Finding Cover

WHAT IS the most important factor in cue ball control? Speed. Gauging cue ball speed has a huge impact on your ability to play position. And that’s true not only for playing position for your next shot. It’s equally important when playing safety position.

This month, let’s focus on cue ball speed off a rail for the purpose of playing safe. Look at the diagram. Position on the 2 ball is less than ideal, so the best play is to send the 2 ball up table while tucking the cue ball in behind the 5 and 7.

Start with the cue ball shown in position C-1. This is a nice, easy shot that should allow you to get a feel for the speed and angle required to find safe haven in behind the 5 and 7. Obviously, you must also plan the angle off the 1 that will send the cue ball to that area. Once you figure the angle off the 2 ball, the easiest way to get to that spot is to apply a tip or two of left english to the cue ball. This will greatly increase the effectiveness of the shot and will allow you to use less speed on your stroke. Let the english add speed to the cue ball’s path after hitting the long rail. You want to get that cue ball in as close to those blockers as possible for the most effective safety. Try this shot several times, adjusting your speed until you can achieve a lock-down safe three shots in a row.

Add a few variables to the shot, like using varying degrees of english to see how the cue ball’s path off the bottom rail changes from shot to shot. How full you hit the object ball will also affect the amount of english required to reach your desired spot. The fuller the hit on the 2, the more english you’ll need to apply to open the cue ball’s angle off the long rail.

Don’t forget to practice from the other side of the table too, which would require you to use right english.