Top is applied to the cue-ball by striking above centre and following-through with
the cue. This high striking causes the cue-ball to spin with a forward motion that
gives it the extra momentum to run-through after the object-ball.
On a straight shot the cue-ball will obviously run along behind the object-ball in a
straight line (as shown in the second exercise on cue-action). On an angled shot
the cue-ball will run through on a slightly thinner angle than if it were struck lower
(as illustrated in the Stun section).
The exercise shown below should be studied by players making breaks of 40
or less. Variations of these positional problems occur throughout every game.
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First pot the straight pink with a fairly strong
'punching' type of shot, striking the cue-ball
just above centre as shown in Diagram 1. The
cue-ball should then run through three or four
inches to drop behind the nearest red. With a
little practise you will consistently make this
positional shot.
The second stroke, potting the red nearest the
pink to gain position on the black, requires the
cue-ball to be struck much higher as shown in
Diagram 3. More top is required due to the short distance between the
cue-ball and the red. Hit the cue-ball too close to the centre on this
stroke and you will probably stop the cue-ball dead, ending your break.
Strike it high, follow-through and practise until you get straight on the
black. Pot the black and replace the cue-ball behind the pink.
Now start the sequence again but play for the second red. Strike the
cue-ball a little higher and play with the same strength as you did for
the first. If you get straight on the second red you will need to strike
the cue-ball as shown in Diagram 2 to gain position on the black.
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Players making breaks of forty or more should begin from position a.
Players making breaks of forty or less should begin from position b.
The striking points shown for each shot only give an indication of where to strike
the cue-ball. The exact aiming point will always depend on the distance between
the two balls, the strength that you play the shot, and the distance that you
follow through with the cue.
General Notes on Top-Spin
Keep the cue as horizontal as you can to avoid downward striking or you will squeeze
the ball between the tip and the cloth. If you also strike the cue-ball off-centre even
the slightest amount of side-spin will be increased and lower your chance of playing a
successful stroke.
There will be times when you have to raise the back of the cue due to an intervening
ball, and on these occasions you must take great care to ensure that the centre of
the tip is directly underneath the highest part of the ball (Diagram 3). The centre of
the tip will then be correctly aligned on the cue-ball's vertical centre and no side-spin will be given to the ball.
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