Let’s Play Pool
Pool is an interesting game and not difficult to play after you learn the basics. These instructions will put you ahead of the game.
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Billiards began in France as a lawn game much like croquet but when it moved to England it became “pool”because their version was a gambling game where everyone “pooled” their money. You can look in your phone book to find a pool hall or billiards club. When you go to the club see if there is someone there who offers lessons. Here is the basic equipment and instructions to get you started.
Balls
Eight of the balls are solid colors, and the other balls are stripes, with white tops and bottoms. These are the object balls. You will try to hit these balls in the pockets of the table. Each ball has a number on it, one to fifteen,and the eight ball is black. The all white cue ball is the one you will hit with your cue stick to pocket the object balls.
Cue
Cue sticks range from fifty-six to sixty-two inches. Your arm length will determine the length for you. Weights are from eighteen to twenty-one ounces. As you gain experience you can experiment with different weights and tip sizes to see which works best for you. But be sure your cue is long enough that you don’t run out of cue when you are sliding the cue forward to hit your ball.
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Table
These vary in sizes and are covered with green wool because pool started as a lawn game. You will find some table covers like red and purple but they are hard on the eye.
How to Play Pool
- Grab a cue and put one hand on the thick, back end of your cue, and the other on the front. Your back arm and hand control your cue, so if you are right handed this should be your right hand.
- Find the balance point of your cue by holding the stick lightly by the index finger and thumb of your grip hand until, like a scale it tips neither up or down. Hold the stick several inches behind the point. Hold the cue using your two middle fingers and thumb, then wrap your index and little fingers around the cue.
- Hold the cue so your upper body is parallel to the floor while the lower part of your body is perpendicular to the floor. Now you will need to build a bridge. That’s the support formed by the front hand where the cue stick rests. Spread your fingers apart as far as they will go, and keeping your thumb next to your index finger ,allow the cue stick to rest between the thumb and the first knuckle of the index finger. Ask your teacher to help you master some of the bridge techniques to use when your ball is on or near the tables rail, and how to use a separate piece of equipment called a mechanical bridge.
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Stance
- Stand up straight behind a shot at the table.
- Line up the little toe of your back foot with the cue and object ball.
- Hold the cue stick with your back hand.
- Get your arms hang down at your sides.
- Place the tip of the cue stick about an inch behind the cue ball.
- Pivot your back foot, swing your heel in toward your body.
- Step your front foot to a comfortable position.
- Bend at the waist and slightly bend the back leg.
- Let your front leg bend slightly.
Remember when taking your shot is to keep the cue parallel to the table. Here’s how.
- Put your bridge hand on the table eighteen inches in front of the end rail.
- Make a bridge.
- Let go of the stick with your back hand, and let the cue stick come to rest on the end of the rail.
- Your cue stick is now parallel to the table.
- Hold your cue stick on the butt end without moving the cue out of its parallel position. You can now deliver a level shot.
Now you know the basics. Limit your back swing to five or six inches and practice shooting right through the ball as if it wasn’t there. Let the cue move through the contact with the ball and stop by itself. Practice hitting using your cue ball to hit those stripes and solids into any of the six pockets of the pool table.
17 Comments
Very entertaining and informative. I have only played pool twice.
A great article and a splendid lesson for those wanting to learn how to play the game. Well done.
Christine
I use to love pool when i was young but haven’t played for years . Great article Ruby it brought back memories
I love pool too. I always play pool with my friends.
Very good instruction! I haven’t played pool in ages. I was usually better after a couple beers, but any more than that I went down hill really fast!
Very interesting and informative. Enjoyed the read. Thanks for the share.
Very well explained. You could put the instructions up on any pool place, that is the quality of your writing. Well done!
I feel like im all set to play pool! Lets play pool then.
Love to play pool, rack ‘em up!
Great article, Ruby! I love to play pool too. It’s so much fun. Your article will be really helpful for new players of the game.
I know the basics.. what I don’t know is how to prepare for the next ball..
I always find it hard to position my fingers on the pool table, thanks for the tips
I have always enjoyed watch the game being played. I also enjoy watching the women tournaments on television. Maybe I will put learning to play pool on my “bucket” list.
Thoroughly enjoyable article, I’ve only tried once, I was definitely doing it wrong!
Thank you my friends, What would I ever do without you. All my guys loved to play pool and we had a pool table for years.Thanks for your interest and your comments. Know you are appreciated.
I am probably one of the world’s worst try-hard pool novices. What a wonderful guide Ruby. I won’t be needing a teacher because I’ve already found one. Thanks Ruby!
i really want to learn how to play pool, this article is a big help! thanks for sharing!