/call safe rules implemented. A pocketed ball on a called safety means the incoming player has the option of whether to shoot or give it back. -Andrew

Without standing at the table and looking right down the line of the shot, I think it's impossible to say whether the opening she had was good enough that she was right to try for it, or not. She's a great player, though, and the fact that she decided it was an opportunity she'd rather take...

When playing position for a ball on the rail, whenever possible I like to hit that rail and have the CB bounce out a little for position, as opposed to trying to stop the CB on its way to the rail. It's much much easier to get a good angle when you can hit the rail and come off a little. Also...

Complaining about a room being too smoky is fair game, but deciding not to go back based on that is silly in my opinion. My pool world-view admits one and only one valid reason to choose a pool room to play in: is it the one where the best players in the area are playing? If so, that's where...

It is poor sportsmanship. But on the other hand, they should be allowed to celebrate their win. I think a good rule of thumb would be to wait until after the handshake. Once the two players have shaken hands and returned to their respective corners, then you celebrate the win with your team...

I've seen players do this. But I've never seen a good player do this. -Andrew

So you're talking about a shot from distance that has to be sliding at impact, but with slow speed and sidespin? I have trouble imagining a situation where that's the only way to achieve the result you want. And if it's not the only way, the other way is easier. No, low right will turn into...

Gambling, playing tournaments, and playing in front of an audience are just three different (but not mutually exclusive) ways of playing under pressure. Playing under pressure reveals your weaknesses, and teaches you to dig deep to find your best game. All 3 ways work for me, although if my...

Our open was in June in North Carolina. Yours is the British Open. -Andrew

What do you consider "very long"? I do think there's much to be learned from playing 4+ hours non-stop. Most I've ever done is probably around 9, so I can't weigh in on whether 10+ hour marathon sessions are critical to one's development. -Andrew

I think if you're not using competition to measure, you're missing the point. For instance, you mention being able to hit the right 1/4 ball off a two-rail kick, which does come up in a few kick-safes from time to time. But if you're a B player, I'm rather certain that 2-rail kicking ability...

In every pool tournament I've ever played in, you write it down as if the match WAS played, with Ralf losing (by forfeit). Problem solved. -Andrew

While standing back, I'm looking back and forth from CB to OB to pocket. As I step into the shot and place my bridge hand on the table, it's OB. Once I'm down in my stance I'll look at the CB to get my tip placement right. Then I focus back on the OB before pulling the trigger. -Andrew