Pool for Beginners: Stance, Bridge, Grip and Stroke
Most of what makes a good pool player is a simple, repeatable set of basics. Getting them right early saves months of bad habits. Here is the whole foundation, in plain English.
Stance
- Stand behind the shot and step into it along the line, so your body is lined up before you bend down.
- For a right-handed player, the right foot is roughly on the line of the shot and the left foot is forward and to the left. Feet about shoulder-width apart.
- Bend at the waist and bring your chin down close to the cue, over the line. How low is up to you; lower makes aiming easier, but stay comfortable.
- Stay balanced: you should be able to hold your stance without leaning on the table.
Bridge
The bridge is your front hand. It has to hold the cue steady and let it slide straight. (More detail in how to hold a pool cue.)
- Open bridge: lay your hand flat on the cloth, raise the knuckles slightly and rest the cue in the V between your thumb and the base of your first finger. Easy and stable; good for beginners.
- Closed bridge: curl your first finger over the cue to make a loop. More control on firm shots.
- Keep the bridge about 6 to 9 inches from the cue ball on normal shots.
- Rail bridge: when the cue ball is near the cushion, rest the cue on the rail and guide it with your fingers.
Grip
Hold the cue loosely with your back hand, near the balance point or a little behind it, with your thumb and first two fingers doing most of the work. A tight grip makes the cue steer off line. At the moment of contact, your forearm should hang about straight down from the elbow.
Stroke
- Only your forearm should move, swinging from the elbow like a pendulum. Keep your shoulder and head still.
- Take a few smooth practice strokes, pause briefly at the back, then stroke through.
- Follow through past where the cue ball was, and stay down until the ball is well on its way. Jumping up is the most common reason beginners miss.
Where to look
During your practice strokes, your eyes go back and forth between the cue ball and the spot you are aiming at on the object ball. On the final stroke, most players look at the object ball. Learn how to pick the aim point in how to aim in pool.
Your first practice plan
- Straight-in shots (10 minutes): an object ball a diamond from a corner pocket and the cue ball straight behind it. Make ten in a row.
- Stop shots (10 minutes): same shot, but make the cue ball stop dead. See the stop-shot ladder.
- Easy cuts (10 minutes): move the cue ball off to the side for gentle cut shots.
- Play a rack: 8-Ball against a friend or the "ghost."
Practice your eye between sessions with the aim trainer game, learn the pool terms, and when you are ready, read what to expect at your first tournament.