SNOOKER – Nowhere to hide!

Ronnie O’Sullivan, Mark Selby, John Higgins, Graeme Dott, Shaun Murphy and Australia’s Neil Robertson have all raised the World Snooker Championship trophy over the past decade

Australia’s Neil Robertson

They are household names and have done well out of the sport due to the game’s heavy Television broadcast schedule.

It is for this reason the game of Snooker enjoys such a high profile despite Snooker itself not being played at the grassroots level as much as eight or nine ball.

The skills and tactics of Snooker are undeniable and as a general belief if you are good at Snooker you should do okay at any of the other cue sports games.

Like Billiards, not to be mistaken with American Billiards, you can’t hide in a game of Snooker – poor play will be exposed.

Watching two low-skilled players play Snooker is painful, particularly if you’re playing next as it will be a long wait.

That said watching the highly skilled is very awesome and it is why the game is covered extensively on Television.

When staged on a full size table of 12’x6’ or 10’x5’, Snooker is played with 22 balls which is made up of one white cue-ball, ten red balls and one yellow, green, brown, blue, pink and black ball.

Ten red balls are used on smaller tables.

The red balls are racked in the triangle and placed behind the spot at the foot of the table.

The coloured balls are placed on the various spots on the table as seen in the diagram below.

• BROWN ball placed on CENTRE of string line
• YELLOW ball placed on spot to the RIGHT
• GREEN ball placed on spot to the LEFT
• BLUE ball placed on spot at CENTRE of table
• PINK ball placed at APEX of pyramid
• BLACK ball placed HALF WAY between pyramid base & back cushion

The object of the game is simple. Sink a red ball then sink a coloured ball and try and continue this scenario as many times as possible. So in other words, sending a red ball into a pocket allows you to shoot for a coloured ball.

While a red ball is one point the coloured balls have different values which are:

• BROWN – 4 points
• YELLOW – 2 points
• GREEN- 3 points
• BLUE – 5 points
• PINK -6 points
• BLACK – 7 points

The 10-times women’s world champion Reanne Evans

You can pocket any coloured ball after pocketing a red. If you sink the lowest valued colour ball on the table it is taken out of the game however if it is not the lowest valued coloured ball on the table it is immediately replaced to its original position on the Table. If the spot is occupied the ball is placed on the nearest vacant spot. Once reds balls are pocketed they remain there.

Once all the red balls have been pocketed you must then sink the remaining coloured balls in order from lowest to highest (points).

And to make it a challenge you must nominate which coloured ball you are aiming for during all stages of the game. This means if you accidently sink a coloured ball that wasn’t nominated it is returned to the table and a penalty applies to the shooter.

Penalties apply to the following if:

• A player loses four points if they aim for a red ball and misses or if the white cue ball goes into the pocket.
• A player aims for a coloured ball and misses he loses the value of the ball missed except for the Yellow and Green balls which then carry the minimum penalty which is 4 points.
• A player hits a different coloured ball than the one aimed at they lose the value of the highest number ball involved. The same penalty applies to pocketing a wrong ball even if the right ball is hit first.
• If the player “on” Black misses and no other ball is hit – penalty seven points
• Player “on” Yellow strikes Black and Yellow simultaneously – penalty seven because the highest numerical forfeit applies.
• When all balls are off the Table the player with the highest score wins.

In consideration of all the rules, the biggest secret of the game lies in the name – SNOOKER. A snooker is when you deprive your opponent of a clear shot or even better a shot that has no alternative but to foul. So if you are playing Snooker – try and snooker your opponent as many times as possible but make sure you do it without detracting from sinking balls and scoring shots.

However if you absolutely snooker your opponent from a foul stroke they can claim a “free ball”- that is choose any colour he chooses to serve as a red ball. However, the coloured ball will count as 1one and must be re-spotted.

It is a fun game but if you and your opponent is new to the game, it is not a bad idea to have a list of the value of each balls on hand and where they are placed on the table.

