Billiards Different Strokes And Techniques

There are many different games you can play on a billiards table, there is eight ball; the most common, straight pool; just a more difficult version of eight ball, and there are games like carom too. Each of these games have their own specific rules, but the physics behind the games are the same for all.

These games are strategy and skill games. A big mistake beginners make is they play with no strategy.

Look at your shot and where your balls are at and where your opponent's balls are at. Your first priority should be scoring points; however, your second priority should be preventing your opponent from scoring.

Decide whether or not you will play an offensive strike or a defensive strike. An offensive strike is a stroke with the objective end point of the cue ball to land in a good position for you to easily score off of.

A defensive strike is positioning the ball in a place that is going to make it hard for your opponent to score any points. So keep in mind where you want the ball to end up before you start hitting it.

When you are looking at your shot, first look at where you want the object ball (the ball your cue ball will make contact with) to end up. By imagining a straight line from the object ball to the desired hole or position you wish it to be played, you will find the contact point that you should aim for.

Now imagine a line from your contact point to the cue ball. I like to use my pool stick by holding it over the balls I am aiming for.

This makes it a little easier to see exactly what I am aiming for. After you have got all your positions lined up gauge the power you will need in the stroke.

When you hit the ball it will begin to slide after there is enough friction between the ball and the table it begins to roll. That is why sometimes with more powerful shots after your cue ball makes contact with the object ball it just stays in its position; because it did not have time to start the roll before it transferred kinetic energy.

Understanding the roll technique is going to take you out of the novice category. You will be able to play those seemingly simple shots, where the ball is sitting on the verge of a pocket without scratching.

This game still takes a lot of time and practice to master even when you do understand the tricks and techniques. So get your quarters and start playing at the local bar, or if you're not twenty one at the local bowling alley.