Pool Foundation

HANDLE:

To play billiards, the first thing that we face even before approaching the table is the action of taking the cue. Actually have a proper grip is very simple, it's almost harder to get it wrong but beginners often we find that grip the cue with the yolks of two or three fingers, as if afraid to break it. The heel should be held with all the hand firmly, but with relaxation, ie without drowning but to dance in his hand. The height of the hub to which we will take it depend on the position of the body (particularly the shoulders) and we shall see.

BRIDGE:

For a beginner it is easier to make a bridge open one closed, and you can play perfectly and with the first best level so we will concentrate on it. We must be clear that what we seek is support for the cue as compact as possible. Let's see how.

The first thing to do is put your left hand wide open and all the fingers wide apart, naturally on the cloth, with all playing the same palm and fingers up and down the right with respect to the line of fire we want to accomplish. Once this is done we just need to put together your thumb and index finger (the thumb should point up what we can) and cupping his hand as if to throw up our knuckles, so that the palm is separated from the cloth and only fingers and the fleshy parts with the wrist touching it. The block will slide into the 'v' formed between the thumb and index finger knuckle. The amount of lift that we give the knuckles will serve to attack the white ball above or below (do we need to do this more on that later).

The distance at which we put our bridge relative to the cue ball will depend on how much speed you want to print the shot, and we shall see, in principle we can reference some 15 cm.

BODY POSITION

• Legs

To place our body properly at the table, our feet should be open about 45 degrees and the left foot should be in line with our shooting, but as none have the flexibility of a gymnast twelve years to rotate slightly left foot inward (few degrees). Our legs should be slightly bent and your weight should rest perfectly on both feet, with no more weight in any of them, or in our heels or balls of same. We must look for complete stability. The weight should plummet to the ground below us, and this is the feeling that the player should have. Thus if we give a little push in any direction, we should be able to maintain our position (without falling) without effort.

• The Trunk

Now comes the delicate, especially for the beginner ... But the truth is that many players of good level neglect this point is crucial. This is the trunk, or 'how to get off' to the table.

The most common error, as shown in the photo, between novice and more experienced players, is to lower your torso to the table. This causes the following problems, also common:

There is no room to move the block (this is you too close to our chest, to the point of beating us when we strike a punching ball with some force).

The right shoulder is not on cue, with which, or the line loses arm or elbow is out, so we lose also throw line (discussed later), and our righteousness at the entrance or attack on the white ball is harmed.

The trunk should download it right on the shot. This will force us to locate definitely the more left feet than it would if we go down to the table. The correct position of the foot the control go to practice, but the secret remains the stability of body weight. The decline in the photo on the right. Compare especially the tilt of the spine in both photos.

Certainly we are not machines and put one arm out of joint here, a leg there and head into the next table but the point is important to take care with the greatest zeal for the improvement in space, righteousness, and attack quality (yes, yes, in that order!) will be huge.

At this point we get a question: how far should be our head, our chin, taco?

In the pool pocket the object ball becomes, apart from one of our goals when we learn, a prerequisite if we want to continue playing and not sitting in the chair to look to play our adversary. And improving ball stage is indispensable, especially for shorter or more balls away from the pocket.

It has been demonstrated and it is logical to aim better when the distance between the shaft of the cue and our chin is smaller. So that is what we try when we play our game: stick your chin to the shaft of the cue as much as possible to the point ... hum ... almost touching at times of filing and having your head on straight arrow.

I do not mean that you can not reach a great level playing a little taller but it is true that the common pattern in American pool players, and especially in snooker, where the table is larger and more pockets small, is playing with your chin tucked, even literally, taco.

We have to feel like stretching, how men seek to be more in line of fire (although they do not become pregnant, the line really form the head, well attached to the left shoulder and right shoulder). Of course we will not get it perfect the first day because the body has to get used to stretch, but ideally will feel stretched a little more each day, that do not force too much and hurt us.

After all this feeling should be the cue to the right side of the body, and not in the body actually.

RIGHT ARM:

If we followed all the above steps correctly, it will be easy to 'drop' right arm in place ... at least in theory. Let's leave it will be easier to do well if your body position is correct. The arm will be in line with the cue and our elbow, forearm and wrist should naturally fall to the ground so that they are in the line of fire. The doll will drop the wad under its own weight so that it matches the forearm bone.

The position of the forearm to the floor should be for any shot, perpendicular to the ground just at the moment of impact. This guarantees a comfortable journey while filing the route of entry will also be comfortable, and it will attack the white at the time in which the arm can print high quality to our attack.


THE SHOT LINE:



Once all the steps followed to properly position the line of fire should be formed by:

* The cue

* Chin

* The right shoulder

* The right arm

* The right elbow

* The right forearm

* The right wrist

Of course nobody is going to ensure a perfectly straight entry and not to fail or a ball if we meet all these requirements, but will get options to increase significantly.