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Shooting Pool For Fun or Competition
Shooting a game of Pool can really bring out the true competitive nature in
people. While some may want to shoot Pool like Paul Newman did in "The
Hustler, others would be happy just shooting well enough to play a respectable
game. Either way, you can use Virtual Pool to quickly develop the two key
skills you need to be competitive- cue ball control and strategy. And you can
take your skills and apply them to a real pool table, unlike other sports
simulations that can't be applied to real life.
Start with the basics of cue ball control.
Cue Ball Control From the Master:
There's nothing like watching a master, whether you're just beginning or
looking to sharpen your skills. That's why Virtual Pool includes live video of
World Champion Lou Butera. Lou covers the basics of aiming, caroms,
combinations, masse shots and much more. Study his tutorials and also his
brilliant execution of trick shots. When you're ready to take Lou's advice to
the table, enter Virtual Pool's Practice Mode and work on your skills.
Practice Mode is the place to take advantage of the incredible learning power
available when simulating Pool on a computer.
If You're Unfamiliar with Virtual Pool's Controls:
Begin by getting familiar with the commands available when you're in practice
mode. First comes Tracking. This is one of the most important tools for
learning. Hit the "T" key while aiming and Virtual Pool accurately projects
the paths of the balls you're hitting. To learn the effects of cue tip
placement on the cue ball (English), hold down the "E" key and use your mouse
to change the point of contact on the cue ball. Also important is the force of
your stroke. You can see the effects of varying that force by holding down the
"F" Key and moving the mouse forward or backward.
Virtual Pool Interface Tip:
Try lowering your mouse sensitivity if you're having trouble with Speed
Control
Virtual Pool lets you view the table and replay your previously executed shot
from any angle. Hit "O" while tracking is on and you can view the table from
overhead. This is an excellent way to analyze the consequences of making a
particular shot. By hitting "R" the shot can replayed. Replay speed can be
adjusted wht the "+" and "-" keys. By hitting "V" you can freeze your setup
and view it from any angle by moving the mouse.
Would you like to make an adjustment and reshoot? Hit "U" and your shot will
be undone so you can try it again.
When you get enough confidence to try a Masse shot, hit "AB" and use the mouse
to adjust the angle of the cue stick.
Virtual Pool Interface Tip:
The butt angle readout in the status area makes it easier to reproduce masse
shots. Find out which angles work for certain types of shots and you'll find
it much easier to pull them off in game situations.
Virtual Pool also comes with some practice setups saved for you. Find them by
hitting "Alt-L" when in practice mode. You'll quickly learn how to control
your cue ball if you use Virtual Pool's features when practicing.
When You're Up To Speed on Virtual Pool's Controls:
When putting English on a ball, don't use more than the measure of one cue tip
off of a center ball hit, unless shooting shots which require
excessive cue ball spin. With Virtual Pool you can put tremendous amounts of
spin on the cue ball. Using cue tip distances within one tip of center reduces
spin errors caused by incorrect stroke speed. In other words, controlling the
cue ball with extreme cue tip positions requires great stroke speed control.
Control stroke speed by varying backstroke length.
Stroke speed is very important for cue ball control. Using backstroke length
to control stroke speed makes you more consistent. By accelerating the mouse
smoothly, the same way for each shot, backstroke length varies cue ball
velocity. The further back your cue tip starts the higher the velocity when
you hit the cue ball. For easy shots pull the cue back a little. The harder
you want to stroke the cue ball the more you pull back on the cue. This works
well in real life too.
Use and study tracking to learn the effects of cue tip position and stroke
force. Remember the "F" key varies stroke force when tracking is on.
Level the cue for thin cuts over long distances.
When thinning balls, especially with lots of green between the cue and object
balls, set the butt angle to 0 degrees. The default butt angle in Virtual Pool
is 1 degree to approximate how a human holds the cue. The slight curve caused
by cue ball transition from sliding to rolling makes these shots difficult.
Level the cue and remove the curve.
Learn to shoot stun shots:
A stun shot is when the cue ball hits the object ball with no spin. An object
ball hit dead on (straight shot) with a stun shot stops the cue ball. The cue
ball path after a stun shot is perpendicular to the line draw through the
object ball to the target pocket. You can move the cue ball forward or
backward from this perpendicular line by using top (forward), or draw
(backwards). This allows you to control the cue ball path. It will also teach
you much better control for draw shots. Practice stun shots by hitting stop
shots. Start by practicing with the cue ball close to the object ball. You'll
find that there is a relationship between stroke speed and cue tip height.
Increase the distance between the cue ball and object ball as you improve.
