Four PBIA Master Instructors offer advice that has more to do with your mental and physical approach to pool, so you can improve your performance before a chalked tip hits a cue ball.

By BD Staff

“Those who can, do. Those who can't, teach” goes the old saying, leaving its accuracy for another time. But what about those who teach? How can you know they really can? For the pool world, the Professional Billiard Instructors Association aims to add accreditation to a sport where everyone has that one little piece of advice that could revolutionize your game.

Founded in 1992, as the BCA (Billiard Congress of America) Instructor Program, the PBIA aims to provide quality billiard instruction to the general public, as well as training and certification programs for individuals wishing to become qualified billiard instructors. In short, it wants to raise the level of instruction for all.

For this month's instructional special, we reached out to four PBIA Master Instructors to hear what's on their minds as they teach, play and watch the game they love. These entries offer actionable tidbits for players of all skill levels, from those scuffling in local leagues to those who are looking to jump up from good to great.


Always enter competition mentally and physically prepared to be at your best.

Mind Thoughtful & Comprehensive Match Preparation

By Fran Crimi

Whether a league player or a tournament player, everyone wants to bring out their best game in competition, but many will fall short. In fact, many players will lose up to 30% of their game even before they hit their first shot. Scary stat, right?

Lack of preparation won't necessarily show up right away in your match. It may slowly wear you down, chipping away at you, tortuous inch by tortuous inch, or it may catch you off guard all at once, like an explosion of shock from which you can't recover. There's no way of knowing how and when the demon will strike.

So rather than (figuratively) pulling up a chair in your opponent's corner and cheering them on, it's better to enter the arena with yourself in the best possible position to play well and get the most out of your experience. After all, isn't that why you're there in the first place?

In addition to practicing, which we all have to do, here are some other things that you might not have thought about.

1. Go in with a gameplan. Don't make it completely about winning or losing. Make it about what you want to accomplish in the match. One example is to make sure you commit 100% to every choice you make. Or it can be as basic as staying down and following through on every shot. You may also make sure you will stick to your own rhythm of playing. During the match, when the pressure is on and whenever the nerves kick in, your gameplan will come in handy. Stick to it. Be prepared to not let your opponent's style dictate how you will play.

2. Plan ahead on how you will react to adverse situations. Bad call, getting sharked, opponent behaving badly, bad break on the table, etc. — it doesn't really matter what the issue is. When your blood starts to boil, execute your planned response, which may very well be no response. It's empowering to know you are in control — and you aren't about to let things get to you and distract you from playing well. Leave the bad responses for your unprepared opponent to act out. Not you.

3. Apparel. Test drive your outfits before wearing them in competition. A shirt may feel fine when you're standing erect, but it may pull and tug and annoy you when you bend over to shoot. And don't forget the shoes! Changing shoe height can be disastrous! Keep it the same height as when you normally play or you may find yourself off balance and wondering why you're suddenly missing shots.

4. Know the competition equipment and its impact on your game ahead of time so you can adjust accordingly. The pros have this one down to a science, but amateurs could use more work in this department. Here's where using your five-minute warmup on the table effectively comes in handy:

a. Brand of balls and how they play (including if the cue ball the same weight and size as the object balls)
b. Pocket shapes and facings
c. Brand of tables, cloth and cushions
d. Table height

5. Food. What you eat, when you eat and how much you eat before your match all have a significant effect on your performance. Do some research. Find out what you should and shouldn't eat before your match. Figure it out and eat accordingly. Your brain relies on glucose and ketones to function. Find out what that means and how you can help your brain function optimally when you're competing.

6. Warm up. Warming up doesn't just mean hitting pool balls. It means getting your blood flowing well throughout your body and having your muscles loose and relaxed. Stretching earlier and a little cardio like jogging in place, if medically allowed, can help you get to your match loose and warm and ready to go. Don't let your first game be your warmup. It might cost you the match. Be loose and ready.

7. Open your case at home and perform an equipment check and maintenance. Clean your cues, shape your tips if needed, check for other needed equipment such as tip shapers, cue cleaners, wiping cloth, cue holder, etc. Double-check whatever you need to play and refresh what's old.

8. Remind yourself to have fun. Promise yourself to enjoy your match. Regardless of how the match goes, remember that you're there because you love the game. The late, great Buddy Hall once told me, “In order to play well, you have to be enjoying it.” And by all means, don't be overly concerned about what the spectators think of your game. You've got the guts to get in there and play — that says a ton about who you are.

Mind Lessons in Alignment: Off-Table Work to Benefit Every Player

By Samm Diep

With age and maturity come patience and experience, but an aging body has its own limitations. Allison Fisher — the Duchess of Doom, G.O.A.T., world champion, and BCA Hall of Famer — has been easing off lately due to shoulder pain that's kept her from performing at her best. (But let's be honest: How many more titles does a girl really need?) At the recent WPBA Olhausen Colorado Classic, I had the chance to catch up with her on this very subject. As I've also been navigating ongoing shoulder pain and recovery, the conversation hit close to home. It was a reminder of just how much quiet effort lives behind every shot at the table.

