Dr. Dave Pool Info

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Dr. Dave Pool Info Instructional videos, illustrations, articles, and tutorials for learning how to play and teach pool.

Professional billiards instructor Dr. Dave Alciatore reveals all pool secrets to help bring your game to the next level.

10/12/2026

HOW TO PLAY 8-BALL
Dr. Dave discusses and demonstrates the “official rules” of 8-ball pool. It is a much better choice than common “bar rules.”
https://youtu.be/c-4URzvawhs

Contents:
0:00 - Intro
0:15 - Official Rules of Pool
1:00 - 8-Ball Rules
4:50 - Double Hit Fouls
8:33 - Other Common Fouls
9:59 - Wrap Up

CORRECTIONS:
1:07 - I said "1 on the spot" (because the 1 was the top ball in that rack examples), but the top ball does not need to be the 1. Any stripe or solid is allowed; although, putting the 1 at the top is customary.
1:48 - The rack is illegal. One of the corner balls should be a solid.

Supporting Resources:
- previous "bar rules" video: https://youtu.be/x8sI73wlyoM
- Video Encyclopedia of Eight Ball (VEEB): https://drdavebilliards.com/videos/8-ball/
- rules resource page: https://drdavepoolinfo.com/faq/rules/
- fouls resource page: https://drdavepoolinfo.com/faq/foul/
- league rules resource page: https://drdavepoolinfo.com/faq/rules/league-rule-differences/
- bar rules resource page: https://drdavepoolinfo.com/resources/rules/bar-rules/
- double hit detection and avoidance: https://drdavepoolinfo.com/faq/foul/double-hit/

Subscribe to Dr. Dave's YouTube Channel:
https://www.youtube.com/DrDaveBilliards?sub_confirmation=1

10/10/2026

BEST BRIDGE
Dr. Dave shows all the things you should consider if you want your open bridge to be as perfect as possible for the best results.
https://youtu.be/eLHcI6gCs78

Contents:
0:00 - Intro
0:20 - Background
3:11 - Adequate “V”
5:14 - “V” Facing You
5:37 - Cue Off the Flesh
6:05 - Clean BHE Pivots
6:50 - Less Contact Area
7:18 - No Turning Force
7:59 - Minimum Cue Height
8:32 - No Taper Effects
9:17 - “V” Manipulation
10:18 - More Info

Supporting Resources:
- bridge technique advice: https://drdavepoolinfo.com/faq/bridge/technique/
- open bridge resource page: https://drdavepoolinfo.com/faq/bridge/open/
- “Top 10 Reasons to Use an OPEN BRIDGE” video: https://youtu.be/ydwWV6zWEtw
- cue elevation effects: https://drdavepoolinfo.com/faq/cue/elevation/
- draw shot cue elevation effects: https://drdavepoolinfo.com/faq/draw/cue-elevation/
- “Bridge Length Effects” video: https://youtu.be/4EzRZ8wE12s
- System for Aiming With Sidespin (SAWS): https://drdavepoolinfo.com/faq/sidespin/aim/saws/
- “Pencil Trick” video: https://youtu.be/u9AXGCkevPo

Subscribe to Dr. Dave's YouTube Channel:
https://www.youtube.com/DrDaveBilliards?sub_confirmation=1

10/05/2026

Dr. Dave demonstrates the top 10 categories of safeties that every pool player must learn to master. Effective defensive play is one of the main things that separates the great players from the good ones, so it is an important skill to practice.
https://youtu.be/Ji_jFE6QVmQ

Contents:
Intro (0:00)
1. Stop and Hide (0:21)
---- two-way shot (1:08)
2. Roll Up and Snuggle (1:34)
3. Equal-Separation Hide Behind Blockers (2:16)
4. Finesse Equal-Separation Hides (2:38)
5. Finesse Fractional-Ball Hides (3:21)
6. Separate and Hide Against Long Rail (4:05)
7. Come into the Line of Blockers (4:30)
8. Thin-Hit Hide (5:17)
9. Send Ball Straight Down Table and Hide (5:37)
10. Kick-and-Stick Hide (6:22)
---- "big ball" effect (6:40)

NOTE: With the jump shot at 5m47s, I claimed that the bump of the 8 with the shaft of the cue might be a foul under some rules. However, the CB did not jump over the 8, so it is not considered an "impeding ball." However, it is a bit risky disturbing a ball that is very close to impeding a jump. A referee who doesn't have video instant replay might call this as a foul when he or she sees the 8-ball move.

