# Pool Date--What wisdom can I impart? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [February 26, 2009, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pool-date-what-wisdom-can-i-impart/487572 "2009-02-26T22:22:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![SmellMyWort](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea5d25/32.png) [@SmellMyWort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmellMyWort)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2009, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pool-date-what-wisdom-can-i-impart/487572/21 "2009-02-27T20:26:10Z")
Make sure you go somewhere where you can rent a table by the hour. You don’t want to have other people wanting to play you for the table or running for change every couple games. ---
**Author:** ![MadTheSwine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc29f/32.png) [@MadTheSwine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MadTheSwine)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2009, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pool-date-what-wisdom-can-i-impart/487572/22 "2009-02-27T21:02:51Z")
You try to teach her all the things is this thread she will be very confused,it is to much to learn(if she is a true beginner). Two things she needs to do to improve a lot very quickly. 1.When she makes the actual shot, look at her eyes. Is she watching the cue ball during the stroke? If so that is the first thing that needs to be changed.Always look at the object ball when taking a shot(unless its a bank or kick or what not but thats another story).This is the first thing I look for when teaching a new player. 1. Hold the cue correctly,especially the bridge hand.The best way I found how to explain it is to have them a make a Buckwheat Oh-Tay hand symbol,then place the palm on the felt and slide the stick through thumb and forefinger with the stick resting on top of the middle finger. ---
**Author:** ![MissGypsy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8491ac/32.png) [@MissGypsy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MissGypsy)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2009, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pool-date-what-wisdom-can-i-impart/487572/23 "2009-02-28T02:03:17Z")
> [@Oakminster](#): > > I dunno, but I am available. How do you feel about right-leaning middle-aged atheists? 😃 Fine, buy my right-leaning, middle-aged Catholic husband might take issue with me dating, nowadays, and he would certainly warn you about how annoying it is to date a left-leaning, middle-aged agnostic. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Declan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecae2f/32.png) [@Declan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Declan)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2009, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pool-date-what-wisdom-can-i-impart/487572/24 "2009-02-28T02:33:59Z")
> [@Red\_Barchetta](#): > > **Alright, so I’ve finagled myself a date with a girl this weekend who apparently isn’t good at billiards and wants help**. I’m certainly no expert, but I’m not terrible either. But I’m not really really sure what techniques/tips I can provide. So any easy pointers I can use to help her get up to speed? You have just described what is known as an icebreaker. When you meet this young lady, I presume of course on her age, notice the shirt she is wearing. Does the cleavage seem to spring forth eternal. Decide where you want to go play pool with her , yuppie pool halls will usually have names like sharks, or does she want something a bit more intimate. Order drinks like martinis or gin & tonics. As for the game itself , play no more than half an hour, its a game that as you probably know , she will miss more shots than make. Keep it simple and point to a ball and tell her what pocket to shoot it towards, dont tell her how to shoot it. Most of the times I find that they pretty much get close if not in , without knowing the mechanics of how they got it in. Plan your exit strategy, cocktails and a light repast will not go amiss here. She wants a date without having to specifically ask for one and possibly be rejected, you being the white knight will of course take the fair maiden on a tour of the field of honour. Declan ---
**Author:** ![Isamu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/7c8e57/32.png) [@Isamu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Isamu)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2009, 7:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pool-date-what-wisdom-can-i-impart/487572/25 "2009-03-01T07:31:36Z")
> [@Joey\_Tightlips](#): > > But that’s practice and boring, so on to the “Ghost Ball” technique. Basically for people who don’t know how to aim, this is the best visual aid. Say she’s got a simple cut shot, but with a decent angle. You take a dead ball from off the table and put it up against the object ball on a line with the pocket you intend to make the shot. You then have your student line up to hit the cue ball directly into the center of this dead ball. Take the dead ball away, and the student still is shooting into where the ball was (imagining a Ghost Ball there). After a few times using a dead ball for aim, she will get the hang of it and will simply imagine the Ghost Ball without help. The great thing is, this works for any angle shot, thin cut, straight on, doesn’t matter, just imagine that ball and hit into the middle of it. Ingenious. I’m now adding the “ghost ball” technique to my ‘teaching beginners’ method. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2009, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pool-date-what-wisdom-can-i-impart/487572/26 "2009-03-01T17:50:36Z")
