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Nov 15, 2004 :: The Four Stages of Pool

The Four Strokes of Pool

Stroke #4 – The Draw Strokes
I give this a plural because there are more than one draw stroke. It is not enough to simply pull the cue ball back towards you with a sharp jabbing motion. The draw stroke is the most abused stroke in pocket billiards today. In The Lesson I devote 12 pages to this great stroke. Here are the four draw strokes:
1. The follow through draw
2. The snap back draw
3. The bounce back draw
4. The snip draw

If you use the wrong draw stroke you will not get positive results and you will have no control of the cue ball. You must master each draw stroke and know when to use them.

The draw strokes calls for a snap delivery. You must push the cue tip through the cue ball faster than the cue ball leaves you tip. In other words, the tip is almost all the way through the cue ball before the cue ball takes off. Since the cue tip is faster than the cue ball, the cue ball will immediately spin backwards. This causes the cue ball to come back to you.

With the follow through draw, the cue tip is not spinning backwards until it has traveled a few feet. Your tip pushes through in a follow through motion. When the cue ball contacts the object ball, it will slide away and then begin to come back. This is an important stroke to use when you want to control the position the cue ball will end up in following a draw stroke.

The snap back draw is dramatic. You snap through the cue ball in a quick jab. The cue ball will immediately pick up spin and come right back at you. You will tighten up the line it returns on. In The Lesson I show you how to get the cue ball to two separate places on the table off the same shot simply by changing one draw stroke for another.

The snip draw is the most popular of the draw strokes. You shoot down on the cue ball. The main purpose of the snip draw is not so much to draw the cue ball back to you but to kill the cue ball and throw the object ball. In the “touch no rail” exercise you will not succeed if you do not command the snip draw. This is a vital stroke to have. You use right or left and snip the cue ball.

The bounce back draw. This is really a “stun” backwards. You are not trying to spin the cue ball back. You are trying to bounce it back from the object ball. There are times in a game when your command of this stroke is the difference between winning and losing.

The draw stroke calls for you to dramatically snap the cue tip through the cue ball. When you do that, this stroke imparts spin on the cue ball. Once you get the cue ball coming back to you with this stroke, try the same stroke with one cue tip above center. Deliver your finest draw stroke and you will see what a force follow is. The force follow is really a draw stroke. The stroke determines the track line. The stroke determines the cue ball speed. The cue tip location has nothing to do with what stroke you are using.

If you want to be a consistent player you must possess the four strokes of pool. There are times when you mix them up. A shot may call for a little follow and a lot of punch. Or punch force follow. Begin your training now. The second stage of pocket billiards is the four strokes of pool. Master them. You can do it. It is time for you to do it right.

To recap, the Four Strokes of Pool are:

#1 – The Punch Stroke
#2 – The Follow Stroke
#3 – The Spin Stroke
#4 – The Draw Strokes

Tournament Preparation

Step 7
Practice for the tournament you are about to play. Use The Lesson to design your practice sessions. If you are playing a nine ball tournament, do the stroke work, and then the mid- term exam. If it is an eight ball tournament, The Monk’s famous thirteen and fourteen ball exercises will help you. When you practice, imagine you are already in the finals.

“When faced with a tough shot on the key ball, one that determines if you complete your run or not, stop and ask yourself, ‘would I rather have this shot, or would I rather end up with a tough kick later when my opponent plays a safety on me?’ The tough shot you are looking at is suddenly not so tough at all. Learn to love the shot you face because it is the only shot you have.”

Thoughts from The Monk

I attended the US Amateur Championships this past week in Berlin, Connecticut and was impressed with the fine group of players who competed in the event. I ran into many past students and friends from all across this country. I was most impressed by the way it was run. The APA can take pride in the first class presentation of pool in its finest form. This was a group of great players who play for the love of the game.

I saw break and runs at a level of our pros. I saw safeties that rank among the best, and run outs with world class style and speed. But the most impressive was the class of players. Rarely was a referee called in to rule on a shot. The players themselves called fouls when one was committed. In fact, I did not see a referee in the entire place.

The game of pool has always been a gentlemen’s sport, played by gentlemen for the love of the game. The APA managed to bring the love of the game back into our sport. I recommend you plan to attend the US Amateur Championships next year if you get the chance. I will be there with several students.

I then went out to Reno for the American CueSports Nine Ball Championships at the Silver Legacy Casino. This was a first class event as well. These players were competing for the love of money. Sammantha managed to finish in the fifth-sixth spot. She played very well. In the women’s division they allowed a master to play as long as they spotted the open players two games on the wire. Sammantha ran into a “master.” This was the only match where a referee was called in to rule on a shot. The master asked for a referee six times in six different games. She did everything she could to disrupt Sammantha’s rhythm. It is a sad thing when a skilled player resorts to this type of sharking. Sammantha did not allow this to bother her as she won the match nine to three. I long for the day when we can get back to the gentleman’s way of competing. Those who get caught up in the competition for the title, lose out on the real art of pocket billiards.

Staying in the Game (A side note from Samm’s Side Pocket)

Is your mind wandering while your opponent is at the table? Are you looking around? Are you wondering who you might play next? Are you watching the match on the table next to you? Are you hungry or thirsty, or do you need to use the restroom?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, then you may discover you have trouble staying in the game. Perhaps you struggle with maintaining a consistent level of concentration or physical stamina. Whatever the reason may be, it is important to keep your mind and your eye on your table.

Staying alert and in the game helps prepare your mind and body for its turn at the table. Staying in the game means knowing what’s going on at all times during your match (not the match beside you.) It means you know whether you have stripes or solids because you were paying attention. It means you know if your opponent just fouled when it’s your turn (just make sure you confirm it with them before picking up the cue ball). It means completely appreciating every stroke you make because you are not just pocketing the ball, you are experiencing it and you’re enveloped in every moment of your match.

I know it’s easy to want to know what’s going on across the room if everyone begins cheering or gasping. But, if you catch your mind wandering or notice yourself getting distracted from the game in front of you, consciously make yourself watch the table. Find a ball or a spot on the table to physically focus on and force yourself to stare in that direction. Once you get into this habit, you’ll begin doing it naturally.

I use the restroom or get food and water if I need to. I also like to spend some time before each match just staring at the cue ball sitting on top of the table. I do my breathing, acclimate myself to the environment and I try to relax. Doing this also helps my eyes adjust to the lighting on the table I’m playing on. As we know, lighting can often be different from table to table. I hope this will help you as much as it has helped me.