Billiards Pro

Billiard Boot Camp for Beginners


Drill Instructor Mark Wilson is looking for a few volunteers who think they have what it takes to be all that they can be on the billiards battlefield. If you think you have what it takes, accept this six-week boot camp challenge to max out your skills.

The drills at Billiard Boot Camp are designed to reinforce proper stroke technique and to produce positive high-yield results. Don't expect instant success, but do expect to see rapid improvement that is in direct proportion to the effort you put into the drills. Billiard Boot Camp drills concentrate on the most basic and the most useful skills in the pool arsenal. While the drills may seem remedial, you'll see faster results with these drills than you will with more complicated, seemingly more "advanced" routines, because your muscle memory is being trained for perfect, duplicable performance.

By concentrating on shots that are not used frequently enough by most players to be perfected through repetition - specialty shots like banks, combinations and kicks - you'll round out your playing skills and have the weapons you need when the battle calls for them.

At the completion of Billiard Boot Camp, you'll be capable of performing at peak levels despite the stress of battle. If you're confused by some of the terminology, check out the glossary at the end of the article.


THE STROKE

Now that you've enlisted, you'll need to know how to fire your weapon. No less a warrior than the legendary Jerry Briesath advocates the importance of a consistent stroke for a well-stocked arsenal. The goal is to be able to deliver a consistent and accurate cue stroke on demand. The benefits are twofold: a repeating stroke yields on-demand accuracy and speed control, and by eliminating varied cue-tip deliveries, it develops judgment skills. To develop a better stroke, you'll need to practice the motion, but more importantly, you'll need to analyze the results.

The Drill: Place the cue ball on the foot spot and shoot it to the corner pocket. Now look at where the cue stick comes to rest. You'll know you're on the right track if the cue stick has traveled over the center of the spot, and the tip stops four to six inches beyond the spot without having twisted to the left or right. To monitor twisting, use a sight attached to the cue. Sights are available from billiard suppliers, or you may simply draw a pencil line on the cue four to five inches from the tip. Warm up with this drill for 10 minutes at the start of each day's practice session, paying special attention to the results. Even when you're drilling other skills, always check your follow-through.


POSITION PLAY: All position-play judgments are based on the path of a neutral, or zero-spin, cue ball. By mastering zero spin, topspin and bottom spin, you can control the path of the cue ball after it hits the object ball.





The Drill: Place the 9 ball and a cue ball together about 20 to 24 inches from the corner pocket so that an imaginary line drawn from the center of the corner pocket passes through the center of each ball, as shown in Diagram 1. The cue ball represents the contact point of a straight-in shot that would pocket the ball. To establish the zero-spin line (that is, the path the ball will travel after pocketing the 9 ball using zero spin), roll another ball from slightly left of the imaginary line, hitting the cue ball so that the 9 ball is pocketed. Now mark the path of the cue ball by placing the 3 ball on this path, as shown in Diagram 2.








Be sure to mark the placement of the balls with chalk so that you can practice the same shot repeatedly. Next, using your cue stick, apply the most extreme topspin possible and soft speed to pocket the ball. Mark the path of the cue ball by placing the 1 ball on that line. Finally, pocket the same shot but use maximum backspin with soft speed and place the 2 ball on this line. The 1 and the 2 show the extremes of your cue-ball control. Practice top, bottom-, and zero-spin control by pocketing the 9 while bringing the cue ball to each of these positions. Next, practice position control by bringing the cue ball between the 1 and the 3 or the 2 and the 3.

The ADVANCED Drill: Set up a channel of balls approximately three balls wide as shown in Diagram 3. Locate the channel anywhere between the extreme topspin position and the extreme backspin position. To execute the drill, pocket the 9 ball while controlling the cue ball so it passes through the channel of balls.







BANK SHOTS

Bank shots - shots in which the cue ball drives an object ball off at least one rail before continuing in a desired path - are often a weakness. Speed, object ball spin, cloth conditions, humidity, rail condition and cue accuracy are just a few of the many variables that can interfere with predictable results. To master bank shots, you have to rely on the muscle memory of having made perfect banks repeatedly. Again, knowing you have a consistent stroke will help you zero in on the specifics of the bank shot. You'll see results faster by drilling the perfect-angle shots than you would with off-angle shots.

