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The size of the pocket opening is just one of several measurements that determine how tight a pocket will play. The shelf depth, down angle, and back angle of the pocket are equally important. Posts by RealKingCobra discussing the conversion process he performs on Gold Crowns have a ton of...

I'd say it's possible if you were building on a solid foundation, but I don't think you can give yourself a letter rating based solely on who you've beaten recently. I think Dr Dave and some others have posted ratings games that can help you determine what level you are actually playing at...

Same here, and although nobody seems to have picked up on your closing question, I would argue that there is a ton to be gained by knowing the limits. I often play position for maximum side shots in order to avoid having to draw the ball. I find max side to be much more predictable than draw...

Kamui black soft. Aaron

Stun follow or stun run through is what I have always called it. As far as what spin to use, it really depends on the speed of the shot and the distance to the object ball. You are essentially just taking a little off of a stop shot, so that could be anything from slightly above center to...

I regularly play on 7' Diamonds as well as a GC with 4.5's. My break and run % in 9-ball is substantially higher on the little Diamonds. I attribute this to several things: I find it easier to make the wing ball using a controlled break; my % of shots missed goes down, especially for banks...

Could be a lot of things, but the possibility that would concern me the most would be something on the mental side. You need to find out exactly when the doubt comes in. If it is after the tip contacts the cueball, I wouldn't be terribly concerned. I usually know as soon as I contact the...

Thank you sir. The game of 9-ball has its flaws, but I think it is underrated by many as a strategy game, so I often try to point out opportunities for players to think a little more deeply and get creative with their strategic play. The push shot, being wide open, is a great opportunity to...

Really depends on the layout, and I would also say this is a case where I would consider the strengths/weaknesses of my opponent. My main objective when I am forced to push out is to make the most of it - be as productive as possible since I'm already at a disadvantage. I'll examine the layout...

I haven't tried to visualize it like that, but it makes perfect sense. I will be sure to offer that advice in the future when I am coaching someone on these shots. Thanks Pat! Aaron

Try breaking 1-2 diamonds from the center of the table at medium speed. On most tables the wing ball is wired from there with the magic rack. Aaron

Maybe someone more in tune with the physics of the game could provide an explanation as to why the spin would help, but I haven't seen anything in my experience that would lead me to believe that the spin itself would cause the OB to track down the rail more consistently. The best tip I ever...

Yeah, it definitely helps to know your opponent when giving weight. A smart player who knows how to take full advantage of the spot they are given can make you hate it. And, on the flip side of that, I've been in plenty of games where I'd rather give the guy the last 3 than the wild 8 just...

Depends. The wild 8 has the potential to be pretty big, even in a short race. No matter where you put the 8 in the rack, it's going to move more than the 9-ball on average, so the odds of making a money ball on the break are more than doubled. Then you have the racks where a money ball wires...

I project the target line to a point on the cloth 1 1/8" behind the OB. That gives me a point on a flat surface to aim at, which I find to be easier to visualize than either a) aiming at a point on the OB, or b) aiming at the center of an imaginary cueball. When I first began using the ghost...

Teacher, any chance of day one action being replayed during the day today? Not a big deal, but it would be cool for those of us who purchased the stream and were unable to watch last night's play. Thanks, Aaron

Yep, conservatism is the proper approach. Coincidentally, I think this is also the proper approach in short races against tougher opponents. In a race to 5 or 7, you can be penalized so heavily for your mistakes, so my goal is always to play conservatively and not miss any balls. Aaron

This is something I was thinking about recently. It probably deserves its own thread, but I though it would be cool to get everyone's thoughts on the best way to tune in on an unfamiliar table quickly. Say you only have time to shoot 5 shots, and you want to learn as much as possible about the...

Well, I'm sure they play harder, which is probably how I should have phrased that. Whether it is due to decrease in volume of leather or the compacting of what leather is there, I'm not sure. My experience with Le Pro leads me to believe that the leather fibers become more compacted over time...

Tips get harder as they wear down, so you will experience different levels of hardness throughout the normal life of any tip. I look for a tip that remains fairly constant throughout its life, and it seems that layered tips are better in this regard. Tips like LePro and Elk Master (if not milk...