Tag Archives: cue ball

(CBC) Cue Ball Control (full table patterns) – Group 8, 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, Medium 2 speed.
  • Cheat: 12:00, Medium 1 speed.

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(CBC) Cue Ball Control (half table patterns) – Group 3, Set 10

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.
    6:00, Medium 2 speed.
  • Cheat: 7:30, Soft 3 speed.
    2:00, Soft 2 speed.
  • Cheat: 12:00, Soft 2 speed.
    6:00, Medium 1 speed.
  • Cheat: 1:30, Soft 2 speed.
    6:00, Medium 1 speed.

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(S&D) Safety & Defense – Shadow Zones

(About the author)

Safety Toolbox (Advanced)

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

A shadow zone is the table area behind one or more blocking balls. It is the key element of a hidden ball safety type. Any target ball within the shadow zone can be reached either by jumping the blocking ball (if rules allow) or shooting the cue ball off one or more cushions. Continue reading

(FAQ) How to check your stroke for flaws

(About the Author)

This is the basic setup for this self-evaluation process:

  • Five (5) striped balls
  • Line up balls about 1 diamond from short rail.
  • All shots are done on the vertical center line:
    12:00 contact is one tip above center
    6:00 is one tip below center
  • All balls are shot into one of the far corner pockets Continue reading

(FAQ) How do you learn ball speeds on different tables?

(About the Author)

When you play regularly on the same table (or tables), you pretty much have a dialed in stick speed standard for that table. You know how far the cue ball will go on a lag shot. When you can cut a ball into a corner, you “know” what speed is necessary to pocket the ball and come off the cushion into rough position for the next shot. For you, these are part of your natural shots, and the calculations for the shot hardly require any effort. Continue reading

(CBC) Cue Ball Control (half table patterns) – Group 5, Set 1

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 1 speed.
  • Cheat: 12:00, Soft 1 speed.

Continue reading

(CBC) Cue Ball Control (half table patterns) – Group 3, 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: 6:00, Medium 1 speed.
    12:00, Soft 2 speed.
  • Cheat: 2:00, Soft 1 speed.
  • Cheat: 6:00, Soft 3 speed.
  • Cheat: 1:30, Soft 2 speed.

Continue reading

(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