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.

Here’s a position drill addressing the full complement of vertical-axis English options and adding a progressive element. It’s a real eye-opener. Start with a simple cut shot to sink the 1, and depending on whether you apply draw, follow or a center-ball hit, you can send your cue ball almost anywhere on the table. (The red lines are for the follow shot, the black for center-ball, and orange for draw.) Even better, most of the options are essentially at mid-table, the most powerful place to land. Practice landing the cue ball at the marked positions (mostly corresponding to the short-rail diamonds). Hit one position three times in a row, then move to the next. Master this drill, and you’ll jump a skill level.