There is a Billiard and Snooker club in just about every Metropolitan and Regional centre in Australia and their websites are a great reference on which club to join, upcoming tournaments and lessons.

For tables, accessories or even reclothing your Snooker table, Billiard Shop in Townsville, Mackay, Maroochydore on the Sunshine Coast, Bundall on the Gold Coast, Macgregor and Aspley in Brisbane and Toowoomba have the complete service to make the good times roll.

THE BRILLIANCE OF BILLIARDS

Mark Twain

You can’t hide in the game of Billiards. It requires much more than exquisite touch and visionary precision and it is why Mark Twain bestowed on the world in a speech on April 24th1906 “The game of billiards has destroyed my naturally sweet disposition.”

It can be a frustrating game but therein lies its addictive nature which makes Billiards exhilarating!

Traditionally the game has three balls, the cue ball and two object balls which traditionally were two white balls.

To distinguish between the two white coloured balls one is marked with a black spot at opposite extremities and called Spot while the other white ball is called, plain. Each player uses either white ball which is determined before the game starts.

However more recently one of the white balls has been swapped for a yellow ball which makes the game more easy to follow when broadcast on television. Billiard Shop sells Billiards packs containing a white, yellow and red.

As Billiards is a scoring game the player that scores the most points wins and there are three ways in which to score, by cannons, losing hazards and winning hazards.

Cannons: A cannon is made by causing the cue ball to contact the two object balls in succession. Two points are scored by a cannon whether it is from white to red, or red to white.

Losing Hazards: A losing hazard is when you sink your cue ball after contact with one of the two object balls. A losing hazard off the red is rewarded three points and off the white (or yellow) is two. This play is referred to as a “Loser”

Winning Hazards: A winning hazard or Pot is made by pocketing one or both of the object balls. Potting the red ball scores 3 points and potting the white (or yellow) two.

The real skill of the game is making combinations shots and is such scenarios the following points apply:

• When a losing hazard and cannon are made in the one stroke, the player scores two points for the cannon and two for the hazard. If the white ball (or yellow) is struck first it is two points for the cannon and if the red is struck first it is three points for the hazard.
• If both object-balls are struck simultaneously and a hazard is made as well, two points are scored for the cannon and two for the hazard.
• If more than one hazard or a combination of hazards and cannons are made in the same stroke, all are scored.

So with that knowledge it is time to play! And just how long you play for is determined by whether you compete over a predetermined number of points (eg 100, 250 or 500) or to a predetermined time (e.g 1 hour or 2 hours).

Starting the game is done by a heads or tails coin toss with the winner earning the choice of either the spot or the plain white ball, playing first or second.

The other way is to String. Here each player hits a white ball (or yellow) from the baulk line with the winner being the one whose ball comes to rest nearest the bottom cushion whether it rebounds or not.

At the commencement of the game the red ball is placed on the billiard spot and the opponent’s ball is “in hand”, that is not on the table. The player starting the game places his ball in the “D” and must direct it out of the baulk area.

The opening stroke is to connect with the red ball. The ideal scenario is to send the red to either the right or left hand pocket in the baulk and bring the cue ball to the side of the table. When confronted with this situation the reply is generally to attempt the cannon from white (or yellow) on to red. If it is missed the opening player has the red to play at for a loser or pot.

When a ball is forced off the table, the balls are then spotted, the red is placed on the billiard spot and the object ball on the centre spot. Every time the cue ball enters a pocket the player must then play form the “D”.

The object white ball (or yellow) stays in the pocket if potted until the opponents turn arrives. A player fails to score and gives way to his opponents if his stroke does not result in a cannon, a losing hazard or a winning hazard.

While the player continues to score he remains at the table, and only after missing a stroke does their turn end.

The purpose of the game is, as implied above, to perform as many sequences of cannons, losing and winning hazards as possible. The key to this is to bring the balls to rest with another scoring opportunity. If you do this more than your opponent then you will win, or at least you should.

