Michael Hartwell asked:


There are a lot of how to guides on how to play billiards nowadays. You can very often times find these being sold either in billiards magazines or on the internet. Also, there are even TV shows nowadays that give tips on how to improve your billiards skills. Whether you want to play pro billiards, play 8 ball pool, simply learn billiards trick shots, or just play for fun, you can find great info to help you improve your games.

However, here’s something to keep in mind: some of this info is useful, and some isn’t. Here is some information to help you to improve you to learn to play pool, and also how to find the best pool information to take your game to the next level.

First of all, you probably should start out by doing a quick internet search for billiards tips, and soak up all the free information that’s available. There will no doubt be many articles written on the topics, and many of them by some pretty fair billiards tips.

This is certainly a great way to get a head start on the competition. Remember, 99% of your competitors will never take the time to learn how to play better, and will simply do so by trial and error. When you invest in your education, whether by reading or watching TV shows on the topic of billiards playing, you will immensely improve your game-even if you’ve never picked up a cue stick in your life!

One of the most crucial tips to becoming an effective billiards table player is precision. Very simply, without this key element, you can kiss your chances at succeeding in pool good bye. For this, you need to think about every shot before you hit it.

Very simply, plan out not only where you want to hit your next shot, but also where you want the cue ball to end up so that it leaves you in good position for your next shot. This is one of the keys to every professional billiards players success, and something that virtually no amateur does.

When you are over your shot, make sure to relax and imagine the billiards stick as simply being part of your body. This will also help you to become more precise with your shot. This is one of the most important tips for how to play billiards, and without it you will never reach your potential.

Also, be sure to exercise patience when playing pool. This just might be the most important skill you can have for billiards. As soon as you become frustrated and impatient, you lose your ability to focus, and your body also tenses up.

This makes it much more difficult to hit an effective shot. When you stay patient and relaxed, even if things don’t seem to be going your way right now, if you stay relaxed, the tide will soon turn in your favor.

Finally, the most important part is to practice. Obviously, as with anyone, practice is the key to success; you can buy all the how to material in the world, but until you actually get out their in the game and do it, you will not improve. Also, try to imagine yourself playing a great game before each game starts.

Simply visualize yourself succeeding, and you will play much better. Michael Jordan used this technique before each game he played in, and it worked out pretty well for him. Hopefully this information on how to play billiards more effectively will help you dramatically improve your game and enjoy a lifetime of fun and success with pool.



Marilyn

Josephine Thunder asked:


8-ball is the most popular billiard game in the world. It is so popular, that 8-ball pool is almost a synonym for billiards. However, 8-ball is only a part of a one big happy family of billiard games.

8-ball pool, 9-ball pool, snooker, one pocket, balkline are all cue sports games. They all share a rectangular cloth-covered table, a long cue stick, a set of balls and an ambition to score, but they differ in their rules, objects, and even their terminology.

Generally, billiard games divide into two types: pocket billiard games and carom billiard games. Pocket billiard games, usually referred to as pool games, are the type of billiard played on a table that has six pockets. In pocket billiard games, the players aspire to sink the balls into the table pockets, according to specific games rules.

Carom billiard games, on the other hand, are played on pocketless tables. Only three billiard balls are involved in the carom games. The purpose of the players in most carom games is to maneuver their cue ball so it will carom off the other two balls, again, according to the specific requirements of the game.

8-ball pool is a pocket billiard game. Other popular pocket billiard games include 9-ball pool, 14.1 continuous (formerly known as straight pool) and even snooker. Snooker is the most popular cue sports in the UK. Even though snooker is played on a pocketed pool table, it is not governed by the same association that administrates pocket billiard rules. Therefore, pocket billiard general rules do not apply to snooker.

The equipment used in snooker games is also different from the one used in pocket billiard tournaments. For example, the snooker table is a bit larger than the standard pool table plus its pockets are narrower. The terminology used in both billiard games is different as well. While pool players’ goal is to “pocket” the “object balls”, snooker players aim to “pot” the “red” or the “on-ball”.



