POTTING ANGLED BALLS ( 5 minutes and 25 seconds ) Page 2

Many coaches believe that, for any angled shot, the point on the object ball furthest from and directly opposite the chosen pocket is the correct contact point.

This is not strictly true due to a phenomenon known as the ‘throw’ effect, which is covered in detail in Blue Moon’s ‘Advanced Techniques’ video.

For now, it’s better to simply practice the three quarter routine until you are able to sink the black ten times in a row.  When you can achieve this feat - memorize the point of contact on the object ball for future use and you will have truly mastered the three quarter ball shot.

By settling the white twelve inches from the centre bag, the half ball tuition exercise is possible.

The same fundamental rules still apply so, if you encounter problems here, it could be your original sighting of the shot that is to blame.

Sighting is obviously one of the most important factors when playing angled shots.  At the final crucial moment of impact between the cue tip and the white, your attention must be focused on the exact point of the object ball you consider will create the necessary angle to complete the pot.

Your eyes can be allowed to flicker momentarily towards the pocket during your practice swings, but it is vital they remain firmly fixed upon the object ball - and definitely not the white! - as the stroke is made.

Our last discipline - practicing the thin quarter ball cuts - often proves the most troublesome for beginners, as they retain the embarrassing thought of missing the ball altogether. 

When executing this shot, as Jason can now demonstrate by placing the white directly below the spotted black, do not be afraid to miss the ‘8’ entirely.  It is preferable to do this a few times in practice in your attempt to gauge the correct angle, than it is to constantly make too thick a contact during match-play.

As always, once you have conquered the quarter ball shot ten times, file how it looked and felt in your memory for all time.

Of course, it is important to realize the angles we have covered will not only occur when the black is on it’s spot and the white lands in the positions we have studied.  These situations will appear all over the pool table time and time again!  So don’t be disheartened and think you have to learn hundreds of thousands of different shots, as the same basic four will crop up everywhere - you just need to learn to recognize them!