Strategy:
Once you've reached an acceptable skill level for cue ball control you can
turn your attention to the art of strategy. Remember that Virtual Pool allows
you to play four popular games of Pool: Straight, 8-Ball, 9-Ball, and
Rotation. Familiarity with the rules will influence your capabilities, so
review your choice in the "Games of Pool" section. There you'll find easy
instructions and basic strategies.
Here's some tips on strategy relating to various games:
9-BALL
For beginning players who can't run out:
"Blast the Cash" . Get the nine ball moving. Don't try to run the balls left
on the table unless you have at least a 25% chance of succeeding.
For better players who can run out:
Nine Ball for better players is about table control. Run out or play safe. If
you give your opponent a good shot he'll probably run out the rack and maybe a
few more.
EIGHT BALL:
For beginning players who can't run out:
Try to make all easy shots available on the table first. If you don't have any
shots you can blast, but don't get the eight ball moving.
For better players who can run out:
Don't try to run out unless you think you can. Removing most of your balls
give your opponent an easy run out. Move balls around and try to improve the
table for you and make it worse for your opponent. When you think you can run
out, go for it. If playing safe is legal (to many players this is taboo in
eight ball), then it's OK to pocket some balls then play a nasty safety.
STRAIGHT POOL:
For beginners who can only run a few balls:
Make easy balls first. Shoot short shots and don't try anything fancy unless
you have too. You're going to miss but that's OK your opponent can't run more
than a few either, or your playing the wrong guy.
For better players who can run a rack or more:
Clear balls up table as soon as possible. Try to leave alternate balls to
shoot in case you get out of line. Look for natural opportunities to break up
clusters. You don't need to slam the cue ball into clusters to split them up.
Don't bump balls unless you have to, you may make clusters. Play safe if you
don't have a good shot.
ROTATION:
For beginners:
Blasting balls is a good strategy. Get the big points moving.
For better players who can run at least 4 balls:
Play for the big points early. Making lots of low numbered balls doesn't get
you many points and there's usually too much trouble to run out. As the game
progresses, play more conservatively. If you give your opponent an opportunity
with big balls on the table you've lost. Keep track of the score. Figure score
into your decision to go for it or play safe.
Catch A Pool Shark In Action:
Do you want to witness the strategy of a player that can make almost every
shot? Then strike up a game with Dead Eye Dan. Just watch how he clears the
table once you've left him an opening. You'll know you're ready for almost any
competition when you can beat Dead Eye Dan.
Shooting a game of Pool can really bring out the true competitive nature in
people. While some may want to shoot Pool like Paul Newman did in "The
Hustler, others would be happy just shooting well enough to play a respectable
game. Either way, you can use Virtual Pool to quickly develop the two key
skills you need to be competitive- cue ball control and strategy. And you can
take your skills and apply them to a real pool table, unlike other sports
simulations that can't be applied to real life.
Start with the basics of cue ball control.
Cue Ball Control From the Master:
There's nothing like watching a master, whether you're just beginning or
looking to sharpen your skills. That's why Virtual Pool includes live video of
World Champion Lou Butera. Lou covers the basics of aiming, caroms,
combinations, masse shots and much more. Study his tutorials and also his
brilliant execution of trick shots. When you're ready to take Lou's advice to
the table, enter Virtual Pool's Practice Mode and work on your skills.
Practice Mode is the place to take advantage of the incredible learning power
available when simulating Pool on a computer.
If You're Unfamiliar with Virtual Pool's Controls:
Begin by getting familiar with the commands available when you're in practice
mode. First comes Tracking. This is one of the most important tools for
learning. Hit the "T" key while aiming and Virtual Pool accurately projects
the paths of the balls you're hitting. To learn the effects of cue tip
placement on the cue ball (English), hold down the "E" key and use your mouse
to change the point of contact on the cue ball. Also important is the force of
your stroke. You can see the effects of varying that force by holding down the
"F" Key and moving the mouse forward or backward.
Virtual Pool Interface Tip:
Try lowering your mouse sensitivity if you're having trouble with Speed
Control
Virtual Pool lets you view the table and replay your previously executed shot
from any angle. Hit "O" while tracking is on and you can view the table from
overhead. This is an excellent way to analyze the consequences of making a
particular shot. By hitting "R" the shot can replayed. Replay speed can be
adjusted wht the "+" and "-" keys. By hitting "V" you can freeze your setup
and view it from any angle by moving the mouse.
Would you like to make an adjustment and reshoot? Hit "U" and your shot will
be undone so you can try it again.
When you get enough confidence to try a Masse shot, hit "AB" and use the mouse
to adjust the angle of the cue stick.
Virtual Pool Interface Tip:
The butt angle readout in the status area makes it easier to reproduce masse
shots. Find out which angles work for certain types of shots and you'll find
it much easier to pull them off in game situations.
