What beginner pool tip do you wish you learned sooner?

[Mr Machine]

Get up.

If it doesn’t look right, it isn’t right
& “eeeehhh, it’ll go…” ain’t gonna put it in.

Get up and start over.

 

[WobblyStroke]

Even the term 'beginner' casts a wide net so advice will vary. However it always adheres to 'plug the biggest holes first'. Basically, try to fix their one biggest problem causing the most suckage and leave them be for a while. Less is more. General order of big holes as I see em....

1. Be able to hit where you're aiming. Addressing this may need stance/grip/general setup advice
2. Learn where to aim
3. Learn how to use natural roll and stun for position and begin to identify 'connected balls' for basic pattern play.

Get those 3 down and you are no longer a raw beginner and can take the entrance exam into intermediate status... spin.

Usually, pointing a beginner to a YT resource like Dr. Dave vids is enough. Then they can tackle subjects as needed on their own and leave you alone.

 

[straightline]

The graph shows that a rolling cue ball produces follow at near full-ball hits which is nothing new. What is interesting is how it also produces follow at really thin shots (and explains some of my scratching for very thin shots near pockets).
.
As far as the half-ball hit, that produces close enough to 30-degree cue-ball direction for my play.

The rolling ball is always trying to go in the direction of the initial roll. Conversely, draw on a thin hit will bend the ball away from the tangent line. The effect is very pronounce when a soft stroke is used and the balls are close together.

 

[Lowell]

The rolling ball is always trying to go in the direction of the initial roll. Conversely, draw on a thin hit will bend the ball away from the tangent line. The effect is very pronounce when a soft stroke is used and the balls are close together.

Does the very thin hit on said draw shot result in less draw action?

 

[straightline]

Does the very thin hit on said draw shot result in less draw action?

There is no impact for the ball to reverse direction if that's what you mean. If you hit very low, the ball will slow down and pull away from the tangent line instead of trying to cross it. The closer the cue ball is to the object ball, the slower you can hit it to see the effect.

 

[Bob Jewett]

Does the very thin hit on said draw shot result in less draw action?

It depends on what you mean by "draw action". The more cut angle you have, the less angle change from the 90-degree rule that draw can cause. A very, very thin hit will have almost no angle change from draw, just as follow on a very thin hit will not make much difference in the path of the cue ball. But this is easy enough to try for yourself on the table.

 

[CajunPopeye]

Learn the banks. 1 rail, 2 rail, 3 or more. Then practice the cuts/walks.

 

[CajunPopeye]

Practice on the 9 footers, if you can. Making shots through all the "trees" becomes easier on bar boxes after that.

 

[Paul Bell]

Most players don't consider a very thin hit a follow shot.

What I mean is that in a follow shot, the cue ball continues it's straight-line path. In a very thin shot with cue ball with top spin, the cue ball also follows it's straight-line path.

 

[Swighey]

Some really wild definitions of beginner on this thread.

 

[Matt_24]

How to get in line.

 

[fastone371]

When they are using the cushions for position--after speed, and maybe also using follow/draw to affect the tangent line deviation.

However, I mostly agree, because I don't think most 'beginners' have any idea what the sidespin is for. Like, they think it helps them pot balls--and I do realize that for some shots it can--but because they don't already understand positioning with speed, and/or controlling the cue ball with top/bottom, they don't realize that hitting side doesn't really do anything for them. More to the point, they don't know what it *should* do for them.

In other words 'you don't know what you don't know".

 

[Justaneng]

1) Identify your goals as a pool player. If you’re a 26 year old APA-3 with a pregnant fiancée, you’re never making a Mosconi Cup team. Your peak will be some amateur level below that, and you get to choose what it is!

2) Prioritize fun, even in practice. If pool elevates itself and becomes an obsession or your top hobby, then you’ll feel ok putting in “work.” Even banging balls at Bob’s corner tavern every Thursday night is better than running drills for 2 hours one day and then putting up your cues for the next 3 years.

3)I think a common theme for experienced players is to wish that they had worked on fundamentals more at the start. However, if they literally did that, would they ever stick with pool long enough to become experienced?

We don’t start developing baseball players by having their first few years consisting solely of batting off a Tee. Kids practice twice and are thrown into T-ball games.

In this regard I think early introduction of spin is necessary, even if it’s not the optimal way to generate a pool player in a lab. The tricks you can use to move a cue ball are the “a-ha!” that’s there’s more to pool than just making shots, and this is the hook that creates the obsession.

 

[Lowell]

1) Identify your goals as a pool player. If you’re a 26 year old APA-3 with a pregnant fiancée, you’re never making a Mosconi Cup team. Your peak will be some amateur level below that, and you get to choose what it is!

2) Prioritize fun, even in practice. If pool elevates itself and becomes an obsession or your top hobby, then you’ll feel ok putting in “work.” Even banging balls at Bob’s corner tavern every Thursday night is better than running drills for 2 hours one day and then putting up your cues for the next 3 years.

3)I think a common theme for experienced players is to wish that they had worked on fundamentals more at the start. However, if they literally did that, would they ever stick with pool long enough to become experienced?

We don’t start developing baseball players by having their first few years consisting solely of batting off a Tee. Kids practice twice and are thrown into T-ball games.

In this regard I think early introduction of spin is necessary, even if it’s not the optimal way to generate a pool player in a lab. The tricks you can use to move a cue ball are the “a-ha!” that’s there’s more to pool than just making shots, and this is the hook that creates the obsession.

I'm a 31 year old APA 4 (got into pool 2 years ago) and I want to at least reach the point of being a strong enough 6 to play Masters by age 35.

I'm hoping that's feasible, but often when I feel like I'm getting better I end up choking away a match I could have won.

In regards to your point about having fun, that's why I disagree with those who say beginners looking to get better should only do drills and not play racks. Playing actual games (whether in league or at bars) is just too fun for me to give up, and it has still taught me a decent amount.

 

[j2pac]

I'm a 31 year old APA 4 (got into pool 2 years ago) and I want to at least reach the point of being a strong enough 6 to play Masters by age 35.

I'm hoping that's feasible, but often when I feel like I'm getting better I end up choking away a match I could have won.

In regards to your point about having fun, that's why I disagree with those who say beginners looking to get better should only do drills and not play racks. Playing actual games (whether in league or at bars) is just too fun for me to give up, and it has still taught me a decent amount.

Some good advice that was given to me here in this forum, as it relates to the 8 Ball. When shooting the 8, pretend that you still have another ball on the table. Try to play shape on that imaginary ball. It will/should help keep you focused as you continue through the 8.

 

[CocoboloCowboy]

Buy and read 99 Critical Shots, author Ray Martin.

Master what Ray Teaches. You will build your skill if you practice the wisdom in the book.