Cue Ball Control - Pool Practice | Pool School

In this video we look at a little exercise that you can incorporate into a game of pool or a pool practice drill, to help focus on cue ball control. The object of the exercise is to place a small marker on the table approximately where you think the cue ball will end up after the shot. This routine helps focus the mind on position after every shot and give you a good guide as to how well your cue ball control and positional play is going.
The shots are carried out on a 7ft UK 8 ball table
#PoolSchool #PoolDrills
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Products used in this video
Elkmaster Pro Tips
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Super Aramith Pro Cup pool balls (with carry case)
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Balls without case
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Triangle ProChalk
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8 Ball Cue Rack
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[@Alf-Garnish]

The marker good idea. I also like when you play a ghost game where the viewer is not only watching you play, but hearing your thought process shot selection etc via your running commentary

[@marksilver5064]

Just wanted to say I found your channel last week and I think it's brilliant!! Keep it up. Been playing for 10 years and I've learnt plenty of new tricks from your videos. Thank you.

[@paulrumbold2436]

Super , super video . Taught me loads . Star video from an old man

[@raymondphillips7107]

Amazing idea! This should defiantly improve ones position play! 👍

[@thefunkacademy3464]

Great video!

[@jibrohni]

This is a great idea

[@johnjackass461]

you could use two markers :)

[@Dave101.]

2? ...how many white balls do you play with? :D

[@johnjackass461]

@@Dave101. it would stop you marking and picking up the cue ball if it stops on the first marker..

[@Dave101.]

Yes,you certainly could. Although if your games got to the point where you can consistently land directly on a marker the size of a peanut,an the time spent respotting outweighs the time throwing down a second marker,then I'd say you've got that cue ball on a string an you can throw the marker away an enter the big leagues :)

[@johnjackass461]

That's a lot of words for "just get good"

[@Dave101.]

I'm not having a go...I was just explaining my thoughts...an just saying ' just get good' doesn't explain my thoughts very well ;)

[@judhi]

Been following you for sometimes now and still fascinated with how you put the lines in postprocessing to explain the ball path. Great tutorial videos! One thing I always wondering, what is the table and balls size used in #PoolSchool ? Is it the same as those used in Ultimate Pool series?

[@PoolSchool]

Thank you. I use Adobe After Effects to do all the editing and add the lines etc. It’s a 7ft Supreme Winner English pool table with 2” balls and 1 &7/8th” Cue ball. And yes its the same as in the ultimate pool series.

[@project-overland]

Nice drills and decent production quality. You should make contact with the ipa to see what common ground there is. At the least, you should stop playing the dirty world rules.

[@PoolSchool]

Cheers. Ha! I’m only an local league player and our league is world rules so don’t have a lot of choice. I’d like to play blackball rules but not really good enough to play higher than local stuff.

[@project-overland]

​@@PoolSchool balls (forgive the pun lol) . firstly, the only way you will get better is to play better players. Crap players have nothign to teach you. As to the tour. If I can play on the tour then so can you (though I am long retired). Your video production values are strong enough to warrant contacting the IPA. They are open to conversation. ipapool.com/contact-us/ Years ago, I was on the committee myself. Make the contact. Failing that, track down Ross McInnes through social media. He will certainly take notice ;)

[@PoolSchool]

Thank you so much, I'll defintely look into it. Sorry I didn't reply earlier, your comment got "Held for review" (probably because of the link) so only just seen it.

[@got_em7015]

Very good video. Why have u not been uploading I missed these vids they are very helpful and enjoyable

[@PoolSchool]

Thank you. Just had a little break over Christmas and New year.

[@got_em7015]

Ahh okay I would just like to say I've practised pool for a year and a bit now but since I've been watching your tutorials I've have good seriously better Thank u

[@PoolSchool]

That's great to hear, glad the videos are helping. Keep practicing!

[@loukakruger4711]

excellent video

[@BillyBob2015]

Great tip and ty!

[@DaveSpicerUK]

Great idea, am gona try this tomorrow, thanks for the tip and keep the vids coming :)

[@johnpaulclarkson4671]

Cracking video to kick off the new year 👌👌

[@RichardTabhutabhurichard]

who is loving this one???

[@Smirnoff44]

Hi could you possibly add the spin your using for the straight line drill as this would be very helpful? Tia

[@PoolSchool]

Unfortunately KZbin doesn't let you edit existing videos so I would have to make a new one. I did do one called "How to do the line up" but I think that was an early video where I didn't use the cue ball spin icon. Maybe it's a video for me to revisit and update at some point. Thanks.

[@fctuber8976]

How about doing a video on BB rules and skill shots or I’d like to hear some advice on keeping your head when you lose a match you should win

[@allthingsclick5167]

Some good shots in there! I would say your coaching skills are a bit better than your playing skills haha, but I enjoy your videos; they're edited very well, and I like the commentary. You appear to have a very good temperament around the table, and that's worth an awful lot in cue sports!

