THINGS I LOVE: Playing Pool

There's nothing like the crack of a break to incite the thrill of participating in a game of pool.  Contrary to what some might think, pool is a sport.  We grew up in a house with a pool table in the lounge and that's where my passion for this sport began.  Gone are the days when pool tables were only found in seedy bars amid unsavoury characters - the pool joints of today are clean and well-lit with minimal drinking and great music.  The local Billiards Club that Presley and I go to sells snack foods, has flat screen TV's and big couches to lounge on.  Plus our Bishop is also a regular there, so if it's good enough for him then it's good enough for us!

If you've never played before and dont know the first thing about how to get a ball in the pocket, here's the simple way to do it:

1.  Find a ball you want to sink that has access to both the white ball and the pocket
2.  Stand behind the ball and line it up to the pocket you want to sink it into
3.  Find the middle of the ball and, without taking your eye off that spot, move back to where the white ball is
4.  Aim the white ball for that spot, and shoot

If you get that down then you're on your way to becoming a pool shark.  The technical side of pool (spin shots, snookers etc) takes practice and concentration, but to become a true predator of the pool table you need to be able to use methods of sports psychology to visualise your game strategy, block out everything around you, and just go for it.  Good luck!