I'm proud to announce that my newly updated small book: Mastering The Inner Game Of Pool has just been released in Kindle format. It's available at Amazon for only the price of a cup of Starbucks coffee. I promise a worthwhile read and a high likelyhood of game improvement. If you have a Kindle, check it out.

If you don't have a Kindle, you can still get it as a pdf file at PoolBum Gear for slightly more than a cup of coffee. Thanks.

This is one of the best match videos I have ever seen. The great Miz and CJ both shoot at a world class+ level. World class starts at an Accu-Stat score of 850. Both players here shoot well over 900. It is a great match to watch and is commentated by Billy Incardona and Buddy Hall. 

There is no commentary in this 1-pocket match between Chris Bartram and Corey Deuel, just pure one-hole. Can you find situations where you would have picked a different shot?

John Schmidt Talks About Pool Fundamentals (Video)

This is Part 1 of 3 parts on fundamentals. It was very cool to hear someone of John's caliber talk about what he feels is important. I found some of these insights very helpful. I think you will too.

It’s no coincidence that many top poker players are equally skilled at the pool table -- and you can’t chalk it all up to The Color of Money style hustling that many gamblers gravitate towards. Many of the same skills necessary to play poker well are the very same ones that excellent pool players possess, especially when it comes to the ability to stay focused for hours at a time and all of the necessary practice and preparation that goes on behind the scenes.

Competing in pool is different than playing for fun with your friends or practicing. Competing implies that your primary intent... is to win the game or the match. This should not be confused with your focus during each shot, which should not involve the idea of winning or losing, missing or making the ball but a very present moment awareness with little or no thoughts at all. The actual shot dynamics is its own topic (check out the question/answer about approaching each shot.)

Competing is not a time for practicing or experimenting but a time to apply what you have practiced. The idea of "playing the percentages" has more to do with your overall strategy to give yourself the best chance of winning...

In many past articles, I’ve focused the fundamental mechanics of playing solid pool. Much of the information I have given has been in the shape of principles as they relate to alignment, aiming, stroke and mental effectiveness. Hopefully some of the ideas, tips and “secrets” I have given you have provided benefit to your game. The fact that we are all a little different in form and ability, and the fact that there are players who have success with many different styles proves that there is no ONE way of playing pool right. However, tried and true fundamentals hold up over time and under pressure...

In this new addition to the private lesson video series, John goes through a rack of nine ball and mentions some key points. If you're like me, you'd really appreciate knowing what a champion like John Schmidt considers in order to run out a rack. Here's another opportunity...