Pool Synergy Volume III, Billiard Training

If you are a true pool player, no doubt you’ve caught yourself daydreaming of some aspect of the game at an inopportune time or in a completely unrelated situation. Sometimes die hard pool players can have breakthroughs while piling up miles in the car, golfing with pals, or nodding off at work.

Winter hit Minnesota in the teeth with a snowstorm and bitter cold toward the end of December so I had to shovel my drive before heading off to play some 3-Cushion Billiards at the club. The driveway had about ten inches of snow on it and the wind was whipping. I started tossing snow with vigor, and then I thought of how terrible my pool stroke would look like if it was modeled on my shoveling technique. In fact, correct snow shoveling can teach us a lot about a proper pool stroke. Stay balanced, choose footwear with grip, let the shovel do the work, pick a comfortable pace and stick to it, lift with your legs not your back, dress in warm clothes in layers…

Okay, so maybe that is a stretch. But we’ve got a collection of “Outside the Box” ideas this month to help you develop a better pool game via some unexpected thinking.

Gail taps into significant other and professional player Tony Robles for tips on how to develop a killer instinct. How does one of the nicest guys in pool respond? Watch Cartoons, of course.Click here to read Gail Glazebrook’s article

While fiddling around, Samm Diep, “Cherry Bomb” picks up a tip that helps her pool stroke long before she ever picks up a pool cue.Click here to read Samm Diep’s article

John Biddle, PoolSynergy founding father, digs up two tips from sports and one more from a movie about a sport.Click here to read John Biddle’s article

Melinda shows that her business focused leadership training makes her a better pool player. She gives examples of quotes and theories that remind her of mental toughness on the pool table in addition to the business world.Click here to read Melinda’s article

New member to the PoolSynergy collective is pOOlriah harilOOp who began blogging about his pool exploits in July of 2009. He is looking forward to sharing his beginner thoughts with the pool community behind the anonymity of a palindromic alias. What is known is that he’s a league player in the Golden State. In his debut column, he draws inspiration from a variety of things in that can be mental and physical assets in the game of pool.Click here to read pOOlriah harilOOp’s article

The PoolBum proves you shouldn’t judge a bum by his raggedy cover. He expounds on some deep thoughts and recommends readings from a German philosopher.Click here to read PoolBum’s article

Joe Waldron implores us to find something in life to be passionate about, even if it is as simple as busing tables.Click here to read Joe’s article.

Alison Fischer  of NYC Grind hosts an article by Hu, a frequent poster on the AZBilliards forums under the screen name of ShootingArts. He sheds light on childhood contests that formed the basis of his competitive spirit.  He also draws bits from Chess and Auto Racing(go figure!) for inspiration in his pool game.Click here to read NYC Grind’s guest article

Michael McCafferty  hosts an article by a player on the opposite coast, Rolando Aravena.  A house pro at Strokers II in Tampa, Rolando writes about a particularly appropriate blend of an eastern martial art combined with a sport with striking similarities to pool.Click here to read PoolShooter’s guest article

Jake has a nice video piece that inspired better pool by exploring new places.Click here to read R.A. “Jake” Dyer’s article

Johnny101 hosts a piece written by guest writer Steve Jennings, an instructor in Charlotte. He explains how metrics in the business world are a necessity for management and players would benefit from incorporating control numbers into their pool game. Got Steve Jennings’ Guest column Click here to read Johnny 101’s guest article

In my own entry, I relate a health issue to learning to train one’s body for pool.Click here to read Billiard Coach’s article

Next month, Gail will have a cracking good topic for PoolSynergy Volume IV.  Stay tuned!