We are moving our way up the chain of fundamentals to develop a solid pool game. We have looked at staying on the vertical axis of the cue ball, keeping our stick level and shooting more softly.

In this article, I want to look at stance. Now the hard part about teaching you how to stand is that everyone is different, height, weight, sex, wing span, etc. But there are a few things that are common to all stances that I want to go over, and then give you a way to check and see if your stance measures up.

1. The Big Secret is Balance

The first part of a good stance is that you are balanced. No standing on one toe, leaning forward, feet too close together, or awkward positions. The classic feet shoulder width and at about a 45 degree angle to the line of the shot is a good place to start.

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¾” slate vs 1” slate; how big of a difference can ¼” make right? Well, the thickness of your slate can have a big impact on the ability of your pool table to maintain a level surface and the way the ball rolls. You heard that right! Experienced players can tell the difference between ¾” and 1” slate as the ball will actually roll smoother. Weight is also plays a key factor in pool table installment, a fact that any billiards/pool table installer will tell you.

Don’t forget to check out our Interview with Poison Pro Steve Markle!

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Billiards, pool, and snooker appear to be very similar but the three vary based on the number of balls, pockets, table size, cue stick size, and several other factors. Some people use the term billiards and pool interchangeably. This isn’t completely incorrect however. Pool is a type of billiards game. Have we confused you yet? Here’s a quick breakdown of the differences between billiards, pool, and snooker.

Differences between Billiards, Pool, & Snooker:

• Billiards – played on a table that has no pockets and uses 3 balls. One red ball, one white ball with a spot, and one white ball without a spot.
• Pool – played on a table with 6 pockets with 9 to 15 object balls plus an additional cue ball. The number of balls depends on the type of pool you’re playing. More on that below.
• Snooker – played on a table that has 6 pockets. Snooker tables are larger than pool tables but the pockets are smaller than a pool tables’. Snooker is played with 15 pink numberless balls, 6 numbered object balls, and 1 cue ball.

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Let’s look in this article about keeping our stick level when we hit the cue ball and why that is so important. I’m sure you have all taken shots that looked right, but when you hit the cue ball, the shot was off by a lot.

Why it’s Important to Keep a Level Cue Stick

Because the bed of the pool table is very hard, anytime we are hitting down on the cue ball, we develop a force into the table that causes the cue ball to do some unpredictable things.

The first thing that happens to the cue ball is that it jumps off the table. By hitting down into the cue ball, we cause the cue ball to hop as it is moving down the table. This causes us to hit the object ball in a spot other than the one we are aiming at.

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Q: Is it better to put a pool table on carpet or hardwood floors?

8′ Axton Pool Table – Gunmetal Grey with Low Sheen Black

The short answer, hardwood floors but you can still install a pool table on carpet or a rug with a few caveats. As you well know, a stable foundation is essential to properly leveling a pool table (and keeping it level for that matter). For this reason, we always recommend installing pool tables on hard surfaces like wood or concrete. If renovating the flooring in your game room isn’t an option, you can still install your table on top of carpet without any major problems by following these rules.

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A pre-shot routine refers to the steps you take prior to your actual shot. In pool, the pre-shot routine is very important because this routine (which some might even call a ritual) is what puts you in position to execute precision shots.

Pre-Shot Routines Increase Consistency

One of the hardest things to do is not just to make good shots, but make them on a consistent basis. This doesn’t mean just one miracle shot. It means being able to place the OB right where you want at any given moment, over and over again. They say practice makes perfect right? Your pre-shot routine is just practicing before it’s time to execute.
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K.I.S.S. is something we hear about all the time. No not that one for you lounge lizards out there!! Keep it simple silly!! (Remember we don’t like to say bad things about ourselves!!).

In a previous article we talked about how difficult pool really is. We are hitting a round ball, with a stick with a round tip, trying to precisely hit another ball into a pocket. A millimeter error in hitting the cue ball means a 5 millimeter error on the object ball, and about a 4 inch error at the pocket, more than enough to miss by a lot. That means we need an awful lot of precision in hitting the cue ball.

Play Better Pool; Stay on the Vertical Axis

One of the tricks to help us play a lot better is staying much closer to the center of the cue ball and on the vertical axis as much as possible. The reason we do this is that the closer to the center we are when hitting the cue ball, the less the cue ball is pushed off our line of aim. In fact, the only time the cue ball goes in the direction the cue stick is pointing is when you strike the cue ball on the vertical axis!!

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Pool Table Size Guide

When shopping for a pool table, the most common question buyers have is  “What is the best pool table size to have?” The answer has more to do with the space you’ll be placing your new pool table in. A too-big pool table in a small room will be unplayable and a too-small pool table in a big, open space will look and feel disproportionate. Next, other considerations, like who will be playing on your new pool table, or your personal skill level goals, factor in.  

Smaller pool tables are easier to play on due to the shorter distances for shots, making them great for casual play and beginners. On the other hand, regulation-size 9-foot tables offer the most challenge, demanding higher skill levels and precision, making them ideal for advanced players and competitive play.

At GameTablesOnline.com, we are here to help you figure out which pool table is right for you. So we’ve created this guide to help you sort through all the pool tables for sale to find your perfect pool table!

Learn how to play 8 ball pool like a pro! This article will teach you the basic fundamentals and give you a few key pointers while you’re at it. 8-Ball pool is the most popular pool game, boasting more than 30 million American 8 Ball players across the globe!

Eight-ball pool is commonly referred to as highs and lows, solids and stripes, or spots and stripes. Being that it’s so popular (you guessed it), it’s one of the easiest games to learn how to play.

Here’s the 15 second break down:

1. Break the rack
2. Choose whether you want to take solids or stripes.
3. First person to pocket the 8-Ball last is the victor.

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