While waiting for their opponent to return from the
bar or telephone many players practice potting the
three baulk colours from their spots.
Here is something you may find more useful.
Place the cue-ball so it is touching the green, and try
to hit the pack of reds. Play this stroke with plenty of
bottom and right-hand side and aim as shown.
Studying the course the cue-ball takes from cushion
to cushion will increase your knowledge of the angles,
and give you reference points that will be of great use
when your faced with a similar position in actual play.
Vary this routine by placing the cue-ball behind the
brown and yellow, and remember to stop the cue-ball
to save re-racking the reds !
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Place the cue-ball as shown in Diagram 'A' and the red
over the middle pocket can be potted by aiming at the
centre of the opposite cushion.
This is known as the natural angle, but it is only made
when the cue-ball is struck gently and played without
side-spin, top or bottom.
When played strongly the cue-ball will rebound at a
sharper angle, and hit the cushion several inches
before the red.
The higher strength forces the cue-ball to sink into the
cushion which regains its normal shape so quickly that it
pushes the cue-ball away and distorts the natural angle.
This effect can be used to your advantage.
In Diagram 'B' the red is a few inches away from the
natural angle. Play the shot with great strength and
aim for a full-ball contact. You'll find the red rebounds
at an angle that will take it straight into the pocket.
You will all be familiar with the shot in Diagram C.
Play a double as hard as you can and the ball you're
trying to pot will go back and forth across the table,
straighten out, and never get to the pocket.
Well now you know why this happens !
If you play these shots with power you must allow
for the object-ball to rebound at a sharper angle and
allow for this before you get down to play the shot.
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