This is a cool Dart Board Infographic that will teach you how to play darts in a fun way. Visuals go a long way and hey, sometimes seeing is believing! Playing darts is a lot more than throwing some wild shots at a board on the wall. It takes skill, strategy and finesse!
I came across this dart board infographic somewhere on the internet. Honestly, I can’t remember how I even came across it but I guess this is typically the way web surfing works! (How did I get here?!) Andrew Snavely from Primer Magazine created this infographic. Thanks Andrew! Drum roll please.
I remember climbing Mount Fuji in Japan. You kept your head bent down looking at the ground so you wouldn’t slip, trying hard to breathe and finally you make it to the next station. Imagine the joy that you were one station closer to the top. And then you realized that the number on this station was the same as the number on the station before! Ugh, You had thought you arrived, but in fact, you still had a long way to go.
And that my friends is how your journey in pool will feel like. Once you think you have it, you will realize that you are just starting out. With that in mind, let’s get started on our trip the right way.
Having strong fundamentals in pool is the key to a solid pool game. Let’s look at what these fundamentals are and how to incorporate them into your pool game.
“Mr. Calm, Cool, & Collected. That’s what he’s known as. Steve “Collected” Markle has shown you what he can do with a cue stick but he’s not done yet.”
For those of you who have been living under a rock for the past few years, Steve Markle is a professionally ranked trick shot artist. Steve has appeared in many tours and on media outlets including ESPN, Insight Magazine, In The Pocket News, Inside Pool Magazine, and ABC News. How’s that for a resume?
“Redefining the Laws of Physics”
Steve burst onto the scene at an early age. When most kids were just starting high school, Steve was making a name for himself in the giant world of billiards. [#billiardlife] Now at the age of 22, Steve has already built a strong following before many seasoned pros have even begun thinking about a professional career in billiards.
Started doing trick shots at age 14
Started competing professionally at age 16
Steve competed in the 2013 ESPN World Cup of Trick Shots last year with the likes of Andy Segal, Jamey Gray, Florian Kohler, and Gabi Visiou. He was invited again this past April to compete in the World Cup of Trick Shots on ESPN2. You don’t have to be a billiards fan by any means to appreciate the talent this guy’s got!
Table tennis is a fast-paced game that demands agility, precision, and a knack at predicting where the ball will return. Table tennis, or ping pong, is also a great way to improve life expectancy. No we’re not making this up, it’s actually been proven!
An extensive study was done in the home of Table Tennis, China of course. Researchers monitored areas such as heart function, eyesight, and reaction time. Here’s the sweet and short excerpt from the study:
“Our research indicates: frequent table tennis exercises help to advance heart function, eyesight, and reaction ability of hands and eyes. Meanwhile, it is proved that table tennis activities play as a key role in carrying out the strategy of national sports.”
Did you know: Table tennis can be used to treat alhzheimers and dementia. Learn more.
Game Tables Online would like to welcome Mark to the Game Tables Online Blog for an all-new billiards series! The series is entitled, “A Pool Odyssey.” Why the name? Getting better at pool is a journey! We’re here to steer you in the right direction and lead you to pool excellence. Mark knows what he’s talking about so listen up!
Mark Finkelstein is a professional pool player, a BCA Master instructor, an American Cue Sports (ACS) Level 4 instructor, and House Pro at Slate Billiards in New York. He is also a former UPA Touring Pro and has played on the Joss 9-Ball Tour. Mark is leading instructor and can be found at other sites including Easy Pool Tutor and Inside Pool Magazine. Mark has also authored a book with McNally Jackson aptly titled, “Pool Ramblings.”
Take it away Mark!
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I wanted to start off this new series with an overview of how to get really good at pool. We all love this game, and at the same time get frustrated sometimes with just how difficult pool really is. Why is it one day I play like a god, and then next day I can’t make a hanger?
Anyone can get good at pool. It takes some sort of instruction, practice, competition and time. What we are going to do is give you some of the instruction part in this series. It is up to you to put in the time, practice and competition to get really good.
Let’s get started.
What exactly do you have to learn to play excellent pool?
First we need a repeatable, reliable stroke. Without this, we are asking for frustration and problems. Taking the time to learn a proper stroke is the foundation skill for pool excellence. It is best to learn a stroke with a reputable instructor who will video tape you and analyze your swing. Please don’t skimp on this. You can have all the knowledge in the world, play for 40 years, and compete daily, but your progress will be limited by a faulty stroke!! Continue reading →
English is another word for “sidespin” or “side spin” depending on how you want to spell it. It’s an advanced technique used in billiards that changes the path the cue ball travels. Before learning how to use English, you probably want to master the fundamentals of billiards before proceeding. This post will teach you what English is in billiards, how it works, and when to use it.
So now that we understand that English is just another word for sidespin, let’s look at the different types of English. Depending on which direction you want your ball to spin, you can apply the appropriate type of English to your cue ball. By hitting the cue ball in a different spot with your cue tip, you can make the cue ball spin left, right, forward, or backwards.
If you’re trying to hang your dartboard according to Official Dartboard Regulations, this post is the one for you. Here you’ll find all of the dimensions including distance from the throwline to dartboard and the height from the floor to the bullseye. Whether you’re hanging an electronic dartboard or a regulation board, these dimensions hold true. The only exception is for soft vs steel tip darts. In this case, you’ll need to move the throw line back by ¾ inch.
Image courtesy Pixabay
This post will teach you how high to hand a dart board from floor to the bullseye.
Blackjack is one of the most popular card games, second only to poker. Commonly referred to as 21, blackjack is a comparing game, meaning that each player competed against the dealer instead of against one another. It’s loved for its simplicity yet exciting level of play. The objective of blackjack is to get as close to 21 without exceeding this number.
When it comes to paddles, there is no “best” ping pong paddle. The paddle that suits your needs all depends on your style of play and the circumstances of the match. What type of paddle you choose is a matter of personal preference and your level of expertise. Here are 5 things that you MUST take into consideration when shopping for a new ping pong paddle.
Making a good break shot is all about form, concentration, and finesse. Truth be told, this is a great way for a newbie to embarrass themselves for the rest of their pool career. So how does one get the snap, crackle, and pop of a pro billiards player?
The Rack
A pool match starts before the game even begins. In order to rack properly, make sure that all balls are touching each other. If the balls aren’t touching, it will be impossible to make a good break. The space in between the balls will diffuse the energy of the incoming cue ball. This is why it’s important to purchase a quality pool rack that keeps everything close together. Continue reading →
Mark Finkelstein is a professional pool player, a BCA Master instructor, an American Cue Sports (ACS) Level 4 instructor, and House Pro at Slate Billiards in New York. He is also a former UPA Touring Pro and has played on the 