> [@MadTheSwine](#): > > 1. Hold the cue correctly,especially the bridge hand.The best way I found how to explain it is to have them a make a Buckwheat Oh-Tay hand symbol,then place the palm on the felt and slide the stick through thumb and forefinger with the stick resting on top of the middle finger. Uh… I’m having a hard time visualizing this, but if you’re saying what I think you’re saying, that would certainly not be correct. ---
**Author:** ![Red\_Barchetta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/da6949/32.png) [@Red\_Barchetta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Red_Barchetta)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2009, 9:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pool-date-what-wisdom-can-i-impart/487572/27 "2009-03-02T09:49:03Z")
> [@Joey\_Tightlips](#): > > Good luck, let us know how it goes. First off, thanks all for the advice! I just got back from what ended up as a 6-hour date that went extremely well, much better than I had feared. It was really cool that she was highly receptive to learning how to play well, even by asking for help along the way. I showed her how to choose a proper cue stick, how to do cut shots, and more–very fun, and made me actually look somewhat informed about something. Afterward, we walked around, found an arcade and played there for an hour, walked along the boardwalk, then capped the night with some cake from a local diner. It went really well! ---
**Author:** ![MadTheSwine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc29f/32.png) [@MadTheSwine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MadTheSwine)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2009, 1:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pool-date-what-wisdom-can-i-impart/487572/28 "2009-03-02T13:00:49Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > Uh… I’m having a hard time visualizing this, but if you’re saying what I think you’re saying, that would certainly not be correct. Then yer visualizing it wrong. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2009, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pool-date-what-wisdom-can-i-impart/487572/29 "2009-03-02T15:24:30Z")
> [@Red\_Barchetta](#): > > …then capped the night with some cake from a local diner. Is that what the kids are calling it these days? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Rigamarole](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/77aa72/32.png) [@Rigamarole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rigamarole)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2009, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pool-date-what-wisdom-can-i-impart/487572/30 "2009-03-02T19:12:52Z")
> [@Red\_Barchetta](#): > > I showed her how to choose a proper cue stick As you should on all your dates, whether they involve billiards or not. Congrats! ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2009, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pool-date-what-wisdom-can-i-impart/487572/31 "2009-03-02T19:38:48Z")
My suggestion is to make the process as socratic as possible. Don’t tell her anything without first finding out what her instinct is saying. Don’t assume she’s an idiot - or for that matter let _her_ assume she’s an idiot. Too often people don’t give themselves the benefit of the doubt, and plead total ignorance. ---
**Author:** ![Dead\_Cat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9fc29f/32.png) [@Dead\_Cat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dead_Cat)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2009, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pool-date-what-wisdom-can-i-impart/487572/32 "2009-03-02T19:39:35Z")
> [@MadTheSwine](#): > > You try to teach her all the things is this thread she will be very confused,it is to much to learn(if she is a true beginner). > Two things she needs to do to improve a lot very quickly. > > 1.When she makes the actual shot, look at her eyes. Is she watching the cue ball during the stroke? > If so that is the first thing that needs to be changed.Always look at the object ball when taking a shot(unless its a bank or kick or what not but thats another story).This is the first thing I look for when teaching a new player. > > 1. Hold the cue correctly,especially the bridge hand.The best way I found how to explain it is to have them a make a Buckwheat Oh-Tay hand symbol,then place the palm on the felt and slide the stick through thumb and forefinger with the stick resting on top of the middle finger. I’m far from an expert pool player, but if I understand these two pieces of advice correctly, I must disagree, particularly with #1. #1 is, I believe, accepted practice for reasonably experienced players and upwards, but for a beginner is likely to be disastrous, as most beginners really struggle to make the cue tip make contact with the cue ball dead in the centre of the cue ball. Failure to achieve this will create unwanted spin that will throw the cue ball off its intended course. But I am happy to defer to more experienced players/coaches - does anyone else have a view on this? ---
