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Phil CAPELLE’S
252 Columns for Pool & Billiard Magazine 
​      
            May 1996 - May 2017    

1996
5   The Spectrum of Force - Speed of Stroke                         
6   The ABC’s of Position Play                                                    
7   Learning from Losing                                                        
8   The Art of Practice                                                            
9   Pace of Play                                                                      
10   Dead Stroke                                                                                                                    
11   The Domino Effect                                                          
12   Creative 8-Ball
                                                                       
1997
1   End Rail Position                                                               
2   Avoid Missing for Position                                                
3   Training Your Mental Response                                       
4   Pool’s Version of “H-o-r-s-e”                                            
5   Perfecting Your Follow Through                                       
6   Run Out 9-Ball                                                                              
7   Avoiding Scratches                                                            
8   Gray Zone – How to Make the Right Decision                 
9   One Shot at a Time                                                                       
10  The Draw-Stun Shot                                                         
11  The Quantum Leap                                                          
12  Playing on the Center Axis

1998
1   Cluster Management 101                                     
2   (No Issue)                                                                          
3   Planning Your Route                                             
4   Skirting the Gap (Kicking Past the Side Pocket)                
5   Position Blunders #1                                                         
6   Position Blunders #2                                                         
7   You Make the Call                                                            
8   Secrets of Position Zones                                                  
9   Chain Reactions                                                                
10  The Opponent Factor                                                       
11  An Evening with Efren                                                     
12  Pressure Pool       
                                                           
1999 
1   Shark Proofing Your Game                                               
2   Effective Crowd Management                                         
3   One Shot at a Time                                                                       
4   The Whiner’s & Winners Guide to the Rolls                                             
5    Evaluate the Table                                                                       
6    Using Your Imagination in 8-Ball                                     
7    Bank to Win                                                                     
8    Mirror Shots Detect Flaws                                                           
9    Hitting the Hook Zone                                                      
10  6 Exceptions to the Rules for Shape 
11  Avoiding Obstructers                                                       
12  Don’t “Just Fire Away”
                                                           
2000
1   Plan Your Work and Then Work Your Plan                          
2   Anatomy of a Super Shot                                                  
3   How Is Your Short Game?                                                 
4   12 Techniques To Improve Your Game                            
5   End of Rack Safety Play                                                    
6   In the Gray Zone:  Around the Table or Kill the Cue Ball?           
7   Using Clusters to Win the Game                                      
8   A Somewhat Routine Runout                                            
9   The Three Phases of a Rack of 14.1                       
10  Principles of 14.1 Pattern Play                                        
11  Process of Elimination Planning                                        
12  The Magic 20-Degree Cut Shot
                                                 
2001
1   Precision Secondary Break Shots                                         
2   Playing Down the Line of a Position Zone When Possible   
3   Grinding it Out                                                                                                                  
4   Playing for Luck                                                                
5   Play the High Percentage Sequence                                   
6   Don’t Forget the Side Pockets                                           
7   The Angle of Departure                                                    
8   Make Kick Shots Difficult for Your Opponent                     
9   Choosing the Optimal Position Route                                 
10  Strickland’s Firepower Wins 4th U.S. Open                        
11  Simple is Often Best                                                          
12  Strategic Safeties 
                                                           
2002             
1   Controlling the Right Ball is Key                                         
2   A Double Hill Thriller                                                        
3   Right Side/Wrong Side is the Key to Position                     
4   Position after a Combination                                              
5   Either Side of the Ball Can Work                                      
6   5 Donuts in a Row                                                               
7   My Week in Pool Heaven                                                   
8   Don’t Always Play Like a Pro                                              
9   Side Pocket or Corner Pocket: Decisions, Decisions         
10 Balls in the Middle of the Table                                       
11 Innings Per Game – Statistics                                           
12 Souquet’s Prescription for Victory
                                     
2003
1   Define and Refine Your Targets                                       
2   Universal Errors                                                                
3   Side Pocket Position Play                                                  
4   The Value of Experience                                                   
5   Beating the Odds                                                              
6   Attention to Details                                                           
7   The Smart Shot                                                                 
8   A Surgeon’s Touch                                                            
9   Thinking Outside the Box                                                  
10 Fighting the Cue Ball                                                                                            
11 The Hit Zone  (Key Balls)                                                  
12 Mastering Eight Ball
                                                                                               
