Tag Archives: cue ball

(FAQ) How do you plan to run a table layout?

(About the Author)

If you’ve ever watched good players compete, every shot is designed to accomplish two objectives – pocket the current object ball and move the cue ball into a table location where the next object ball can be targeted. The only significant difference between the good players and the better players is their ability to do this on a routine basis. Continue reading

(FAQ) How can your shooting game go wrong?

(About the Author)

When your shooting game goes off into failure-land and your shooting results begin to significantly deviate from your intentions, something has gotten out of kilter – usually your fundamentals. The problem is – how long does it take before you notice that something is wrong and take corrective action? Generally, by the time you do wake up, the game count is tough. You might recover – but the struggle to win becomes a low probability proposition. Continue reading

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

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

Continue reading

(CBC) Cue Ball Control (full table patterns) – Group 9, 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: Stun, Hard 1 speed.
  • Cheat: 12:30, Medium 2 speed.
  • Cheat: 12:00, Medium 2 speed
  • Cheat: Stun, Medium 2 speed.

Continue reading

(S&D) Safety & Defense – Ball-in-Hand: Blessing or Curse?

(About the author)

Safety Toolbox (Advanced)

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

Maybe an effective hidden ball safety worked or your opponent badly screwed up to give you a ball in hand situation. A momentary thrill starts in your belly and shoots up your spine. You can barely suppress your joy. All the while, you struggle to maintain a mild expression of sympathy while offering insincere condolences to your opponent. (It would be poor sportsmanship to express pleasure in the midst of your opponent’s disappointment.) Continue reading

(S&D) Safety & Defense – Wall of Balls Tactics

(About the author)

Safety Toolbox (Advanced)

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

This is a variation of the hidden ball safety. A wall of balls provides overlapping shadow zones that together make a huge table area to set up a hidden ball safety. This enlarged table area makes it easier to roll a ball into it. Your opponent is forced to kick the cue ball off other rails in an attempt to make a legal hit. Continue reading

(FAQ) Do you calculate the odds on a shot?

(About the Author)

When facing a table layout and figuring out what to do, every shot you consider falls will be within your comfort zone or in your chaos zone. A shot within your comfort zone means you can make it 7 or 8 times in 10 tries. As the chances of success get smaller, it falls into your chaos zone. Every shot has to calculate the odds. Continue reading

(CBC) Cue Ball Control (half table patterns) – Group 1, Set 7

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, (1/2 ball hit), Soft 3 speed.
  • Cheat: 1:30 (1/2 ball hit), Soft 3 speed.
  • Cheat:

Continue reading