Actually my roommate did.

Anyway, we both suck. Probably took 20 minutes to play 1 game of 8 ball last night.

I have a few questions.

1. What is that game w/ the tiny little miniature pool balls? It came w/ the set and there is some cup with it. I tried to Google it but miniature pool sets come up.

2. What exactly is English? Is it when you hit the ball off center, or is it when you rotate the cue stick as you strike the ball?

3. Is there a technique to going first? Should you try to hit the rack of balls as hard as you can or should you have a strategy to it? I just hit it as hard as I can and hope a ball falls in a pocket.

As I learn and need more questions, I will use this thread. Thanks!

1. The game I think youre referring to is pea pool or kelly pool. Ive never played it before but ive heard people reference the game many times. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kelly_pool

2. english is the spin the cue ball makes after contact with the cue. top, side or bottom spin. never twist the cue when making contact to the cue ball. you should always do a smooth straight stroke. the spin effect on the cue ball comes from where the tip of the cue makes contact on the ball. if youre a beginner, just focus on top and bottom english. And try to remember to keep the cue as parallel to the floor as possible to avoid swerving the cueball.

3. Just break the balls and get a good spread. just remember when racking, that the tighter the balls are together or touching, the better the balls will spread.

Hope that helps.

Yea thanks! Looking at pea pool now. Sounds like a fun game. Kinda like Stratego in a way.

OK, so keep the stroke straight.

Any tips on how to keep cue parallel to floor? Or is it a feel thing?

Work on fundementals, like stance, bridge, and stroke. Use youtube videos or books for references. once you learn how to do those properly, you can learn things like english, bank shots, rail kicks, masse, stop shots, etc.

Been practicing a lot. One shot that has always been impossible for me is when a ball is on the rail. My % still sucks, it's probably 10-15%, but now I know when I make it, I made the correct move. Before, if I made it, it was just pure luck.

I've made 4 balls in a row 2x now. 3 balls in a row maybe 10x? I'm starting to get the hang of it. (Yes I realize good players are laughing at the noob)

One part that is always hard for me is when the cue ball is on the rail and the ball I want to hit is on the other end of the table. Any suggestions?

Watching this guy has helped me a bunch, i think there is a couple of rail shots in this.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v9jT4M1MeO8
Amazing run

It all comes with practice. Envisioning the shot. I visualize the exact route i want from the cue ball and then u do it.

To the 1st responder, never rotate the cue??? There are times when u really have to spin the cue ball in which u don't really strike the cue squarely. A little slight of hand, wrist. To make a cue ball banana curl left for instance, a loose grip and hitting the cue ball low left. Lol I don't know, this is a ramble. I can't explain shots well but I certainly visualize them very well and hit them pretty well. U can do amazing things with the cue ball. I've had ppl tell me shots I'm attempting are impossible, a tough cut for instance but that's because they don't know how to apply the right English and touch on the cue ball, they just strike it the same every time.

Guess I'm just saying, there are times where I twist the cue or don't hit the cue squarely. These are usually on ur more difficult shots

Yes. Never rotate the cue. you shouldn't even be holding the cue tight enough to be able to twist it.

For rail shots (where the object ball is on or very close to the rail) make sure to hit softly. Not only does the object ball go off on the proper angle according to where the cue ball contacts it, but it also travels a small amount in the same direction that the cue ball is traveling before contact. This is called "throw" and the amount of travel depends on how fast the cue ball is moving. This actually applies to all shots, but is especially noticeable on the rail.

This means that some long shots down the rail will be nearly or completely impossible depending on your angle, as the speed necessary to get the object ball to the pocket would also force it into the rail.

(I'm kinda new too, anyone with more knowledge than me please feel free to correct me!)

As far as cue ball on the rail + long shots, both of these factors just up the difficulty for any shot. Practice makes perfect, but these are the kinda shots pros will use as safety shots if necessary - they are difficult for everyone.

In response to your first problem...when the object ball is on the rail and you have a good angle on it I was taught to hit the "V", half of the cue ball should strike the object ball and the other half should hit the rail. Also like another poster said you don't want to hit it too hard or this advice won't work. Also found that practicing shots into the side pockets is good to do. Eventually when you can make shots you have to think about what you want to do next. Don't always hit the easiest shot. You want to think what you will leave your opponent with if you miss, and if you make your shot what will your next shot be. If you play everyday you will def get a lot better. I play maybe 2-3 times a week. It sucks because we moved into a new place and there is not a enough room for the table. We are forced to use a short stick. Congrats on the new table...enjoy!

Also should add that there is a lot of variance when it comes to the rules. Generally you are supposed to call all of your shots...so if you try to hit the ball in the corner pocket and you miss and it ends up in another pocket you lose your turn.

You should take a look at this video:
Learn to play pool in ten minutes. It will probably help you.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qbmNcYH52eo

That video is extremely well produced.

I suck bad enough at pool to not even be able to give good commentary regarding his beginner's advice, but it's certainly well made for something on youtube. I enjoyed watching it.

I was told to hit the ball and the rail at the same time, which is just another way of explaining the same thing. I still think about it this way and it works for me. "Not too hard" is good advice for a lot of shots by the way. Everyone has their shots that they hit too hard sometimes for various, usually booze related, reasons.

I lol'd.

Ive been playing pool for 22 years and played with some well respected Canadian players. In all my time playing Ive never heard anyone say this. Its such a basic fundamental to the game. Thats the worst advice to give any beginner. Accuracy is thrown out the window if you twist the cue. Its all about the pendulum.

Honostly, if you really want to improve your game, find an approved BCA instructor and take a couple of lessons. You want to have proper stance, stroke, grip, etc. before you learn the wrong ways. Muscle memory is a hard thing to unlearn.

LOL at lessons. Just practice practice practice! Visualizing the shot, getting behind the ball and seeing where it should go so that you can learn the angles. Then its just rince and repeat.

There's a zillion and one things that be done with the cue. Rotating, or anythinging the cure during a shot are not the kind of advice I'd give a beginner, or me, or an expert. Don't lol too hard though. But do lol - mad advice.

I just got an Olhausen

Lol....definitely NOT this. If someone practices the same bad habit(s) and fundamentals it will be ingrained in their head that it is theway to shoot. As a beginner get yourself video taped by an instructor as the video will be a great visual showing you what you do well and don't do well. The instructor will help you get going on your fundamentals and then hopefully you can take off from there. Good luck!

OK so I have been practicing a lot. At the same time, I am cognizant of the fact that I may(probably) am developing bad habits. I have gotten a lot better over the past few weeks. I can now hit 3-4 balls in a row at times. Granted, there are times I suck, but when I am "on" 3 or 4 balls is not out of the question. Not sure how I can break my bad habits w/o paying for it.

One shot I used to hate was when a ball was along the rail. I'd get it in the hole maybe 5% of the time if that. Now, I can say w/ confidence that I make that shot 50% of the time. My biggest difficulties by far is when the cue ball is on the rail.Grr!

Anyway, over the past few weeks, I have noticed a tremendous improvement. Practice really does make perfect.

Check out Dr Pool's videos, they are pretty good informational videos for people getting started in the game

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3PnXf81Tc84

http://m.youtube.com/watch?feature=g...&v=Pm-VDuGzJS4

Watch this video. Very informative.

I've met him a couple of times and he is a great ambassador for the game and a great guy overall who loves pool.

Very cool guy. I've watched pretty much all of his vidoes and none are as detailed as the video i posted. It seriously is a much watch for beginners all the way up to more skilled players.

Oh, and it's Dr. Cue not Dr. Pool.