2004
1   Long Range Cluster Busting                                              
2   8-Ball with a Surgeon’s Touch                                          
3   Avoiding Landmines                                                          
4   Take Nothing for Granted                                     
5   Attacking a Problem                                                         
6   Practice Long Distance Safeties                                       
7   Code Red Alert                                                                  
8   Tony’s Precise Artistry                                                      
9   The Language of Capelle         #100                                  
10 The End Game                                                                  
11 Eight Ball Wizardry                                                                       
12 Time to Get Real   
                                                                       
2005
1   Perfect Your Stop Shots                                                    
2   Watching the Best                                                            
3   Back to Basics                                                                   
4   My Best Shot                                                                     
5   A Reality Check                                                                 
6   Near Perfect Speed Control                                              
7   Look Carefully for the Best Shot                                       
8   Table Conditions Affect Shot Selection                             
9   Ball in Hand Position                                                         
10  PYBP Part 1 – Fundamentals                                           
11  PYBP Part 2 – Position Play                                              
12  PYBP Part 3 – The Games
                                                                                               
2006
1   A New Year’s Resolution to PYBP (Part 4)                        
2   Landing In Line                                                                  
3   Three Types of Speed Control Exercises                          
4   Vertical Axis Only                                                                         
5   Straight Pool Break Shots                                                 
6   The 3 Ingredients of Position Play                                    
7   Thin Cuts Down the Rail                                                   
8   Jacking Up                                                                                     
9   Preparing for the GO Signal                                             
10  Into the Target Zone                                                        
11  Planning the Perfect Safety                                             
12  Side Pockets Forbidden
                                                             
2007
1  Awaken Your Awareness                                                   
2  Doing the Cosmo                                                                  
3  Running Out in Sections Using PEP                                    
4  The Mental Side of Practicing                                           
5  Tips for Solitary Practice Sessions                                     
6  Dealing with Distractions                                                  
7  The Complete Shot Cycle                                                   
8  The Surgeon’s Touch                                                          
9   Pool Theory                                                  
10  A Reality Check                                                                  
11  Tough Shots                                                                      
12  Practicing with a Partner 
                                               
2008 - 25 Secrets
1  The Feel Method                                                                
2  Speeds of Stroke                                                                
3  Great Pool is a State of Mind:  Mastering Change –          
     Quantum Leap – The Big Secret
4  Warm Up Stroking – The Transition                                  
5  Foundation Position Routes – The Three Ingredients to   
     Position Play
6 A Short Course in Eight Ball: Eight Ball: Failed Runout –   
     Process of Elimination – Play Opponent
7  Planning for High Runs at Straight Pool Straight Pool:     
     3 Phases, KB2KB
8  Play Precision Position, Straight Pool Break Shots                        
9  Nine Ball: 12 Keys for Getting in Stroke, The Correct       
     Cut Angle Optimizes Position
10  Nine Ball: ABC’s of Position Plays, Starting and                            
 Maintaining a Run Out, A Game Plan for the Kicking Game
11  The Big Transition: #22 - From Practice to Competition,           
     #23 – Learn, Perfect, Maintain (LPM)       #150
12 #24 – The Mind of a Pool Player,                                     
     #25 – Winning Without Your A Game      
 
2009
1  10,000 Hours to Greatness                                    
2  Big Learning Mistakes to Avoid                                         
3  Second Best is Best                                                                                                
4  The Miracle of Streaming Video                                       
5  Choosing Sides                                                                   
6  Long Way to the Rail                                                         
7  Training and Pocket Size                                                      
8 A Tale of Two Break Shots                                      
9 Double Your Pleasure                                             
10 Rules are Made to be Broken                               
11 Trust Your Eye/Hand Coordination                                     
12 14.1 Looks Like 9 Ball 
                                                                   