As much as we love this game, our bodies weren't built to hold these stationary positions for 30 seconds at a time. Long hours spent in an asymmetrical stance can lead to lasting physical strain — often not felt until years later. As we age, we lose strength and flexibility, both of which can subtly shift our alignment and vision center over the cue.

After much time scouring the internet, I was able to find an image of Allison from 2011 (courtesy of AzBilliards.com) with the exact same camera angle of a shot I took of her last month. I laid both images on top of one another to confirm her cue is aimed in the same direction. In a side-by-side comparison, it's clear to see that her head is slightly turned in the more recent photo. I often see tightness in the neck and shoulders in my students that can lead to unlevel eyes and misaligned shots. In Allison's case, the difference is so tiny but, at her caliber, it's just enough to cause an object ball to not enter the pocket exactly where she intends. It was such a treat to have the opportunity to study her up close like this. As we discussed our findings, she admitted that she could feel something was a little off.

Sitting at a desk, being on our devices, even driving—all of this can lead to tightness in the pectoral muscles, resulting in rounded shoulders and a forward head posture that subtly throws off balance and cue alignment. That neck tension can make it uncomfortable to keep the head (and eyes) level, which matters more than most players realize.

Grab a friend! Here's a down and dirty way to check your vision center and head alignment:

Place the cue ball on the head spot and set up to aim at the center diamond on the foot rail.

Once you're convinced you're aligned to hit your target, take a peek down. Your cue should be covering the center diamond underneath you at the head rail.

If you're exactly over the diamond — great! If not, adjust your cue to fully cover the diamond. When you look back up, slowly move your head left and right until your view matches the new reality. Stop when it looks like you're aimed at the center diamond. It may help to place the corner edge of a piece of chalk for a clearer target.

Once you get your new head position, have your friend snap a straight-on photo of your new head placement over the cue.

Ideally, your eyes are level and your nose is pointed as much toward the shot as possible as you move through these steps.


Comparison photos of Allison Fisher more than a decade apart revealed a subtle yet critical change.

Mind Level Up Your Grip and Stroke Timing

Two important things you can do to immediately start improving your pool game are:

1.) Have a more relaxed grip hand.
2.) Slow down your final backstroke.
Both of these are simple, but they are not easy.

Relaxing the grip hand isn't the same as having a loose grip with a bunch of light shining through. That's not always effective, as any subtle change in grip tension can dramatically alter the tip direction as you come through the ball. Instead, find a comfortable loop connecting your thumb and index finger or thumb and middle finger. Look for full contact on the cue without a gap or squeeze. Once you find it, lock in the loop size. The bulk of the weight should rest in those two connected fingers.

Now, here's the key — with each backstroke, think about letting the hand open up through the back fingers. The goal is for this to happen organically. When too many fingers stay wrapped around the butt during the backstroke, it can restrict your range of motion as you draw back. This can cause the cue to pull back at an angle and, in turn, not come through level or straight. Opening the back of the hand during each backstroke allows the cue to draw back straighter and more level.

As you're working on relaxing your grip hand, you may as well incorporate a slower backstroke. A slow and controlled backstroke helps you be more accurate with speed control and tip placement — where you're ultimately striking the cue ball. Once you've finished your warm-up strokes and you're ready to pull the trigger, think of a four-count backstroke: 1-2-3-4 to draw back, then a slight pause to separate the triceps from the biceps, followed by a smooth acceleration through the ball. A verbal cue I like to use with my students to help remember this timing is, “Pea-nut-but-ter” (for the four-count backstroke), “and” (for the slight separation), and “Jelly” (for the final stroke). Give it a try—and be sure to fit in the full four counts. No shortening it to “PB&J!”


Allison Fisher's grip hand from behind and from the side.

Mind Know Yourself: An Individualized Approach to 8-Ball

By Tommy Hill

8-Ball is chess to the checkers of 9-ball. Many people do not like playing 8-ball because it's too hard, it's too slow, and/or there are too many balls on the table. The fact is, 8-ball is a great game to play. It will test all your skills. You will face kick shots, bank shots, combinations and break outs. You will be forced to make decisions when to play safe and when to go for it. Most importantly, you are forced to think. You make decisions as to what ball to play and which ball is next.

Different strategies can be used by players of different skill levels to help your winning percentage go up along with your confidence.

(For this discussion I am going to use APA skill levels as my skill examples. In most team or individual competition, we tend to get matched up with someone near our own skill level. This isn't always the case, of course, but for this discussion, assume all skill levels are matched up accordingly.)

APA Skill: 3 & 4
As an APA 3 or 4, you should have a good understanding of cue ball control and ball speed. You are pocketing more balls with the occasional runout, but most runs consist of three to five balls, while still prone to miss even the easiest of shots. At any level, players tend to miss the easy shots because they are thinking about it too darn much — thinking about speed, what English to use, what ball should be played next.

You should be thinking of these things but be careful not to overthink. A player at this skill level is like a puppy that is starting to get big — their feet are growing, but they are clumsy and tripping over everything. Skill level 3 and 4 players have just enough knowledge to get themselves in trouble. They are clumsy and tripping over their own skills. Using draw when they don't need to, over drawing the ball and missing their target areas with the cue ball for shape.

