Johnny Henson, Professor Pool Every pool player has experienced this: you line up for an easy shot, take your stroke, and watch the ball miss. Whether it rattles in the pocket, overcuts, or falls short, that single moment can stir up frustration, self-doubt, and tension. While the mishap itself is just a small part of…
Tag: pool
Sports, January 2026
Play Your Best Pool: Three Simple Steps to Improving Your Game
Johnny Henson, Professor Pool There are three things that can help every billiard player play much better in a short period of time 1. Players must realize that they can’t teach themselves. Books, videos, and the tip of the day from other players will never replace having lessons from a professional instructor. 2. Hiring a…
Sports, December 2025
Play Your Best Pool: Staying Relaxed and Positive When Not at the Shooting Table
Johnny Henson, Professor Pool We all miss shots and play dumb shots. It happens to all of us, and we get mad or down on ourselves. The difference between the better players and the weaker players is how well they control their emotions and actions when they are not shooting. Over the years I have…
October 2025, Sports
Play Your Best Pool: Practicing and Playing Speed Pool Can Help Improve Your Game in Many Ways
Johnny Henson, Professor Pool There is a new 8–ball tournament format that is being played by both professional and amateur players. It is called the Ultimate Pool League. The match has a time limit of 30 minutes with a 30 second shot limit. At 10 minutes left in the match the shot clock goes to…
Sports, September 2025
Play Your Best Pool: What Holds Players from Reaching Their Full Potential
Johnny Henson, Professor Pool Why are many of the top 100 professional players in the world ranked there year after year, while many other great players never achieve that upper level of success? It is the same reason why most of the top amateur league and tournament players are ranked at the top year after…
August 2025, Sports
Play Your Best Pool: Improving a Few Parts of Your Game in a Short Time
Johnny Henson, Professor Pool When most players try to improve their games they sometimes work on too many changes all at once. It makes me think of the old quote: “Jack of all trades and master of none.” With this thought in mind, I want you to focus on just the shots that you miss…
Sports, July 2025
Play Your Best Pool: Things to Consider When Buying a New Cue Stick or Shaft
Johnny Henson, Professor Pool Over the years cue sticks have evolved a lot. In 1978 I was playing with house sticks in the local pool hall in Big Spring, Texas, when the owner encouraged me to order a cue from a friend of his in Colorado Springs, Colo. His name was Bill Stroud, the owner…
January 2025, Sports
Play Your Best Pool: Playing with the Flow of the Game or Match
Johnny Henson, Professor Pool Most players would benefit from playing within the rhythm or flow of the game or match they are in. Millions of competitive billiard players wanting to improve their winning percentage should consider the flow of the game or match. Let us first talk about the flow of a game. When I…
December 2024, Sports
Play Your Best Pool: Consider Hiring a Coach, Trainer, and Mentor
Johnny Henson, Professor Pool Players must consider hiring a coach, trainer and mentor if they want to improve their games over time. I feel that the destiny of millions of billiard players wanting to improve their games could improve if they would consider hiring a coach. I have never believed in quick fixes. A quick…
Sports, November 2024
Play Your Best Pool: Practice with a Purpose
Johnny Henson, Professor Pool Are you a player struggling to improve your billiards game? If so, do you find it hard to differentiate between practicing and playing? If you answered yes to both of these questions, then you’re not alone. As a coach and mentor to many students, I feel the lack of true focus…