Billiards

Bank/Kick Shot Systems

Contact point mirror kick

For an OB a ball's width from the rail.

1. Find distance from OB centre to nose of cushion
2. Mirror this distance to the other side
3. Visualise a line from that point to the centre of the CB
4. Roll the CB with slow to medium speed

• The aim point is the same regardless of CB location
• If the OB is closer than a ball's width from the cushion the aim point should be adjusted closer to the OB and further from the OB when the OB is more than a ball's width from the cushion

Midpoint Parallel Shift Kick

Beginner Mistakes

• When playing off the cushion (but also on every shot), keep the angle of your cue as parallel to the table as possible to avoid unintentional side which can result in swerving the CB
• When playing powerful draw shots, ensure you have enough distance between the CB and bridge to allow enough time to build up cue speed
• When playing harder shots especially, make sure your grip hand is relaxed throughout, tightening your grip will lower the cue tip and possibly result in a miscue
• Play a shot as gently as possible, the harder and faster a shot is played the harder it is to make the pocket
• The higher the cutting angle, the less backspin and more sidespin can be put on the CB

Tips

• Hit the CB with center-high when playing rail shots to make the object ball cling to the rail and play the ball pocket weight to avoid leaving the ball over the pocket
• Lots of chalk when playing with spin
• When hitting doubles: backspin with lessen the angle, topspin will widen the angle
• When playing plants, ignore the second object ball only visualise where the first object ball needs to hit the cushion to make the shot
• Close plants that are not perfect, play the left side of the first object ball to squeeze the second object ball to the right and vice-versa
• Play with touch of check side to "throw" the ball down the rail
• Visualise the shot before even getting down to the table
• Take a few steps back from the shot, place your back foot in line with the shot and "step into" the shot
• Adjust cue ball speed by shortening or lengthening your backstroke, this allows you to have the same speed and acceleration of stroke with every shot
• For very delicate shorts, also bring bridge hand closer to the cue ball
• Hit an angled shot with the same power/backspin as your would for a stop shot to "stun" the cue ball along the tangent to the object ball path
• When playing a cut shot with good action draw the cue ball will leave at an angle of three times greater than the cut angle, e.g. for a 30 degree (half ball cut) the cue ball will leave at an angle of 90 degrees
  • To get the angle, use the cue to visualise the initial cut angle (from center of cue ball to center of object ball) then step across to double the angle, then step across again the same amount to increase by the same angle again
  • Using your hand, measure the distance from the center of the cue ball to the center of the object ball along an arc, locking your hand, move along the arc twice and draw a line from the object ball to the intersection of the arc
• Soft stun shot - most throw on object ball, aim to over-cut the ball
• Only top of cue tip will make contact with the ball, so aim accordingly
• Hitting the cushion decreases the cue balls speed by roughly 50%, more rails more margin for error for final cue ball placement

Stance

1. Place left leg in line with shot and lock straight with most weight on left leg
2. Right foot slightly more forward so square on to shot
3. Place cue against chest to help guide the shot
4. Bridge palm of the hand touching the table
5. Elbow perpendicular to cue at address to ensure tip hits CB at desired location

Pre-shot Preparation

Think

1. Check the angle
2. Look at the next two balls
3. Pick your point on the table
4. Look for the best path to get there
5. Decide where to hit the CB

Prepare

6. Step on the aiming line
7. Visualise and feel the shot

Execute

8. Step into the shot
9. Do your pre-strokes
10. Pull back smoothly, pause, shoot

Pre-shot Preparation

1. Chalk cue
2. Stand behind the object ball and sight the ghost ball
3. Focus on the ghost ball and walk to the cue ball
4. Walk into the shot, placing foot on the line
5. Before coming down on the shot determine the speed of the shot and where the cue tip will make contact.
6. When you are down on the table begin aiming strokes/feathering.
7. Pause the tip at the cue ball to ensure the shot is properly lined up.
8. Focus on pulling the cue straight back fully completing the backstroke.
9. Once the backstroke has completed, begin the acceleration of the forward stroke reaching proper speed at the moment of impact.
10. Perform a proper follow-through keeping the tip on or just above the felt.
11. Keep your head down until the ball goes into the pocket.
12. Analyse the shot