[@PoolSchool]

You’re right I’m not that good a player. I’m ok and could beat your average pub player but there are lots of far better players than me just in my local league. I’m still learning the game myself but hopefully I can convey the stuff I learn to others as I go!

[@allthingsclick5167]

@@PoolSchool ​ Tbh I read back my comment, and I really didn't type it in the manner I meant it. It was more so a compliment at the coaching than a dig at the playing.. it just came out a bit spannered. It's worth mentioning to anyone watching as well that those cloths on those tables are pretty fine (to my knowledge), which while on one hand can give you more options it can also make the positional side of things even trickier because the slightest change can become 6 inches rather than 1 inch! From one player to another, a couple of things I would mention if you were interested in maybe trying out a few things to see how they work for you now that you're playing at a higher level would probably have to be things at a bit more at the technical end.

[@allthingsclick5167]

@@PoolSchool ..two things that stood out to me to maybe have a little look at on the table (not that I'm an expert) but maybe have a little think about how far you cue away from the cue ball sometimes (you're cueing quite far away at times, and you want to cue as close as your skill allows you without accidentally touching the cue ball, so I would say with your control you could be looking in terms of mm not cm) and also perhaps think about how you can generate more or less power through the strength of grip rather than through the speed of the delivery (the delivery should be pretty constant - although there are exceptions!). I'm no expert; I play snooker to a reasonable level, but just see if that adds to your game, and if it does I'm sure you can probably convey the information better than me haha.

[@PoolSchool]

Cheers, don’t worry I didn’t take it as a dig and thanks for the compliment on my coaching. I only really started this as I couldn’t find much for UK pool when starting out myself. I coach kids football and work as a 3D animator for a living so those skills lend themselves nicely to conveying information to others. I’ve always felt a bit of a fraud in terms of my playing abilities but I’m honest with people and they like my videos so happy to keep making them. Cheers for the tips as well, definitely things I’ll look into.

[@allthingsclick5167]

@@PoolSchool Good luck with it all mate!

[@handrelwheatle725]

Wish you a diagram that shows where on the cue ball you playing each time, but I still love your videos I have learnt a lot from them, my game has improved since I started watching your videos

[@PoolSchool]

Thank you. I do have a little spin indicator that I've used on some of the other shorter tutorial videos, so might overlay that on the next longer one I do.

[@handrelwheatle725]

It will be so much appreciated, thanks again for the tutorials

[@tonyflow6244]

Do you play blackball rules? Would have taken a lift after the foul. That last yellow was a peach 🍑

[@PoolSchool]

Thank you. No I play World rules so had to play it from where it ended up, with two shots.

[@turkyish]

Got my supreme winner today, do you no anyway to test the speed of the table?🤔 unsure if it’s playing like it should being that it’s a brand new table, could you give me some tips to test if it’s playing like a pro table. Thanks

[@PoolSchool]

There's not really a way of "testing" anything. The speed will be as much to do with the cloth as anything, what cloth did you go for?

[@turkyish]

@@PoolSchool sorry for the late reply 😂 I have the strachan 6811, is their a better cloth that can be purchased for this table?

[@slotselectagamblingchannel7452]

@turkyish hainsworth match hainsworth precision or strachan superfine is the fastest 3 napped cloth. Especially the precision one. The 2 best all rounders are match cloth and superfine. Please note humidity room temperature makes a big difference to how your table plays. Generally the warmer it is the faster it plays. Also if you haven't got them already get your self a set of aramith Pro cup pool balls. Expensive but worth every penny. Hope that helps 😀 Your strachan 6811 should play OK but after a few weeks it will slow down quite a bit. You might want to buy your self a snooker table iron aswell to keep on top of it.

[@moisesbazan227]

Amazing video! It's always fun too see the pattern plays of other players, since it's always a different method for each one, and you always learn new things. If I may ask, why did you play a double shot after that ball in hand?

[@PoolSchool]

Thank you. It's because I play world rules not blackball. In world rules after a standard foul you get two shots but must play the ball from where it lies. You only get ball in hand if it is a foul snooker as well.

[@moisesbazan227]

@@PoolSchoolOh! I see! We play a variation of that rule here with Last pocket 8-ball. Ball can be placed anywhere behind the break line + two shots. Anyway, keep up the good work! Always on the lookout for you new videos

[@BaMenace]

Your pockets are like buckets. Balls just fall in on your table. 😂

[@danielstevens7]

Any chance to submit a video on adjusting your aim and where to aim when using side, or extreme side?

[@PoolSchool]

I cover it in this video kzbin.info/www/bejne/b5WyiJ-fpL9robM

[@ViableSolutions]

Hi pool school. Thanks for the great videos they have helped me a lot. I'm a snooker player normally to a pretty decent standard making the Irish colleges team a few years ago. But lately snooker kind of died a death in my local area and I haven't played for awhile. Recently I was asked to take it up again and was surprised how my game hasn't totally deserted me. Anyway my county pool team have asked me if I would like to try out for the county pool team so I took them up on the challenge. I have played in pool tournaments a few years ago but the rules were black ball and now the rules have now been switched to the world rules format. This is where I am having trouble as the rules I downloaded from the World pool website are quiet confusing the way it's worded. Is there any chance you could do a video following the rules from their website explaining the rules in order. It would be a really good video and I'm sure there are a lot of players that would really appreciate it. Thanks in advance and keep the great videos coming. Congratulations on reaching 8k subs also m8. 👍😉

[@DeeEll86442]

I like watching your videos, but I wish you would show us what English you were playing on each shot.

