Pool Secrets from a World Champion Part 1

Meet Ray Martin, a three-time world champion and nine ball champion who shares his video project and author credentials for the ninety nine critical shots and bull.

Choose a cue stick length and balance weight for draw or follow, ensure 165-gram object balls match a 165-gram cue ball, and adapt to table speed and climate.

Compare open and closed bridge techniques and their use in breaking nine-ball and rack games. See how backhand control, shoulder position, and aiming influence power and cue-ball contact beyond follow-through.

Demonstrate proper spin to control cue-ball angles on dry versus moist cloth. Show the speed scale from 1 to 10 with top-right and center-right spins to illustrate path and position.

Learn how left and right inside English affect cue-ball deflection and contact points, and practice speed-controlled aiming with spot shots to pocket the object ball.

Learn multiple cue ball shape techniques for various balls, using high and bottom-right spins, rail targeting, and smart side-positioning to avoid hooks and scratches on different table conditions.

Execute a difficult bank shot by striking center of cue ball toward the left edge of the object ball with a firm stroke, adjusting for wet or dry tables.

Learn to shape the cue ball around traffic to reach the five ball using bottom-left and center-ball shots, and mark shots for consistent speed control.

Practice shaping the eight ball by adjusting speed with top left, top right, and bottom right to position the cue ball for safe, center-pocket shots.

Master a long straight-in pool shot by placing the cue ball half a tip below center and striking firmly to stay near center, minimize deflection, and improve accuracy.

Learn to execute a drag shot to control cue ball speed by hitting the bottom of the ball for backspin, improving accuracy when table roll is unpredictable.

Master straight-in shots by varying cue-ball position and two-speed contact, using no-spin to shape the cue ball toward the pocket with top-left or bottom-right angles.

Master the shot #8 by using three rails forward with top left, hit the ball first with inside English to avoid rail-first deflection, improve shape, and prevent scratches.

Master hitting the shot very thin with no spin to send the cue ball toward the 13 ball, using center-right or rail-first options for precise shape.

Take an aggressive bank when safety isn’t possible, using a cross-eyed bank and bottom-left draw to shape the cue ball toward the two ball with speed.