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Billiards Coaching

A selection of coaching notes pertinent to play in The Billiard Room.

Compiled by Fred van Wegen. Please contact Fred if you have a question you’d like answered.

One hour coaching sessions for women are usually available on Tuesday and Thursdays at 3:00pm for one (1) hour. Bookings are required and limited to six per session. Please book via the Billiards timesheet page  

 

Basic Technique & Set Up

Stance

  • Left foot forward, right foot back (for right-handed)
  • Maintain correct height to table (if tall, spread legs more; if short, keep feet closer together)

Bridge Hand

  • Top knuckles up
  • Fingers spread and straight
  • Thumb up as high as possible and pressed against first index finger to make a sharp “V” where they meet

Right Hand and Arm (for right-handed)

  • Hold cue with pressure applied by thumb and first index finger
  • Form a right angle at elbow joint when cue is in position on bridge hand

Cuing the cue ball

  • Choose a cue that comes up to roughly to your shoulder
  • Keep bridge hand about one hand span from cue ball to allow a good strike
  • Strike the cue ball slightly above the equator to allow it run when struck
  • When striking the cue ball, keep the cue as close to the horizontal as you can
  • Always chalk between shots

Head Position

  • Keep head directly over the top of the cue, with eyes balanced either side of the cue
  • Try and get as close to the cue with your chin as you can

 Practise

  • Practise playing the cue ball up and down the table to establish some control of the pace of the strike
  • After learning the significance of ‘half ball’, practise hitting an object ball with the cue ball close by and at a distance with intent to hit more than half ball, half ball, and less than half ball
  • Practise more difficult bridging situations like when the cue ball is close to, or on the cushion
  • Practise using the short rest, with or without the extender, and also the long cue and long rest, discovering by trial and error your best way of using this equipment

Rules and Scoring

  • Know the rules relating to fouls and busts
  • Learn the various ways of scoring in pin pool (cannons, pots, in-offs, pin down indirectly)
  • When your turn comes to play at the table, try and assess best options for scoring, be it a cannon, a pot, an in off, or taking the pin down indirectly
  • When in doubt as to what shot to play (like when none of the scoring opportunities seem obvious), play to the closest object ball, rather than the more distant ball, and so reduce the chance of a foul occurring

Etiquette

  • Some don’ts: don’t chalk your cue, don’t walk around the table (preferably, sit down), and don’t talk, while your opponents are at the table attempting to play their shots
  • Some dos: congratulate good shots by your opponents, ask the referee if in doubt about situations and rulings, check the score board regularly, leave the table covered with signage in place (see notice board for best way of uncovering the table), return balls to cupboard, and most importantly, HAVE FUN.