The Coaching Tips section will be updated monthly, covering a different aspect of the game. Most topics will be general issues such as stance and aiming, but a few will concentrate on specific aspects of a certain game - such as scoring an in-off in billiards.

Lesson 1 - Stance

In any cuesport, your stance is the most fundamental part of the game. If your stance is not correct, absolutely everything that follows must be false - and any balls you pot will be by mere coincidence.

The first thing to remember when talking about stance is that you must always be balanced. If someone could push you over while you are making a shot then your balance is not right - although you'd hope that no-one would actually try to push you over :-)

You should also remember that what works for someone else may not always be right for you. Experiment with your stance to find what you are most comfortable with - use the procedure below as a guide.

The first step to a correct stance is to place your back foot (right foot for a right-hander) on the line of the shot, at an angle of something between 30 and 90 degrees to the line of the shot...whatever is comfortable for you. Your front foot is placed parallel to the line of the shot, with your legs at a comfortable distance apart.

Bending your front leg and your waist only - do not bend your back leg - you should be able to lean over the shot so that your dominant eye is directly above the cue along the line of the shot. If you bend your back leg you will not be properly balanced, and could easily shift your weight without realising it. [See next month's lesson for the method to find your dominant eye.]

If all has gone to plan, you should be well balanced over the line of the shot and ready to play a winner!