Using Pool Cues

Teach yourself how to use a billiard cue to draw attention to your pool hall

As a billiard hall owner, you've got pool cues all over the place. But do you really know how to use them? You may have simply decided to take advantage of a great investment opportunity when you bought your establishment, but really knowing how to play the game will entice customers and convince them that your establishment is worthy of their patronage.

Playing pool is just geometry and physics, but it is rather complex. Knowing how to use your pool cue stick to make more than just the basic shots is important if you want to prove that you're an authority on the game. If you can master using pool cues for a variety of shots, you'll be running the table in no time and patrons will be impressed with your skills.

1. Perfect your break. Sturdy billiard cues with solid tips are best for this power shot.

2. Work on shots involving the rail. You can use your billiard cue to master both bank shots and kick shots.

3. Use your cue stick to do jump shots when you have no choice other than to hop the cue ball over balls that are in your way.

Start the game out by properly breaking the rack with your billiard stick

When choosing a breaking cue, understand that it should be solid and sturdy. The amount of force used to break can warp or even break standard cues, so if you have a custom pool cue that you play with, don't take a chance by breaking with it. Some players prefer to use a lighter stick, believing that it will allow them to move through the stroke faster, while others prefer a heavy cue since the weight can add a bit of power. Whatever pool stick you choose, make sure to hit the cue ball dead center and follow through.

Use pool cues to sink bank shots and kick shots

Once you've mastered the basics of the game, your next step is to use your cue to make shots off the rails. You can make bank shots by hitting the cue ball into the object ball, which in turn bounces off a rail and into a pocket. The flip side of this is the kick shot, where the cue ball ricochets off the rail to hit the object ball into the pocket. Using your cue stick to put english (spin) on the ball, set up your angles and apply the right amount of force is key to making these types of shots.

Practice your jump shots with billiard pool cues

This shot is accomplished by literally jumping your cue ball over other balls to hit your object ball. You can execute a jump shot with a full-length cue or a jump cue, which is shorter. It's important to note that jumps shots can ruin your felt, so only pull them out of your bag of tricks when you absolutely have to.

• Drawing back the ball after hitting the object ball is an important technique to learn. By using bottom english (aiming the billiard cue at the bottom of the ball) and quickly drawing the cue back after executing the shot, you can effectively draw the cue ball back toward you. This is a great way to avoid scratching, and helps you leave the cue ball where you want it.

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