Tag Archives: cue ball

(S&D) Safety & Defense - About Precision Side Spin

(About the author)

Safety Toolbox (Advanced)

(This is today's bit of advice from the book Safety Toolbox.)

Side spin (also known as English) occurs when the cue tip contacts the cue ball to the left or right side of the vertical line (12:00 to 6:00). The cue tip contact can range from a very small off-line of 1/8 to 1/4 tip away from true vertical) to contact points that are so far out (2.5-4 tips out from zero position) that the cue tip cannot make a firm contact. The result is a miscue with the cue skittering away and the cue ball reacting strangely. Continue reading →

(CBC) Cue Ball Control (half table patterns) - Group 6, Set 11

Cue Ball Control Cheat Sheets

This is today's set of Cue Ball Cheats. These practice setups (and others in the book and blog) help you learn HOW to apply an exact speed and spin. That precision is how to get perfect shape on the second ball - and how to string a run together. For these layouts here are the Cheats for this post:

  • Cheat: 12:00, Soft 2 speed.
  • Cheat: 12:00, Soft 1 speed.
  • Cheat: 1:30, Medium 1 speed.
  • Cheat: 12:00, Medium 2 speed.

Continue reading →

(CBC) Cue Ball Control (full table patterns) - Group 9, Set 9

Cue Ball Control Cheat Sheets

This is today's set of Cue Ball Cheats. These practice setups (and others in the book and blog) help you learn HOW to apply an exact speed and spin. That precision is how to get perfect shape on the second ball - and how to string a run together. For these layouts here are the Cheats for this post:

  • Cheat: Stun, Medium 1 speed.
  • Cheat: 12:00, Soft 3 speed.
  • Cheat: 12:00, Soft 3 speed.
    6:00, Medium 1 speed.
  • Cheat: 6:00, Soft 3 speed.

Continue reading →

(CBC) Cue Ball Control (full table patterns) - Group 7, Set 5

Cue Ball Control Cheat Sheets

This is today's set of Cue Ball Cheats. These practice setups (and others in the book and blog) help you learn HOW to apply an exact speed and spin. That precision is how to get perfect shape on the second ball - and how to string a run together. For these layouts here are the Cheats for this post:

  • Cheat: 1:00, (1/2 ball hit), Medium 2 speed.
    10:00, (1/2 ball hit), Soft 3 speed.
  • Cheat: 6:00, (3/4 ball hit), Medium 1 speed.
    11:30, (1/2 ball hit), Soft 3 speed.
  • Cheat: 12:00, (1/2 ball hit), Soft 1 speed.
    (If you can catch 3/4 of the 1 ball, use 6:00 to slide the cue ball down.)

Continue reading →

(CBC) Cue Ball Control (half table patterns) - Group 5, Set 3

Cue Ball Control Cheat Sheets

This is today's set of Cue Ball Cheats. These practice setups (and others in the book and blog) help you learn HOW to apply an exact speed and spin. That precision is how to get perfect shape on the second ball - and how to string a run together. For these layouts here are the Cheats for this post:

  • Cheat: 10:30, Medium 1 speed.
  • Cheat:

Continue reading →

(CBC) Cue Ball Control (half table patterns) - Group 6, Set 9

Cue Ball Control Cheat Sheets

This is today's set of Cue Ball Cheats. These practice setups (and others in the book and blog) help you learn HOW to apply an exact speed and spin. That precision is how to get perfect shape on the second ball - and how to string a run together. For these layouts here are the Cheats for this post:

  • Cheat: Stun, Medium 1 speed.
  • Cheat: Stun, Medium 2 speed.
  • Cheat: 7:30, Medium 3 speed.
  • Cheat: 12:00, Soft 3 speed.

Continue reading →

(S&D) Safety & Defense - Cue Ball Management Exercises - Incremental Control

(About the author)

Safety Toolbox (Advanced)

(This is today's bit of advice from the book Safety Toolbox.)

Without control over how far the cue ball travels, you are just guessing where things stop. This allows billiard god luck (chaos) to enter your game. With control, offensively you can play better position. With control, clever defensive shots can greatly frustrate your opponent. Continue reading →

(CBC) Cue Ball Control (full table layout) - Group 12, Set 12

Cue Ball Control Cheat Sheets

This is today's set of Cue Ball Cheats. These practice setups (and others in the book and blog) help you learn HOW to apply an exact speed and spin. That precision is how to get perfect shape on the second ball - and how to string a run together. For these layouts here are the Cheats for this post:

  • Cheat: 10:30, Medium 1 speed.
  • Cheat: 12:00, Soft 1 speed.
  • Cheat: Stun, Hard 1 speed.
  • Cheat: 12:00, Soft 3 speed.

Continue reading →