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Straight PoolTable of Contents for
Play Your Best Straight Pool


Chapter 1 Position Play 1
Chapter 2 Pattern Play 69
Chapter 3 Secondary Break Shots 165
Chapter 4 Clusters 181
Chapter 5 Break Shots 191
Chapter 6 How to Run a Rack 249
Chapter 7 Safety Play 271
Chapter 8 Strategy 295
Chapter 9 Shotmaking 319
Chapter 10 Learning Straight Pool 347
Chapter 11 All About High Runs 367

Appendices 375

 
CHAPTER 1 - Position Play
The Principles of Position Play
#1 -  Fine Tune Your Speed Control  * 
#2 -  Right Side/Wrong Side   * 
#3 -  Plan for Three Balls at a Time  * 
#4 -  Play to the Long Side Whenever Possible 
#5 -  The Correct Angle and Distance Equals Position * 
#6 -  Know the Boundaries of a Position Zone 
#7 -  Enter the Wide Part of a Position Zone 
#8 -  Playing Down the Line of a Position Zone when Possible
#9 -  Survey the Table Before Shooting * 
#10 -  Ball in Hand Shape 
#11 -  Play Natural Shape as Often as Possible 
#12 -  Use Rail Targets 
#13 -  Plan Your Route and Avoid Obstructions 
#14 -  When to Play Area Shape 
#15 -  Margin for Error* 
#16 -  Play the High Percentage Sequence 
#17 – Avoid Scratching 
#18 -  Pay Attention to Details 
#19 -  Keep the Cue Ball Away from the Rails and Other Balls 
#20 -  Play Your Game 
#21 - Use Your Imagination 
#22-  Know the Exceptions to the First 21 Principles 
Playing Position in Straight Pool 
Cueing 
Stop shots, and Adjusting Them* 
Soft Outside Draw * 
Inside English 
Draw Speed Control * 
Stun Shots  * 
Draw/Stun Shot 
Follow/Stun Shot 
Pounding Balls with Speed and Accuracy 
Holding Up the Cue Ball 
Drawing Across the Table and Out 
Floating Follow at Higher Speeds of Stroke 
Bending the Cue Ball with Follow for Position 
Pounding with Follow 
Bending with Draw 
Floating the Cue Ball for Precise Shape 
Concepts and Fine Points of Position Play 
Complementary Angles 
Using the Rail Increases Your Options * 
Balls Near the Rail – Ideal Angles 
Balls in the Open – Ideal Angles * 
How Pocketing Affects Position  * 
Nine-Ball Shape to a Straight Pool Position Zone 
Short Range Position – the Essence of 14.1 
Using Your Knowledge of the Balls to Play Position 
Elevating Your Position Play when Necessary 
Playing Position off a Combo 
Side by Side Position 
Side by Side Position Zones 
Using the Cue Ball as a Target 
The 2 ¼ Inch Rule 
Minimize Cue Ball Movement  * 
Bumping Balls – Basics   * 
Playing Position on the Bumped Ball 
Bumping Balls with Spin 
Precision Ball Bumping 
Avoiding a Double Kiss 
Using Balls to Stop the Cue Ball  * 
Glancing off Balls for Shape 
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CHAPTER 2 - Pattern Play  
Principles of Pattern Play  - A List 
Planning 
Process of Elimination Planning 
Play the Table – Don’t Force the Issue 
Labeling the Balls Correctly  * 
Don’t Play Position When You Already Have Position 
Let the Shot Determine the Pattern 
First Things First 
Simplify the Table 
Managing Risk 
Pocket Choice 
Testing Top Professionals 
Side Pocket Shotmaking  * 
Using the Side Pockets to Their Full Advantage  * 