Pattern Play Principles

1. Keep it simple - always look for the simplest shots
2. Leave correct angles - make sure you end up on the correct side of the object ball and always leave yourself some angle
3. Plan (at least) three balls ahead
4. Come into the line of the next shot
   • end-game patterns
5. Use cushions as brakes
6. Pocket balls in groups
7. Solve problems early
8. Master the table center
   • 45˚ rule (if the CB hits a short cushion at ~45˚ it will travel towards or through the centre (or close to the centre) of the table
9. Play smart shape
   • play for corners instead of sides
   • play for long-side shape
   • bring the CB back along the line
   • stay off the cushions
   • keep the CB reachable
10. Master position off hangers

Pattern Play Principles #2

1. Think three shots ahead
2. Pick a point on the table to land the CB
3. Go towards the line of the next object ball
4. Avoid danger zones
5. Get into position zones
6. Already position shots

Pocket Hangers

Avoiding a scratch

• Slightly cut the ball instead of hitting straight
• Hit the CB off the cushion first
• Play a stun/stop shot

CB Control

• Use the tangent line and pocket cheat to get the CB to the desired area on the table
• Play a thin cut with top and running side to come off two cushions

Reference shots

• rolling the CB along the rail a half-ball hit sends the CB along a diagonal towards the opposite middle pocket
• coming in along the diagonal, a rolling half-ball hit sends the CB along the rail
• thinning a hanger with running follow the CB can come out form the corner towards the middle of the table
• half-ball hit with follow from the center of the table will send the CB towards the center of the opposite shot rail
• a slow quarter ball hit from the center of the table will send the CB along the cushion
• slow half-ball hit from the break spot will send the CB to towards the diagonally opposite corner pocket
• a slow roll quarter-ball hit from the break spot will send the CB back along its original path to the break spot

Stun shot - no spin when making contact with object ball - hit low on cue ball at slow speed and almost center ball for harder shots.

Practice Session Tips

• Instead of long practice strokes, use micro-strokes before taking your shot, concentrating on where the cue tip will make contact with the cue ball.
• Ensure you know where you want to hit the cue ball before going down for the shot instead of making large adjustments once down.
• Use the cue ball's natural path wherever possible, i.e. avoid playing with side unless absolutely necessary.
• Create a game plan and the end position of the cue ball before going down on the table.
• Ensure you line up the shot before getting down on the table.

One Kick Rail System

1. Place the butt of your cue at the position where want the object ball to end up and the tip on the opposite rail.
2. Find the halfway point between the butt of the cue and the ball you wish to hit to that point and move the butt of the cue there.
3. Carefully move the cue parallel to this line until the cue is above the ball.

Example Kick Shot

Example Bank Shot

Three Kick Rail System

Reference Lines

1. Baulk Line Pot

With the edge of the cue ball inline with the centre of the object ball, and the object ball between the baulk line and the top cushion, potting the object ball in the corner pocket results in the cue ball rolling towards the middle diamond on the same long rail it was hit from.

2. Baulk Line and Black Spot Line

When the object ball is on the second diamond from the top or bottom cushions and is potted into a corner pocket, the cue ball will travel through the opposite second diamond line where the cue crosses that line.

This reference line often comes up a ball or so short in practice with a rolling ball, to compensate, add a half tip of outside spin to keep the system in line.

3. Center of the Table

A ball going into the end rail at 45 degrees will come out and go through the exact center of the table. Any object ball on the triangular line (with stun) will lead the cue ball through the center of the table.

Below you can see the natural angle of the cue ball would go into the 5-ball. Playing with backspin (draw) would lead the cue ball into the path of the 4 and 6-balls, but playing the ball with some top spin you can avoid the cannon on the 5-ball.

When a ball is off the line you can generally use a couple of rules to adjust yourself back through the center. If the object ball is within the "triangle" you'll want some draw to play end rail-side rail through the center. Conversely, when the object ball is outside the "triangle" add some follow to adjust the line back through the center.

