9 Tips for Becoming a Better Pool Player

Pool can be a lot of fun to play, but let’s be honest, it’s only really enjoyable if you’re potting balls and winning games. While you can’t expect to win every game you play, you’ll want to have confidence when you step up to the table that you’ve got a fighting chance of glory. Plus, nobody wants to be that person who always looks like they’re picking up a cue for the first time, even on their 100th game.

Anybody can become a good pool player if they know how. In this article, we’ll run through nine handy tips that’ll set you on the path towards success.

Work on Your Grip and Stance

When people think about getting better at pool, they usually think about doing trick shots and getting themselves out of stick defensive positions. Those things will certainly help, but really, the key to getting better at pool is to ensure that you’re consistently getting the basics right. The most fundamental part of playing a good pool shot — which is all you’re trying to do — is to grip the cue properly and have the correct stance. Your cue should be light and loose; your front foot should be shoulder distance in front of your back foot. Those two tips alone will help to hit the ball better on a more consistent basis.

Learn the Angles

Pool is all about angles. You’re trying to hit one ball with another at an angle that will make it go into the pocket. Sometimes, you’ll need the angle of the rest to get out of a safety shot. You don’t need to be an expert in mathematics to understand where you should be hitting the ball. You can just see it with your eyes, with enough practice. One useful tip is to line the cue up against the ball that you’re going to hit and see where on the ball you would need to strike to make it go into the pocket. Then, hit the other ball onto it at that point. You’ll get close.

Watch The Pros

You can learn a lot by watching the players who are better than you are. There are plenty of pool tournaments shown on television that can help you to gain a better understanding of the sport. You may not be able to strike the ball as they do, but you’ll pick a few handy tips that can improve your play, such as which shot should be taken. Plus, you’ll see how they deal with other situations, such as when they make a mistake or when they’re trapped behind an opponent’s ball, all of which can help your own play.

Play Against Better Players

There’s only so much you can progress if you’re playing against the same people again and again. And that’s especially true if you’re consistently beating those players. If you want to get better, then you’ll need to play against better opponents. You’ll usually find higher-quality players at the pool hall rather than the bar, so head down there and see who’s around to play. Just be sure not to play for money; if they’re in a pool hall, they’ll be good. It’s better to bet on professional pool tournaments with a betting offer from OddsChecker rather than betting on your own games. Don’t worry if the better players teach a lesson or two on the table; that’s what you’re there for. Over time, you’ll likely find that you’re increasingly able to hold your own.

Learn to Choose The Correct Balls

One of the easiest ways to improve your chances of winning a pool is to select the right balls. When it’s an open table, many players opt to just pot the easiest ball that’s available to them. But this isn’t always the correct move. It’s worthwhile taking a few moments to assess the layout of the table, to see whether stripes or solids are in a better position. You might have an easy solid ball to pot, but if all the other solid balls are against the cushion, then it won’t be the right choice.

Think of the Following Shot

There’s one clear way to tell beginner pool players from more advanced players. Beginner players focus all their attention on potting the ball that’s in front of them. Better players think about the ball they’re going to and where the cue ball will be left after they’ve finished. They’ll try to set themselves up to pot the next ball rather than just hoping that luck does the work for them. It’s much easier to win games if you’re potting two balls every time it’s your turn at the table, rather than just one.

Improve Your Concentration

Concentration is a deeply undervalued asset when playing pool. While many can pot a ball, not many have the concentration skills required to pot every time they’re at the table. If you’ve played pool, then you’ll know there are times when you’re so focused that you just can’t miss. And there are other times when you’re absent-mindedly going to the table and just hitting a poor shot. If you can increase your concentration levels, then you’ll experience more time “in the zone,” which should result more frequent victories.

Improve Your Defensive Game

Most people think that winning a pool game depends on their ability to pot a ball. But that’s only some of the story. In many cases, it’ll be your defensive game that brings victory. If you’re behind, then you need to slow down your opponent, and the best way to do that is to play defensive shots that make it difficult for them to pot. Work on your shooting ability by all means, but don’t underestimate the importance of good defensive play.

Practice, Practice Practice

And finally, the best way to become a better pool player is to simply practice, practice, practice. You’ll find that you’re regularly beating part-time players if you’re committing more time to the table, especially if you’re practicing your play individually.

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