Playing & teaching a beginner

Roy Steffensen

Roy Steffensen

locksmith
Silver Member
My brother has just recently started to play pool, and he wants to play to get better.

I like it, because it will give me more table-time since I have no one to play with near me.

The problem is that I need to get ideas how to practice/play together so it won't be boring for any of us.

We have played 9-ball against eachother, with me giving him the 3 and out and not being allowed to play safeties. I won and got bored with this, and can not play 9-ball matches against him, yet.

We then played the ghost, alternate rack. He played 1 rack against the 3-ball ghost, then I played 1 rack against the 9-ball ghost and so on. That worked better, and I think this can be a good way to practice for both of us.

I will teach him how to play 14-1, and force him to switch between playing the ghost and 14-1 when he has time to practice alone. I never practiced 14-1 when I started, but I think this will be an advantage for him.

He has played a little pool before, not much, but last time we played he was capable of running 4 balls plus the 8-ball to win a game. He knows about follow and draw, and is capable of using it on easy shots, and he understands the principle of english but I've told him to try it as little as possible till he improves his pocketing skills. He doesn't know much about strategy, and by his standard safeties are only played by weak people.

We're gonna play a little this weekend (he is a fulltime single dad for 2 kids, has the weekend off), and he wants to play some 8-ball. I think that if I will have to bank a shot every rack + make the 8-ball in the last pocket, this can be challenging, for a while.

Anyone have ideas for how we can practice together? I rank myself as an A-player.

I love the thought of having someone to practice with, but I hate the thought of picking up bad habits like playing weak safeties, take shots for granted etc because I am playing a beginner too much.
 
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If/When u play sets, you could also try him winning 2 games to your 1. So if u win a game, u mark one game and if he wins one, then he marks 2 games. Try also giving him a hand span when he shoots. And also in case you're not doing this already, have him explain to you what he's going to do before he shoots. and vise versa explain to him what you're doing and why before you shoot. My boyfriend has played for 18 years and I've only been playing for 6. He is a strong A player and these are different ways we started practicing together 5 years ago that really helped and now I play pretty close to his speed when we practice. We picked a lot of these ways to play because they challenged and improved my game as well as his. And a good game to try is a game we made up (at least I think we made it up) we call 3 foul 9 ball. Play 9 ball or 10 ball, but the only way you can win a game is to 3 foul your opponent. If you pocket the last ball, then re-rack the balls and the fouls carry over into the next rack. You can give weight in this game by receiving less fouls and giving more fouls, for ex. you can only foul twice, where as he can foul 3 or 4 times. And straight pool is a GREAT idea.
 
I found a good game to play against my girlfriend -- kind of like one of the 8-ball games you mentioned.

Each rack, I have to hit some fancy shots, which are anything not straight in -- banks, kicks, combos, caroms, etc. For the first rack, I have to make 4 fancy shots (and 4 regular shots). If I win, the next rack I have to make 5 fancy shots and 3 regular shots. If she wins, I have to make one less fancy shot the next rack.

It's fun for both of us, and the handicapping lets us get pretty competitive -- we seem to hover around 4 or 5 fancy shots.
 
Try playing 6 pocket pool. Pretty much it is you against the rack. No safeties. One person breaks (normal 8 Ball racking) and then run as many balls in (called shot is the rule but for a newbie maybe let him slide on that) pockets as you can. As soon as you miss or foul your game is over and count how many balls you made and that is your score. The next player racks and breaks.

http://www.6pocketleague.com/03_rules.asp?pg=3

This is one of my practice methods I use and especially when I am practicing alone!
 
I can tell you this, give him games on-the-wire or give him balls or some other weight, but DO NOT ease up on your game to make him feel better. He will learn a ton from watching what YOU do at the table. Encourage him to ask questions about your shot selection/pattern/strategy. When I teach a beginner, I like to talk my way through the rack to show them what I'm looking for and what I'm thinking. If he truly wants to learn the game and make improvements, he should take all the FREE advice from you as he can take in in any given day. From what I've read in your posts, you are a talented pool player and you are just what your brother needs to improve HIS playing. Tell him to keep his head down and his enthusiasm up. Good luck!!!

Maniac
 
I would just coach him to the point where he could take at least a few games from me on his own.

I don't think either of you will have much fun if you just crush him all day long.
 
I think you're right to play 8-ball instead of 9-ball. One idea for 8-ball is to play so that he only needs to run 3 or 4 balls and then must shoot at the 8. As soon as he attempts a shot at the 8, you remove his remaining balls from the table if he misses, so he can only shoot at the 8 for the rest of the game. You still have to run the rest of yours. A bit odd, but maybe it would work for you guys.

Another idea I would suggest would be playing him either left-handed (assuming you're a righty) or one-handed. It may sound gimmicky, but it's really not, and you'll not only improve your skills (no more need to use a bridge), but you'll also level the playing field a bit. I used to do this in college, and I really enjoy being able to play with either hand or even only one hand now.

