Being loud is not the only form of distraction. You have to be careful where you stand or how you move around the table. The way you move your body in the poolroom can be extremely distracting and could make the difference between someone making a pocket or dropping a pool cue. The tables are usually lined up in a pool hall and in the bigger rooms there is usually plenty of space to move around comfortably, but even in the biggest rooms there are ways you can get in the way — especially in terms of a player's line of sight.

If you're playing next to another table of players, you have to be mindful of when you are blocking a player's view. If the player at the table next to you is shooting from the side of his or her table that faces your table, be sure not to put your body between the player and the wall across from him or her.

If you accidentally get in the way of someone's line of sight, stay put until they've made the shot. Some players will object less to a motionless person than one who is moving around. If the player looks at you while you're standing there it usually means he or she wants you to move out of the way. In that case, just take a few sideways steps to get yourself out of the way.

Sshhhh …

Most players are very serious about their sport and may not want to deal with the newbies. It's fine to socialize between games, but keep it down while others are playing. You can always chat or ask questions later. One of the worst things you can do in conversation in the poolroom is to offer another player advice on a shot. Remember that some shots take a great deal of focus and concentration. Conversation and unwelcome advice is a distraction and could cause another player to miss a shot. You certainly won't be popular around that pool hall if that happens!

Watch That Cue!

Always do your best to keep nearby players within your range of vision. It is important to know where they are in reference to your table so that you don't bump into each other. It is very important to stay out of the way of another player's pool cue. When a player leans over the table, that cue stick can jut out quite a bit. You don't want to be in the way of a backstroke. That could not only hurt, but also make another player pretty annoyed.

Likewise you want to make sure you don't whack anyone else with your cue stick. The key is to be aware of other people around you and do your best to be respectful of their space and of their game. If everyone keeps this in mind, you will all be able to have an enjoyable time.

It is also not uncommon to need to stand in the same spot as a player at another table. Let's say he or she needs to shoot from the left side of his or her table and you need to shoot from the right side of yours. That means you will both need to occupy the same space at the same time. It is courteous to let the other player go first. If you both decide to let the other go first, one of you will have to agree at some point or you'll be as stuck as a frozen cue ball and object ball against a rail.

Don't stand in between tables at all if you can avoid it and when your opponent is playing, take a seat and wait until his or her inning is over before standing up again. If you must stand, stand over to the side and out of the way.