Cue-ball control

Potting the ball is half of every shot. The other half is where the cue ball stops.

Slide, then roll

A struck cue ball first slides on the cloth and then starts to roll naturally. Where you hit it decides what it is doing at the moment it meets the object ball, and that decides where it goes after.

• Follow — hit above centre: the cue ball keeps rolling forward after contact.
• Draw — hit below centre: it is spinning backwards at contact and comes back towards you.
• Stun — hit a little below centre: it is sliding at contact and, on a straight shot, stops dead.
• Side — hit left or right: little effect on the pot, but it changes the angle off a cushion.

Angles are your friend

On a dead straight shot the cue ball can only go forward or back. With a slight angle, it leaves the object ball along the tangent line and spin bends that path, so you can send it almost anywhere. When you plan position, aim to leave a small angle on the next ball rather than a straight one.

Speed before spin

Most position errors are pace, not spin. Before reaching for draw, see whether a softer or firmer plain shot already stops the cue ball in a good place. Spin is strongest at medium power and above; on a very soft shot it has worn off before contact.

When to play safe

If there is no pot you would make more often than not, play a safety: roll the cue ball behind one of your own balls or send it to the far cushion. In nine-ball, leaving the lowest ball blocked is often worth more than a long pot.