I got an e-mail asking about curve shots. I use them all the time, but they are very difficult to describe. I found a few videos on them. Once I’m making my own videos, I’ll be able to tailor them much more to the question you’re asking. Also, if any visitors have made or have any better videos about a topic, I will certainly add them to my site and give you full credit, even in the form of a link.

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.

Although many players just refer to rail based shots as “bank shots”, there is a big difference between kick shots and bank shots to the serious player. A bank shot involves hitting the cue ball into the object ball in a way that the object ball hits a rail with a trajectory that aims for a pocket on the opposite rail. Here’s a great instructional video:

Credit: ExpertVillage.com and YouTube

I just wish he had made that reverse bank. It would have looked really cool.

A kick shot is when the cue ball is hit into the rail with the intention of hitting the shooter’s own ball into a pocket on the opposite rail. Here’s a great instructional video:

Credit: ExpertVillage.com and YouTube

I just wish he would have made either shot. It would have been better for visuals. You get the idea though. Now get out there and try it.

Check out this site I found with the best eight ball secrets.

Cheers and happy shooting!

Shooter

Here is a great video I found addressing basic shooting:

By the way, check out this Guide to Buying Pool Tables that I found.

I hope some of this helps some people out there. Happy shooting!

Shooter

This is a great video to use for tips on how to shoot good pool:

Sometime soon I want to start my own YouTube channel where I’m going to be creating videos to put in a post on this site.

Also, contact me if you would like to get in on the ground floor as a moderator, administrator, or something else like that for the forum. I already know who my top guest administrator and moderator is going to be, but I would love to get some of my visitors in on it.

Shooter