Learning billiards, like any other sport, requires a solid foundation. A proper shooting stance forms the cornerstone of billiards technique. Taking a right-handed grip as an example, the shooting posture can be broken down into four key components.
1. Stance: The Foundation of Stability
A correct stance is fundamental to playing billiards well. Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart, lean forward slightly, and shift your weight to your right leg (for right-handed players), creating a stable base like a tree rooted in the ground. To position yourself:
Hold the cue with your right hand as required, face the cue ball, and stand upright.
Grip the cue horizontally, with the tip 10–20 cm away from the cue ball. Align your right thumb with the side seam of your pants, ensuring the cue points directly along the cue ball’s intended path.
For the upper body posture in English snooker (due to the table’s large size), adopt a horizontal aiming stance with a flat-backed (or “bridge”) hand support. Keep your upper body forward, looking straight along the cue. After determining your stance, keep your right hand fixed, take a small step left with your left foot (shoulder-width), and naturally rotate your right foot outward by 50–80 degrees.
The face position is crucial: align the vertical centerline of your face with the cue’s central axis. To do this, rest your chin on the cue’s axis when aiming, keeping both eyes level and focused ahead.
2. Grip: Relaxed Control
Hold the cue with your fingers naturally wrapped around it, using moderate pressure. Curl your thumb and index finger lightly around the cue, with the other fingers bent naturally to allow your wrist to swing freely—imagine holding a feather pen. To find the cue’s balance point:
Form a circle with your right thumb and index finger, slide it onto the cue, and move it until the cue balances horizontally (like a balance scale).
The optimal grip area is 20–30 cm from this balance point toward the cue’s butt, adjustable for special shots.
3. Bridge: The Cue’s Stabilizer
A bridge provides support for the cue. The most common basic bridge is:
Place your left palm flat on the table, fingers spread, form a V-groove with your thumb and index finger, and rest the cue in the groove.
For shots where the cue ball is near the cushion, use a cushion bridge: rest your pinky and ring finger on the cushion, place your middle and index fingers on the table, and rest the cue on the support formed by your index finger and thumb.
Flat Bridge (Standard Bridge):
Extend your left hand flat on the table, palm down, spread your fingers, arch your palm, and lift your thumb to touch the base of your index finger, creating a groove for the cue. Adjust the height by flattening or arching your fingers.
Raised Bridge (Closed Bridge):
Place your left hand flat on the table, palm down, and slightly rotate your wrist inward. Curl your pinky, ring finger, and middle finger upward, pressing the left side of your palm against the table. Pinch your thumb and index finger to form a circle, inserting the cue for support. Adjust height by extending or curling your middle finger.
4. Stroke Motion
The stroke is pivotal—even with correct stance, grip, and bridge, a poor stroke ruins the shot. From the side, your right hand and forearm should relax, swinging back and forth like a pendulum around the elbow joint. Keep the swing amplitude moderate and the cue vertical when at rest.
FAQs for Beginners
1. Why can’t I pocket the ball?
Issue: Incorrect aiming or unstable power.
Solution: Try the “imaginary ball method”—visualize an identical ball behind the target ball and aim the cue ball at its center. Practice consistent backswing speed and focused forward propulsion to find your rhythm.
2. Why can’t I control the cue ball’s position?
Issue: Poor control of strike points or force.
Solution: Practice different strike points and force combinations to memorize the cue ball’s trajectory. Experience builds precision.
3. How to overcome nervousness?
Solution: Join casual billiards sessions to adapt to audiences. Before games, take deep breaths, focus on your stroke, and avoid overthinking outcomes.
Billiards is a captivating sport. Master these fundamentals through practice, and you’ll soon enjoy the game. Feel free to share questions or insights as you progress!
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