Goal Setting for Billiards?

I am a marathon runner and am always setting goals to improve my training to ultimately improve my race time. As I meet goals, I set new ones. It's a continuous process. I came across an article about setting goals for billiards and it caught my eye. I never thought about setting goals to improve my billiard play. I am not sure why I never thought about setting goals for billiards when I set them for so many other things.

There are so many goals to make if you want to improve your game. Setting goals for improving or increase your run, be the best player on your league or between friends, mastor a certain shot, etc. Make sure you set short term goals as well as long term goals and make them realistic. Set out a time frame to accomplish your goals and plan accordingly in order to meet them. Set a practice schedule and determine what needs to be focused on.

I would like to improve on my run of pocketed billiard shots. I currently spend more time running than playing pool but plan on uping my practice time. I would like to improve my run by one ball a week or 3 to 4 balls a month.  I might grab a Jim Rempe Training Ball or a CueSight Precision Training Ball for some help. For other great billiard supplies and training tools, visit www.billiardballsandmore.com.

Good luck with your goals!!

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Billiard Cues for Beginners

There are a lot of different billiard cues available on the market and you might be having a hard time deciding which cue is best for you. Finding the perfect cue is not an easy process, it is actually more of an on-going process. If you are a beginner billiards player, a one piece cue is common. One piece cues are less expensive, which is definitely a benefit to players just starting out. No need to spend a lot of money on something if you are not sure you will stick with the game. The major downside to one-piece cues is that they may be difficult to transport, which is the reason for the introduction of two-piece cues. Two-piece cues are made up of a shaft and butt component. These two pieces are connected at the joint in the middle of the cue. Two-piece cues are more expensive but if you plan on traveling a lot with your cue, the two-piece might be a better fit for you. If you plan on playing billiards at home, a one-piece cue will work great. A two-piece cue can help in difficult, tight situations. Removing the butt portion of the cue to reduce the length can help with shots in tight corners. Visit www.billiardballsandmore.com for great cues available.

The Cue for You

Interested in billiards and looking for a cue stick? Not sure what to look for?  There are some things to consider and look for when choosing a cue if you are just beginning to play the game. First off, if interest got the best of you about the game, do not go overboard on the price. Make sure that billiards is a game that you find fun and plan to keep up with before spending a lot of money on a cue. Even then, unless you want a custom cue stick, less expensive cues can win. The true talent is in the player!! 

There are two major pieces to a cue: the butt and the shaft. The shaft is the most important part to consider; the butt is more for providing its looks. Pool cues come in all different colors and designs which can add a little more fun to the game.

Cue sticks come in different weights. The butt carries the weight so try cues with different weights until you find one that you feel comfortable with. You want a cue that is easy to use, you are comfortable with and can balance well.

The shaft and tip are important for ball control. The shaft should be stiff and straight. To test for straightness, lay the cue stick on the table and roll it back and forth. Watch the shaft; a crooked stick with be very noticable. The softer the tip, the more you will feel on the cue ball. Beginners might want to start with a softer tip until better control is learned.

Several cue brands are available based on quality, price, design and  technology. Check out http://www.billiardballsandmore.com/ for great cue products. There is a cue stick for everyone!

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Common Billiard Rules

Do you have a new interest in the game of billiards? There are so many great pool games and versions of the game to keep you on your toes. Many different games or versions of billiards have some rules that may vary, however, there are several common pool rules that all billiard players should know. I came across a top ten list of billiard rules from http://ishootpool.hubpages.com/hub/Top-Ten-Rules-Most-Pool-Players-Dont-Know that describes some uniform rules for all pool games, that I thought was very beneficial.

These 10 ten rules are:

10. Scratching an "Eight" Ball shot results in a loss of the game. The opponent wins by default automatically if the cue ball scratches on the eight ball.
9. Receiving tips in the middle of the game results in a foul and loss of turn.
8. It is not legal to move a ball back to original spot if accidentally bumped or brushed. This "accident" actually should result in a loss of turn.
7. If the cue ball is scratched when the object ball is pocketed, the object ball is not brought back to the table.
6. At least one foot is required to be on the floor at all times. Players are not allowed to make a shot sitting on the pool table ot positioning body in fashion that requires both feet to be off the floor. If this is required, a new shot must be attempted or the use of shot accessories are required.
5. The spot on the table where the balls are racked on is known as the "foul" mark. Any ball that is hit off the table becomes a scratch, but if a ball other than the cue ball is knocked off the table, the scratched ball is put back on the "foul" mark.
4. A foul shot has occured when an opponents ball is struck before your own ball on a shot. After the cue ball has been shot, if the cue ball hits an opponents ball first, the shot is considered to be a scratch. Several recreational billiards players do not uphold to this rule.
3. While an opponent's shot is up, it is important to not touch the pool table in any way, otherwise it may result in a fault. Your opponent might blame you as a distraction to shot. Do not touch the table, remove chalk from edge; just step back until it is your turn again.
2. Any contact between cue tip and cue ball is considered a shot, even if you accidentally hit the cue ball or need to move the cue ball for a shot. Do not use the cue tip; instead if necessary, move the cue ball with your hand.
1. Do you know the fastest way to win a pool game? Pocketing the 8-ball on the break results in the breaker automatically winning the game. Remember that any shot after the break that results in the 8-ball being pocketed before the last shot, results in the loss of the game.

This is just a list of some basic pool rules that players should be aware of. There are several other rules to be aware of but they differ based on the actually billiards game being played. Best of luck!

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The Many Games of Billiards ~ Straight Pool

The list of different billiard games goes on and on with slight differences that can help reduce the monotony of one game if players are looking for something new or different. One version of billiards is Straight Pool.

During Straight Pool, each player is required to call a shot, stating a specific ball and pocket. The difference in Straight Pool is that the called shot can be for any billiard ball, regardless of solids or stripes or number of ball. The goal of the game is to be the first player to reach a predetermined point value, usually 100. Every ball that is sunk off of a called shot earns a point. Regardless of the number of balls sunk during a shot, a player will only get one point for the called shot. The first player to pocket 100 balls is the winner. It will take several different rounds of play to determine a winner.
The picture attached is a common example of how the billiard balls are racked for the Straight Pool.

Straight pool is a great game of practice as several different sunk shots are required to win. It allows players to focus on many different shots and setups as shot calls are required and the only way to earn points.
Stay tuned for other great versions of billiard games.
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