A longtime teaching pro at Amsterdam Billiard Club in New York City, Tony has dozens of regional and national titles to his name, including the 2004 BCA Open 9-Ball Championships. He's a 7-time Tri-State Player of the Year, and has run 267 balls in straight pool.

There’s almost always more than one way to get to a specific point on the table — it’s just that some ways are easier than others. Given the choice, you’d like to use a one-rail position shot over a two- or three-railer, but sometimes obstacles get in the way. Let’s look at three different routes for getting shape on the 2 ball after sinking the 1. The blue path for one-rail position requires a hit at about 2 o’clock. The orange path for two-rail position needs low-left English, or an 8 o’clock hit. And the purple path for three rail position requires an 11 o’clock hit. This is a good drill for gauging the different speeds required for one-, two- and three-rail shots. Be aware that table conditions will affect your speed. [Courtesy Larry Schwartz]