Billiards may seem easy and fun, but if you accidentally fall into misunderstandings, it will be difficult to improve your skills. Many billiards enthusiasts are eager to enhance their game, yet they often unknowingly take the wrong path. For example, some people think that physical fitness is unnecessary for playing billiards, some overcomplicate the idea of making a shot with spin, some believe that hitting the ball hard is always the best approach, and others don’t pay enough attention to the billiards table or naively assume that playing with masters will lead to rapid progress. These misunderstandings act like roadblocks, hindering everyone’s advancement in the world of billiards. We need to understand these misunderstandings clearly so that we can truly enjoy the fun of billiards.
Misunderstanding 1: Thinking Physical Fitness Isn’t Needed for Billiards? Totally Wrong!
Many people believe that only sports like football and basketball require good physical fitness, and since billiards involves little movement, it has nothing to do with physical fitness. In reality, billiards demands extremely high precision. On the billiards table, even a 1-centimeter deviation from the expected ball path can lead to a major mistake. Especially in matches between masters, a small error can cost the game. When playing billiards, players need to concentrate, plan their shots mentally, and control the force with their hands, which is extremely physically and mentally exhausting.
Misunderstanding 2: Is Making a Shot with Spin Really That Difficult? Don’t Scare Yourself!
Many people think that making a shot with spin is too hard and almost an impossible task. In fact, making a shot ultimately comes down to a feeling. Seemingly complex shots can be summed up as “practice makes perfect.” There’s no shortcut; it just requires a lot of practice. After practicing the same type of shot many times, you’ll naturally develop a feel for it, almost like a conditioned reflex. You need to know where the cue ball should hit the object ball to make it go into the pocket, and understand what kind of spin to apply to the cue ball and how much force to use so that the cue ball stops at the desired position after the object ball goes in. Look at the masters in competitions; they rarely stare at the hitting point. They basically just get down and take the shot, relying on intuition.
Misunderstanding 3: Does “Hit Hard for Miracles” Work? This Idea Is Wrong!
Beginners often think that they need to hit the ball with a lot of force, believing that this way the cue will push the ball straight, the shot will be accurate, and the cue ball will move freely, allowing for easy positioning. But that’s not the case. Hitting the ball too hard has at least three drawbacks: First, the stroke is likely to deform, resulting in poor shot quality. Second, if spin is applied and the stroke isn’t level, the ball will fly out like a curve ball, deviating from the intended path. Third, it becomes very difficult to control the position of the cue ball. In fact, unless you want to achieve a very strong draw or follow effect, usually, as long as you accurately hit the corresponding part of the cue ball, you can get good positioning results without using excessive force.
Misunderstanding 4: Any Billiards Table Will Do? That’s Too Naive!
Many people think that they can just find any billiards table to play on, but that’s a mistake. A high-quality billiards table plays a crucial role in the playing experience and the display of skills. The Spike billiards table uses slate with uniform texture, high density, and strong hardness, providing an extremely flat and stable rolling surface for the balls. The table legs, made of solid wood, are sturdy and durable, firmly supporting the heavy slate and ensuring that the table won’t shake or deform easily during play, thus guaranteeing the stability and consistency of every shot.
Misunderstanding 5: Playing with Masters Guarantees Rapid Progress? It’s Not That Simple!
Many people think that playing with masters will allow them to learn the masters’ strengths and that they’ll make rapid progress under pressure. But the reality is often different. Many people not only fail to learn the essence of the masters’ skills but also lose confidence and may even give up billiards. The correct way to improve is to first watch masters play live or on TV, or read books and watch instructional DVDs to master some basic skills. Then, practice carefully on your own, learn each skill one by one, and gradually improve yourself in the process. Once you’ve built a solid foundation, play with people of similar skill levels to gain confidence, and then challenge the masters. Only in this way can you make progress in billiards.
Are these misunderstandings about playing billiards quite common? Have you accidentally fallen into any of these pitfalls? I hope this guide to avoiding pitfalls is helpful to you. With enough practice, you can also become a billiards master.