4. The 45 Degree Rule

When potting the object ball at an angle of 45 degrees, the cue ball will deviate from the tangent by one dot per half length of the table.

5. Bank Shots

Due to the object ball biting into the cushion when the cue ball is hit hard, the angle of entry onto the cushion needs to be adjusted accordingly.

For a quarter table bank shot the object ball should hit the cushion approximately one quarter diamond further up the table. For a half table shot, half a diamond and for a full table bank shot, a full diamond.

6. The 6/7:1 Rolling Cue Ball Ratio

The ratio of about 6:1 is a useful rule of thumb when playing soft position.

Suppose the object ball is six diamonds from a pocket, and you want the cue ball to follow straightforward not more than about one diamond after the collision. If you just get the object ball to the pocket — six diamonds of travel — the (rolling) cue ball will roll forward about one diamond. Another way to state this is that on a full, soft follow shot, the cue ball will go forward one ball for each diamond the object ball travels.

Cut-induced Throw

Spin-induced Throw

Deflection

Side-induced Spin

Cue Ball Exit Angles

Stun shot

• perpendicular to object ball direction
• shallower the angle the less the ball will travel along the tangent line

Topspin/Follow Shot

• follows tangent line then curves forward
• thin cut very little affect
• straight shot, follows the object ball
• other angles follows the natural angle (~30˚), use the normal/narrow/wide peace sign for a guesstimate
• at slow speeds the natural angle is increased (more friction between the balls)
• at faster speeds the natural angle is followed but is offset along the tangent line
• narrow the angle even more by adding inside spin

Backspin/Draw Shot

• follows tangent line then curves back
• for straight shot, comes back from the object ball
• for a thin cut, very little affect
• between 0˚ and 40˚ the total angle the cue ball draws back is approximately three times the potting angle, i.e. 20˚ shot, the cue ball will draw back at a 60˚ angle
• always take into account any "pocket cheat" which will affect the draw angle

Practice Exercises

Wagon Wheel

With each consecutive pot of the first ball, attempt to move the cue ball in such a was as to hit each of the non-object balls.

Cheating the pocket and using inside spin to narrow the angle.

Rail first along the natural angle.

Using more speed to shift the natural angle down along the tangent line.

Using less than full topspin to lessen the natural angle and send the cue ball between the tangent and natural angle directions.

Stun shot will almost hit the ball, so cheating the pocket will change the tangent line direction enough to hit the ball.

Another option is to play the ball into the center of the pocket with a touch of topspin.

Ball is around 40% between the tangent line and a good action draw shot, so adjust the tip contact point down 40% from the stun shot position to the good action draw position.

Good action draw with good speed to shift the angle down the tangent line.

Cheating the pocket and good action draw.

Cheating the pocket as well as using better than good action draw.

Side Spin

Safety

Chinese 8-ball Rules

The Rack

• The 8-ball should be placed in the middle of the rack.
• A solid ball and a stripe ball should be placed on the two lower corners of the triangle.
• The remaining balls should be separated as far as possible.
• The top ball of the rack is placed on the "black spot".

The Break

• The cue ball can be placed anywhere on or behind the baulk line (head string).
• At least three balls must cross the baulk line on the break.
  • If one ball is pocketed off the break then only two balls need to cross the baulk line; if two balls are pocketed off the break then only one ball needs to cross the baulk line; if three balls are pocketed off the break then no balls need cross the baulk line.
• The table is open after the break and remains open until a stripe or solid ball is legally potted.
• Whilst the table is open you may not hit a stripe to pot a solid or vice versa.
• If the 8-ball is pocketed during the break it is re-spotted, unless playing "golden 8-ball" rules, in which case the player breaking wins the rack.

Fouls

• Any foul results in the opponent turn, with the opponent allowed to place the cue ball anywhere on the table (ball-in-hand).
• Any of the following are considered fouls:
  • Not having the cue ball or the object ball contact a cushion following a shot (unless the object ball is pocketed).
  • Pocketing your opponents ball (without first contacting your own).
  • Pocketing the cue ball.
  • Hitting a ball off the table (apart from the cue ball, the ball is considered as pocketed).
• The following result in an instant loss of rack:
  • Committing an intentional foul.
  • Pocketing the 8-ball then fouling.
  • Pocketing the 8-ball before pocketing their own balls.
  • Hitting the 8-ball off the table.
• Additional fouls when playing Premier league rules:
  • Pocketing the object ball in a pocket other than the one that was called.
  • 8-ball not pocketed in the same pocket as the previous ball.

