You can consider yourself at the intermediate level when you feel comfortable with the cue and confident in your stroke and you're consistently pocketing balls. Now it's time to pay attention to the details of the shots. You should start to get some practice at different types of shots. You can do this while playing with a friend or try just setting up your own shots on the table.

Don't get frustrated at this point. When you play these kinds of position shots, you are bound to miss most of the time unless you keep a few things in mind while you practice. Here are some questions you should ask yourself:

• Where do you want the cue ball to be after the shot?

• What kind of spin do you want to put on the cue ball (where will the tip make contact)?

• How fast do you want the cue ball to travel?

Most beginners start out by learning to play eight ball, which is a good way to get into the swing of the game. Now that you have the basics down, you should give nine ball a try. Nine ball requires you to make more long shots and will challenge your ability to move the cue ball around the table. Straight pool is challenging as well, but in a different way. This game will allow you to work on pattern shots and manipulating the cue ball in a confined area.

It is not uncommon at this point to get a little frustrated — but don't let it deter you from having a good time. If you find that you're not improving, you may want to get some private instruction or buy yourself an instructional video. If you have a friend willing to take the time to give you some pointers, and you're determined to improve your play, it's not a bad idea to have someone right there to tell you what you might be doing wrong. If you can make it past this point of practice, you will be well on your way to playing with confidence.

Here are some tips for checking potential errors:

• Try freezing in position after you hit the cue ball. Is your cue stick in the right position? Did it move to the right or the left of the ball, causing you to miss the object ball?

• Check the angle of your cue after hitting the cue ball. In most cases, your arm should be swinging in a pendulum-like motion below your elbow with little or no upper arm movement, so your cue should be pointing down at the table. If it is parallel or in any other position, double-check how you are holding your arm from backswing to follow-through. You may be dropping your upper arm before impact. This will definitely affect the position of the cue tip.

• Watch the professionals. Study their movements, their stance, their focus, and the angle of the cue to the table. You're bound to come away with some ideas that will work for you.