Secrets of Perfect Position Play (Mastering Speed Control in Pool) - Pool Lessons

[@Eric--zs6um]

Since I started watching your vids, my game has improved a gd bit. I share these out to my team members. We shoot 8&9 ball matches on Tuesday night. It's not just what you show us but the info that is spoken that makes the difference for me. Thanks much.

[@FXBilliards]

I appreciate that. Thank you very much.

[@briandouglas2209]

My favorite pool channel! At 68 and rediscovering the game in retirement, I may not be in the demographic you mentioned in the video, but your videos are enjoyable, relatable, and very informative at any age. Keep up the great work!

[@FXBilliards]

Welcome aboard! You’re in my demographic.

[@ostolski]

Me as well never played until last year

[@triggerhappydad65]

I'm 58 yrs old, and grew up in a small town. Me and my buddies were known for skipping school and walking about 1/4 mile to "Rays' Pool Room", where we would play until closing (while munching on cheeseburgers and pickled pigs feet 😊). We probably "learned wrong" in our youth, but still managed to sometimes "hustle" a buck or two, here and there, off the out of town guys. We weren't hotshots, but we were pretty serious about pool. I've probably got a dozen billiard channels on my KZbin playlist that I'm subscribed to, but I've been watching allot of the "Dr. Dave" channel, and he's great. Lots of good stuff to think about and practice on. Very good advice and explanations. (Plus he can be funny). But..... FX is different from the rest. I just heavily lean towards watching this guy lately. He can not be as "technical" as some, but that's okay. I like how he just throws it out there with no fluff. "If this is what you're trying to do, then you need to do *that*.... or, "here's why you suck at"- (whatever the issue is). Idk, he's just very thorough about giving you everything you need to perform a certain task/shot. Even touches on the mental game. He's currently my go to channel, and I'll probably be here for good long while.

[@FXBilliards]

Thank you sir I appreciate your comments.

[@thegodofpez]

Man, I absolutely love your sarcasm. 😂 It really works out well with your content. As always, keep up the great work, B. 🤟

[@FXBilliards]

You are a loyal supporter of the channel. I appreciate your comments.

[@madhatter2012]

One thing I've started doing recently is in addition to focusing on the elements of making the shot and getting good position, is to focus on my mechanics. I had gotten complacent over time and finally realized my mechanics had gone downhill. I'm now very cognizant of my stroke with every shot, and it's gotten a lot better as a result. Thanks for another great video, Bryan!

[@michaelmorales7443]

I struggle with that too. It's a lot to think about. It has to become a habit I think. Which sucks if you have bad ones like me and have to fix them.

[@shader26]

When I started playing again, after decades of not playing, at my local pool hall I gravitated to a certain table. Along a wall (so I could hang my jacket and sit when not shooting) and furthest away from the bowling alley. Not just me, folks I began to play against also would be on that table. Never thought much about it but the cloth was really worn. Everything seemed faster, and was having trouble with some shots, draw control. Got better at adjusting. Noticed one day they were redoing the cloth on a different table, one that was at the least desirable position, but next time I went in I took that table and my god…what a difference. Suddenly my shots were much cleaner on position, draw shots worked much more predicatably, etc. I agree, need to be able to adjust whatever the table, cloth, etc. but I wasn’t even aware of how worn that usual table was. Now I basically flip a coin as to which I play on.

[@yes2crypto]

As I improve several aspects of my game, my speed control becomes more and more evident as an important flaw. I need to correct. Thank you for these tips.

[@FXBilliards]

Thanks for sharing!

[@punksnotdeaditsconservativ1693]

Bam! Thanks Brian, the table size tip is exactly what I've been looking for, especially commentary from someone that knows what they are talking about.

[@FXBilliards]

Glad I could help!

[@wilkvanburen]

Another gem of a video. The one tip you mentioned that I started addressing this week is shortening my bridge. The tables on my Thursday night league have very fast Simonis cloth, and I have had some speed-control issues due to using too long a bridge. Someone pointed it out to me and the few practice sessions I have shot this week using a shorter bridge have really worked out. I found 6" to 8" works really well for me, and has improved my accuracy and my position play due to better speed control (i.e. better, more accurate leaves).

[@backyardbilliards101]

What's up Brian good video buddy I want to thank you for giving me a shout out on your other viewer channel. When I was at my league I played on a 9-ft table with 4 in pockets. Then I had to play on a 7-foot and my speed was way off. And I also want to mention if you set up for angles it will help you move the cue ball better. So you don't have to force anything and just let the cue ball do what it wants to do.😅

[@FXBilliards]

You got it my friend- Keep doing what you’re doing.

