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Beginning Pocket Billiards

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Contents

1. Course Outline for Beginning Pocket Billiards.
2. Material on Reserve in the Tech Library.

This course is geared towards the beginning player. It's primarily for people who want to learn how to shoot. It goes all the way from learning to hold a stick to figuring out the positional play needed for "running out" in various games. Most of the class time is spent on doing exercises to improve the player's mechanics and reinforce the various techniques used for lining up shots and playing position, hence attendance is required (more than five absences will normally result in a failing grade).

(NOTE: Some links below are restricted to people taking the course.)

1.   -   Introduction to course material and requirements.
2.   -   Accepted / Preferred techniques: Hand bridge, stance, grip, mechanical bridge, stroke, other useful bridges. (first session)

   Begin exercises for stroke.

3.   -   Accepted / Preferred techniques: Hand bridge, stance, grip, mechanical bridge, stroke, other useful bridges. (second session)

   Continue exercises for stroke.

4.   -   Shot Aiming: Cuts shots.
5.   -   Shot Aiming: Combination shots.
6.   -   Practice of cuts, and combinations.
7.   -   "5x3" assessment (25-stroke limit),
8.   -   "5x3" assessment (continued).
9.   -   Review of rules:
   • General Rules of Pocket Billiards.
   • Seven-Ball.
   • Eight-Ball.
   • Nine-Ball.
   • Tournament Rules and Regulations.

   Introduce the game of "spot", and the practice exercise of "2-balls/pocket and 1-ball/spot".

10.   -   Shot Aiming: Caroms (tangent).
11.   -   Practice of tangent caroms.
12.   -   Shot Aiming: One-cushion Banks.
13.   -   Practice of one-cushion banks.
14.   -   Shot Aiming: combining Combinations, Caroms, and Banks.
15.   -   "5x3" assessment (no stroke limit; can exceed 25 strokes).
16.   -   "5x3" assessment (continued).
17.   -   First written test.
18.   -   English: Follow, Draw, Left, Right, and permutations. Exercises for "follow", and "draw".
19.   -   Practice of "follow", "draw", "left", and "right".
20.   -   Review of rules for:
    • Bowlliards.
    • Bottle Pocket Billiards.
    • Cribbage.
    • One Pocket.
    • 14.1 Continuous.
21.   -   Effects of english on cuts, combinations, and caroms.
22.   -   Practice of cuts, combinations, and caroms using english.
23.   -   Effects of english on banks.
24.   -   Concept of Positional Play and need to control speed.   Revisit game of "spot".
25.   -   Shot selection (discuss "ball in hand").
26.   -   Exercises using english for positional play.
27.   -   Practice getting position.
28.   -   "5x3" assessment.
29.   -   "5x3" assessment (continued).
30.   -   Second written test.
31.   -   Student selected topics.
32.   -   Closing discussion.

Either: Byrne's Standard Book of Pool and Billiards, or Capelle's Play Your Best Pool can be used as a recommended text.

There is a $10.00 lab fee for this course.

The following books will be on reserve in the Tech library.

1. How to Play Pool by Minnesota Fats.
2. Willie Mosconi on Pocket Billiards by Willie Mosconi.
3. Play Your Best Pool by Phil Capelle.
4. Standard Book of Pool and Billiards by Robert Byrne.
5. Advanced Technique in Pool and Billiards by Robert Byrne.
6. The Science of Pocket Billiards by Jack Koehler.
7. Mastering Pool by George Fels.
8. Please of Small Motions by Dr. Bob Francher.

These video tapes are also on reserve in the Tech Library.

1. Rack 'Em Up by Robert Byrne.
2. How to Play Pool by Minnesota Fats.
3. How to Play Pool Right by Jerry Briesath.
4. Standard Video of Pool and Billiards (Vol 1) by Robert Byrne
5. Power Pool Workout (Vol 5) by Robert Byrne
6. The Best of 3-Cushion Billiards (Vol 1) hosted by Robert Byrne.
7. Sands Regency Open 15,   9-Ball,   Buddy Hall vs. Grady Mathews with player review.