APA Skill: 5 & 6
These are your league's top-tier players, where every shot is about strategy. A lot of these players can break and run or runout with an open table, but they may fall in love with that feeling. They tend to shoot at everything, even when it's a low percentage shot. The strategy at this level is simple — know your own capabilities and limitations.

When you first come to the table after the break, you must read the table. Look for problem balls, different suited combination shots and clusters. Most importantly, be honest with yourself and ask if you can really get out from here.

APA Skill: 7
These are the players that have made it to the top! They are the ones nobody wants to play. For you, the trick is staying there. I stopped playing pool professionally in 1996 due to a car accident. When I joined APA in 1998, I started as out as a 7 in 8-ball and a 9 in 9-ball. I still play APA and I have never been anything other than a 7 and 9. I have maintained that skill level in my game through sheer determination to play the very best that I can every time I put my cues together. I practice constantly and I compete regularly — not only in league play but tournament play as well. It takes dedication to maintain this level of play.

Professional/Open-Level Players
I will give you a life strategy and some hard-learned advice. Enjoy what you have now because it doesn't last forever. Be kind to your fans and treat league players as peers not peons. What you have now is a gift that not everyone has (or had). Someday you may find yourself just like me, an old man who played pretty good 30 years ago and now plays league. There are thousands of Tommy Hills out there but very few Efrens, Earls and SVBs.

Mind Locked and Loaded: Think of Weapons to Sharpen Your Pool Game

By Anthony Beeler

A few years ago, I was giving a lesson to a league player who could run a rack here and there but struggled with consistency. As he bent down on a shot, I noticed his cue was moving back and forth so much that it looked like he was sawing a piece of wood. He fired and missed the shot by several inches.

After a few shots, I stopped him and said, “You'd never see a sniper wiggling his rifle barrel before pulling the trigger.” His eyes lit up. Suddenly, the problem made sense. He grinned and replied, “So I've been treating my cue like a hacksaw instead of a rifle?” We both laughed, but from that day forward, he never forgot the analogy — and his game jumped a skill level almost immediately.

Just like marksmen or archers, pool players rely on precision, discipline, and control. Small errors can be magnified into big misses — and the best way to improve is by adopting the same mindset soldiers and hunters have relied on for centuries.

Here are three powerful weapons analogies — along with drills — that will transform your game.

The Sniper Analogy: Don't Move the Barrel
Picture a sniper locked in on a target. Once the rifle barrel is lined up, do you ever see the marksman wiggling it around before pulling the trigger? Of course not. Precision requires them to remain perfectly still.

Similarly, once you lower yourself into a shooting position, the shaft of the cue should remain perfectly still. Practice strokes help you feel speed and rhythm, but when it comes time to aim, extra movement only creates risk. Even a tiny shift offline can turn a make into a miss.

Drill: Throw 15 balls randomly on the table. For each shot, get down, take a couple of practice strokes, then stop and freeze the cue, aim, and center. Before shooting, silently count to three. This teaches you to zero in on your line by keeping your barrel (the shaft) still. It's far easier to aim and find the cue ball's center axis with a still shaft.

The Pistol vs. Rifle Analogy: Head Position Matters
Handling your cue is like handling a firearm. With a pistol, your head is upright, you have a shorter barrel, which can often lead to unwanted errors. With a rifle, your head is positioned further back from the end of the weapon, so your eyes don't have to move as far from the sight to the target. Precision comes easier.

In pool, if your chin hovers in front of the joint of the cue, you're essentially shooting with a pistol. Move your chin two or three inches behind the joint so you're using the rifle. With your eyes farther back, aiming becomes steadier and more accurate.

Drill: Throw 15 balls on the table. On every shot, check to be sure that your chin is behind the joint of the cue. Reinforce this position until it becomes automatic. Caution: If your bridge arm is bent significantly, you are most likely shooting with a pistol.

The Archer Analogy: Backswing Is Sacred
Skilled archers don't yank their bowstrings. Their drawback is smooth, straight, and deliberate. Slow and steady lead to consistency.

In pool, your cue backswing should be the same. Think of your cue as an arrow, and your grip hand as your fingers on a bowstring. Most breakdowns happen here — players rush, pull their cue back crooked, or lose control. A slow, straight, controlled backswing lays the foundation for a clean delivery. Treat it like an archer drawing an arrow.

Drill: Throw 15 balls on the table. Set a metronome for a two-second beat. Use 1.5 seconds for your backswing and a half second for your forward stroke. The rhythm will keep you smooth and deliberate, just like an archer. I have been using this for over 10 years now with my students and I can safely say that a player's ability is directly proportional to how fast they pull their cue back.



Mind Final Thoughts

Pool is more than just a game of angles — it's a discipline of patience, focus, and control. When you approach each shot with the calm precision of a marksman, the steadiness of a rifleman, and the smooth rhythm of an archer, you'll discover a new level of confidence.

Great players aren't born — they are trained like soldiers on the line. Work on keeping your barrel still. Set your stance. Draw with control. Do this over and over until it becomes automatic, and you won't just be playing pool — you'll be a marksman on the table.

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