[@user-so4uy6iy9m]

Many Thanks you have made a complicated game more understandable I am reaping the benefits of your instructions

[@FXBilliards]

Thank you very much

[@jackslover107]

At 81 and just starting to play pool after 50 years of not playing I have a very difficult time trying to do the drills you show. I don’t know what spin to use to get position for the next shot. I have been working on developing a consistent stroke and hitting the cue ball in the center. I would like to learn what spin to use in all the drills you show. I have an eight foot table with new commercial cloth, which seems kind of slow. As I am on a fixed income I can’t afford lessons, so I would appreciate any advice you might decide to give me. I do watch your videos and am highly impressed by your skills. Thank you.

[@caseymccoy2692]

Thank You Bryan, appreciate your videos and your time!!!!!

[@FXBilliards]

My pleasure!

[@thebeardedman-drenaline5546]

How have i not been subbed to this channel already? Great information and tips and wow! i can tell you definitely put the time in! One thing i have been doing lately is just studying my favorite professional player(gorst) and just try and emulate what he does. My game has definitely improved, enough to get me excited about the upcoming state tournament 🎉

[@terrye8556]

Hi Brian, just watched this video on speed control. Great information. One of the methods in the video was to shorten your bridge, so I played a few racks and I had way more accuracy and control. Thank you soooooo much for posting this video. I watch a lot of your videos, and you are an awesome teacher. Can you send me some information on your classes or let me know where I can get some.

[@FXBilliards]

Thank you very much - you can go to NWQpool.com and fxbilliards.com to get information.

[@bwhite429]

Great material B. I was hoping to see you at Derby.

[@FXBilliards]

Too many family commitments this year. But I should be at the expo in Philly. Thanks for watching.

[@billmankin6204]

Great stuff as usual Brian! One thing I would add that ties these together. Have a warmup routine. Make it simple and the same before every match, and it should both show you how the table rolls, bounces, and whether it is level. Warmup should not be playing racks, it's about sizing up the equipment, and for me anyway, putting my shot routine firmly in place.

[@FXBilliards]

I appreciate you taking the time to tune in.

[@briandoerge5092]

Great info as usual👍..one of the ways I know my game is getting better is that I'm adjusting to different situations better/quicker... Thanx B!

[@FXBilliards]

I like it. Thank you for your comments.

[@archieshipp4272]

Love it! Drills are like homework and you are not going to like them! I am an English teacher and have been a coach for track and basketball. I've constantly told students and athletes that they will not get better if they don't do their homework or practice their skills at home for hours, every day, year around for several years. Malcolm Gladwell's book Outliers talks about the 10,000 hour rule and how it applies to athletes, musicians, academics, and so many other skills. People just don't want to put in the work and then wonder why they never improve at their occupation or their hobbies.

[@cecilfreeman6147]

When you explain things and then demonstrate them it makes a big difference to my understanding and awareness. You are doing a great job . I know you've covered this before as I've watched one of your videos regarding this. It seems to take me about 2 to 2 and 1/2 hours and play my best game. I typically only get to play two maybe three times a week. Once I am warmed up I play very well and can you usually compete against any player at the pool hall. I seem to struggle a bit with this issue. Your suggestions are greatly appreciated!

[@triggerhappydad65]

Is your "issue" not having enough play time to progress? Is that what you're saying? Thanks for any reply, because I notice my game goes down without enough practice😢

[@jaygtp6]

Love your channel bryan. My game is improving. Your point about home table vs bar box is very helpful to me. I have an 8ft Olhousen at home I play on regularly. Just started in APA on 7 footers and am having difficulty adjusting. but after losing 1st 3 matches won last week beause wasn't overshooting as much. Expect to make progress as I become more comfortable with the well used cloth and poorer rail bumpers at my matches on 7 ft tables.

[@FXBilliards]

I think you’ll do fine thanks for watching. And thanks for your comments.

[@idiotloop]

Ty! Your videos rock , love the way your down to earth, and say like it is .

[@FXBilliards]

I appreciate that!

[@jeffboswell68]

Always good stuff B! Thanks!

[@FXBilliards]

My pleasure!!

[@punksnotdeaditsconservativ1693]

Damn, this is the video I've been waiting for too. Side note, Brian loves that object ball moving shot doesn't he 😁. It is an eye catcher.

[@stevemiller1159]

Thanks Bryan, I will try shortening my bridge. A PBIA instructor I shoot with on US Team Billiards has said "don't use a full backstroke, try stopping it halfway between the cue ball and your bridge for more control"

[@shader26]

Funny, I had been trying to lengthen my bridge, for reasons you mention, that many many videos tell us to have longer bridges. I have also been getting better at position shooting but overrunning and snookering myself as if I’m playing a safety on myself. Had been trying to adjust speed by how far back I draw back on the cue (leave myself 4” with a 11” bridge, etc,) but though it helps I see using a practice cue ball I’m not hitting as exact as I ought to. So maybe I’ll go back to my old bridge or slightly longer. Also in a book I have on pool position they did a neat thing. They gave numbers to how hard to hit, such as soft 1, 2, and 3, medium 1, 2, and 3. They had as a guide hitting the cue ball slight angle short side of the table, from the first diamond (half way to the actual diamond) soft 1 hits the other side and comes just a few inches off. Soft 2 hits and comes back a little more than half way to the cushion you shoot from, soft 3 hits and hits two cushions and ends at the first diamond. Medium shots are done on the long side with similar. Haven’t tried it yet but think it is a pretty good idea.

