It's funny you should ask this question. When I returned home last night, I had a message from a fellow My Spacer. I wouldn't call her a banger, but she wants to improve and is feeling a little low right now:
----------------- Original Message -----------------
From:
Date: May 1, 2007 9:56 AM
hey how have things been?
I just wanted to know how I can get help with my speed control.
That's one of my biggest reasons as to why I lose.
I tested how hard/soft I have to hit the cue ball by doing the lagging thing but how can I tell how hard/soft to hit something?
I think it's like golf. And if the ball is close to the pocket, you don't really have to hit hard.
I just saw my scores on the apa site. I hate it, I am ranked the lowest.
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And my reply:
From: rackmsuckr
Date: May 1, 2007 9:26 PM
Aww _____, I'm sorry about that. The good thing is that there is nowhere else to go but up!
The thing about speed is that it all depends on how full or thin you hit the ball. If you hit the edge of a ball thinly, it has nothing to slow it down, so that the same arm strength you hit a ball with full on, will take off on a thin hit. On a fast table, that can be disastrous and mean the difference between being at one end of the table or the other, much less than getting it within a couple inches.
The truth about pool is that everything about speed is learned with trial and error and hitting the shots a million times. Not very encouraging, but here's a drill that may help.
Sit a ball in the jaws of the side pocket. Put your cue ball consistently about 2 or 3 feet away from the OB (mark where the ball starts from with a wetted finger so you can recreate the starting point) and a few inches off to the side, so you can hit it full without scratching (so it will hit the rail after contact).
Now make the ball, hitting it as full and square as you can without scratching, with a medium stroke. You need to find what a medium stroke is for you, so that you can soften it to become soft, and hit it harder for a firm hit. Don't worry if you scratch or not. The purpose is to get the 'feel' of the hit and what medium is to you.
Now start from the same starting point, with the same medium stroke, but aim to hit only half of the object ball. You will see that the ball rebounds much easier (less mass to stop it) and the cueball is going to travel farther.
Now do the same thing, but only make the edge of the cueball hit the edge of the object ball. Using the same amount of force, you will see the cueball zing back and forth.
Conversely, remember this principle. The less of the object ball you hit, the more force it will take to get it to the pocket. So if you have a ball that you have to do an extreme backcut into the corner, that is even just a foot away from the pocket, you need to hit it firmly for it to make it to the pocket. Meanwhile, whitey is zooming around the table, looking for a hole to scratch in! So you have to be careful there too. Some people will bank so they can hit in a straighter line and hit the ball fuller and control whitey.
You will want to do the same drill with the object ball in the corner pockets too, so you can gauge the distance traveled up and back the table.
Of course, all cloth has a different speed, but it is critical to know how to adjust. Then there are things like English that will speed up or slow down the shot. There is also a slough (sluff) stroke that kills the ball.
And I don't know how much you play safeties, but speed is critical...either getting a ball to a rail, or hiding one or both balls.
I also visited your page. If that is a picture of you, it looks like your grip hand is too far back on the cue, which will make you come through farther or shorter, depending on your followthrough stroke, because you are already out too far. Your hand/wrist/forearm needs to be absolutely perpendicular to the floor in the ready position/stance.
I would suggest that you get a lesson from a pro or BCA instructor in your neighborhood, that will make slight adjustments to your fundamentals to make the game easier and address your speed issues.
Good luck _______, and make sure to keep me updated on your climb through the ranks!
Linda
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I agree with the poster that feels that playing at least 3 balls ahead is going to make the biggest difference if the player is really wanting to learn patterns and improve their game.
I help newbies out all the time in the poolroom, with specific questions. And I also give lessons and seminars that are popular with lady beginners/intermediates. I start out with a little history of the game, etiquette, and then go into the fundamentals, tangent line, etc.
We all started at the banger stage, and all can excel depending on the time put in.
She has now replied that she is finding a BCA instructor today in her area.
Calling a new player a Banger is Taboo. But calling a new Poster a Troll is just fine. 
