POTTING ANGLED BALLS ( 5 minutes and 25 seconds )

Viewers of the first Play Pool video will have already mastered the technique of potting a straight ball.  The next area to study therefore, is how to pocket a colour which requires deflecting at an angle.

Of course, the number of different potting angles are infinite, but for the purposes of coaching and practice we shall cover the four main principals of full; three quarter; half; and quarter ball contacts.

The exact angle needed to sink an object ball cannot be taught as it is purely a matter of good eyesight, experience and above all - memory.

However, you may find the routine Jason is about to demonstrate a useful guide:

By placing the black ball on it’s spot and positioning the white in varying areas of the table, you are able to practice - and perhaps more importantly, memorise - the four basic shots mentioned earlier.

Initially, the professional executes the familiar full ball contact.

For this, place the white in the jaws of the centre pocket. 

The added difficulty here, of course, is that your bridge hand is resting on the side cushion and not on the baize.

Remember to employ the adjustments we have encountered before in order to compensate for this occurrence, and the shot itself should present few problems.

The second task, illustrated here from above, is the three-quarter ball contact.

Replace the black on the spot, but this time position the cue ball six inches across from the middle pocket to create the desired challenge.

Don’t forget the basics of addressing the table; stance; and the all-important cue action before actually attempting the pot because, although the objective is to pocket the ‘8’ ball at an angle, the straight line principal is still present.

Regardless of the fact that a three quarter ball deflection is required in all of the instances we are now witnessing, the white must still be propelled in a perfectly straight line to achieve success.

Where then, should the cue ball strike the object ball in order to pot it?