[@davekat4680]

….as always good stuff here 👍 thx Brian 👊🏻

[@FXBilliards]

My pleasure!

[@rossbideon]

We’re all glad to hear it. 🎱

[@FXBilliards]

Your views mean a lot to me. Thanks again

[@billylejeune7871]

Always Great Advice This is Definitely a Great Video Thank you Brian

[@FXBilliards]

My pleasure!

[@positives2522]

Awesome videos, I would like to see where you hit the cue ball on your shots, i,e, left english, right english, drawback, follow shots. Thanks alot

[@user-do1fq8oy9c]

There are a few folks that have invested in promoting the game. These guys deserve to get into the hall of fame

[@FXBilliards]

I appreciate you watching

[@user-gi2ex8rw5z]

Your content has helped me tremendously. Am I weird if I love drills?

[@gretaambrose-evans8567]

Great video! Thanks, Brian

[@FXBilliards]

Glad you liked it!

[@HudsonJT]

0:02 these casual trickshots are killer

[@allenwatters7228]

Thank you Brian as usual good stuff

[@FXBilliards]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@jamesmarze9850]

Great video Bryan thank you

[@FXBilliards]

Glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for taking the time to watch James.

[@barryclark2582]

I appreciate your help and advice, stroke is key .... It's 6am here and im watching your channel at mt maunganui nz b4 the marlin 8ball comp . No im not playing im brushing the tables and ironing for the doubles day 2 simonis felt... 12 table's 6 new all identical. Open invitation for you same time next year would be great to see you

[@FXBilliards]

Thanks- I appreciate you taking the time to watch and to comment

[@MarkCarnevale-tb3ck]

Excellent info !

[@FXBilliards]

Glad it was helpful!

[@Robert-ln7yt]

Great video lots of awesome information 🎉....

[@FXBilliards]

Glad you liked it!

[@alcapone4727]

👍🏽 love it

[@kpayne2911]

Good video. Appreciate your instruction.

[@FXBilliards]

Glad it was helpful!

[@nunyabizness9544]

Great video i do have that movement in my shot sometimes. Its usually dropping of my shoulder and raising the cue at or just before contact. Also im going to practice with a shorter bridge. Im usually about 6 to 8 inches. Im going to focus on 4 to 6 and see i can improve.

[@FXBilliards]

Hey buddy, thanks for watching.

[@keithcarrier1910]

Brian, I watched one of your KZbin videos last night and was very impressed. I gave it a thumbs up and pressed Save to rewatch it today, but no matter what I do I cannot find it. In it you were using red balls and a black ball touching in the rack are and showing how to pot the black by throwing the ball or changing the tangent line roll of the ball with varying cue ball speed. I am a subscriber, and when I look at a list of your videos I cannot see it. Can you please tell me the title of that video on KZbin? Thanks.

[@FXBilliards]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/Z5mxXoBrhtOEqqMsi=miA0ScOxzr5vL9fH

[@rayduprez3364]

Very Good!

[@FXBilliards]

Thanks!

[@vincent6692]

Great video. We'll said

[@FXBilliards]

Much appreciated

[@zanethind]

That artwork is amazing

[@FXBilliards]

Thank you. And thanks for watching

[@zanethind]

​@@FXBilliardsyou're welcome Bryan

[@riancooley9328]

Good stuff once again!

[@FXBilliards]

Appreciate that

[@francus7227]

Comment #2 .... When I do drills..... Where should I put the cue ball, and how should I put it there (draw, run, rail, etc) are more challenging than actually putting the cue where I'm trying to put it. I guess that's why they're called drills. And... I should get a coach. Thinking is harder to fabricate than stroking is to replicate.

[@FXBilliards]

If you have an opportunity, you should definitely get a coach

[@cashfit8]

Oh No! The "Nasty Habits" you talk about in this video are real. Thanks. WF!

[@actoron]

Thanks Brian for another great lesson. When and where can we see you in tournament action?

[@FXBilliards]

I don’t play a lot of tournaments, but I will be likely in the super Billiards expo in Philadelphia this spring.

[@michaelmorales7443]

Nice video Brian. How did your surgery go? Hope everything went well. When you coming back with an update?

[@FXBilliards]

All good I’m 100%

[@allgood6760]

Truth 👍🎱

[@HillbillyIslandLife]

First. Gr8 video!!