Supporting Resources:
- Billiard University (BU) safety example document: https://billiards.colostate.edu/resource_files/BU_Safety_Examples.pdf
- visual equal-distance kick shot aiming system: https://drdavepoolinfo.com/faq/bank-kick/mirror/
- Plus System two-rail kick shot aiming system: https://drdavepoolinfo.com/faq/bank-kick/plus/
- previous speed control video: https://youtu.be/5yR2OpCCchc
- cut-induced throw (CIT): https://drdavepoolinfo.com/tutorial/throw/
- Volume III of the Video Encyclopedia of Eight Ball (VEEB): https://drdavebilliards.com/videos/8-ball/disc-iii/
- Volume IV of the Video Encyclopedia of Nine-ball and Ten-ball (VENT): https://drdavebilliards.com/videos/vent/disc-iv/
- safety examples resource page: https://drdavepoolinfo.com/faq/safety/examples/

Subscribe to Dr. Dave's YouTube Channel:
https://www.youtube.com/DrDaveBilliards?sub_confirmation=1

09/29/2026

SIDESPIN
Dr. Dave demonstrates everything you need to know about how and when to use sidespin (english) effectively.
https://youtu.be/6-vNQwD5WDw

Contents:
Intro (0:00)
- terminology (0:26)
- running/reverse/outside/inside (1:10)
- "tips" of english (2:43)
- shot types (3:26)
- kick with spin (4:30)
- throw shot (4:45)
- rail cut shot (4:58)
- swerve/massé shot (5:15)
- effects (5:32)
- drag shot (7:20)
- useful drills (9:02)
- clock system (9:20)
- target practice (10:08)

CORRECTION:
- The spin diagram at 3:52 should obviously show left spin (not right) since the CB is rebounding to the left off the cushion.

Supporting Videos (covering CB deflection and aiming when using sidespin):
- squirt/swerve/throw/deflection: https://youtu.be/PKcST5CqBZM
- Got English?: https://youtu.be/EG29YjLC7aM
- Back-Hand English (BHE) and Front-Hand English (FHE): https://youtu.be/6qXJoFOLZZE
- System for Aiming With Sidespin (SAWS): https://youtu.be/6xu4kCiG9xc

Additional Supporting Videos and Resources:
- sidespin tutorial: https://drdavepoolinfo.com/tutorial/sidespin/
- aim compensation using sidespin: https://drdavepoolinfo.com/faq/sidespin/aim/compensation/
- How to Aim Pool Shots (HAPS): https://drdavebilliards.com/videos/aiming/
- “tips” of english: https://drdavepoolinfo.com/faq/sidespin/tips-and-percentage/
- swerve/massé shots: https://drdavepoolinfo.com/faq/masse/aiming/
- CB hold shots: https://drdavepoolinfo.com/faq/throw/hold/
- rail cut shots: https://drdavepoolinfo.com/faq/rail-cut/
- drag shot sidespin enhancement: https://drdavepoolinfo.com/faq/sidespin/drag/
- BU Sidespin Examples document: https://drdavepoolinfo.com/faq/sidespin/examples/
- clock system: https://drdavepoolinfo.com/faq/cue-ball-control/clock-system/
- BU Playing-Ability Exams: https://billiarduniversity.org/testing/exams/
- BU target practice drill video: https://drdavepoolinfo.com/faq/drill/target/
- rectangle target template: https://billiarduniversity.org/documents/BU_Rectangular_Target.pdf
- stun shot: https://drdavepoolinfo.com/faq/stun/
- 90˚ rule tangent line: https://drdavepoolinfo.com/faq/stun/90-degree-rule/
- glossary of pool/billiards terms/phrases: https://drdavepoolinfo.com/glossary/

Subscribe to Dr. Dave's YouTube Channel:
https://www.youtube.com/DrDaveBilliards?sub_confirmation=1

09/25/2026

Dr. Dave shows the best pro pool tournament shot sequences of all time from Chris Melling, Jayson Shaw, and Nick Varner. For much more info, see the full-length "TOP 10 BEST Pro Pool SHOT SEQUENCES of All Time" source video:
https://youtu.be/v31JlsDySH0

09/20/2026

CHALKGATE FOLLOW-UP - TAOM V10
Dr. Dave tests Taom V10 chalk, which many people in the comments of my previous video claimed is even better than Taom Pyro at reducing the chances for cling/skid/skid.
https://youtu.be/FVmgDb7S-po

Contents:
0:00 - Intro
0:48 - Testing Procedure
2:28 - Taom Pyro vs. Master Results
3:40 - Taom V10 Tests
6:08 - Taom V10 Results
7:17 - More Info

Supporting Resources:
- previous “ChalkGate” video: https://youtu.be/MSdLYSVg1Zc
- chalk testing resource page: https://drdavepoolinfo.com/faq/chalk/comparison/
- cling/skid/kick resource page: https://drdavepoolinfo.com/faq/throw/cling/
- rail ruler template:https://drdavepoolinfo.com/resource_files/rail_ruler.pdf
- stimpmeter ramp info: https://drdavepoolinfo.com/instructional-articles/pb-review/stimpmeter/
- “Pool Player Evolution” T-shirt: https://drdavebilliardtshirts.com/product-category/general/pool-player-evolution/

Subscribe to Dr. Dave's YouTube Channel:
https://www.youtube.com/DrDaveBilliards?sub_confirmation=1

09/20/2026

AMAZING DRAW!
Dr. Dave shows the greatest draw shots ever hit in pro pool tournaments.
For more, see the full-length "Top 20 DRAW SHOTS of All Time" source video:
https://youtu.be/CSVsr0lANMY

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