If you’ve been playing pool at your local hangout and wondering why the balls just won’t go in the pockets, you’re not alone. The good news is, you don’t need to become a pro to start seeing a big improvement in your game. I’ve reviewed a few quick, simple lessons that cover the fundamentals and give you some easy things you can start practicing right away. So grab your cue, watch along, and let’s get those balls dropping! Here are the steps to improvement: Ok, there are a f

So, once you have become accustomed to your stance, you need to master the stroke. This, by far is the most important arrow in your quiver. Try to follow the video that follows: 10 Secrets of a GOOD STROKE in Pool. Again this is from DrDave Billiards of Dr Dave Alciatore Billiard University.

In order to position your cue ball to the best spot for your next shot you will very often have to draw the ball back from the impact of the shot. If you watch professionals in world-class tournments they are using a draw shot most of the time. Some use it exclusively. Most use it when it's the best way to get position on the next shot, but many times they will use follow as well. You see, when you place the tip ot the cue at the top of the cue bull, they cue will 'follow'

Once you master your stroke and know how to draw we need to get some pointers on lining everything up carefully before you take the shot. There are some good tips in this video from world class Jasmin Ouschan: Easy Aiming Helpers for beginners https://youtu.be/2B-_Dju0gaU

The best pool hall in Orange County, California. Any day's a great day if you're playing pool at Danny Ks. They have 16 9-foot tables,2 of them are from Diamond, the remaining are solid custom-built, since Danny wanted them 1 inch shorter so he could cover them with a pad and use as overflow tables. They have special events like UFC and playoffs, etc. that bring in a lot of sport fans. Up front there are 4 7-foot Diamond tables in great shape. There are also 4 dart board

Monterey is probably best known for Cannery Row, where more fish were canned than anywhere in the world back in the 30s. Eventually, the fish were overfished and things slowed down, but they are still canning sardines every day. Steinbeck wrote a wonderful novel about the times where he frequently there and many of the sites he wrote about are still there for your historic enjoyment. The Fisherman's Wharf is also quite an attraction. Many fine restaurants there, like Bubba

So here’s a free answer to a question or would that be a free question to an answer on Jeopardy. Alex Trebek: “a rounded knotty growth on a tree, giving an attractive figure when polished and used especially for handcrafted objects and veneers” Your Response: “What is a burl?” Lucky you knew that answer because you chose a true “Daily Double.” Because of my interview a few weeks ago with Kenny Koo in San Francisco on our great “2018 Pool Hall Road Trip,” I had a vague idea t

A Room That Displays Things Is A …. It wasn’t long before the owner, Jimmy came in. I think he was wondering what I was up to. Even I was wondering what we were up to! I guess I was trying to figure out what exactly this place,”The Cue Ball,” was. Was it a museum, a furniture warehouse, an assisted living program for old pool tables? No. On closer look, the tables stacked in front of my eyes (there must have been 8 to 12 in that room) were all brand new, all different wood

League play was going on at Sam’s Family Billiard’s when we walked in, and a young man was just ready to give up his table to the league players when Mike walked over. “Wanna shoot?” Mike asked. The young man was hesitant, obviously considerate of the league needs. The league director, though said “Sure go ahead. Use the table. You have time.” Game on. “Hi, I’m Marko,” and he shook Mike’s hand. Meanwhile I just sat at a table close by drinking a vodka tonic reading a book o

Sue is like a Facebook Ellen DeGeneres. Everyday she features some wonderful gift for the audience to take home. It might be a picture or a video or a story that makes you laugh, or cry, or just plain informs you. It’s a calling of sorts, I think. So on July 22 Sue posted a perky video like the one above of women who belong to “Sisters on the Fly.” Apparently this group of women campers has been around for a while, (1999 according to their website) but this was the first I ha

If you have watched the program Portlandia, you already have a feel for this town and its people. Of course, the TV program really exaggerates, but you do get that kind of feeling in Portland about the way people interact with each other. We found the greatest independent bookstore in the US here, Powell's City of Books They boast having a million of the 'best' books. Wow, multiple floors, multiple rooms based on type of book, plenty of knowledgeable staff people to help y

Often during my husband’s great “Summer 2018 Pool Hall Tour,” I wait back in the motel, telling myself that I’m going to get lots of work...

If you know your US geography, this is the capital of Oregon. It's not too far south of Portland on Interstate 5. One of the best pool...

Mike finds a guy to shoot with – a tall young, really intellectual entrepreneur who’s going to open a Glam-Camp in wine country...

Ok, this is California's capitol, but I didn't even get to the seat of government on this trip. You know, when you get to a pool hall and everything there is just right, you don't want to leave. That's how it was at Hard Times. I've enjoyed Hard Times in Bellflower in Southern California, but I really think I felt more at home at the one in Sacramento. Hard Times The tables are perfect, many have tight pockets that shooters love. They have a really good kitchen, too. I j

"San Francisco was founded on June 29, 1776, when colonists from Spain established Presidio of San Francisco at the Golden Gate and Mission San Francisco de Asís a few miles away, all named for St. Francis of Assisi.[1] " according to WikiPedia. According to Frank Sinatra, he left his heart there. Well, if he has to go back, don't do it in a car. That traffic can kill you. LOL. Anyway, I did find some good pool halls in this city. Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco Bill

Kenny Koo with Mike Olmon at Family Billiards in San Francisco, a stop along the way on Mike’s “Great West Coast Pool Hall Tour.” Click Here to Return to Mike’s Pool Hall Reviews I can’t remember how I found out that Kenny Koo is Burmese. I think he told me when I asked him to repeat “Koo” so that I’d spell it correctly when I wrote about him, and I knew I wanted to write about Kenny. It was his openness when Mike introduced him to me – and his smile! Mike and I are a bit

I found a few places in San Jose to shoot pool. When booking a hotel for San Jose, remember to add California so you don't get a great deal from Kayak and find you paid for a night in San Jose, Cost Rica, like we did! San Jose, California Cuetopia Clean and friendly with good tables and free WiFi. Check out the pictures. Open noon to 2AM. Good place to take a date. Tournaments: Tues Open 9-Ball, Starts at 8 (7pm open free practice time), Entry $5+ (depending on level of play

Santa Cruz, on the coast, was on our way toward the San Francisco area. Not quite there yet, but a cool coastal town. If you're planning on camping in this area, you might check out California's Camping on the Coast that shows campsites from Big Sur to Santa Cruz. Fast Eddy's Billiards I kinda like this place. A main-stay player named Locker was really in charge of making new people feel right at home. Although, when we played 1-pocket, there was no letting up on making

If you've ever been to Santa Barbara you may not have known there was a pool hall in town. With the pier and the magnificent ocean to view and all the great restaurants and bars in downtown, you may never think of pool. But if you do, there is a place... Don Q's Family Billiards So, this is the only one that I could find that is not a 'bar' primarily, although some guys think that the bar called Break Time ( 5977 Encina Rd, Goleta, CA 93117 ) is kind of a pool hall, since t