Billiard Lessons
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Since it was written five years ago, The Lesson by Tim "The Monk" Miller has remained at the top of billiards players wish list. It should be on yours.
The four strokes are The Punch Stroke, The Draw Stroke, The Follow Stroke and the Spin Stroke. The fact that there are four strokes you need to master billiards shouldn't come as a surprise. In all sports there are a variety of shots you can use to win games. For example, in golf you can hit a high fade, a low draw, a punch and run, a back spin pitch shot, a spin shot, or a plop shot. These golf shots often rely on different clubs and different ways of striking the ball. Before we go further, which of the strokes would you like to master first? The Punch Stroke
Testimonial: Hi Tim, Since I started working on the 2-7-2 program my cue ball speed has really improved. I have moved up two levels with this new skill. Thanks for taking the time to share this with all struggling pool players everywhere. Brian
 We are now able to offer "The Lesson" in two formats; hardcopy book form and as a digital e-Book. Both contain the same material, but the digital version gives you immediate access without the cost and time involved in shipping. Also, as an e-Book, you have the option of printing out any of the 200+ drills and taking them to the table for a workout. There is much more to The Lesson than 47 pages on the Four Strokes of Billiards, afterall, this is a 260-page Handbook for Enlightened Billiards Students. Must reading is the 2-7-2 series which is vital to your development in this game. It is the foundation to a championship performance. You need to take your time in mastering this series for it will be a part of your game for the rest of your encounter with pocket billiards. The 2-7-2 shot in itself will give you the key to cue ball speed. In The Monk's words, "I can send you out into battle with a fine Punch Stroke. You could also have a great Draw Stroke and understand the four draw strokes of pool. You may have worked on developing a fine Follow Stroke and you have perfected the Spin Shot." He admits he would be a poor teacher without giving you a means of developing good speed skills. If you skip the four strokes of pool, you will be plagued and over come with an inconsistent game. One day you’re up and one day you’re down. The Punch Stroke don\'t leave home without it! This is by far the most popular stroke in pool.
Willie Mosconie used it over eighty per cent of the time. It gives you natural speed and natural track lines. To master this stroke, line up a shot straight in the side pocket. The cue ball should be a couple of feet away. Deliver a \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\"pop\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\" sound with one sixteenth below center. If the cue ball stops dead in its tracks, you have discovered your punch stroke.
What ever it takes to stop the cue ball dead, is a punch stroke. If the cue ball drifts back towards you, you have added a little draw into your punch stroke. If the cue ball drifts forward you have allowed a little follow in your punch stroke. You must stop the ball dead.
When you do, pay attention to that sound. Pay attention to how it feels. How you deliver the cue tip to the cue ball determines if you have delivered the proper stroke or not. You will want to master this stroke.
The Punch gives you natural track lines. In The Lesson book I give you a series of shots you can use to begin to develop cue ball speed and cue ball control. If you do not possess a good solid reliable punch stroke, you will never find the consistency you seek.
The Punch stroke, don’t leave home with out it.
The Follow Stroke Not exactly what you use! Many of us shoot high on the cue ball and call it a follow stroke.
The essence of any stroke is in how you deliver the cue tip to the cue ball. I want you to set up a shot straight in the side pocket. The cue ball should be a couple of feet from the object ball. Place your cue tip one-sixteenth below center. Deliver a follow stroke and make the cue ball follow the object ball.
There is only one way you will see the cue ball follow the object ball and that is if you deliver a fine follow stroke. Flow through the cue ball. Your shooting hand should almost be limp. Float through and allow the cue ball to roll towards its target. I can make the cue ball follow the object ball with one half cue tip below center!
A follow stroke is vital to your game. There are many ways to use a follow stroke to gain favorable position and control the cue ball. I illustrate many of them in “The Lesson”.
If you are ever to become a consistent player you must master the four strokes of pool. In my workshops and clinics I show players that there is only one stroke that will get them position on certain balls.
If you know the strokes you know how to play pool. If you do not have a copy of The Lesson, do yourself a favor. Order it now. I give you a personal guarantee. If the book does not help you, I will refund your money. The draw strokes. I give this a plural because there are actually four of them. It is not enough to simply pull the cue ball back towards you with a sharp jabbing motion. The draw stroke is the most abused stroke in pocket billiards today. In “The Lesson” I devote twelve pages to this great stroke. There are four draw strokes. • The follow through draw
If you use the wrong draw stroke you will not get positive results and you will have no control of the cue ball. You must master each draw stroke and know when to use them.
The draw strokes calls for a snap delivery. You must push the cue tip through the cue ball faster than the cue ball leaves the tip. In other words, the tip is almost all the way through the cue ball before the cue ball takes off. Since the cue tip is faster than the cue ball, the cue ball will immediately spin backwards. This causes the cue ball to come back to you.
You will also need to know how to execute The Follow Through Draw, The Snap Back Draw, The Snip Draw and The Bounce Back Draw. The Spin Stroke. Very few teachers take the time to teach this vital stroke.
The old masters used it in straight pool. There are times in a match that the spin stroke is the difference between winning and losing.
I want you to have it. The Spin Stroke is a great tool to measure speed of the cue ball off one or more rails. It is also a way to widen the natural track line off the rail. I could write volumes about this fantastic stroke and I do in “The Lesson” book.
The spin stroke is a close cousin to the punch stroke. Set up on the spot and sight straight down to the center diamond (7) on the bottom rail. Use center right and “pop” the ball so it is spinning on its way down table.
You should be able to control the spin so you can scratch in the right corner pocket near you.
You should be able to control the cue ball so you can hit the number two diamond on the right side of the table. You must master the four strokes of pool before you consider speed and position play. If you want to be a consistent player you must possess the four strokes of pool. There are times when you mix them up. A shot may call for a little follow and a lot of punch. Or punch force follow. Begin your training now. The second stage of pocket billiards is the four strokes of pool. Master them. You can do it. It is time for you to "do it right".
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