Easy Pool Tips: Shooting Straight for the Casual Player

There are many perfectly good reasons to want to improve your pool game. Maybe you don't want to be embarrassed at the bar, or are tired of constantly losing to that one bragging friend. Throw that cue ball back and let your friend snark no more! These easy to use tips will help you shoot straighter and gain the respect you crave... to a point. If you really want to rule the pockets every time you step up to play a game of pool, there is much more to learn.

Pool Tip #1: Lining Up Your Shot

If you despair over every shot that isn't a straight shot, now is the time to stop. Straight shots are actually harder to make most of the time. All you need to do is stand facing the pocket you intend to get your ball into, positioning the ball you are trying to get in the pocket (we will call it the object ball) between you and said pocket. Line it up as if you were shooting a straight shot.

Next, use your youthful back and bend over to gaze across the table. Get a direct view at table level of the pathway that the object ball needs to take in order to fall into the pocket. Pinpoint the center of the ball in your vision from this angle. Keep your eyes on this point as you rotate back to the position that you will be shooting from. This is the point that you will be aiming for with the cue ball.

Pool Tip #2: The Shot

Get as low as possible when orienting your shot; sometimes the angle needed to hit your object ball in the correct place can look different from an overhead view. Keep your eyes on the point you established and slowly take your shot. It is easier to determine if your shot stayed on the correct path when your eyes are closer to table level. Your table level view also helps you understand how important follow through is when playing pool.

The key is keeping your eye on the point you designated and keeping your cue steady as you take your shot. Shooting slow and controlled is the advice you will get from pretty much everyone, because (surprise!) you don't need to hit the ball as hard as you can. These are balls rolling on a (hopefully) flat surface; they don't need much of a push.

Keep this in mind when tackling a straight shot as well and you will shortly be unstoppable! At least until you need to do a bank shot. This is where the casual pool player interests usually end and the old standby of luck begins. Take these tips to the bar and have a great game.