The balls
Balls come in different sizes and colors depending on what type of billiards you're playing. The white ball is the cue ball. The other balls are object balls. French billiards is played with 3 balls: a red and two white balls, one of which is marked with a black dot. Pool uses 16 balls: one white, and 15 balls numbered 1 to 15. Finally, English billiards is also played with 16 balls: one white, one black, seven red and seven yellow.
Good finger positioning is crucial in billiards; it lets you precisely direct the tip of the cue for a precise shot.
The “closed bridge”, which is very popular among players of all levels, involves forming a very stable tripod with the middle and ring fingers, and possibly the little finger too, while placing the palm of the hand on the table and creating an opening between the thumb, the index and the middle finger. This opening need to be tight enough to properly guide the cue
To form an “open bridge”, first place your hand flat on the table and slightly raise your fingers. Slide the cue between the thumb (also raised) and the base of the index finger.
If the ball is very close to the cushion, i.e. too close to place your bridge on the playing surface, you can place it on the cushion. We recommend using a slightly revised open bridge when the ball is right alongside the cushion. To compensate the fact that it’s impossible to position the palm of your hand as a stable anchor point, spread your fingers further apart to lean them on the edge of the table.
If the ball is a little further away from the cushion, we recommend opting for a loop bridge. This involves passing the cue between the index and middle fingers, using the thumb to guide the cue under the hand.
Leg positioning
Make sure that your stance is stable, then adopt a posture that feels natural and in which you are at ease. For a successful shot, it is important to be in a comfortable position when striking the ball with the cue. One foot should be slightly forward and the other slightly back. Then bend the knee of your front leg so you’re at the same height as the table.
Arm positioning
Slightly bend the elbow of your front arm for increased flexibility. The cue should be almost parallel to the playing surface. Your forearm at the rear end of the cue should be perpendicular to the cue.
How to hold the cue for a good shot
For your shot to be as precise as possible, it is important for your rear hand to be correctly positioned and not to grip the cue too tightly. You really only need to use the first two or three fingers to hold it, not your whole hand. You need to make a light, ample movement to carry off a precise, powerful shot and add spin.
