Cueing techniques
The five strokes available on any given shot, and where on the cue ball each one asks you to strike.
Before the strokes
Two things decide every shot
One
The direction of the cue ball
Two
The alignment with your object ball
Whichever stroke you choose, aim no more than the diameter of your cue tip away from the centre of the cue ball.
The five techniques
Where to strike the cue ball
1 ● Centre
Straight shot
A forward strike in the direction of the object ball, aiming for the centre of the cue ball. The cornerstone of both games.
2 ● Above centre
Follow shot
Strike a cue tip's length above centre. The cue ball follows the object ball, straight or at an angle depending on the shot.
3 ● Below centre
Draw shot
Strike below centre and the cue ball retreats towards you after contact, opening up positions nothing else will reach.
4 ● Left of centre
Left English
Hit left of centre and the cue ball deflects to the right. Mastering it means learning to compensate for that deflection.
5 ● Right of centre
Right English
The same again, struck right of centre, deflecting the cue ball to the left. Another layer of complexity to the game.
Avoiding miscues
Most miscues come from striking the cue ball too far from its centre, or from jabbing at it. Start with straight-in and cut shots, practising the five stroke positions, before moving on to cushion shots.