PoolDawg published a list of 50 Tips for Better All Around Pool. Weve read through them all and picked out the ten that we thought would be most helpful for beginners. Brush up on some of these before you stop by the clubhouse at Liv Ahwatukee again, and remember, practice makes perfect! 6. Walk around and look. Always walk around and look at where you want to position the cue ball for your next shot. If you want your cue ball to wind up in the right spot, you have to know where the right spot is! 7. Analyze your misses. After you miss and return to your chair, figure out what happened. Then make a mental correction. You'll play progressively better through your match instead of making the same mistakes over and over again. 9. Always keep your cool. No matter what happens, be determined not to let it get to you. Unlucky rolls and bad breaks are bound to happen; the balls are round. Those who keep a positive attitude through the bad breaks will prevail in the end. 11. Know the rules. Almost every league, bar, or organization offers some variation of the "standard" 8-ball rules. Make sure you know the rules of the league or tournament you're playing in. Read them and learn them thoroughly. 18. Leaving the 8 ball in jail. Whenever the 8 ball is blocked by one of your balls, you must leave it there so your opponent cannot win the game. The only time you will shoot your ball is when you know you can run out, freeing the 8 ball. 28. Watch for scratches. A cue ball coming off one or more rails and crossing the table's exact center cannot possibly scratch - something to remember in selecting cue-ball paths for position when there's distance between the required balls. 31. Play it safe. When you're conflicted over which of two moves to choose, pick the more conservative one. You'll be right close to 75 percent of the time. 43. Keep it simple. There is no convincing demonstration that wrist-snap gets more spin; keep it simple. A major problem with snapping the wrist is that the timing of the snap must be precisely coordinated with the moment the tip hits the ball; if the snap is a little early or late, it is entirely ineffective. More importantly, if the timing is not quite perfect, your speed will be off by a lot. 46. Try different sticks for different games. No stick is suitable for all games. Note what the top pros use, and do your own experiments. A hint: 58 inches is not necessarily the best length for you. 49. Follow your instincts. Physics and systems may be useful for understanding and planning shots, but when it's time to pull the trigger, trust your instinct. During practice, a careful, analytical approach will help you sort out what does and doesn't work for you, but once you're in a match, the intense analysis must be put aside. Feel the shot and then make it happen.