Shooting to the Far Corner Pockets From the Break End 
Learn to Think Diagonally 
Connecting Balls 
Multiple Possibilities 
Resorting to a Plan B * 
Have a Plan B Ready 
Two Way Shots 
Accidental Two Way Shape 
Clearing Obstructions 
Clearing a Pocket and then Some   * 
Opening Up Room for the Cue Ball 
Clearing the Way for a Secondary Break Shot 
Clearing a Pocket of a Row Blocker 
Common Patterns 
Circling the Table Picking off Balls 
Circling Behind the Rack and Back Out 
Useless Balls 
Balls High Up in the Triangle 
Linking Balls 
One Shot– Two Big Results 
Working on an Area  * 
When a Cluster is Not Really a Cluster 
Working the End Rail with Inside English 
Multiple Objectives in Congestion 
Back and Forth Across the Table 
Shooting Easy Combos Preserves Patterns 
Picking off Balls on the Far End of the Table 
One Rail Twice or Two Rails Twice 
Keep An Open Mind 
Grinding it Out 
Playing for Luck 
Conflicting Agendas 
Saving Two Break Shot on the Same Side 
Saving Two Break Shots on Opposite Sides 
Using Balls on the Side Rail 
Taking Balls off the Rail  * 
Short Side for Balls Along the Side Rail 
Saving a Neutral Ball(s) When Possible 
Dealing with Trouble and Avoiding Problems 
Clearing the End Rail 
Access Balls to a Danger Zone  * 
Access Balls to Trouble Balls 
Avoid Tying Up Balls that Are Already Broken 
Don’t Overplay a Shot 
Avoiding the Domino Effect 
A Hall of Fame Members Mistake 
When the Obvious is Not So Obviously Wrong 
Two Rails to Avoid Trouble 
Beware of the Middle 
Stuck in the Middle 
Long Shots In the Middle of the Table 
Balls Frozen To the Rail Next To the Side Pocket 
When to Shoot a Break Shot Away 
Balls At the Far End of the Table 
Manufacturing Break Shots 
Manufacturing a Break Shot    * 
Make a Break Shot and Play Shape on It 
Two Rails to Create a Break Shot 
Skillful Ball Bumping to Create a Break Shot 
Manufacturing a Break Ball Using English 
Advanced Break Ball Manufacturing 
Manufacturing an Insurance Break Ball 
Manufacturing Break Balls From All Angles 
Playing Position on the Break Ball 
Characteristics of the Ideal Key Ball  * 
The Can’t Go Wrong Key Ball 
An Excellent Second Choice Key Ball 
Stop Shot Key Balls 
When to Shoot a Key Ball Prematurely 
Key Ball in the Rack   * 
Side Pocket Key Balls 
Side Pocket Key Balls (2) 
A Key Ball Shot With Many Possibilities 
Position Concepts At the End of the Rack 
Down the Line Shape on the Key Ball   * 
A Difficult Across the Line Position Play 
Maintaining a Constant and Shallow Cut Angle 
Using a Shallow but Variable Angle to the Key Ball 
When to Take the Second Best Break Shot 
Risky Versus Conservative 
Manufacturing a Key Ball 
Risk is Well Worth the Reward
Covering a Mistake With Ball In Hand 
End of Rack Patterns 
The Key Ball to the Key Ball (KB2KB)    * 
The Three Ball End of the Rack Pattern  * 
A Perfect End of Rack Pattern 
The Magic 20-Degree Cut Shot 
It’s So Easy to Go Wrong 
A Classic Stop Shot Pattern 
A Creative End of Rack Pattern 
Work With What You’ve Got 
Common Rack Ending Pattern 
Leaving Balls in the Area of the Rack 
Which Way Is Better? 