Skill Shots

• You are allowed to pot your opponent’s balls if you make contact with your ball first.
• If you pot your own ball, your break continues, else it is the end of your turn, but no foul is called.

Standardized World Rules

Except when clearly contradicted by these additional rules, the General Rules of Pocket Billiards apply.

1. OBJECT OF THE GAME. Eight Ball is a call shot game played with a cue ball and fifteen object balls, numbered 1 through 15. One player must pocket balls of the group numbered 1 through 7 solid colors, while the other player has 9 thru 15 stripes. THE PLAYER POCKETING HIS GROUP FIRST AND THEN LEGALLY POCKETING THE 8 BALL WINS THE GAME.

2. CALL SHOT. In Call Shot, obvious balls and pockets do not have to be indicated. It is the opponent's right to ask which ball and pocket if he is unsure of the shot. Bank shots and combination shots are not considered obvious, and care should be taken in calling both the object ball and the intended pocket. When calling the shot, it is NEVER necessary to indicate details such as the number of cushions, banks, kisses, caroms, etc. Any balls pocketed on a foul remain pocketed, regardless of whether they belong to the shooter or the opponent.

The opening break is not a called shot. Any player performing a break shot in 8 Ball may continue to shoot his next shot so long as he has legally pocketed any object ball on the break.

3. RACKING THE BALLS. The balls are racked in a triangle at the foot of the table with the 8 ball in the center of the triangle, the first ball of the rack on the foot spot, a stripe ball in one corner of the rack and a solid ball in the other corner.

4. ALTERNATING BREAK. Winner of the lag has the option to break. During individual competition, players will alternate breaking on each subsequent game.

5. JUMP AND MASSE SHOT FOUL. While cue ball fouls only is the rule of play when a match is not presided over by a referee, a player should be aware that it will be considered a cue ball foul if during an attempt to jump, curve or masse the cue ball over or around an impeding numbered ball that is not a legal object ball, the impeding ball moves, regardless of whether it was moved by a hand, cue stick follow through or bridge.

6. LEGAL BREAK SHOT. Defined. To execute a legal break, the breaker with the cue ball behind the head string, must either 1, pocket a ball, or 2, drive at least four numbered balls to the rail. If he fails to make a legal break, it is a foul, and the incoming player has the option of 1 accepting the table in position and shooting, or 2, having the balls reracked and having the option of shooting the opening break himself or allowing the offending player to rebreak.

7. SCRATCH ON A LEGAL BREAK. If a player scratches on a legal break shot, 1, all balls pocketed remain pocketed, exception, the 8 ball: see rule 9, 2, it is a foul, 3 the table is open. PLEASE NOTE, Incoming player has cue ball in hand behind the head string and may not shoot an object ball that is behind the head string, unless he first shoots the cue ball past the head string and causes the cue ball to come back behind the head string and hit the object ball.

8. OBJECT BALLS JUMPED OFF THE TABLE ON THE BREAK. If a player jumps an object ball off the table on the break shot, it is a foul and the incoming player has the option of 1, accepting the table in position and shooting, or 2, taking cue ball in hand behind the head string and shooting.

9. 8 BALL POCKETED ON THE BREAK. If the 8-ball is pocketed on the break, the breaker may ask for a rerack or have the 8-ball spotted and continue shooting. If the breaker scratches while pocketing the 8 ball on the break, the incoming player has the option of a rerack or having the 8 ball spotted and begin shooting with ball in hand behind the head string.