The Drill: Scatter the balls all over the table so there are no clusters or balls hanging in the pocket. Practice making bank shots using ball-in-hand to set up a perfect angle for each shot. You'll know you've got the perfect angle if the ball follows the line of the hit and does not wander to the left or right. By using ball-in-hand, you'll set up the ideal alignment and accelerate your "perfect-angle judgment," while reinforcing muscle memory. Use a firm center-ball stop-shot hit and be sure to check the tip of the cue after each shot for twist and follow-through.


COMBINATION SHOTS

Combination Shots - shots involving multiple object balls - can be very complex. The margin of error increases exponentially when more than one object ball is involved. In competition, combination shots are generally avoided, but adding them to your arsenal will give you the edge over a less-prepared opponent. In the Philippines, players master the combination shot by playing 15-ball rotation, which is similar to 9-Ball, but with all 15 balls in play. Anyone who has followed men's professional pool lately knows that the Filipinos dominate the scene.

The Drill: Distribute the object balls about eight inches apart and at least one foot from the pocket. With cue ball in hand, attempt to pocket as many combinations as possible. Once you gain command of combination shot-making, concentrate on controlling the path of the non-pocketed object ball.


KICK SHOTS

A kick shot is a play where the cue ball strikes the cushion prior to contacting an object ball. This situation arises after a defensive move by the opponent, or if you've left yourself poor position. As with other specialty shots, consistent strokes are the key to controlling the balls. The speed and spin on the cue ball create multiplied effects when it strikes the cushion, so don't let an unpredictable cue stroke add to the difficulty. Efren Reyes, a world champion, has elevated the kick to an art, controlling contact, aim and speed.

The Drill: Start by placing an object ball near an end rail, and with cue ball in hand, kick the object ball to a predetermined quadrant of the table. Gradually reduce the size of the target area until you can control it to within a square-foot area. As always, check your cue-tip position after the stroke.

Next, set up balls hanging in the pockets and practice kicking them in. Once you can predictably pocket the hanging balls, move them farther from the pocket and continue practicing, using precise accurate strokes.

Finally, concentrate on controlling the cue ball after a kick shot. Start with the object ball near a cushion, and practice cue-ball control, using both thick and thin hits and various spins on the cue ball to move the ball to, first, a specific quadrant of the table, and eventually to a square-foot target.


HEAVY ARTILLERY

The power stroke comes in handy when you need to move the object ball a long distance. Power comes from tip speed, and tip speed comes from a longer swing, a longer bridge and a longer backswing. By expanding the stroke length, however, any deviations are amplified, so once again, consistency is paramount.

Adding power to your break stroke is equally important. Golfers will allocate buckets of balls to their tee shot, and cueists should pay the same attention to their break shot. But power is useless without accuracy, so begin by using easy accurate strokes, and add the horsepower as your control can handle it.

The Drill: Place the cue ball on the head spot and strike the ball with an extended stroke, an longer backswing and a longer brigs than usual. Concentrate on achieving a smooth, comfortable rhythm. Be sure to check tip position for accuracy. Drive the ball across the table and back as many times as possible while maintaining control.


CAROMS

Caroms help you practice aspects of the game that are either avoided or simply don't occur often enough to gain the necessary repetition that leads to mastery.




The Drill: An order from General Efren Reyes, a rotation master. Place the cue ball and two object balls on the table near each other. Shoot the cue ball so it contacts both object balls on each shot. Here's the plan for Diagram 4: Set up two object balls as shown. The ghost ball by the 1 illustrates the ideal contact point for the cue ball to carom off the 1 and pocket the 2. Mark the position of the balls so you can practice the same shot repeatedly.

Now, try this with balls all over the table. Any ball pocketed returns to the foot spot. Score one point for every carom. The goal is to keep the object balls close together so repeated scoring is possible. Building runs of caroms requires forethought and planning. Scoring once is not hard, but building runs in the double figures is a sign that muscle memory and focus are in good working order. This drill will pay off when position and safety play are called for.