A Very Typical End of Rack Pattern
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CHAPTER 3 - Secondary Break Shots  
Key Concepts for Playing Secondary Break Shots   * 
Your Next Shot After a Secondary Break Shot     * 
Know When to Stop Breaking the Balls    * 
Three Ball Patterns to Secondary Break Shots 
Precision Secondary Break Shots  * 
Insurance Balls   * 
The Pinball Effect 
Secondary Break Shots to an Open Table 
Partially Breaking a Cluster 
Off the Rail Secondary Break Shots 
Breaking Clusters on the Good Side 
A Kiss to Watch Out For 
The Overdrive Follow Break Shot 
Explosion Balls 
Breaking Without Insurance 
Driving a Second Ball Into the Stack 
Beware of Drawbacks on Break Shots 
A Very Dangerous Break Shot 
Breaking Into Jagged Edges
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CHAPTER 4 - Cluster Management  
Rules for Breaking Clusters   * 
Using the Tangent Line   * 
How the Cut Angle Determines the Path Into a Cluster 
The Ideal Cluster Busting Scenario 
The Perfect Cluster Break 
Busting a Cluster When the Timing is All Wrong 
The Cluster Busting Double Kiss of Death 
Playing a Not So Obvious Cluster Break 
Long Distance Cluster Busting 
Precision Routing Can Save a Break Shot 
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CHAPTER 5 - Break Shots
All About Break Shots 
Pocket Openings On Break Shots 
Break Shot Variables 
Attacking the Rack 
The Contact Point on a Ball 
Speed of Stroke on Break Shots 
How Cueing Affects the Cue Balls Path 
Why the Cue Ball Sticks to the Rack 
Scratching off the Side of the Rack 
Dangers in the Break Shot 
Side of the Rack Break Shots 
The Classic Break Shot   * 
A Control Break Shot * 
Back Cut Rack Blaster 
Close To the Rail Break Shots 
Shallow Cut Angles  (P) 
The Distance Principle On Break Shots  * 
The Ideal Draw Back Distance 
Break Shot Stretch Distances * 
Above the Rack 
Follow Back Out Off the Low Balls 
Shallow Angle Follow Shot 
Ball in Hand Break Shots  (P) 
Low Break Shots 
Side Rail Break Shots 
A Basic Side Rail Break Shot  * 
Measuring the Cut Angle 
More Side Rail Break Shots 
Below the Rack Rail Break Shots 
Break Shots With the Ball Off the Cushion 
The Umbrella Break Shot 
Behind the Rack Break Shots 
Inside Follow Three Rails  * 
Behind the Rack Back Cut Break Shots  * 
Behind the Rack Draw Break Shot 
Down the End Rail Break Shots 
Down the Rail with Inside English 
Down the Rail Cut Angles 
Straight Out to the Corner Ball 
Other Useful Break Shots 
When the Break Shot is Very Close to the Rack 
Pocket Hanger Break Shots 
Head Spot Two Rail Break Shot 
A Tough Two Railer 
To Play or Not to Play 
Side Pocket Break Shots 
A Cut Shot From Center Table  * 
A Cut Shot from off Center 
Side Pocket Hanger  #1 
Side Pocket Hanger #2 
Backcut Near the Foot Spot 
Two Rails to the Back of the Rack 
Offbeat Break Shots 
Two Rails Using Follow With Inside English 
Twice Across the Table 
Two Draw Shots Into the Rack 
Jump Into the Rack Break Shot 
Jump Into the Lower Balls 
Run Saving Odd Ball Break Shots 
Corner Ball Cross Side 
Top Ball Cross Side 
Long Rail Corner Ball Bank Shot 
Carom off the Rack 
Two Rails After a Side Pocket Bank 
The Opening Break Shot  * 
Determining Who Breaks    * 
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CHAPTER 6 - How to Run a Rack  
The Three Phases of a Rack 
Phase 1 - The Beginning 
Phase 2 - The Middle 
Phase 3 - The End 
A Blueprint for Running a Rack 
The Three Most Important Shots in Straight Pool * 
The Stoplight Analogy      * 
Common Problems that Appear Regularly   * 
Run Out #1 
Run Out #2 
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CHAPTER 7 - Safety Play  
Key Elements 
Goals      * 
Strategy 
The Chess Game 
Skill Shots 
Skimming Balls  * 
A Masse Skim Safety 
Skimming >From Long Range 
End Rail Safety Zones  * 
Hitting the Safety Zone 
Snuggling Up Against a Ball in the Open 
Controlling the Roll of the Object Ball 
Choosing Directions on End Rail Safety Play 
Safety Maneuvers 
Freezing To the Back of the Rack
Its Not Over Till Its Over 
Pocket the Ball And Call a Safety  * 
Put Your Opponent in Jail 
Creativity + Execution = A Winner 
Off the Rail and Into the Stack 
End of Rack Safety 
Go to the Far End Rail and Back Out 
Hitting Into the Side of the Rack and Sticking * 
Hitting Into the Back of the Rack 
Cover Two Sides at Once 
Into the Top of a New Rack 
Far End Rail Into the Back of the Rack   * 
Two Rails Into the Back of the Rack 
Freeze the Cue Ball at a Pocket 
Pass on A Long Shot that Leads Nowhere 
Frozen to the Rack 
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CHAPTER 8 - Strategy  
Early Game Strategies 
Middle of the Game Strategies 
End of the Game Strategies 
Establishing Your Game Plan 
Never Let Up   * 
Shot Selection 
Playing Your Game  * 
Never Leave the Table on a Miss 
Your Opponent 
Your Opponent’s Play 
While in Your Chair 
Preparing for Competition 
Maximizing Your Performance During Competition 
Your Pace of Play * 
Running Balls and Playing Safe 
Strategies 
Leaving a Shot that Leads Nowhere 
Baiting Your Opponent with Table Length Break Shots 
When the Game Is On the Line 
Remember Your Opponent’s Fouls  * 
The Last Rack 
To Shoot or Try To Outmove? 
