If you’re looking to take your pool game to the next level then without a doubt you’re probably looking online for tips and instructions for improving your skill set.
There are lots of useful websites online that can teach you more than what you already know but the best place to find instructions on how to improve your pool game is YouTube. On YouTube, you can see how to perform any of pools many skills.
From improving your stroke to running out a rack or doing drills designed to improve your weak points, you’ll learn everything you need to know by watching videos on YouTube. I know this because this is how I taught myself how to play pool to the point where I’m winning local competitions.
In this article, I’m going to point you to some of the channels that I’m subscribed to which have helped me out tremendously because of the quality of instructions available. These guys really know pool and are very qualified to show you how to take your game to where you want it to be.
Check out these 6 YouTube channels you should subscribe to if you want to improve your pool game.
1. Dr. Dave Billiards
One of the best-known pool instructors online is Dr. Dave Alciatore. He has numerous resources including his YouTube channel that provides pool players with lots of instructions to improve their pool game.
Dr. Dave is also the author of The Illustrated Principles of Pool & Billiards which covers everything from fundamentals (stance, stroke, aiming methods, etc) to advanced techniques (english, caroms, jump shots, masse shots, etc). The book has very high ratings from reviews on Amazon and readers highly recommend it.
Instructional products like his Video Encyclopedia series are also go-to products for pool instructions and practice for all disciplines of pool.
On Dave’s YouTube channel though, you can really get a lot out of his fun instructions and learn everything you need to know to improve your game one video at a time.
No matter what level of pool player you are, there are drills and other instructions that will help you to get better just by watching and putting what you learn into action.
Here are some of my picks from Dr. Dave’s YouTube channel.
2. Sharivari
Sharivari is a software engineer and designer from Germany who just happens to be an avid pool lover.
His expert knowledge allows him to create very engaging pool instruction videos for over 100,000 subscribers of his YouTube channel.
With over 100 videos that touch on topics such as game physics, key principles and drills for all skill levels, Sharivari is one of the primary providers of pool training on YouTube.
His videos have certainly helped me improve my own game and I often watch and re-watch some of his videos whenever I need to work on my game.
Here are a few of Sharivari’s videos so you can see his training style and how his software design knowledge allows him to create beautiful videos.
3. Lil’ Chris
Searching for a way to improve different weaknesses in my game introduced me to most of the YouTubers on this list.
For Lil’ Chris, I was looking for a way to improve my 8-ball break which landed me on one of his most viewed videos, a pool lesson on breaking the 8-ball rack two ways. I’ve embedded the video below for you to watch.
Lil’ Chris is just an average guy who decided to start a YouTube channel years ago to upload videos about fitness, programming, and his favorite hobby, pool.
His channel today is very successful and focuses more on pool than any other topic. Chris is actually a great player with a 600+ Fargo rating and regularly makes videos that touch on pool fundamentals, drills, lessons to improve different aspects of your game and of him running racks of 8-ball, 9-ball, and 10-ball against the ghost where his commentary helps you.
Lately, he has added pool coaching lessons where players would send video clips of them running a couple of racks so that Chris can offer advice on how they can improve their game.
Here are some videos from Lil’ Chris’ channel that showcase what he has to offer including the breaking video I mentioned above.
4. FX Billiards
Bryan Mitchell of FX Billiards has 30 years of experience as a pool tournament player and as a money player. This experience has allowed him to excel at the game to the point where he can give instructions to help others with their game.
Mitchell runs the FX Billiards website where you can order his book and get in-person and virtual pool lessons as well as view videos that he has produced.
The YouTube channel though is where you can find all the videos that will help you improve. There are videos on diverse pool topics such as caring for your pool cue and how to play on bad tables.
There are also coaching lessons and reviews of pool cues and other equipment you need to play the game.
Here are some videos from the FX Billiards YouTube channel that you may want to check out.
5. Tor Lowry
As I could remember, the very first time I searched on YouTube for “how to become better at pool”, the first video I ever watched on the topic was from Tor Lowry’s channel.
I’m not sure if I could find the exact video now but it was certainly helpful in improving some aspects of my game.
Tor Lowry is the creator of Zero-X Billiards, a training system designed to supercharge your game no matter your current skill level. The system is similar to pool training used in top pool training academies in China and Europe.
Many of his videos on YouTube contain excerpts and similar training from his training videos.
On Tor’s YouTube Channel, you’ll find lots of videos of pattern play, how to run out, how to make certain shots, lots of drills for 8, 9, and 10-ball and a web series called the 14-day experiment where Tor travels to select students to help them improve their game in just 14 days.
Tor Lowry’s channel isn’t as consistent with the output as the other channels on this list but there is certainly a wealth of good info that any player can use to his advantage.
Here is a sneak peek at what you can expect from this channel.
6. World Billiard TV
This one is different from the others on this list in that it’s not an instructor or a channel that gives pool instruction.
One of the best ways to improve your game besides consistent practice with the right drills that solidifies your fundamentals and strengthens your weaknesses is to observe great pool being played by great players.
The World Billiard TV YouTube channel (formerly Cuesports International) airs full matches of major pool events being played by professional players.
You can watch matches played by the best players in the world from Shane Van Boening and Ko Ping Chung to Joshua Filler and Jayson Shaw.
Observing the best professionals can help your game because you can see how they prepare for shots, how they run out patterns, and how they play shots and positions among other things. It also helps to hear the commentary while watching as the commentators will normally point out different scenarios during gameplay.
Watching World Billiard TV videos on YouTube really helped my game because I always want to emulate my favorite player, Shane Van Boening.
Here are some of my picks from World Billiard TV’s YouTube channel which will give you a taste of what is available. I’ve included my absolute favorite match to watch from the 2016 US Open 8 Ball tournament with Shane Van Boening and Josh Roberts.
Subscribe. Watch. Improve.
If you’ve been playing pool casually and want to take the game seriously or you’ve been taking it seriously but know that you can do better then this is your chance to really take your game to the next level.
Your next move is to check out all these channels, subscribe to the ones you like (the last one is not optional), watch the videos, and improve your game.
This is how I got better at pool so I know that the knowledge you’re going to get from these channels will work for you.
Do you know of any other YouTube channels with great instructions that I didn’t mention? Which of these do you already know about? Let me know in the comments below.
