Table of Contents
Introduction xi
Chapter 1 Getting Started 1
The Basis 3
2 Chapter 2 Equipment Makes a Difference 9
"Table in the Back?"-How to Select a Table in a Commercial Poolroom 9
What to Look for in a Pool Cue 10
Chalk 18
Keep It Clean 19
Must You Accessorize? 19
Caring for Your Cue 20
3 Chapter 3 That Critical 20 Percent-The Mechanics of Playing Pool 23
Stance and Torso Position 24
Hand Position 28
The Rear Hand 30
The Bridge Hand 32
The Stroke-What Will Separate You for Life from Every Other Pool Player (Whether You Like It or Not) 40
4 Chapter 4 Aiming Kept Simple-How to Make Your Shots 49
The Point of Aim, the Point of Contact, and the Difference Between the Two 50
Finding the Point of Aim Using the Arrow System 53
Fine-Tuning Your Aiming-When and How to Make Adjustments 59
Combination Shots 61
Chapter 5 Three Keys to Cue Ball Control: The Stop Shot, the Follow Shot, and the Draw Shot 65
Your Reference Point: The Short Stop Shot 66
The Follow Shot 69
The Draw Shot 72
The Long Stop Shot 73
Chapter 6 Moving the Cue Ball Successfully 75
The Tangent Line and the Natural Path of the Cue Ball 76
Speed Control 82
Controlling Your Destiny-How to Alter the Natural Path of the Cue Ball 84
Chapter 7 "English" as a Second Language-Understanding and Applying Side-Spin 97
Understanding English 98
Applying English 100
Chapter 8 When Worlds Collide (And When You Should Make Sure They Don't) 113
Adjusting the Speed of the Cue Ball 114
When to Separate Clusters of Balls 116
When to "Bump" (Run the Cue Ball Into) Other Balls 119
Choosing Not to Run Into Object Balls 120
Chapter 9 The Other 80 Percent-Thinking Your Way Through a Pool Game 125
Relaxed Concertration 126
Trust Yourself 127
Chapter 10 Straight Pool, Eight-Ball, and Nine-Ball-The Rules of the Games and Beyond 129
Straight Pool 130
Nine-Ball 153
Eight-Ball 169
Chapter 11 Practice Makes Better (If Not Perfect) 179
Meaningful Practice 179
Drills, Exercises, and Competing 181
Chapter 12 Beyond this Book 191
Instruction 191
Videotapes 192
Magazines 193
Glossary 195
Acknowledgments 199
About the Authors 201
Index 205