Intentional Fouls  * 
Some Common Scenarios for Intentional Fouls 
When To Take Three Fouls In a Row 
When Your Opponent is on the First Foul 
End Game Score Reduction 
Use a Foul to Set Up a Safety * 
Playing an Intentional Foul After a Scratch 
Adapting to the Playing Conditions   * 
Matching Your Stroke to the Table Speed 
The Pockets 
How the Balls are Breaking Apart 
Cleaning the Cloth 
The Balls 
Lighting 
The Not So Little things 
Handicapping Straight Pool  * 
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CHAPTER 9 - Shotmaking  
Fundamentals   * 
Developing a Straight Pool Rhythm 
Shot Selection  * 
Basic Shotmaking   * 
Shooting Softly  * 
Shooting Over a Ball  * 
Shooting Opposite Handed 
The Mechanical Bridge  * 
Behind the Back 
Long Shots  * 
Use a Short Stroke 
The Wrist Stroke 
The Dreaded Skid Shot 
Viewing Obstructions Accurately 
Cut Shots     * 
Frozen Cue Ball Table Length  * 
Combinations * 
Frozen Combos   * 
The Critical 1/8th Inch  *
Bank Shots     * 
Carom Shots * 
Dead Carom Shots   * 
Billiards  * 
Near Dead Billiards 
Miscellaneous Shotmaking 
Rail First 
Combining Shots 
Curve Shots 
Curve the Object Ball 
Rack Shots 
A Dead Rack Shot
Jump Shots 
Choke Up Shot 
Stretch Zones     * 
Leaning Out Over the Table 
Kick Shots 
When a Frozen Cluster Can Be Made 
A Shot to Avoid   * 
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CHAPTER 10 - Learning to Play Straight Pool  
Introduction      * 
Practicing Straight Pool  * 
Running Balls by Yourself   * 
Dissect Your Game  * 
Let Go   * 
Emphasize a Skill     * 
Practicing with a Friend  * 
Keep a Journal    * 
Making Your Own Diagrams     * 
Learning the Game   * 
Developing Your Skills   * 
The Donuts - a Reminder  * 
Position Play 
Speed Control (1)  * 
Speed Control (2)   * 
Speed Control (3)    * 
Hitting the Big X    * 
Position Plays to Practice from Ch. 1 
One Rail Directional Control * 
Side Pocket Circle Drill  * 
One Corner Pocket Drill 
Practicing Pattern Play * 
Things to Practice from Chapter 2 
Breaking Clusters * 
Shots to Practice from Chapter 3 
A Shot to Practice from Chapter 4 
Break Shots 
The 9/16" Solution 
Break Shots Part Two 
Practicing Long Distance Break Shots 
How a Rack Breaks Apart 
Break Shot Practice Tips 
Break Shots to Practice from Chapter 5 
The Opening Break Shot 
Shotmaking Practice 
Safety Play 
Skimming Drills 
Ball Control Drills
Safeties to Practice from Chapter 7 
Strategy
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CHAPTER 11- All About High Runs  
How to Prepare for  High Runs  * 
When You Are Playing 
Analyzing Your High Runs 
Why Runs Usually End 
Significant Milestones  * 
Runs by the Numbers 
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Appendices  
A   Rules of the Game 
B   Keeping Score 
C   Glossary 
D  Great Straight Pool Players 
E   Learning from  Videos 
F   Master Keys to Straight Pool 
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