Cathy

Jim Harves asked:


A new site offering online pool and snooker plus exciting tournaments.

Billiard Magic is a brand new site dedicated to online billiard games. Catering for anyone who enjoys a game of pool or snooker, this site has everything you need to know about playing online.

Offering a variety of billiard games, backed up by top of the range software and graphics, Billiard Magic welcomes both experienced players wishing to perfect their technique and newcomers who would like to learn a new game.

Not only can you play fun billiard games at Billiard Magic, but there are lots of exciting opportunities to enter tournaments and win cash prizes. Regular promotions means it’s never dull at BilliardMagic.

Playing online can be a lot of fun, especially when you start to meet the other players. Hundreds of pool and snooker fans from around the globe may be logged on at any one time, giving you access to an amazing choice of opponents. By watching others play, you can learn new techniques and strategies and generally improve your game.

Choose from 8 ball pool, 9 ball pool or snooker. Online pool is played just like real live pool, except players use the mouse to line up the cue and hit the ball. By varying the speed of the mouse, the shot can be varied in strength – as in reality. Accurate technology means that shots work on angles the same way as in live pool, and players must calculate the correct angle for their shot.

Helpful software gives tips for beginners on how to figure out your angle, making this complicated process a little easier for the technically challenged. If you’re serious about improving, you could even watch the pros playing in tournaments to see how they do it.

Players have the choice of playing for fun or for money at Billiard Magic. To play for money, there is a simple deposit process by which players add money to their account. Any winnings can then either be used for further play, or can be withdrawn, according to the terms and conditions.

All games can be played either against the computer, or against other real players. Or better still, get your friends to sign up, and play against each other. Get a head start by practising online before you invite them to a match.

In online pool the same rules apply as in traditional pool, so if you make a foul, the turn passes to your opponent. Foul shots include not hitting any ball on your shot and pocketing the white cue ball. Other shots can cause the player to lose immediately, such as pocketing the black by mistake.

Tournaments are held regularly at Billiard Magic, with sit and go, or freerolls available. Win a tournament and as well as the cash prize, you’ll go into the hall of fame.

Playing pool and snooker online is fun and challenging and the more you play, the more skilled you will become. The thrill of winning real money by playing online pool is a huge adrenalin rush. Start playing today and discover the winner in you!



Esther

Josephine Thunder asked:


8-ball pool is one of the most popular games in America. It is played in pool halls, restaurants, private billiard rooms and on personal computers everywhere throughout the nation, as well as in other parts of the world. While the origins of billiards – the general name used to describe all indoor games played on a rectangular covered with felt table with a stick and a set of balls – stretches back to the 15th century, it was not until the late 18th century that the game we refer to as 8-ball pool, or simply pool had become a legitimate recreation.

First there was billiart. Actually, first there was the outdoor game called croquet used to be played the French upper classes during the 14th century. At this time, billiart was introduced as an indoor version of croquet. The green felt that covered the table meant to evoke the lawn on which it was played.

The billiard game was brought to America by the middle of the 19th century, no one knows exactly how. Back then, one pocket was the most popular billiard game followed by a game called four-ball. Later on, a game called straight, similar to the popular European billiard game was carombole game and played on a table with no pockets, was the favorite billiard game in America.

The most ancient version of modern pool game can be tracked back to the end of the 18th century. The game fifteen-ball pool used to be played with a set of 15 balls in poolrooms, which mainly acted as horse betting parlors. Fifteen-ball pool, which was later called straight pool, continuous pool or 14.1 continuous, was the most popular pool game for a long time. That, until the game of 8-ball was invented.

Michael Phelan, a legendary billiard player, the first American billiard author and the ancestor of American billiards, is the one who brought the pool games from the underground poolrooms into the light of day. By establishing the first billiard championship in America (and winning it too) as well as publishing the first set of billiard rules and pool table etiquette, Phelan made the pool and billiards the popular sports they are today.



Antonio