The tactics are immense and you have to be alert and respond to all possibilities.

The most important tactical area on the Billiards table is the baulk area which is the area on the table between the baulk line and the bottom cushion.  In numerous game situations you are confronted with playing out of the baulk area, in otherwords it is a no-shooting-backwards zone.

You must play out of the baulk area when the cue-ball has entered a pocket as the result of a losing hazard or your opponent has pitted your cue ball from the break.

You may place the cue-ball anywhere in the “D” space, including the semi-circular line and the part of the baulk-line which forms the straight part of the “D”. If you place the ball on this line then it must be exactly on it, which means half in and half out.

When forced to play out of the baulk when the object balls are behind the baulk line your natural options are to either try a screw-back, use the cushions or other object balls to find your target.

Sending both object-balls into baulk is called a double-baulk while sending one ball into baulk is a single-baulk. They are both considered safe shots.

It’s why scoring off a double-baulk is difficult and why the baulk area is an important part of safety or defensive play.

The amazing thing about playing Billiards is that you are in a constant state of learning. It’s been this way for more than a hundred years with the current rules largely the ones adopted by the games governing body in England in 1899

It is one of the oldest sporting world championships, dating back to 1869.

But when you do play remember to keep your sense of humour so as not to destroy your naturally sweet disposition. So let the good times roll!

10-BALL - A COMING OF AGE!

We all love a challenge! Don’t we! When things become a bit predictable it seems to be human nature to want something a bit tougher.

This explains why the game of 10-Ball is coming on strong in the face of the nine-ball onslaught.

Some professionals simply think 10-ball is more of a challenge than nine-ball which they consider to predictable off the break.

So the cue-sport game is in a constant state of flux which fits in nicely with Greek philosopher Heraclitus who around 500BC pondered that all things pass and nothing stays. To explain this theory he said you could not step twice into the same river.

Applying this theory to cue-sport you have a much lesser chance of playing the same game twice in 10-ball as you would in nine-ball.

Here’s why.

10-Ball uses ten balls instead of nine and the Blue Number 10 ball is, to put it into eight-ball terms, the black ball – the money ball!

And here’s why the professionals have a greater liking for the game - all shots must be called and you have to pocket the balls in numerical order. You only call one-ball at a time but if there is any confusion about your shot you must nominate the pocket. If your intention is not to sink the object ball you can call a safety. A safety is called when you see no hope in sinking the object ball.

Any additional balls pocketed from a legal shot remain pocketed.

Like standard pool, all ten balls are racked as a triangle but the ten-ball is in the middle of the rack, the one-ball is at the top of the track with all the other balls are placed randomly.

From the break the opening shot must hit the lowest numbered ball first, which is why the one-ball is at the top. At least one ball must hit any rubber.

If the 10 ball is pocketed on the break you don’t win. It has to be spotted on the foot spot but you are not penalised and continue on with your turn.

However if you pocket the wrong ball or hit the nominated ball into the wrong pocket, the ball stays down. The applied penalty for doing this is your opponents can either take the shot as it lies or pass.

For a standard foul, play passes to your opponent who can place the cue-ball anywhere on the table.

If several fouls occurs in one shot, the most serious one is enforced. If a foul goes unnoticed before the next shot – you’ve got away with it.

The following is a list of what constitutes a standard foul by the World Pool-Billiard Association:

Cue Ball Scratch or off the Table: If the cue ball is pocketed or driven off the table, the shot is a foul.

Wrong Ball First: In those games which require the first object ball struck to be a particular ball or one of a group of balls, it is a foul for the cue ball to first contact any other ball.

No Rail after Contact: If no ball is pocketed on a shot, the cue ball must contact an object ball, and after that contact at least one ball (cue ball or any object ball) must be driven to a rail, or the shot is a foul.

No Foot on Floor: If the shooter does not have at least one foot touching the floor at the instant the tip contacts the cue ball, the shot is a foul.

