If you’ve ever tried your hand at billiards, you surely know the frustration of watching your carefully aimed ball go spinning off in the wrong direction, missing its target entirely. Pool can be a challenging game to master, but remember that even the best player in the room was once a novice who didn’t even know how to hold a cue. If you want to improve your pool game, below are a few tips to get started.

3 Tips for Improving Your Billiards Game

1. Learn an Aiming Technique

There are several techniques in pool, but they all boil down to finding the right point of contact between the cue ball and the one you’re trying to hit. To visualize the path you need to take, imagine a straight line going from the center of the pocket through the middle of the ball you’re trying to hit. Next, draw a line through your cue ball through the other ball. Where these two lines intersect is where you need the cue to go.

2. Develop a Good Stance

While there’s no perfect stance for billiards, a few basic principles will help you control the ball. Your dominant foot should be behind the other, lined up with the shot and the hand holding the cue. Make sure your chin lines up with the cue stick, and lean forward into the shot to follow through. 

3. Practice Basic Shots

Repetition is the key to mastering billiards, so line up an easy shot you know you can make. For instance, put a ball a few inches from the pocket, then place your cue ball a foot or so away. Sink that shot until it becomes muscle memory. Over time, start increasing the distance until you can consistently put the ball in the pocket from the other side of the table.

If you’re on the hunt for a fun neighborhood bar with billiards tables, tasty food, and a family-friendly atmosphere, 8 Fat Fat 8 Bar & Grille is just the place you’ve been looking for. They pride themselves on offering some of the best Chinese food in Honolulu and the perfect place to unwind with your friends and family. Visit their website for a look at their menu. If you have any questions, give them a call at (808) 596-2779, or drop by tonight to practice your pool game.