Top 10 Things Pool Players Do Wrong … and How to Fix Them

dr_dave · Nov 1, 2018

I just posted a new video on YouTube:

NV J.13 - Top 10 Things Pool Players Do Wrong … and How to Fix Them

Check it out. I identify and offer advice for how to correct the following top 10 things many pool players do wrong:
1.) Cue Elevation
2.) Sloppy Bridge
3.) High Stance
4.) Poor Alignment and Aim
5.) Cue and Eye Motion
6.) No Pre-Shot Routine
7.) Sidespin
8.) Tight Grip
9.) Bad Stroke
10.) Head and Body Motion

I look forward to your feedback, comments, and questions.

Enjoy,
Dave

dr_dave · Nov 1, 2018

FYI, here are links from the YouTube video description with more information and demonstrations related to everything in the video:

fundamentals "best practices" check-list document:
https://billiards.colostate.edu/resources/fundamentals_check_list.pdf
grip:
https://billiards.colostate.edu/threads/grip.html
bridge:
https://billiards.colostate.edu/threads/bridge.html
stance:
https://billiards.colostate.edu/threads/stance.html
vision center:
https://billiards.colostate.edu/threads/eyes.html#vision_center
pre-shot routine:
https://billiards.colostate.edu/threads/pre-shot_routine.html
stroke:
https://billiards.colostate.edu/threads/stroke.html
sidespin:
https://billiards.colostate.edu/threads/english.html

Here's a good video demonstrating examples of how and when to use sidespin:
https://youtu.be/EG29YjLC7aM
Here's a good video demonstrating the 10 most important shots in pool:
https://youtu.be/HqAb4mWEkps

Kickin' Chicken · Nov 1, 2018

very much appreciated Dr Dave.

your info is extremely helpful! :thumbup:

best,
brian kc

dr_dave · Nov 1, 2018

Kickin' Chicken said:
very much appreciated Dr Dave.

your info is extremely helpful! :thumbup:

best,
brian kc

Thanks! I'm glad you liked it.

Catch you later,
Dave

Coop1701 · Nov 1, 2018

Great video. Shared this with my pool teammates.

dr_dave · Nov 1, 2018

Coop1701 said:
Great video. Shared this with my pool teammates.

Thanks. I hope it helps elevate your teammates a little.

Regards,
Dave

sjm · Nov 1, 2018

Great list, Dave,but no list is complete without "poor conceptualization", meaning bad reasoning and decision making.

I think good planning and good execution are equally important ingredients of playing excellence. Your list is restricted to execution. Many a shot goes wrong even before a player gets over the cue ball.

Runner · Nov 1, 2018

#11 Jumping up on a shot.. I guess that's body motion #10?

#12 Changing your mind as you're down on a shot.

Blue · Nov 1, 2018

You must spread some Reputation around before giving it to dr_dave again.

nine_ball6970 · Nov 1, 2018

I am working on most of these as we speak. It is a journey and takes hard work. Thank you for posting,

Bob Jewett · Nov 1, 2018

Runner said:
#11 Jumping up on a shot.. I guess that's body motion #10?

#12 Changing your mind as you're down on a shot.

#12 is more or less covered in the pre-shot routine. No major changes without getting back up.

dr_dave · Nov 1, 2018

sjm said:
Great list

Thanks.

sjm said:
Dave,but no list is complete without "poor conceptualization", meaning bad reasoning and decision making. I think good planning and good execution are equally important ingredients of playing excellence. Your list is restricted to execution. Many a shot goes wrong even before a player gets over the cue ball.

Good point. FYI, my "pre-shot routine" section, starting at the 4:27 point in the video, does briefly mention conceptualizing, visualization, reasoning, and decision making. Some people don't do this at all, and many do it wrong (as you point out).

"Speed selection and control" is another important one. That was the last item I cut from my extremely long initial list to get down to 10.

"CB control choices and execution" is another important category, but I already cover that in great detail in so many other videos.

FYI, my other recent "Top 10" video covers many of the non "execution" aspects of good pool playing (along with also how to execute after the non-execution stuff is decided). If you haven't seen it yet, check it out:

NV J.10 - Top 10 Pool Shots Every Player Must Know!!!

Enjoy,
Dave

dr_dave · Nov 1, 2018

Runner said:
#11 Jumping up on a shot.. I guess that's body motion #10?

Yep. That's an important part of #10 (which I demonstrate quite well at the 9:32 point in the video ... I'm good at that one being an impatient type of person in general).

Runner said:
#12 Changing your mind as you're down on a shot.

Agreed. That's huge. I mention it in the "pre-shot routine" section of the video.

Regards,
Dave

dr_dave · Nov 1, 2018

Blue said:
You must spread some Reputation around before giving it to dr_dave again.

Thanks. I'm glad you liked it.

Catch you later,
Dave

dr_dave · Nov 1, 2018

nine_ball6970 said:
I am working on most of these as we speak. It is a journey and takes hard work. Thank you for posting,

I agree about the "journey." I've made many changes to my stance and stroke in the last couple of years. And after watching my recent videos, there are still some things I need to keep working on (slight head motion just before or during the shot, I think because I anticipate the cue hitting or rubbing on my chin; non-straight follow-through on some shots, especially power shots; some unwanted elbow drop on follow shots; sometimes decelerating instead of finishing the stroke, etc.).

This game requires continual improvement, with no end in sight.

Regards,
Dave

Runner · Nov 1, 2018

dr_dave said:
Yep. That's an important part of #10 (which I demonstrate quite well at the 9:32 point in the video ... I'm good at that one being an impatient type of person in general).

Agreed. That's huge. I mention it in the "pre-shot routine" section of the video.

Regards,
Dave

Well done, Sir!

dr_dave · Nov 1, 2018

Runner said:
dr_dave said:

Yep. That's an important part of #10 (which I demonstrate quite well at the 9:32 point in the video ... I'm good at that one being an impatient type of person in general).

Agreed. That's huge. I mention it in the "pre-shot routine" section of the video.

Click to expand...

Well done, Sir!

Thanks.

Catch you later,
Dave

ghost ball · Nov 1, 2018

#13, Thinking pool playing is a profession.

ChrisinNC · Nov 1, 2018

Dave, here's one to add to your list for guys only - trying to break so hard trying to impress someone/anyone with the power/noise of their break, that they lose complete control of the cue ball, mis-hit or miscue, or send the cue ball completely off the table. How many times have we all seen this?

dr_dave · Nov 1, 2018

ghost ball said:
#13, Thinking pool playing is a profession.

Good one!

Regards,
Dave

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