10. OPEN TABLE. Defined. The table is open when the choice of groups stripes or solids, has not yet been determined. When the table is open, it is legal to hit a solid first to make a stripe or vice-versa. Note: The table is always open immediately after the break shot. When the table is open it is legal to hit any solid or stripe or the 8-ball first in the process of pocketing the called stripe or solid. However, when the table is open and the 8 ball is the first ball contacted, no stripe or solid may be scored in favor of the shooter. The shooter loses his turn and any balls pocketed remain pocketed, and the incoming player addresses the balls with the table still open. On an open table, all illegally pocketed balls remain pocketed.

11. CHOICE OF GROUP. The choice of stripes or solids is not determined on the break even if balls are made from only one or both groups. THE TABLE IS ALWAYS OPEN IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE BREAK SHOT. The choice of group is determined only when a player legally pockets a called object ball after the break shot.

12. LEGAL SHOT. Defined. On all shots except on the break and when the table is open, the shooter must hit one of his group of balls first and 1, pocket a numbered ball, or 2, cause the cue ball or any numbered ball to contact a rail.

PLEASE NOTE: It is permissible for the shooter to bank the cue ball off a rail before contacting his object ball. However, after contact with his object ball, an object ball must be pocketed, Or the cue ball or any numbered ball must contact a rail. Failure to meet these requirements is a foul.

13. SAFETY SHOT. For tactical reasons a player may choose to pocket an obvious object ball and also discontinue his turn at the table by declaring safety in advance. A safety shot is defined as a legal shot. If the shooting player intends to play safe by pocketing an obvious object ball, then prior to the shot, he must declare a safety to his opponent. If this is NOT done, and one of the shooter's object balls is pocketed, the shooter will be required to shoot again. Any ball pocketed on a safety shot remains pocketed.

14. SCORING. A player is entitled to continue shooting until he fails to legally pocket a ball of his group. After a player has legally pocketed all of his group of balls, he shoots to pocket the 8 ball.

15. FOUL PENALTY. Opposing player gets cue ball in hand. This means that the player can place the cue ball anywhere on the table, and does not have to be behind the head string except on opening break. This rule prevents a player from making intentional fouls which would put his opponent at a disadvantage. With cue ball in hand, the player may use his hand or any part of his cue including the tip to position the cue ball. When placing the cue ball in position, any forward stroke motion contacting the cue ball will be a foul, if not a legal shot. Also see Rule 39 in the General Rules of Pocket Billiards.

16. COMBINATION SHOTS. Combination shots are allowed. However, the 8 ball cannot be used as a first ball in the combination except when the table is open.

17. ILLEGALLY POCKETED BALLS. An object ball is considered to be illegally pocketed when 1, that object ball is pocketed on the same shot a foul is committed, or 2, the called ball did not go in the designated pocket, or 3, a safety is called prior to the shot. Illegally pocketed balls remain pocketed.

18. OBJECT BALLS JUMPED OFF THE TABLE. If any object ball is jumped off the table, it is a foul and loss of turn, unless it is the 8 ball, which is a loss of game. Any jumped object balls are spotted in numerical order according to General Rules for spotting balls.

19. PLAYING THE 8 BALL. When shooting at the 8 ball, a scratch or foul is not loss of game if the 8 ball is not pocketed or jumped from the table. Incoming player has cue ball in hand. Note, A combination shot can never be used to legally pocket the 8-ball.

20. LOSS OF GAME. A player loses the game if he commits any of the following infractions:

a. Fouls when pocketing the 8 ball. Exception. See 8-Ball Pocketed On the Break.

b. Pockets the 8 ball on the same stroke as the last of his group of balls.

c. Jumps the 8 ball off the table at any time.

d. Pockets the 8 ball in a pocket other than the one designated.

e. Pockets the 8 ball when it is not the legal object ball.

Note: All infractions must be called before another shot is taken, or else it will be deemed that no infraction occurred.

21. STALEMATED GAME. If, after 3 consecutive turns at the table by each player, 6 turns total, the referee judges or if no referee, both players agree, that attempting to pocket or move an object ball will result in loss of game, the balls will be reracked with the original breaker of the stalemated game breaking again. The stalemate rule may only be used when there are only two object balls and the 8 ball remaining on the table. PLEASE NOTE, Three consecutive fouls by one player is not a loss of game.