**Author:** ![MadTheSwine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc29f/32.png) [@MadTheSwine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MadTheSwine)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2009, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pool-date-what-wisdom-can-i-impart/487572/33 "2009-03-02T19:49:46Z")
> [@Dead\_Cat](#): > > I’m far from an expert pool player, but if I understand these two pieces of advice correctly, I must disagree, particularly with #1. #1 is, I believe, accepted practice for reasonably experienced players and upwards, but for a beginner is likely to be disastrous, as most beginners really struggle to make the cue tip make contact with the cue ball dead in the centre of the cue ball. Failure to achieve this will create unwanted spin that will throw the cue ball off its intended course. But I am happy to defer to more experienced players/coaches - does anyone else have a view on this? I am an expert pool player and have taught several raw beginners how to play.It improves their game almost instantly. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2009, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pool-date-what-wisdom-can-i-impart/487572/34 "2009-03-02T19:59:22Z")
> [@Dead\_Cat](#): > > as most beginners really struggle to make the cue tip make contact with the cue ball dead in the centre of the cue ball. Failure to achieve this will create unwanted spin that will throw the cue ball off its intended course. Hitting the cue ball in the center is easy. Hitting the cue ball in the center _in line with the intended point of contact of the object ball_ is difficult. It’s even harder if you’re not paying attention to the object ball. ---
**Author:** ![MadTheSwine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc29f/32.png) [@MadTheSwine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MadTheSwine)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2009, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pool-date-what-wisdom-can-i-impart/487572/35 "2009-03-02T20:14:53Z")
Spose I had better list some credentials. Worked in a poolhall for 7 years,4 years as the owner. Have ran well over 500 tourneys. Put together,felted, leveled and repaired over 200 tables. Retipped 1000’s of sticks. Gave lessons to 100’s. Read many books on “How to” ---
**Author:** ![BellRungBookShut-CandleSnuffed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bcef8e/32.png) [@BellRungBookShut-CandleSnuffed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BellRungBookShut-CandleSnuffed)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2009, 11:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pool-date-what-wisdom-can-i-impart/487572/36 "2009-03-05T11:36:14Z")
Wanna give all your imaginary friends an update on the pool date? ---
**Author:** ![Red\_Barchetta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/da6949/32.png) [@Red\_Barchetta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Red_Barchetta)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2009, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pool-date-what-wisdom-can-i-impart/487572/37 "2009-03-05T18:08:44Z")
> [@BellRungBookShut-CandleSnuffed](#): > > Wanna give all your imaginary friends an update on the pool date? Oh, I guess you didn’t see my last post 🙂 Here it is in all of its copy and pasted glory: First off, thanks all for the advice! I just got back from what ended up as a 6-hour date that went extremely well, much better than I had feared. It was really cool that she was highly receptive to learning how to play well, even by asking for help along the way. I showed her how to choose a proper cue stick, how to do cut shots, and more–very fun, and made me actually look somewhat informed about something. Afterward, we walked around, found an arcade and played there for an hour, walked along the boardwalk, then capped the night with some cake from a local diner. It went really well! * * * To add to that, we’ve been emailing each other every day since and have plans a couple of weeks from now 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![BellRungBookShut-CandleSnuffed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bcef8e/32.png) [@BellRungBookShut-CandleSnuffed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BellRungBookShut-CandleSnuffed)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2009, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pool-date-what-wisdom-can-i-impart/487572/38 "2009-03-05T23:36:43Z")
Hooray for good dates! ---
**Author:** ![Isamu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/7c8e57/32.png) [@Isamu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Isamu)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2009, 10:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pool-date-what-wisdom-can-i-impart/487572/39 "2009-03-06T10:41:54Z")
Well done! Seconded on hooray for good dates! Next date teach her snooker, and see if you can pot the pink. \*apologies for grossness [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pool-date-what-wisdom-can-i-impart/487572.md?page=1)