Perhaps more than any other sport, the game of pool is as much about psychology as it is about technique and hand-eye coordination. When you talk like a champion player, or at the very least – like a pool expert, you’re treated with respect, and it can be a subtle form of intimidation against your competitors. Most importantly, if you’re listening to what you’re learning and saying to others, you can become a better pool player.
It starts with quotes based on your game philosophy. Some favorites come from Efren Reyes, who is arguably one of the greatest pool players of all time:
“In the realm of sports, the battle is not just physical; it is a battle of the mind.”
“The battle is won or lost in the arena of the mind, long before the game begins.”
As for the game itself, I am particularly fond of these talking points:
- “Stop hitting harder and start hitting lower.”
You’re essentially telling yourself and others to focus on precision and control but speaking specifically to how you hit the cue ball makes it easier for players to understand. - “Develop a smooth, pre-shot routine, practicing a smooth, controlled stroke. Picture the shot you want to take.” Consistent repetition and visualization are the keys to quality play.
- “Study the angles and keep studying them until you understand them.” Learning the geography of the table and drawing the lines of each shot in your mind takes away the anxiety for the more difficult shots.
- “Don’t apologize for winning with safety shots.” Fedor Gorst, Team USA’s #1 player who is ranked 8th in the world, has 50 different safety shots that have helped him become one of today’s greatest pool players. Defense wins championships. And good players oftentimes don’t leave you with makeable shots.
Pool Player Lingo.
We all know the basic terms and definitions, like breaking, scratching, rails, back kitchen, ball-in-hand, etc. But knowing the pool experts’ vernacular also sets you apart from the crowd. Here are some favorites:
- Sweeping. When a player pockets multiple balls on a single shot.
- Tip-tapper. A shot that requires a delicate touch because there’s risk of a miscue.
- The Fonzy. This is a local term that the experts in my hometown of Milwaukee use to jump the cue ball over another ball to hit the desired object ball. It’s a reference to the infamous “jump the shark” episode on Happy Days and the result can be just as notorious if your ball flies off the table.
- Roll with butter. One of our all-time favorites! This refers to a perfect roll that 1) pockets a ball with great ease and 2) positions your cue ball brilliantly for the next shot.
There are other fun terms like “ATM” which describes a player who is very beatable (especially if there’s betting involved); or “KGB” for elite players (a reference to the John Malkovich character in the movie Rounders). But I highly recommend avoiding nicknames that idealize or insult players – even if it’s intended for good fun. This can lead to trash talking and negative outcomes that can ruin a fun evening of pool, or worse, discourage others from wanting to play with you and your friends.
One of my favorite pool player friends from college used to exercise humility when facing difficult shots, especially when the cue ball was at one end of the table, and the object ball is at the other end. He would lay his cue across the table between the two balls to emphasize the great distance and say, “boy, that’s a lot of green!” Doing this humored everyone around him like he was the butt of the joke, but it took the pressure off him by making a tense moment fun. And most times it worked as he didn’t miss many shots!
Blog Provided by Don Browne - Wordsmith Extraordinaire - Game Room Enthusiast
