Table 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  1 1 4 6 7 8 12 13 14 15 16 18 18 20 21 22 24 25 26 28 29 30 31 31 32 33 34 34 36 37 38 39 40 40 41 42 43 44 44 45 46 46 47 48 50 51 52 53 56 57 58 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 64 65 66 67 68 Back to Top
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 70 71 71 72 73 74 74 75 76 76 78 78 79 80 80 82 82 84 84 85 86 87 88 88 89 90 90 91 91 92 93 94 94 95 96 97 98 98 99 100 101 102 103 104 105 106 107 108 109 110 111 112 113 113 114 114 115 116 117 118 119 120 121 122 122 123 124 125 126 126 127 128 129 130 131 132 133 134 135 136 137 138 138 139 140 141 142 143 143 144 145 146 147 148 148 149 150 151 151 154 155 156 157 158 158 160 161 162 162 163 Back to Top
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 166 166 166 167 168 170 170 171 172 173 174 174 175 176 177 178 178 179 180 Back to Top
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  182 182 183 184 185 186 187 188 189 190 Back to Top
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    *  191 192 193 194 195 196 198 198 199 200 202 202 203 204 205 206 207 208 209 210 211 212 213 214 216 216 217 218 219 220 221 222 222 223 224 224 225 226 227 228 228 229 230 231 232 233 233 234 234 235 236 237 238 238 239 240 240 241 242 242 243 244 244 245 246 247 Back to Top
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  249 250 251 252 253 254 254 254 254 262 Back to Top
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  272 272 272 273 274 274 276 277 278 278 279 280 281 282 282 282 283 284 284 285 286 288 288 289 290 290 291 292 292 293 294 Back to Top
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  *  295 296 296 298 298 298 298 299 299 301 301 301 302 303 303 303 303 304 305 306 307 308 309 309 310 310 313 311 314 315 315 316 316 317 317 318 318 318 Back to Top
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   *  319 321 321 321 321 321 322 322 322 323 323 324 324 324 325 326 327 328 330 330 332 332 333 334 335 335 336 336 337 338 340 340 341 342 343 344 345 346 Back to Top
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 347 347 348 349 349 349 350 350 350 352 352 352 353 353 354 354 355 355 356 356 357 358 358 359 359 359 360 360 361 362 362 263 364 364 364 365 365 366 366 366 Back to Top
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  368 370 372 373 374 374 Back to Top
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  375 382 384 389 391 393 Back to Top