Pool Tips for Women by Cathy Wagner

Bonus Pool Tip for Women...and Men

Most people think the biggest trick to shooting pool is figuring out where to hit the cue ball so that it hits the target ball into the pocket. While this is very important, I find a lot of people still miss, even when they know exactly where to hit the cue ball. This is an indication that their stroke is off in some way; maybe their bridge is not steady or their arm is not moving in a straight line as they shoot.

Here's a good way to tell if you're shooting straight:

Move to the side of the table with your stick and lay it on the rail along the line where the felt meets the edge of the table, with your normal bridge and stance (see photo). Use the straight line as a guide as you glide the stick through your fingers. Does it stay straight all the way through your stroke? Or does the tip wobble a bit from side to side as you move through your stroke?

If it has a tendency to wobble, then you're probably not hitting the cue ball on target. Your arm, elbow and wrist should not move from side to side as you shoot. Instead, you need to draw your arm back straight and let your hand hang from your elbow like a pendulum.

Learn more with my book Pool Tips for Women or schedule a private lesson.