9-BALL BATTERY

Drilling 9 Ball will reinforce the shots you must make over and over again. Positive reinforcement, grooving your stroke and lengthening your peak concentration span are your rewards.

The Drill: Start by breaking a rack of 9-ball, and then take ball in hand and run out the rack. Work up to 15-ball rotation. Challenge yourself with 9-Ball Ghost: Break a rack of 9-Ball, then take cue ball in hand anywhere on the table to begin. If you legally pocket the 9 ball on this turn, you win. If you fail to pocket the 9, the ghost wins. Play to seven out of 13.


The SIX-WEEK BILLIARD BOOT CAMP TRAINING PROGRAM

This program (see below) will give you maximum results in a minimum amount of time by attacking the pool shots that cause the most problems for players. Pool playing should be fun, but in order to improve, you will have to put in more than just 90 minutes; you'll need to be focused and committed to improving. The payoff will be sharper shooting and more enjoyment from the game.

The program is designed to maintain your focus by keeping practices challenging and varied. Remember, before you play - whether it's practice or competition - always take a moment to prepare mentally and focus on the task at hand.


BOOTCAMP PROGRAM

Week One

Seven-day evolution for bank shots

10 minutes Warm-up

20 minutes 9-Ball break training

30 minutes Bank-shot drill

10 minutes Beginner position drill

20 minutes 9-Ball ghost race to 7


Week TWO

Seven-day evolution for combination shots

10 minutes Warm-up

20 minutes 9-Ball break training

30 minutes Combination-shot drill

10 minutes Beginner position drill

20 minutes 9-Ball ghost race to 7


Week THREE

Seven-day evolution for kick shots

10 minutes Warm-up

20 minutes 9-Ball break training

30 minutes Kick-shot drill

10 minutes Advanced position drill

20 minutes 9-Ball ghost race to 7


Week FOUR

Seven-day evolution for carom shots

10 minutes Warm-up

20 minutes 9-Ball break training

30 minutes Carom-shot drill

10 minutes Advanced position drill

20 minutes 9-Ball ghost race to 7


Week FIVE

Seven-day evolution for final challenge

10 minutes Warm-up

20 minutes 9-Ball break training

15 minutes Bank shots

15 minutes Combination shots

15 minutes Kick shots

15 minutes Carom shots


Week SIX

Seven-day evolution for final challenge

10 minutes Warm-up

20 minutes 9-Ball break training

80 minutes Rotation GhostGLOSSARY OF TERMS

15-Ball Rotation: Fifteen balls are racked in a triangle. The shooter must hit the one ball first, then contact the lowest-numbered ball on the table first with each shot, as in 9-ball. The value of the pocketed ball is scored.

Backspin: The ball is struck below its center (see "Draw") and moves forward while spinning back towards the shooter. When the cue ball hits the object ball, it then tends to move back toward the shooter, depending on the angle of the shot.

Bank shot: A shot where the cue ball drives the object ball into at least one rail.

Center-ball hit: A shot where the cue ball is struck exactly or slightly below center, producing a zero-spin hit.

Combination shot: A shot where the cue ball drives one object ball into another one.

Draw: The act of applying backspin (see above).

English: The cue ball is struck to either side of the vertical center; also called "sidespin."

Follow: The act of applying topspin (see below).

Gather shot: A position play that leaves balls in close proximity.

Hanging/hanger: The object ball rests on or very near the edge of the pocket

Kick shot: A shot where the cue ball hits at least one rail before contacting the object ball.

Stop shot: When the cue ball stops at the spot where it has contacted the object ball. It is often the result of a center-ball hit.

Thick hit: A shot which aims the center of the cue ball at or near the center of the object ball.

Thin hit: A shot which aims an edge of the cue ball at an extreme edge of the object ball.

Top spin: The cue ball is struck above center and rolls naturally.

Zero spin: The cue ball contacts the object ball with neither top- nor bottom-spin; it's actually "skidding" across the cloth, rather than rolling