[@FXBilliards]

Thanks!

[@brigand289]

That one arm intro to this video immediately made me blurt out "what a dick" LOL

[@FXBilliards]

That’s what she said. - lol couldn’t help myself.

[@brigand289]

@@FXBilliards 😆

[@zanethind]

That one handed shot was pretty sick 😂😅

[@FXBilliards]

Thanks

[@zanethind]

​@@FXBilliardsyou're welcome

[@johnGilletti]

Curious about legal pocket size. Are the corners smaller than the sides? Should two balls next to each other fit in those pockets?

[@FXBilliards]

There’s no such thing as legal pockets across events. Most will have 4 1/2 inch pockets but there will be cases with the pockets are 5 inches 5 1/4 even 4 inches -Depends on the manufacturer and how many shims the owner wants used. - most pool halls will have pockets of three or four different sizes.

[@MarkCarnevale-tb3ck]

Brian, I need to move from a 8.5 GC to a 9 ft table. Limited by space : which 9ft non GC table would you recommend ?. TY 🎱

[@FXBilliards]

I like olhausen tables. Maybe the best for the money

[@MarkCarnevale-tb3ck]

Thank you 🎱!

[@rossbideon]

How’s the recovery going? Are these previously produced or are you back in action. 🎱

[@FXBilliards]

Very quick, easy recovery - I am back in action -thank you

[@randyboy13]

Hello Bryan, I’d like to ask your advice about this : I’m thinking of getting a pool table at home but I think 8ft is the maximum I can get. Considering that the tournaments are in 9ft tables, is that useful to me or it isn’t worth or can even give me wrong habits concerning my game ? Thanks a lot for your advice and your videos, best regards !

[@FXBilliards]

I think everyone should get the largest table that will fit properly in their home- if you’re up against the wall over and over again or other obstacles, you need a smaller table. You then go out and put in your reps at a pool hall or somewhere where there’s a 9 foot table whenever you can. When I was a kid I had a little 7 foot table that was crap, but me and my best friend played on his grandfathers 5 x 10’ table as often as we could. And we were in the pool hall at the minimum of one day a week.

[@randyboy13]

Thanks so much for your advice Bryan @FXBilliards. I also really want to thank you for your videos in general. I started playing pool last year and I wasn’t expecting to get so much in the game. I’m now in regional league and in the last tournament I reached quarter finals (5th position) mostly thanks to you, Sharivari and Dr. Dave 😁 Now I’m really considering starting also to get some serious material, and I think I’m going for some Lucasi (I don’t know who gave me the idea 😂) If some day it happens that I have my own table at home I would love to take online lessons with you. Thanks a lot and best regards !

[@thomasgillette6559]

Hey Brian I'm currently a 4 in apa. I work out and on days I work out my stroke seems to be off. My question is how do I maintain my stroke and workout all together? Or should I change my workout days to days I'm not shooting, or is it I should practice which I know I should regardless. Thanks.

[@FXBilliards]

If possible, I recommend not working out on the same day you need to shoot. Maybe as a 4, it won’t make much of a difference, but as you move up, it could mess with your muscle memory. Joe Rogan said the reason he would never be “really good” at pool is because of his heavy workouts

[@ceretomer5987]

Thanks.

[@FXBilliards]

You're welcome

[@qzwx4205]

I get bored very quickly by doing drills... i dont know, it seems like the failure rate is too high and doesnt encourage me to continue. Not to mention that the setup time is often longer than the shooting time... Id rather just play games against myself... i never get bored of that... i can play 20-25 games in a couple hours though, and try to do so as many times per week as possible

[@FXBilliards]

If your failure rate is high you are doing drill too advanced for your game. Playing games against yourself is ok but one of the slowest ways to improve. The proof is the fact that you can’t get through the drills. Practice is not fun. The reason so many people don’t improve over such a long time is they are busy playing while the best are practicing.

[@ogezpb3927]

Is that a new table? you used to have an 8ft right?

[@FXBilliards]

Where have you been my friend? I’ve had this table for 18 months. It’s a 9 foot Ohlhausen. That means you missed 70 videos - catch up my friend.

[@ogezpb3927]

It's been awhile. Funny how when you return to the scene most everybody is right where you left them. But you my man have moved up. Great to see you on a 9ft table!@@FXBilliards

[@stephenmoore5390]

What does timing mean though?

[@FXBilliards]

It means the speed that your cue travels as you contact and move through the cb. If you are slowing down your stroke, your timing is going to be really bad.

[@WillSmith-gv1ok]

I have a 5 hundred dollar budget what pool cue do you recommend.

[@FXBilliards]

I would find a used predator butt and a new predator 314 shaft.

[@WillSmith-gv1ok]

@@FXBilliards thank you