LESSON PLANS
Think of Lesson Plans as mini-courses similar to what you would take in a classroom environment. Each lesson plan is designed to present a set of information that will get the ‘student’ to learn pocket billiards through a step by step instruction process. A lesson plan would comprise of a few progressive lessons aimed at providing just enough information that will allow the ‘student’ to understand a concept or two at a time.
As the ‘student’ progresses through the lesson plans, a new and slightly more advanced concept(s) is taught, and so on and so forth. Similar to a classroom environment, most of the articles will be followed by practical exercises that will help the ‘student’ gain more understanding of the game of pool and billiards by providing assignments that will have them use their newfound knowledge in actual practice.
Some lesson plans will also have optional articles that serve as additional reading for the purpose of a deeper understanding of the concept being taught.
Learn the Pre-Shot Routine, Pool Stance, Grip, Types of Bridges and the Pool Stroke
Understand and execute different Aiming Techniques for pocketing balls
Learn to control the Cue Ball and master Positioning
Learn the concept of spinning the cue ball
Learn advanced shots like Combinations, Billiards, Carom, and Jump Shots
Learn to use the rails to execute Banks or Kick Shots
WHERE DO YOU WANT TO GO NEXT?
Lessons & Tutorials – view our comprehensive database of instructional articles. We offer step by step lessons for beginner, intermediate and advanced players. Each article contains pictures as well as detailed explanations for a clearer understanding of the complex topics. Best of all – it’s all FREE!
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EPT Forums – Browse our forums and read other billiards related topics and discussions.
POPULAR ARTICLES
Below are some of the website’s popular instructional articles.
Instructional Articles by David Sapolis
Blackjack David Sapolis played professional pool for 20 years in The United States, Canada, Europe, and Asia. He has authored several books relating to the game of pocket billiards,including: Stroke of Genius The Growling Point Building the Perfect Game Lessons in 9 Ball Chasing the Dream Blackjack also is a contributing columnist for several billiard …
The Mental Game
Like any other sport, them mental part of the game is what sets apart the good from the great. As you step into the advanced levels you will need to strengthen your mental resolve to have an advantage over your (also) advanced opponent. This section contains articles that pertain to understanding and improving your mental …
Advanced Safety Play With Multiple Objectives
Safety play is essential with most pocket billiard games, especially 8-ball, which we’ll concentrate on here. Most mid-level players have a basic understanding of safeties, but few achieve successful safety shots when an important game is on the line. The key difference between a typical league-level safety shot and a professional safety shot is that …
Game plan for Safety Play
After deciding to play a safe, a lot of players have no idea of what to do next. Listed below are some of the criteria I use for executing a safety and hints for good safety play. CRITERIA Snooker or hide opponent so he cannot shoot directly at the object ball. Do not put the …
Pool & Billiards Safety and Defense
Sometimes the best. offense is a good defense. In the game of pool, especially for beginner level players, you won’t always be running out and clearing all the balls on the table in a single outing. There are times when you are not left with an offensive opportunity. It is in these times that a …
Getting Perfect Shape on the 9 Ball
9-Ball Pool is all about repeating patterns of play. When you are practicing, you must practice some of the more common shots. Especially in a rotation type game such as 9 ball you can give yourself a large advantage by having in your shot making arsenal a shot such as the one diagrammed below. I …
Speed and Cue Ball Direction
Speed is a very important aspect for cue ball control. This lesson discusses more into detail about how the speed of stroke changes the direction of the cue ball after it hits the object ball. The illustrations will let you clearly see where the cue ball generally goes after hitting it on the same spot …
Coming into versus coming accross the Position Area
Starting with the illustration below, we have a similar scenario as in the last lesson on the principles of position. We are shooting the 5 ball and we’ve determined the position area where we would like the cue ball to be for a perfect shot on the 6 ball. From the position of the cue …
Coming into versus coming accross the Position Area Read More »
Determing the Ideal Position Area
DETERMINE THE POSITION AREA Playing effective position requires you to consistently place the cue ball in an ideal position on the table that allows you to pocket the next object ball and play good position on the next object ball after that. Rather than guessing where the cue ball will go next after you shoot …
Choosing Natural Path & Long Side for Position
CHOOSE THE NATURAL PATH OF THE CUE BALL The term “natural path” here means that when the cue ball is hit with center ball stroke (the natural stroke), the cue ball will then travel its natural path. You are probably wondering why this is important. The main reason why most good players choose the natural …