They say “practice makes perfect,” and that’s no different with playing billiards or any other game at the pool. Most of the beginners in this game skip fundamental steps like the draw-shots, combo-shots, powerful breaks, etc. But if you desire to be a pro in this game, you’ve got to practice some strategies and technical shots. Getting better with billiards requires consistent practice on the fundamental mechanics and techniques. You become a better player by practicing and mastering the basics. This cuts across any pool games.
Practice your grip
Beginners often want to grip the cue too tightly, and that’s natural. You know, the thinking is that the tighter the grip, the more precise the shot. But that’s not the right approach. You have to take time and practice both tight and loose grip. When you hold the grip tightly, you’re most likely going to accidentally jump the cue off the table. Simply put, your grip should be tight enough to pick the cue off the pool table.
The pinky finger should always stay free, and the cue should not touch your palm. Balance between lightness and control and stick to that.
Swinging the pendulum
Once you’ve practiced the tight and loose grip, you can move to the other step on how to swing the pendulum.
You shall see how important it is to shoot when your body is aligned with the aiming line if you’re a beginner. But if your shooting arm is not still, it’s pretty hard to stay in alignment. Many players have a lot of movement in their upper arm when at the game, making them ineffective. The best way here is to think of your upper and lower shooting arm as a sort of pendulum. Through the process, the upper arm should remain still and even.
Practice your bridges
One vital aspect of your game is your bridge. You can master the grip, the alignment, and stance, but if the bridge is clumsy and inconsistent, that won’t matter much. There are two main shots; the closed and open bridge shots. The experienced billiard payers prefer the closed one, the open one is preferred for softer shots, and you can get lots of power when needed.
Work on your stance
One most fundamental thing you should practice is your stance. A general guideline here is to have your front foot shoulder-width apart from the other. Then you place the rear foot at an angle of 45°. That should b=feel stable and comfortable. You should ensure your weight is balanced equally on both feet and when you lean forward, keep your hear low and level over the cue. You should never strain to get into that position, and once the stance is comfortable, balanced, and low, try and be consistent with it.
Every player wants to be the best at their game. But not everyone achieves such goals. But those who succeed have something in common: the pool break shot tips, practice, and consistency. When you choose to play billiards, you have to be ready to practice more so you perfect your skill in a significant way.