[@James-bw2ow]

Great videos

[@PoolSchool]

Thank you

[@James-bw2ow]

Nice to see some one really understand the game and can explain it as well

[@BARRYNICOLL]

What camera do you have for recording these videos?

[@PoolSchool]

Barry Nicoll I just use my iPhone on a tripod.

[@_zeshan1144]

What size table do you have?

[@PoolSchool]

_Zeshan 1 its a 7ft English pool table.

[@obedreyes7395]

Is the cue ball small or normal size

[@PoolSchool]

Depend what you call normal? It’s normal for the English game which has 2 inch balls and a slightly smaller cue ball at 1 7/8th inch cue ball. In snooker and American pool (just how we refer to it in the UK) the cue ball is the same size as the other balls. The American balls are all 2 1/4inch and snooker balls are 2 1/16inch.

[@obedreyes7395]

@@PoolSchool so it comes how it is it dones come big

[@PoolSchool]

@@obedreyes7395 Yes if you buy a set of pool balls for use in this type of pool played in the uk (and other countries), then the cue ball comes slightly smaller than the other balls. This is traditionally the game is played on pub tables which have a ball return system. The smaller cue ball allows the system to identify the cue ball and retuern it to the other end of the table.

[@obedreyes7395]

@@PoolSchool does it matter what size or how big is the table

[@PoolSchool]

There are different variations of pool and it depends what you want to play. Watch this video, it gives lots of detail about the differences between balls, tables, pocket cuts, cloths and cues. kzbin.info/www/bejne/r2LIlJR6bth2nbc

[@bubbalands]

When he played the red balls he chose shitty shots?

[@jinsof]

What cue do you use?

[@PoolSchool]

It's a handmade 3/4 jointed cue with an ash shaft and 9mm tip.

[@josephmullen3254]

Hi can I get a few cannon videos how to develop balls thanks

[@PoolSchool]

I have this one about developing clusters of balls kzbin.info/www/bejne/mWm0nKqoqNSfiq8

[@josephmullen3254]

@@PoolSchool ok thanks would you tip spin or use bottom or screw like in snooker just wondering, sometimes I play on a pub table it's very slow and can't get any pot off the break if you get me.

[@PoolSchool]

Unfortunately pub tables often have very slow or damaged cloths and there’s not a lot you can do about it.

[@josephmullen3254]

@@PoolSchool would you break and clear on a table slow much

[@PoolSchool]

Not very often, it's difficult on a poor table if you can't control the cue ball.

[@markcartwright2263]

At 7m 30 no need to play a snooker,basic finish on there

[@Dave101.]

Yeah I'm sure he could've... But nobody likes a smart arse ;)

[@markcartwright2263]

@@Dave101. no one likes to be shown the wrong method also

[@Dave101.]

Post a video an show us how its done then.

[@charlieearnshaw9803]

Are u a coach

[@PoolSchool]

No just a casual player trying to share a bit of knowledge for beginners really.

[@cameronrichards7544]

I respect anyone that tries to post content on pool. And to be fair your doing, however, although this is a very good way of improving position, your shot selection during this video was questionable. Percentages is what this game is about. And you didn’t really play many good percentage shots. Either way, I’m glad your doing well, and keep improving!

[@PoolSchool]

Xpired EU thanks for your comment. I completely understand what you’re saying but this video is supposed to be about an exercise to help your everyday player improve their position. To demonstrate this realistically and in all situations there was no point in me filming a perfect game where I get every shot right, land plumb on the marker each time, and clear up in one visit. I wanted to show the consequences of being too far out of position, judging position on both short and long shots, judging position whilst getting out of a snooker and position after the black ball. I’m not pretending I missed some shots on purpose but it was played as a fairly relaxed game with the focus on placing the marker accurately. By playing the game like this it allowed me to demonstrate what I needed. I recorded some perfect examples but watching them back I didn’t feel it was realistic enough to help lesser skilled players. People need to see things not going to plan as much as perfect execution, in order to learn.

[@markemmins1929]

Pool School totally agree, love the videos and keep them coming

[@cameronrichards7544]

But realistically mate, people want to watch the best. Now, as I said what your doing is admirable, and personally, I wouldn’t be able to do it myself. But people want to learn from the best. This video doesn’t represent good position at all

[@kmanpilkers]

@@PoolSchool totally agree with you. Having perfect position on every single shot would not help in this video. Sometimes running out of position and then explaining what effect that has on your thinking and your next shot is much more useful

[@darktherapy]

Makes video on position okay.. Gets 0 shots correct