So, let’s get started:

Credit: ExpertVillage.com and YouTube

Well, that was a great overview, but most of the time when shooters want to curve a ball, it is when they have NO shot, and want to curve around an obstructing ball to get to the shot they want. This happens a lot on the eight ball when your opponent is someone who knows how to play a good safety. (For readers who don’t know, a safety happens when a player plays a shot, not intending for a shot to necessarily go in the pocket, but more to place the cue ball in a horrible spot for the opponent’s next shot, or to put their object ball into the way of the opponent’s next shot. Most pool players say that is “playing a safety,” or more simply, “a safe.”)

Here’s an example of how to get around that:

Credit: ExpertVillage.com and YouTube

I know, I know. I use a lot of ExpertVillage.com videos. I’m hoping to soon get more of a variety of sources for videos, and in the near future begin to make my own.

In the meantime, here is a great video of the most incredible curve I think I’ve ever seen. (Remember, I play all the time, and I play with some incredible shooters in two pool leagues. None can curve like this.) I like how it curves nearly immediately, it curves directly into the eight ball, and it looks almost artistic. Especially with obstructing balls so close, that took years of practice.

Credit: YouTube

I’ve begun to get hooked on Dr. Dave Billiards. He brings it almost down to a geek science, which is great for learning. I’ll let him close out my lesson with two videos:

Large, short distance curve:

Credit: “Dr. Dave” and YouTube

I like how he addressed the potential damage driving the cue stick down at the ball can create. It’s really the truth. If you look at a bar table that hasn’t had the felt replaced in a while, it looks like garbage, for this reason. Luckily, my home tavern replaces the felt just about when it starts to look like garbage and they take care of their tables.

Practice that shot and get very good at it on garbage bar tables before you go messing with it on a good table, especially your own. I would much rather simply miss the shot or try a crazy bank shot before I go leaving lasting marks on a multi-thousand dollar investment.

Small, slightly longer curve:

Credit: “Dr. Dave” and YouTube

It was a very slight curve, and much more likely in a normal game, even a bar game, than the others I have shown you, so I had to add that in. I hope it helps. As I get better at writing on this site and can make my own videos, I will begin to explain things more thoroughly and then make my own videos to back them up.

Last but not least, I found a great place to learn the best secrets of playing 8 ball. (Click the link to go there.)

I’ll probably go out to practice again this Monday, and I’ll come back on Tuesday with some new tips and tricks I want to write about, unless you all have suggestions on something good to write about.