Pool Tips

Select a good cue stick. Make sure that the shaft is straight and not warped. Also check the tip to make sure that it is not too worn. Warped or worn cue sticks will negatively impact your shots, making it difficult to accurately strike the ball.

Don't strike the ball too hard. The tip of your cue tip should only move forward about 6 inches when striking the ball. Keep your arm steady above your elbow.

Perfect your pool posture. Right-handed players will lead with their left leg; left-handed players with their right. Keep your lead foot 18-24 inches in front of your back foot. Your lead foot should point in the same direction that you are shooting.

Keep your head down. When lining up a shot, your chin should almost rest on the top of your cue stick. Do not tilt you head to the side, but keep it upright and level.

Focus on one shot at a time. As a beginner, concentrate only on the shot at hand. Do not try to set up your next shot with your current shot. This is a skill that you can develop with practice. The key, at first, is good cue stick control and accurate shooting.

Stay positive. Don't let one miss turn into a string of misses. Frustration over a bad shot can easily distract you. Put your mistakes behind you.

Know the game. Learn the rules of the most common games, such as 8-ball and 9-ball.

Be considerate. Pool halls are often crowded and elbow room is at a premium. If players at an adjacent table are waiting for you to complete your shot, don't waste time. Also, be careful not to hit other players with your cue stick as you shoot.

Avoid Hustlers. Pool sharks lure in their prey by pretending to be novice players, only to turn on their real game after you've placed a hefty wager. Bet with strangers at your own risk.

Practice good techniques. Identify your bad habits and work to correct them. Concentrate on keeping your form consistent. This will help to keep your shot straight.

Learn how to chalk your cue properly. Start by hold the pool stick straight up and then put the chalk cube directly on top of the cue end. Rub a little bit of the chalk on the tip of the stick and then blow on the end to get rid of any excess chalk. Next, take the chalk and rub lightly around the edges of the tip. Again, blow on the end to remove the excess chalk. You do not have to do this every time you shoot, as you play more and more, you will get a feel for when it needs to be done.

Be careful with how you angle your stick when you hit the ball. You don't want to tear into someone's pool table!

If you are purchasing a pool table, make sure you purchase a table that will fit in your room, or that the room you are planning to put the table in is large enough for good play. You don't want people marking up your walls (or potentially putting holes in them!) because the room was too small!