Virtual Pool also comes with some practice setups saved for you. Find them by
hitting "Alt-L" when in practice mode. You'll quickly learn how to control
your cue ball if you use Virtual Pool's features when practicing.
When You're Up To Speed on Virtual Pool's Controls:
When putting English on a ball, don't use more than the measure of one cue tip
off of a center ball hit, unless shooting shots which require
excessive cue ball spin. With Virtual Pool you can put tremendous amounts of
spin on the cue ball. Using cue tip distances within one tip of center reduces
spin errors caused by incorrect stroke speed. In other words, controlling the
cue ball with extreme cue tip positions requires great stroke speed control.
Control stroke speed by varying backstroke length.
Stroke speed is very important for cue ball control. Using backstroke length
to control stroke speed makes you more consistent. By accelerating the mouse
smoothly, the same way for each shot, backstroke length varies cue ball
velocity. The further back your cue tip starts the higher the velocity when
you hit the cue ball. For easy shots pull the cue back a little. The harder
you want to stroke the cue ball the more you pull back on the cue. This works
well in real life too.
Use and study tracking to learn the effects of cue tip position and stroke
force. Remember the "F" key varies stroke force when tracking is on.
Level the cue for thin cuts over long distances.
When thinning balls, especially with lots of green between the cue and object
balls, set the butt angle to 0 degrees. The default butt angle in Virtual Pool
is 1 degree to approximate how a human holds the cue. The slight curve caused
by cue ball transition from sliding to rolling makes these shots difficult.
Level the cue and remove the curve.
Learn to shoot stun shots:
A stun shot is when the cue ball hits the object ball with no spin. An object
ball hit dead on (straight shot) with a stun shot stops the cue ball. The cue
ball path after a stun shot is perpendicular to the line draw through the
object ball to the target pocket. You can move the cue ball forward or
backward from this perpendicular line by using top (forward), or draw
(backwards). This allows you to control the cue ball path. It will also teach
you much better control for draw shots. Practice stun shots by hitting stop
shots. Start by practicing with the cue ball close to the object ball. You'll
find that there is a relationship between stroke speed and cue tip height.
Increase the distance between the cue ball and object ball as you improve.
Strategy:
Once you've reached an acceptable skill level for cue ball control you can
turn your attention to the art of strategy. Remember that Virtual Pool allows
you to play four popular games of Pool: Straight, 8-Ball, 9-Ball, and
Rotation. Familiarity with the rules will influence your capabilities, so
review your choice in the "Games of Pool" section. There you'll find easy
instructions and basic strategies.
Here's some tips on strategy relating to various games:
9-BALL
For beginning players who can't run out:
"Blast the Cash" . Get the nine ball moving. Don't try to run the balls left
on the table unless you have at least a 25% chance of succeeding.
For better players who can run out:
Nine Ball for better players is about table control. Run out or play safe. If
you give your opponent a good shot he'll probably run out the rack and maybe a
few more.
EIGHT BALL:
For beginning players who can't run out:
Try to make all easy shots available on the table first. If you don't have any
shots you can blast, but don't get the eight ball moving.
For better players who can run out:
Don't try to run out unless you think you can. Removing most of your balls
give your opponent an easy run out. Move balls around and try to improve the
table for you and make it worse for your opponent. When you think you can run
out, go for it. If playing safe is legal (to many players this is taboo in
eight ball), then it's OK to pocket some balls then play a nasty safety.
STRAIGHT POOL:
For beginners who can only run a few balls:
Make easy balls first. Shoot short shots and don't try anything fancy unless
you have too. You're going to miss but that's OK your opponent can't run more
than a few either, or your playing the wrong guy.
For better players who can run a rack or more:
Clear balls up table as soon as possible. Try to leave alternate balls to
shoot in case you get out of line. Look for natural opportunities to break up
clusters. You don't need to slam the cue ball into clusters to split them up.
Don't bump balls unless you have to, you may make clusters. Play safe if you
don't have a good shot.
ROTATION:
For beginners:
Blasting balls is a good strategy. Get the big points moving.
For better players who can run at least 4 balls:
Play for the big points early. Making lots of low numbered balls doesn't get
you many points and there's usually too much trouble to run out. As the game
progresses, play more conservatively. If you give your opponent an opportunity
with big balls on the table you've lost. Keep track of the score. Figure score
into your decision to go for it or play safe.
Catch A Pool Shark In Action:
Do you want to witness the strategy of a player that can make almost every
shot? Then strike up a game with Dead Eye Dan. Just watch how he clears the
table once you've left him an opening. You'll know you're ready for almost any
competition when you can beat Dead Eye Dan.