There are several powerful exercises that you can do using a mirror. You can use it to break bad habits or to help you visualize a bank/kick shot. For example, if your cue stick is not staying level, it is typically due to inadvertently raising or dropping your elbow. Fixing this bad habit usually requires more than having a coach just tell you that you are moving your elbow. And, a video recording only shows you what happened in the past. You need to know, in the exact

The Tao flows through all things, and is the underlying current that electrifies CJ Wiley’s pool game — guiding him towards a greater meaning and purpose in life — the life of a consummate martial artist, and professional pool player. “Lao Tzu, in the Tao Te Ching explains that the Tao is not a ‘name’ for a ‘thing’ but the underlying natural order of the Universe whose ultimate essence is difficult to circumscribe due to it being non conceptual yet evident’ in one’s being of

It’s hard to come up with something new in this industry much less recreate something and make it better. What the crew at the Billiard Engineers did was take the micro sandpaper film, they created a malleable silicone handle to give you a better grip to hang onto. It comes with three different grittiness’. This microfilm can be washed and rinsed to be used many times over. Sometimes your hands just get a little too sweaty and your shaft picks up grit and grime chalk from t

Dave Proctor — Starcade Billiards “I know what they don’t wanna tell you Just hope you’re heaven-sent, and you’re hell-proof I walk up in the world and cut the lights off And confidence is a stain they can’t wipe off” — Lil Wayne. When I think of all the pool players that have won various Starcade open 9 ball events — always a cascading escalator of legendary champions comes to mind, and the “confidence is a stain they can’t wipe off” speaks words of wisdom, and I realize the

Jacoby custom cues have a long-standing relationship with innovation and most of all above average customer service. The introduction of the jump cue over the last 20 years has really changed the face of the industry. Now every other company has a form of a jump cue. Some of them have a specific. Like Marty Carry and Dr. Popper as well as the Black Magic. Those are all in my opinion specialty cues. Now Jumping is a somewhat easy shot whereas perfecting the aim is the diffic

Pool is a game of ups and downs. Most pool players experience a slump at some time or another. Slumps occur when you play below your expected ability for a prolonged period of time. Most pool players do not know why they are playing badly, so they tend to look for solutions in all the wrong places. Sometimes this causes the player’s performance to drop even more. Often, the player falls deeper and deeper into despair. Pool players are often unable to break free from the chai

www.theroadplayer12.com As you know, I am always willing to help my fellow pool players. I have been doing that for thirty-five years. Instead of an article this time, I am going to make you work on your skill development. I have a great exercise for you. Shoot the nine ball and stop right there. It would be a mistake to think this is an automatic shot. There is something about this stop shot that gives players fits from time to time. Build good alignment skills with this sho

For pool players, we live in a day and age where there’s a plethora of varying products for the billiards enthusiast to choose from. We have low deflection shafts, phenolic tips, jump cues, break cues, cue extensions, billiards gloves, layered tips, etc. With all the gear to select from, it can be hard to determine what’s the best choice for the individual. In most cases (pun intended), players are proud to show you what’s in their cases. Many players I’ve seen have expensive

The iCue cue ball. This thing is so simple that it should have been invented a long time ago. Three quadrants that make it easy to see where you hit and how that stroke affects the cue ball. I keep one of these in my pool case and love having it on hand to teach others about English and how, what they apply affects the outcome of their stroke. The three different quadrants allow you to see simple apply and get results. The ball itself is an Aramith cue ball that has been las

The DigiCue is well worth the money and as a great price point of around $79.99. Considering the thousands of dollars that we as pool players spend on cues and cases this is a small chip in the bucket and really helps change your game once you understand what it is capable of. Your cue is your weapon of choice when you challenge the table. It’s extremely important that you know how to properly use it. There are a lot of training devices out there and many are gimmicks. Howev

Knowing the 4 main variables that affect bank shots such as contact point, force, English, & collision induced throw are one thing, but training your muscle memory is another. This drill provides my excellent practice routine covering virtually every type of common bank shot on the table. There are 135 total reference shots here. Not only do you train your muscle memory for pocketing different bank shots, but you also must get shape on the next ball. Diagram 1 shows each pos

Pool Tables is a newer site, and this is my review of them. This is an interesting site that I stumbled across that gives reviews on cues for all over the place. They are primarily an Amazon store but the reviews that they put out are what impressed me. I would like them to do more reviews on companies like Joss, Jacoby, Mezz, Predator, Southwest, and Balabushka. I think they have a good thing going and always can use the help to get their name out there. http://pooltablesfor

Years ago you kicked, banked or found your way around problem balls on the table. In today’s pool playing society, there are so many options and everyone has their own spin on things. I recently had the wonderful opportunity to test the Dr. Popper Jump Cue. I have tested many cues and jump cues alike. I have honestly found there to be a few different categories; some cue’s crossover and some don’t. With that being said, there are what I would call specialty jump cues like thi

I promised a friend, Ron Kirk, a few years ago that I would try to write a story about Pool, especially about our Pool Hall hangout in Glens Falls, New York, known by several names: Charlie’s, Jake’s, or its legal name, The Empire Billiard Lounge. Now, before I start the story, I feel I must write on why I have been hesitant. I lack a proper education. Yes, I have two years of college in Glens Falls and two more in Florida, but I never graduated from high school and cheated o

Just yesterday, I started rummaging through some old documents that I pulled out of storage while cleaning house, and ran across a single printout that contained a heading and eleven sentences underneath it that I made as a reminder for my own game way back in 1999, a year before my first ever trip to Asia to compete in the huge Tokyo 9-Ball event. What a great tournament that was… I think it’s a pretty cool sheet of paper with some sound tips, and I’ve decided to share it wi

Pool is a game of ups and downs. Most pool players experience a slump at some time or another. Slumps occur when you play below your expected ability for a prolonged period of time. Most pool players do not know why they are playing bad, so they tend to look for solutions in all the wrong places. Sometimes this causes the player’s performance to drop even more. Often, the player falls deeper and deeper into despair. Pool players are often unable to break free from the chains

Turn the butt on the lathe using the butt taper bar. (figure 1) Figure 1 The points in the butt sleeve are looking good. (figure 2) (figure 2) The points in the forearm also look good. (figure 3) (figure 3) The butt of the cue will need a weight bolt and a rubber bumper. Drill the butt in about 6 inches with a long 5/16 drill. (figure 4) . (figure 4) Tap the weight bolt hole with a 3/8-16 long tap. (figure 5) (figure 5) Using a boring bar we bore a recess for the rubber bu

The game is 9-ball here. In Diagram 1, the cue ball is frozen to the 8-ball and their line of centers are aimed to miss to the right hand corner of the pocket. The 9-ball is on the same end of the table. How would you make the 8-ball and also get position for the 9-ball? Diagram 3 reveals that the answer is by using direction-induced throw. Remember that throw is counter-intuitive. Contact the cue ball on the right side of the line of centers of the cue ball and the 8-ball a

I recently had the pleasure of doing a product review on the new McDermott glove. I have to first off start by saying that I have used many different gloves and finger sliders recently. McDermott has been a leader in cues for many years and this is a newer product launch for them. The glove comes in its own box and ready to go on and be played with. The mesh on the underside is really breathable and allows it to stretch to fit the size of your hands. For those who are weari

Due to his father, Jerry Pechauer, being a member of the pool world for many years; Joe had it in his blood to do something involving this wonderful sport. Ever since he could see over the table, he took part in doing what he could to learn what he could about pool. Until around the age of 20, Joe was more into playing, than producing cues. Yes, he helped with the business up until this age; but until the business needed him most, he wanted to play. Looking back on it now he