Instructional videos

Here are a few videos I picked out to help improve your game.
Hope you enjoy them.

The Break Shot


Angles / Cut Shots


Bank Shots


I hope you enjoy these videos!


- Posted by John Ferguson

Position play

As I sit here at the pool hall pondering a few things about my game. I've been learning alot about position shots. Isn't every shot supposed to be positioned in all the right spots for your next ball? Well yes of course! This only makes you a better player. I like Buddy Halls "pro player" saying, don't try and get position when you already have position. What this means is that some people look at the table and think they have to go 3 rails for position when all they have to do is go 1 rail and out for position. My advice is always follow the direction of the tangent line for your next ball. Speed of the cue ball is always important for position aswell. I was always told you can't be taught speed that a player has to experience it on his own. I think a good excersise is to set up three balls. Example the 6,7,8 anywhere on the table and experiment with different speeds for the run out. The more you practice the three ball run out the more confident you become in your game. Do you know how many people out there that can't even run three balls? I see it all the time in pool halls and that's the difference between a casual player and a serious player. Here is a few examples below to practice.
Example:1





Cut the six ball in the side pocket with center ball. Hit the top rail and come down to the bottom rail for the seven and eight balls.
Example:2





Cut the six ball in the corner pocket with center ball and hit the rail and bounce up for the seven and eight balls.
Example:3





Cut the six ball in the corner pocket with center ball or low right on the cue ball. Drift over for the seven ball and the follow the cue ball down for the eight ball.

Notice in all three exercises you have to use different speeds to accomplish the right position on each shot. No one likes drills but you can practice these shots during warm up before your match.hope this helps with your speed and ball control. Remember to relax and think of where you want the ball to end up after each shot and you'll be improving your game in no time.

Up the rail

Cut shot up the rail



Here is a simple but effective way for playing this shot. I see so many people miss this one so I figured out how to hit this shot.
Example: use center or low left depending on your position. But slightly over cut the nine ball to the right side of the pocket. This seems to be an easy adjustment for making the nine ball in the corner pocket.

Following my dreams " Playing Pool "

Great practice shot with speed

Hi guys I though I would give you a great practice shot to try at home or in the pool hall. I think it's a great practice shot because this shot come up alot. Here is how to execute the shot and experiment with different speeds when shooting the shot.


Example: cut the one ball in the corner pocket with center cue ball for position on the two ball using the rails. Remember the harder you shoot the one ball will determine how far up he rail you go for position. Use no right English on the cue ball what so ever. And remember you don't need English to get position on balls. You'll be more consistent with center ball control.

Following my dreams " Playing Pool "

The Break

I thought I would take a few moments and talk about the break. The break is the most important part of the game in my opinion. Have you noticed when you make a good break and pocket a few balls your still in control of the match? And that's the way you want to keep it. There are a lot of techniques for breaking and depending on the game your playing where to place the cue ball for the break. One thing that I concentrate on is protecting the cue ball from scratching and I want the cue ball to come to rest in the center of the table. That way I have a better chance at pocketing
My next shot. Experiment with different speeds and Try and switch up different spots where you are breaking from. Example: if your breaking from the left side and your not pocketing any balls switch to breaking on the right side. Once you find that sweet spot for your break stick to it. I like giving some of my pointers because I believe in order for you to keep it you gotta give it away. Hope this helps.


Following my dreams " Playing Pool "

