Hot Billiards & Pool How-Tos
How To: Practice the stop shot drill in pool
The stop shot is a very foundational skill involving being able to stop the cue ball and pocket the ball. This drill is very helpful for beginners.
How To: Improve draw technique in pool
These two drills will help you improve your draw technique. Learn how to perform them in order to practice how low you hit the cue ball and the speed at which you hit it.
How To: Use the spot drill to warm up in pool
Practice this drill as a warmup. The object is to pocket a spot ball without allowing the cue ball to touch the cluster or a rail.
How To: Practice the fan drill in pool
Practice the fan drill in order to improve your control of the cue ball. The object is to sink the balls in order and leave the cue ball within one ball of the object.
How To: Practice a drill to improve cue ball control in pool
Practice this drill in order to improve your control of the cue ball. This will help you place the cue ball where you need it to be for your next shot.
How To: Play Snooker
Snooker is played on a 12-foot table. It is similar to pool in that it has numerical balls; it also has red balls to pocket. The idea is to alternatingly pocket red balls and colored balls.
How To: Perform a drill to practice forcing bank shots in pool
A drill that helps you develop the ability to force your opponent to make a low percentage shot when just the money ball is left on the table.
How To: Play safe in 9 ball
Learn the basics of safety play in 9 ball pool. This video covers some common misconceptions regarding breaking and running that many beginners hold.
How To: Buy a good pool table
A discussion of what to consider when buying a pool table. When on a budget, you can still get optimum playing conditions for about $2000.
How To: Use the tangent line in pool
Learn what the tangent line is and how to use it to improve your pool game by sending the object ball where you need it to go.
How To: Draw with sidespin in pool
A discussion of draw in combination with sidespin. This technique will allow you to place the cue ball where you need it to be for the next shot.
How To: Follow with sidespin when playing pool
A discussion of using follow in combination with sidespin. This helps you place the cue ball for your next shot.
How To: Play hangers and cheat the pocket in pool
Watch to learn how to play a hanger (a shot that has a high margin of error) and cheat a pocket in pool. This video is meant for beginning pool players.
How To: Perform a stun run through in pool
Stun run through is the ability to put the right spin and speed on the cue ball that allows you to move the cue ball between 3 and 12 inches.
How To: Pocket a ball that is frozen to the rail in pool
Watch to learn how to cut shooting frozen to the rail and pocket a ball that is frozen to the rail.
How To: Break in 8 ball and 9 ball
Watch to learn several methods of successful and precise breaking in 8 ball and 9 ball.
How To: Perform the English sidespin in pool
Learn the principles of English sidespin and how to perform this technique. Part 1 of 2 - How to Perform the English sidespin in pool.
How To: Play with one- and two-rail pathways in pool
A drill to practice one and two rail pathways. The idea is to pocket the object ball and make the cue ball travel through the gates.
How To: Aim a shot and establish a pre-shot routine in pool
A discussion of an important part of aiming and preshot routine.
How To: Make a razor sharp cut shot in pool
Learn how to make this difficult razor sharp cut shot in pool.
How To: Make Paul Gerni's triple bank shot in pool
Learn how to make this shot from Byrne's Standard Book, Paul Gerni's triple bank shot.
How To: Make Vernon Elliot's cross corner bank shot in pool
This is a modified and slightly easier version of Vernon Elliot's cross corner bank shot.
How To: Practice banking in pool
Learn another drill to practice your bank shots in pool.
How To: Make the Eddie Taylor bank shot in pool
To hit this shot, you must use right hand English with a tip of top and a firm stroke. It is harder than it looks.
How To: Make Jersey Red's double kiss shot in pool
To hit this shot, you have to thinly cut the object ball using high left English with a soft stroke.
How To: Practice a drill to help aim in pool
Another drill to help perfect aim and technique.
How To: Play pool with good stroke technique
Learn how to develop your own stroke and improve your technique in pool. Part 1 of 2 - How to Play pool with good stroke technique.
How To: Aim bank shots in pool
Watch to learn how to aim bank shots well in pool. This video is geared toward beginner and intermediate pool players. Because a bank shot is an inconsistent shot, don't spend a majority of your practice time working on it.
How To: Break clusters in pool
Learn how to perform several different methods of breaking clusters in pool. A cluster is a group of balls that forms an obstacle on the table.
How To: Aim a cut shot in pool
Learn how to aim a cut shot in pool and learn what the effects of English are on this shot. Part 1 of 2 - How to Aim a cut shot in pool.
How To: Stop or stun action on a cue ball in pool
Watch to learn how to do stop shots and stun shots in pool by making the cue ball stop and stun at the right time.
How To: Bridge in pool
Learn how to hold your bridge hand to make an effective bridge depending on how much control, draw, and power you want in your shot.
How To: Practice the brainwashing drill in pool
A drill that teaches stun control, draw control and simple pattern recognition. The object is to pocket every ball without touching a rail.
How To: Grip a pool cue
Learn some correct ways to grip a pool cue that are comfortable but still good for your technique.
How To: Practice your pool stroke
Watch to learn some exercises to help you perfect your pool stroke technique. Some of them don't even require a pool table or billiard balls.
How To: Practice pool
Watch to learn some good ways to practice pool by yourself. This video is intended for beginners.
How To: Practice pool table drills
These are drills on the pool table that can only make your billiards game better.
How To: Pocket 5 balls in one shot in pool
This video shows you how to setup the pool balls so you can pocket five balls in one shot.
How To: Break in 9 ball pool
Tutorial by Mike Sigel on how to break in 9 Ball.
How To: Play pool shots that will win you the game
Learn the pool shots you need to defeat any opponent, such as the bank shot and the slice. Play pool shots that will win you the game.