Ball Driven off the Table: It is a foul to drive an object ball off the table. Whether that ball is spotted depends on the rules of the game.

Touched Ball: It is a foul to touch, move or change the path of any object ball except by the normal ball-to-ball contacts during shots. It is a foul to touch, move or change the path of the cue ball except when it is in hand or by the normal tip-to-ball forward stroke contact of a shot. The shooter is responsible for the equipment he controls at the table, such as chalk, bridges, clothing, his hair, parts of his body, and the cue ball when it is in hand, that may be involved in such fouls. If such a foul is accidental, it is a standard foul, but if it is intentional, it is Unsportsmanlike Conduct.

Double Hit / Frozen Balls: If the cue stick contacts the cue ball more than once on a shot, the shot is a foul. If the cue ball is close to but not touching an object ball and the cue tip is still on the cue ball when the cue ball contacts that object ball, the shot is a foul. If the cue ball is very close to an object ball, and the shooter barely grazes that object ball on the shot, the shot is assumed not to violate the first paragraph of this rule, even though the tip is arguably still on the cue ball when ball-ball contact is made. However, if the cue ball is touching an object ball at the start of the shot, it is legal to shoot towards or partly into that ball (provided it is a legal target within the rules of the game) and if the object ball is moved by such a shot, it is considered to have been contacted by the cue ball. (Even though it may be legal to shoot towards such a touching or “frozen” ball, care must be taken not to violate the rules in the first paragraph if there are additional balls close by.)  The cue ball is assumed not to be touching any ball unless it is declared touching by the referee or opponent. It is the shooter’s responsibility to get the declaration before the shot. Playing away from a frozen ball does not constitute having hit that ball unless specified in the rules of the game.

Push Shot: It is a foul to prolong tip-to-cue-ball contact beyond that seen in normal shots.

Balls Still Moving: It is a foul to begin a shot while any ball in play is moving or spinning.

Bad Cue Ball Placement: When the cue ball is in hand and restricted to the area behind the head string, it is a foul to play the cue ball from on or below the head string. If the shooter is uncertain whether the cue ball has been placed behind the head string, he may ask the referee for a determination.

Bad Play from Behind the Head String: When the cue ball is in hand behind the head string, and the first ball the cue ball contacts is also behind the head string, the shot is a foul unless the cue ball crosses the head string before that contact. If such a shot is intentional, it is unsportsmanlike conduct. The cue ball must either cross the head string or contact a ball in front of or on the head string or the shot is a foul, and the cue ball is in hand for the following player according to the rules of the specific game.

Cue Stick on the Table: If the shooter uses his cue stick in order to align a shot by placing it on the table without having a hand on the stick, it is a foul.

Playing out of Turn: It is a standard foul to unintentionally play out of turn. Normally, the balls will be played from the position left by the mistaken play. If a player intentionally plays out of turn, it should be treated like 6.16 Unsportsmanlike Conduct.

Three Consecutive Fouls: If a player fouls three times without making an intervening legal shot, it is a serious foul. In games scored by the rack, such as nine ball, the fouls must be in a single rack. Some games such as eight ball do not include this rule. The referee must warn a shooter who is on two fouls when he comes to the table that he is on two fouls. Otherwise a possible third foul will be considered to be only the second.

Slow Play: If the referee feels that a player is playing too slowly, he may advise that player to speed up his play. If the player does not speed up, the referee may impose a shot clock on that match that applies to both players. If the shooter exceeds the time limit specified for the tournament, a standard foul will be called and the incoming player is rewarded according to the rules applicable to the game being played. (Unsportsmanlike Conduct may also apply.)