Fatigue at the pool hall

Ok so I arrived at the pool hall at 8 am yesterday and I knew it was going to be a long day. I think the hardest thing for me is waiting for my match to begin. But what to do in the mean time while waiting to play? I spent 15 hours at this place and I only played 2 matches which I won. Each match took about 30 to 45 minutes to play. So what did I do for the next 13 hours or so? Sitting around takes alot out of you that's for sure. I recommend that you put an energy bar or some trail mix in your pool case to help keep your energy up. I don't recommend playing pool practicing while you wait and if you do just for a short time. Playing pool takes alot out of you especially using your mind for strategy. This sometime can determine the out come of a match when two players have been playing all night. Usually the player mentally stronger and has more stamina will win. So playing pool while you wait instead of relaxing and resting your mind or listening to music can be essential for any champion player. I noticed including myself I got extremely tired towards the end of the night and my mood changed. I was ready to go home and hit the bed. I looked around the billiards room and watch the other players. There demeanor, body language and the way they talked and they seemed to feel the same way i did at the time.
So what I learned from last night is to relax drink lots of water and have some kind of energy from trail mix in my pool case. Possibly find out when your next match is and if it's going to be awhile go back to the hotel or home and relax and get some lunch and just take it easy. Sometimes staying in the same place for hours on end can be mentally draining too so go somewhere close. I recommend exercising and staying fit to help with your energy aswell. I remember when I played in the 2009 Desert Open Nine Ball Championships with the UPA tour. I stayed in the same hotel as the other players and I saw Mika Immomen in the elevator as he was going on a run. I got off the elevator and went to have some breakfast and there was Johnny Archer eating froot loops and talking to Thorsten Holman. Now these guys are relaxing! And enjoying there morning. I never once saw any pro player practicing or playing around before the tournament began. This was my observance from last nights play so hope this helps.

Following my dreams " Playing Pool "

Safety play

Safety Example


You'll notice in this diagram the three ball is blocking the bank shot. Some people will try and make the shot some where and over look a simple safety. Here is an example of how to make the safety. Hit the cue ball top right striking the one ball thin sending the cue off the rail to the opposite rail and back to the top rail behind the seven ball. Meanwhile the one ball taking the dotted path. Remember with any safety speed is essential. And with practice and following the tangent line you will be playing safeties like a pro.

The enjoyment of playing pool

As I went to play pool tonight just feeling ok and a little under the weather. I sometimes forget how much I enjoy playing pool. I waited for my match
and watched the other players talk to each other and have fun. When it was my turn to play I was to engulfed into the match I had forgotten that I wasn't feeling well. And I had won my match aswell so I guess being positive and not thinking how I was feeling at the time had made me have a great time tonight. I was shooting great and loose and everything was rolling my way. I hope this Is a lesson to everyone that positive thinking is powerful tool in billiards and it's essential to be confident and positive.

Following my dreams " Playing Pool "

Physcological play

Ok so it seems like that there isn't alot of info on the physcological part of billiards. Maybe I'm wrong and I'm just not looking in the right places for it so I can only tell you what i have learned over the years from other pro players. If there is a book or if you want to Weigh in just email me at johnfergy106@sbcglobal.net and I'll post it on my blog. I've always heard pool is 80% mental and 20% physical. So if so why don't we spend more time on the mental part of the game? Than the physical part of it.
There alot to say for positive thinking in making your shot. For example if you come across a shot where there is a possibility of scratching. You think in your mind " I might scratch " then it might come true. But if you pick a spot mentally where you want to be for position and don't think about the obvious scratch. You will get the position you desired. So when you approach the table observe the layout. When you execute your shot have confidence in yourself. Don't let any outside distractions get in your head. People talking, an audience of people or the player your playing. Remember your not playing the player your playing he table so that should take some pressure off of you.

Following my dreams " Playing Pool "

Check out my blog

Alright so hear it goes for all the people hat don't know me I've have been playing billiards since i was 15 years old and now I'm 38 so it's been awhile. I love the sport like many of you. In 2007 I started playing on the UPA Tour and it seems like that all the tournaments are on the east coast and living on the west coast and having to travel its tough. Recently i have joined playing on the APA to get out and meet some people.It has Been a lot of fun keeping in stroke. But the real deal is playing in the pro events which this year I will be playing in. I will be bringing all my experiences and having some videos and some instructional pool on my blog as well so I hope you'll follow me.
Talk at ya soon.




- Posted by John -

Here is a great simple drill for nine ball players. Provided by pool.bz
Simply put the 1,2,3 ball along the rail on each diamond and at the opposite end of the table place the 4 ball and cue ball as such in the diagram. Hit top right on the cue ball experimenting hitting the 1,2, or 3 ball for position. This will teach you accuracy and position play.