Status Updates From Pool Player's Edge

When aiming for a bank, miss short so you might double it. - p. 209

In a 9-ball rack:
•place 3 and 5 near 1-ball so they stay at the foot rail
•place 2, 4, and 6 at the back so they move at the head rail
- p. 179

With ball in hand:
1. Break up clusters/trouble balls
2. Run out
3. Force three fouls
- p. 161

Key ball: the ball you use take get position on the 8-ball
Insurance ball: an easily-pocketed ball in case position play doesn't work
- p. 145

Warmups:
•straight shots
•bank shots to test rails
•rail cuts to see if table is flat
- p. 135

Start practice durations at 20min, and slowly increase to two hours. - p. 117

Psychological success:
1. Balance between work & fun.
2. Blame yourself.
3. Respect your opponents, not fear them.
4. Don't give your opponent a handicap.
5. You can't control everything.
- p. 108-110

Don't overthink:
1. Keep it simple.
2. Play the percentages.
3. Take the path of least resistance.
- p. 107

When not your turn, focus on the cue ball. - p. 106

How pros practice:
•spend time on the break
•run outs
•get CB to centre
•same shot, different CB ending positions
•snooker yourself, then kick
•learn from everyone, weak and strong
•get a coach
•don't play ghost, so you can redo a missed shot
- p. 102-104

Use follow (which reverses) or draw when playing a kick safety, so the cue ball stops quickly. - p. 92

Leave object balls far from the rails when playing a safety. - p. 91

Rather than fouling and breaking up a cluster, form another cluster even if it means fouling, as even with ball in hand, your opponent probably can't run out. - p. 91

When no clear runout presents itself, play safe. - p. 87

If unsure, bring the cue ball to the centre of the table. - p. 86

Avoid putting your cue ball on the rail, as you're forced to shoot high; imagine the table six inches smaller from the margins. - p. 86

Massés are set up similarly to jump shots, with English. - p. 70

Uncommon jump shots:
•cue ball hitting an object ball above centre, which clears interfering balls, possibly into the pocket
•cue ball jumps into cushion and clears interfering balls on the rebound
- p. 69

For jump shots, elevate the cue butt only 20-30°; take a sideways stance with your elbow pointing to your right; look at where you want the ball to land. - p. 67-68

Use inside English to throw the cue ball back toward the tangent line in a billiard shot. - p. 66

Draw and follow can oppositely influence the tangent line in carom shots. - p. 64

To get an object ball to follow another in a combination, use draw on the cue ball. - p. 64

Use some inside English for kick shots of >45°. - p. 60

If the cue ball cannot 'see' the near pocket, the bank shot will result in a 'double kiss'. - p. 57

The maximum follow you need is one tip. - p. 43