Unsportsmanlike Conduct: The normal penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct is the same as for a serious foul, but the referee may impose a penalty depending on his judgment of the conduct. Among other penalties possible are a warning; a standard-foul penalty, which will count as part of a three-foul sequence if applicable; a serious-foul penalty; loss of a rack, set or match; ejection from the competition possibly with forfeiture of all prizes, trophies and standings points. Unsportsmanlike conduct is any intentional behaviour that brings disrepute to the sport or which disrupts or changes the game to the extent that it cannot be played fairly. It includes

(a) distracting the opponent;

(b) changing the position of the balls in play other than by a shot;

(c) playing a shot by intentionally miscuing;

(d) continuing to play after a foul has been called or play has been suspended;

(e) practicing during a match;

(f) marking the table;

(g) delay of the game; and

(h) using equipment inappropriately.

Taiwan's Ko Pin Yi wins his first ever world title by capturing the 2015 World 10 Ball Championship with a dramatic 11-9 win over the Philippines Carlo Biado.

Why the fouls may seem a lot to deal with the game is really very easy to pick up. If you like a challenge and are looking for a change from whatever form of cue-sport, 10-ball is a fantastic alternative.

It is a longer game than eight or nine-ball and forces you to play a more tactical game.

Ten-ball does bring family and friends together so let the good times roll!

In 2013 Filipina Rubilen Amit became the first ever Two times World 10-Ball Champion for men or women

NINE BALL IGNITES

It’s a simple objective to win the game – pocket the nine ball at the break or any other legal shot.

But the execution varies greatly from the eight ball game which we focused on last week.

Nine-ball is arguably the most popular action-orientated game. It’s fast and exciting. It’s easy for spectators to follow and brings forth mercurial shot-making.

With the games origins dating back to the United States of America in the 1920’s, today it has become the most dominant tournament game in professional pool.

While usually it’s one-on-one competition to a set number of frames (best out of five games), multiple players can take part.

Firstly the balls are racked in a diamond rowed one, two, three, two and one. The one ball is positioned at the front, the nine ball is in the diamond’s centre with the other balls placed at random.

With the cue ball placed anywhere behind the baulk line, the opening break must be the lowest numbered ball on the table. The lowest numbered ball on the table at any stage of the game is commonly referred to as the object ball. With the one ball at the front, no guesses where you have to aim first up.

In nine-ball there is no D mark on the table, just a line that runs across the width of the table. This line which is a quarter of the way down the table is called the baulk line or the head string.

If you manage to sink the nine ball on the break – you win.

The beauty or the harshness of nine-ball is that whoever sinks the nine-ball wins even if you or your opponent(s) has pocketed all the previous balls.

However you can win at any stage of the game by pocketing the lowest ball on the table then the nine-ball.

In fitting with the game’s speed and excitement a number of rules apply to ensuring an attacking start.

On the break a minimum of four object balls must be sent to a rail or pocketed. If this fails to occur, the incoming player can place the cue ball anywhere on the table.  Placing the cue ball anywhere on the table is commonly referred to as “cue ball in hand.”

If a player misses the rack entirely, it is naturally a foul and the opponent has the options of placing the ball behind the baulk line or making the fouling player shoot again.

Apart from the break, all the following shots must be called to be legal.

So in otherwords if you’re aiming for the next lowest ball, the two ball, to pocket it in the right hand corner pocket you have to say, “Two ball, right corner pocket”.

It is not necessary to include cushions, banks, kisses etc when calling your shot.

However when a ball is pocketed in a designated pocket, additional balls sunk during the same shot count.

Other calls include a push or a safety where of course you are choosing a positional and tactical shot.

A push or push-out shot can only be called following the break. This shot does not require the cue ball to contact any object ball, but if it does, it doesn’t have to be the lowest number on the table.

If the nine-ball is pocketed from a push it is spotted.

After a push shot the incoming player has the option of forcing the push player to take the next shot.

In all the abovementioned scenarios, fouls are applied when no call is made, a ball is sunk when a safety is called or when the wrong ball is pocketed.

The penalty for fouls is a “cue ball in hand” for your opponent anywhere on the table or forcing the opponents to shoot again.