2010
1  Dealing with Shadow Balls                                                            
2  Practicing with a Target Ball                                               
3  Nuances of 14.1 Patterns                                       
4  What Champions Do (Ewa Laurence)                                  
5  Pop Exam on Position Play                                     
6  Play the Percentages                                                         
7  Don’t Be Afraid to Play Position                                        
8  How to Execute the Mike Massey Power Draw Shot        
9 Using Soft Shots to Improve Your Stroke                            
10 Follow Einstein’s Law - (Simple)                             
11 Precision Speed Control                                                    
12 What’s Your Angle?
                                                             
2011
1  Capelle’s 70 Degree Rule                                                  
2  Tendency Errors                                                                 
3  Part of Pocket Shots                                                           
4  Mastering the Power Stun Shot                                         
5  Mirror Image Misses          15 Years
6  Master Irregular Key Balls                                                
7  Guaranteed Position on the Break Ball                             
8  Extreme Position Play                                                        
9  End Rail Key Balls                                                              
10  The Break Line                                                                 
11  Practicing the Close                                                         
12  Moving a Ball Late in the Rack
                                                     
2012
1  Becoming a Great Student                                                
2  The Easy Part of 9-Ball                                                      
3  Two Pocket Shots                                                               
4  Avoid Pool’s Worst Practices                                                     
5  The Contact Point’s Many Failings                                                
6  Two Wrongs Do Make a Right                                                       
7  12 Golden Rules for the Close in 14.1                                               
8  Long Shots after a Layoff                                                   
9  Lessons from the Pros in 8-Ball                                         
10  Side Pocket Possibilities                                                   
11  Creating Break Shots!                                                      
12 Accepting  Second Best
 
2013
1  Play YOUR Best Pool           #200!! 
2  Timing those Cluster Breaks                                                                                  
3  Mastering No-Rail Position Play                                                                                        
4  Playing the Smart Shot                                                                                                      
5  Avoiding Excessive Cue Lift                                                             
6  Pool’s Best Practice Shot                                                                                                               
7  Smoothing Out Your Transition    
8  Pool Shot Specs                                                                                           
9  Position Play Targets In 14.1                                                                   
10  Visual Distractions And Your Stroke                                                                 
11  Cut Shot Induced Errors                                                                        
12  Learn, Perfect, & Maintain!
 
2014
1  Planning for a Big 2014!
2  Using Your Eye/Hand Coordination                                   
3  Anatomy of Ga Young Kim’s Super Shot                            
4  It is the Chicken AND the Egg        
5  When to Reset Yourself Over a Shot                                 
6  Conserve Your Energy                                                       
7  Landing in Line                                                                     
8  Minimum and Maximum Traveling Distances                  
9  Pooling Your Talents                                                          
10  Side Pocket 10 Ball                                                          
11  Shane Van Boening Works His Magic                             
12  The Hardest Shot of All!!                                                 
 
2015
1  A BIG/Small Shot for the New Year
2  Yin & Yang and Your Game
3  A Fresh Look at Willie Mosconi’s Game
4  How to Analyze 10 Ball Layouts
5  Black Cue Ball Practice Exercises                                      
6  The 2 Degree Focal Point              
7  Decisiveness and an “Eye” for the Game                          
8  What Feels Best vs. What is Best
9  Negative Shot Pictures Lead to Success!                           
10  Time Spent Over Each Shot                                             
11  Ball Watching 101                                                                       
12  20 Year Anniversary of Play Your Best Pool
 
2016
1  Shane van Boening’s Recipe for Success
2  Capelle’s Six Words of Pool Advice
3  A New Kind of Luck
4  Asking the Right Questions
5  Six Words to Pool GREATNESS   20 Years
6  Pool is a Double Contact Game
7 Speedometers and Your Speed of Stroke                           
8  Practicing Your Position Play                                             
9  Do You Really Want to Improve?
10  Approaching the Position Zone                                        
11  A Tale of Two Cut Shots                                                   
12  Jayson Shaw’s Ups His Game                                           
 
2017                                   
1  Missing IS a Part of the Game
2  Book Smart AND Table Smart!                                          
3  Body English or A Still Body?       
4 2 Big Decisions
5  Do You Have "IT?"         #252
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