When it comes to playing proper pool there are many important fundamentals. There’s utilizing the proper stance. There’s employing the correct stroke. There are even the more mundane tasks that can’t be overlooked, like forming the proper bridge or grip. Many players spend way too much time working on these aspects of their game all the while overlooking what may be the most important fundamental of all – knowing how to properly miscue.
There are three types of miscues and they are all equally important and they must be practiced in order to carry them out properly. In this segment of the Fundamentals Series we will focus on all three of these miscues.
First, there’s the “I’m going to draw the ball back 5 rails” but instead I hop the cue ball off the table miscue. To really ever be considered a player one must be able to complete this miscue at a moment’s notice. For example, you’re staring down a long, straight-in eight ball and the nine is all the way at the other end of the table. This is the perfect time to employ this miscue. If done properly, instead of coming up short on your draw stroke and having all three people that are watching question your manlihood you can just shrug it off while looking at your tip and shaking your head.
The second type of miscue is the Hustler’s Miscue. This miscue was once thought to be extinct but with the rise of league play this miscue has become popular again. If your goal in life is to spend lots of time and money playing bar league pool in the hopes of winning a free trip to Vegas as opposed to just paying for a trip out of your own pocket, then this is the miscue for you. Before we discuss the actual method used to employ this type of miscue I must first mention that there’s a required wink between player and team captain that must be carried out at the conclusion of the Hustler’s Miscue. This wink is just an acknowledgment between the two of you that you’re on the same page. You both know that while you are more than capable of running three balls in a row, it’s probably best that you never run more than two.
So how do you do the Hustler’s Miscue? Well, there are two methods that are most popular and they both get the job done. The first way is to secretly wipe all the chalk off of your tip prior to your trip to the table. However, if people are watching you closely just pretend to be doing some tip maintenance and then after approaching the table proceed to chalk your tip BUT do so with the bottom side of the cube. The second method and the one that’s become more popular in recent years is to have a dripping wet cube of chalk with you; the wetter the better. Pull out this cube of chalk at just the right time and your handicap may even go down. Whichever method you decide on don’t forget the obligatory wink. After all, you wouldn’t want anybody to think you miscued on accident would you?
The third type of miscue that we will look at is the scoop-jump miscue. This miscue must be added to your repertoire if you want to be viewed as a serious player by those that don’t play the game. This miscue is best used in the bar room environment. Have you ever been hooked on the eight ball and knew that if you missed not only would you lose the game but you would also lose out on a free beer? If so, this is the miscue for you. All you have to do is aim and hit the spot where the cue ball touches the cloth. The cue ball will amazingly fly up into the air, much to the amazement of the onlookers. You will win the free beer and probably even leave the bar with your opponent’s lady friend. Most importantly, for weeks people will be retelling the story of the great jump shot that they saw. You will become a legend!
In conclusion, you can spend countless hours working on the more traditional fundamentals or you can spend just a few minutes working on these three miscues. While you may not necessarily become a better player, you will certainly become a more successful one. You will get the beer, you will get the girl, and most importantly you will get the lower handicap.
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There are three types of miscues and they are all equally important and they must be practiced in order to carry them out properly. In this segment of the Fundamentals Series we will focus on all three of these miscues.
First, there’s the “I’m going to draw the ball back 5 rails” but instead I hop the cue ball off the table miscue. To really ever be considered a player one must be able to complete this miscue at a moment’s notice. For example, you’re staring down a long, straight-in eight ball and the nine is all the way at the other end of the table. This is the perfect time to employ this miscue. If done properly, instead of coming up short on your draw stroke and having all three people that are watching question your manlihood you can just shrug it off while looking at your tip and shaking your head.
The second type of miscue is the Hustler’s Miscue. This miscue was once thought to be extinct but with the rise of league play this miscue has become popular again. If your goal in life is to spend lots of time and money playing bar league pool in the hopes of winning a free trip to Vegas as opposed to just paying for a trip out of your own pocket, then this is the miscue for you. Before we discuss the actual method used to employ this type of miscue I must first mention that there’s a required wink between player and team captain that must be carried out at the conclusion of the Hustler’s Miscue. This wink is just an acknowledgment between the two of you that you’re on the same page. You both know that while you are more than capable of running three balls in a row, it’s probably best that you never run more than two.
So how do you do the Hustler’s Miscue? Well, there are two methods that are most popular and they both get the job done. The first way is to secretly wipe all the chalk off of your tip prior to your trip to the table. However, if people are watching you closely just pretend to be doing some tip maintenance and then after approaching the table proceed to chalk your tip BUT do so with the bottom side of the cube. The second method and the one that’s become more popular in recent years is to have a dripping wet cube of chalk with you; the wetter the better. Pull out this cube of chalk at just the right time and your handicap may even go down. Whichever method you decide on don’t forget the obligatory wink. After all, you wouldn’t want anybody to think you miscued on accident would you?
The third type of miscue that we will look at is the scoop-jump miscue. This miscue must be added to your repertoire if you want to be viewed as a serious player by those that don’t play the game. This miscue is best used in the bar room environment. Have you ever been hooked on the eight ball and knew that if you missed not only would you lose the game but you would also lose out on a free beer? If so, this is the miscue for you. All you have to do is aim and hit the spot where the cue ball touches the cloth. The cue ball will amazingly fly up into the air, much to the amazement of the onlookers. You will win the free beer and probably even leave the bar with your opponent’s lady friend. Most importantly, for weeks people will be retelling the story of the great jump shot that they saw. You will become a legend!
In conclusion, you can spend countless hours working on the more traditional fundamentals or you can spend just a few minutes working on these three miscues. While you may not necessarily become a better player, you will certainly become a more successful one. You will get the beer, you will get the girl, and most importantly you will get the lower handicap.
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