If you commit three successive fouls, you lose the game.

The nine-ball rules certainly bring forth the saying “a quick game is a good game” and is perfect for home tournaments between mates. Many households have taken this one step further and have bought perpetual trophies made for their quarterly or annual home tournaments.

It is exciting.

Each year Europe takes on America for the Mosconi Cup. It is the 9 ball answer to Golf's Ryder Cup. Europe retained the Cup, defeating the USA 11-9 in front of a packed York Hall to make it three wins in row in the annual transatlantic team tussle.

While you can naturally play nine-ball on any sized table the smaller sized tables do result in a faster game.

However strictly speaking, a nine-ball table is nine foot x four foot six inches and has wide straight cut pockets and uses a 2 ¼ inch ball.

In the USA this style of table is simply called a Billiard table but in Australia we refer to it as an American table.

We call it an American table so as not to confuse it with the traditional three ball game of Billiards.

For more information on nine-ball or getting a hold of an American nine-ball table or accessories Billiard Shop is more than happy to help out and of course to let the good times roll as we bring family and friends together.

 

York Hall during the 2012 Mosconi Cup

GAME ON WITH EIGHT BALL

Variety is the spice of life and it’s no different when referred to the various games on a Billiards or Pool table.

There’s Eight Ball, Nine Ball, 10 Ball, Billiards and of course Snooker to master and each game not only takes cunning, guile and skill but naturally skill.

Over the following weeks Billiard Shop will highlight the particular ins and outs of the various games, starting with Eight Ball.

This is the game mostly played by the standard amateur player with a cue (white) ball and fifteen Pool balls numbered one to 15.

The balls are racked into the triangle at the pyramid spot with the eight ball in the centre.

To commence the game the cue ball is played into the waiting balls in what we refer to as the break.

One player or side then goes about pocketing the large or small circle balls or in numerical terms one must pocket the balls numbered one to seven, in any order while the other must pocket the balls numbered nine to 15.  Whoever pockets their group first can then attempt to win the game by legally potting the black, which of course is the eight ball.

This is all pretty straight forward but when it comes to the rules opinions can differ greatly.

But it is all widely accepted that losing a game without managing to sink one of your balls generally does mean a lap around the table without certain attire.

However as you the reader are of particular intelligence you can no doubt come up with your own more sanitised punishment for such a performance.

Firstly if a player fails to break the Pool balls on the opening shot it is a foul and the opponent is awarded two shots from the white ball’s position.

However if two or more balls fall from the break the ball that fell first is their target. In the event of dispute, the player potting has the choice.

Other white ball fails that hands your opponent two shots are, going in-off the break or with the white ball on any other shot.

The following is a list of other fouls that hands your opponent two shots and many if not all of them are a delight when handed to you.

• If a player hits an opponent’s ball with the white before hitting his own.
• If a player misses.
• If a player hits the black ball with the white on the first impact before all his own balls have been potted.
• If a player goes “in-off” the black ball.
• If a player hits the ball off the table
• Player’s clothing or body touching the white ball while making a shot
• A player doesn’t have at least on foot on the floor when playing a shot
• By playing out of turn.
• By playing with other than the cue ball.
• Playing before the balls have come to rest or before they have been spotted.
• By causing the cue ball to jump over an object ball when snookered.

It is hard to keep a straight face when you’re struggling opponent hands you double after double. Pure gold and we’ve all been there!

In regards to the positioning of the white ball for certain fouls, when the ball is knocked off the table the black or coloured ball is spotted but the white ball is to be played from the “D”.

If the spot is occupied then the ball to be spotted is placed as near as possible to the spot in a direct line between spot and top cushion.

In the case of a deliberate foul shot when a player deliberately cues a ball other than a white ball the ball can be placed at the discretion of the opponent as near as possible to their original positions.

If a player repeats the act well besides a gentle clip over the back of the head or just a disappointing gaze, they can be disqualified.