Banking every ball is a good idea, assuming you like or at least don't mind banking. You'll improve your bank skills, he'll learn some banks, and it will level the playing field again.

Finally, you'll have to help him with the fundamentals a little bit every time you play as we all know you're only going to get so good if you're holding the cue right at the bumper. If he's serious about getting better, he should do some simple drills on his own also. Nothing too crazy, just some light stuff to reinforce the basics.
 
I started practicing the other hand when I was playing with a friend of mine. It's useful in a lot of situations. Nobody knows my off hand speed. Muahaha.
 
a version of the mr/mrs game might work well...

10 ball, you have to take the balls in numerical order, he can take them in any order (10 last of course). Maybe even track balls instead of games... all most a mix up between 14.1 & 10 ball... 10 ball racks, race to 100 balls. you go in order, he takes anyball.
 
When my good friend started helping me learn the game, we would play 8-ball, and he would usually run a few balls, then "just" miss, so that I could get another shot at the table. It took me a while to figure out why he was missing ;)

I think that was also his way of practicing creative saftey play. Two-way shots, as well. He would also try the more difficult shots as he got to the end of the rack; multi-rail banks, combinations, kicks, long cut-shots. Again, more practice for him, and more tries at the table for me. I was also learning by watching how he worked those types of shots, stuff I would never be able to see on my own, much less attempt. The more we play, the easier it is for me to "see" the table as a result.

Now when we play, (and the more he has taught me) we play straight up, and he doesn't practice those particular types of "safeties" any more. At least not very often. I win some, lose more, always learn, and we have a fine time playing. And my game against people more my speed has gotten MUCH better as a result.
 
Just don't play him one-handed opposite handed because practicing before we play is not allowed.

Seriously, a great way for you to improve your all around game would be to shoot opposite handed or use a bridge for every shot. You continue to try to play perfect shape while improving areas of your game that usually get overlooked.

Another good option is for you to play 8 ball in rotation while he can shoot any order. You will improve running out with many obstacles and he will get more opportunities to shoot and practice safeties. As he gets better, you should not be able to win this way if you play ball-in-hand.
 
Good Luck With that....

i have found that while giving the lessons it will allow your game to improve. it helps you remember all the subtle nuances of the game, and incorperate them back into yours.

plus as your student gets better, it makes you get sharper since you have to play in better form so your student can learn off of you.

Good Luck
Steve
 
Play 9-ball or 10-ball where you have to bank a ball in for it to count, but your brother just plays by regular rules. If you shoot a ball straight in without banking it, your brother gets control of the table. You can still give him the 3-out or whatever you like. This is what I do with some of my friends who are not that good at pool yet (except usually we'll be playing 8-ball or cutthroat).

Or you can play him opposite handed or with the bridge on every shot.

You can change it up to where you're helping him but at the same time working on different aspects of your game.
 
player vs amateur game

I play my father who is just a beginner the following game.

It's 8 ball where he has to make any of his 3 balls plus the 8. I have to make all of mine plus whatever he has left in rotation.

You can adjust the amount of balls they need to keep it close, but I ususally beat him up pretty good. Sometimes I have to bank the 8 also.
 
Ball in hand

Try playing rotation with you giving him ball in hand everytime he comes to the table. This will allow you to play safe just for the sake of practice and will give him the chance to start each run with ideal position and should help him to learn the basics quicker than having to kick and bank at balls to get started. At the same time you can run racks and work on safes without him being totally left out.
 
Try one pocket

Give him a good amount of weight and play that your first shot each turn has to be a bank or kick, eliminating the easy run outs, or do 4 or 5 no-count. Keep doing the 14.1 and add the no-count rule for you. Pinoy rotation could work well too. Good luck, sounds like a blast.

Kai
 
two sugestions:
1: play 99 rack 9 ball you get 2 points for a ball on the break, take ball in hand after break and try and run out turn ends after a miss, you get 1 pt for all balls made. play 9 frames possible total perferct score of 99. you can keep a log and see the improvement as you play.

2: play 8 ball after choice of balls is made let him take x number of balls off the table then continue.
 
This is an easy one, ghost scotch play. Play any game you want, you shoot then they shoot. You are forced to play great shape while explaining to them what to do during their shot. Win - win. happy playing.
 
I like this idea best. Whether you play 8ball or 9ball, give him ball in hand to start everying inning. If you need to, give him ball-in-hand on every shot! :eek:
I bet he'll win a few games that way!:D

Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com

The Grinder said:
Try playing rotation with you giving him ball in hand everytime he comes to the table. This will allow you to play safe just for the sake of practice and will give him the chance to start each run with ideal position and should help him to learn the basics quicker than having to kick and bank at balls to get started. At the same time you can run racks and work on safes without him being totally left out.
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