Beside this disqualification to win the game in general play you must sink the black ball after potting all of your coloured ones.

The other ways to win is when your opponent fouls. These include:

• Putting the black ball before potting the coloured balls.
• When going for the black ball they follow the white ball in after the black
• Pits your ball in addition to the black
• Pots the black without having put away there coloured ballsFor the uninitiated these rule may seem a lot to take in but to put it simply, break well and then always hit the white ball on to your designated coloured balls. And if you manage this who knows you may even sink one. Stranger things have happened!

For the uninitiated these rule may seem a lot to take in but to put it simply, break well and then always hit the white ball on to your designated coloured balls. And if you manage this who knows you may even sink one. Stranger things have happened!

But on the subject of strange things, what happens when rare things happen such as Foul Snookers?

When you are snookered from a foul stroke by your opponent, you get to nominate any of your opponent’s balls, or the eight ball, as being one of yours, for the first shot. If you pot the nominated ball (except the black ball) it’s deemed legal and you continue with the break.

If the Black ball is foul snookered by your opponent you may also play the nominated ball onto the black ball and pot either or both balls without penalty.

And finally did you know you can actually record a drawn game? Well yes you can but it’s exceptionally rare.

A drawn game occurs when you and your opponent has one coloured ball left on the table and they are both touching the black ball which is positioned over the pocket. If both players give a miss without a legal shot being played, the game is declared drawn.

In such an event the three balls are spotted in a triangle with the black ball on the spot and the players toss for the break.

But of all the rules, one of the most protested is when your opponents sinks the white ball while making a shot – can you shoot the repositioned white ball on the “D” backwards. Well yes you can!

For any further information or rule clarifications call your Billiard Shop on 1300 300 654.

Let the good times roll in the game that brings family and friends together!

POOL BALL SIZES - BILLIARD SHOP

BILLIARD TABLE BRILLIANCE – LEARNING THE ART

So you have recently made the proactive decision to introduce yourself or your family to a Billiard Shop Billiards or Pool table and you are now looking to start hitting those pockets with greater consistency.

So where do you start? Practice does make better but in reality it is perfect practice that brings perfect results.

Naturally the starting point involves you, your cue, your stance, your balance, your draw and your vision to name a few.

To start off on the right foot the best option, besides a very good family member or friend, is to seek advice or join your local Billiards, Snooker, 8ball, 9ball or various other associations where you can receive brilliant advice and even be provided with lessons.

While all the many clubs can be found with a simple search of the web, joining clubs simply do not fit into the far majority of people’s lifestyle.

The beauty of the cue sport game is that you will get better with more play but to really take massive leaps forward, being taught all the basic techniques is naturally going to equip you with the knowledge to move in the right direction.

Another option is to seek advice and probably the most common practice is to access the thousands of instructional documents and videos on the web.

To help you with this process there are a few basic’s you need to know when it comes to making head or tails of everyone else’s advice.

For the sake of this article we will focus on your stroke and do to this correctly you need to establish a proper stance, bridge, stroke and grip.

The bridge is of course your front hand that you place the front end of your cue on.

The key element you need to establish with these elements is balance. This balance is the platform in which your game is built around and to establish this takes practice and patience.

As we are all different shapes and sizes our stance will also be different and this is why it takes practice to get to a comfortable, strong and stable position.

The Billiard Shop in Townsville, Mackay, Toowoomba, Sunshine Coast, and Gold Coast and at Macgregor and Aspley in Brisbane can point you in the right direction. Simply call 1300 300 654.

So remember there is no single universally accepted stance. Even the professionals have their quirks.

That said, there are some expected characteristics. The back leg is braced with the front leg slightly bent and taking the majority of the weight. The body including the head should remain still during the shot to ensure you hit the target.

But then again, if your techniques works for you – well just go with it! Have fun! Knock yourself out!

At the end of the day, unless you are currently or are aiming to be a professional, the game is all about what the Billiard Shop professes - bringing family and friends together!