How it works
When you hit the cue ball above centre, it spins forward and rolls. It hits the object ball full and gives it its speed. But the cue ball keeps its forward spin. The spin grips the cloth and pushes the cue ball forward again, after the object ball.
A cue ball hit in the centre also starts to roll after it slides a short way. Once it rolls, it follows the same way, whether you hit it in the centre or high. A high hit makes the cue ball roll from the start, so it follows even on short shots.
How far the cue ball follows depends on speed and on how high you hit it. About half a tip-width above centre is enough for most follow shots. For the most follow, go up to one tip-width above centre, but no higher. Any higher and the tip can slip off the cue ball. That is called a miscue.
Step by step
- 1
Set up a straight-in shot with room behind the object ball for the cue ball to roll on.
- 2
Raise your bridge by pulling your fingertips in a little. The tip should point about half a tip-width above the centre of the cue ball (Lesson 3). For more follow, go up to one tip-width.
- 3
Keep the cue level. Don’t lift the back of the cue.
- 4
Use a smooth stroke with a full follow-through (Lesson 4).
- 5
Watch the cue ball. It stops for a moment at contact, then rolls forward. Hit softer or harder to change how far it goes.
Common mistakes
Following into the pocket
On a straight-in shot, the cue ball can follow the object ball into the pocket. That is a scratch, which is a foul. In 8-ball, 9-ball and 10-ball your opponent then gets ball in hand anywhere on the table. In 8-ball, a scratch on the 8 loses the game. Use a stop shot or less speed instead.
Hitting too high
More than about one tip-width above centre, miscues come easily. Chalk before every shot.
Too much speed
The cue ball rolls far past where you wanted it.
Lifting the back of the cue to hit high
Raise your bridge instead.
Rolling it too softly on long shots
A very slow cue ball can drift off line on a table that isn’t level. On long shots, use a medium stroke and let the slide turn into roll on its own.
Practice this
Exercise · Level 1
Follow, don’t scratch
Put the object ball one diamond from a corner pocket. Place it on the diagonal towards the middle of the table, well away from the cushions. Put the cue ball on the same line, two diamonds further back. Pot the object ball. The cue ball should roll on at least half a diamond, but not into the pocket.
Exercise · Level 1
Follow ladder
The same shot, but put the object ball two diamonds from the pocket. Try to stop the cue ball a quarter, a half and three quarters of the way to the pocket. Five shots each.
Check yourself: 10 shots of “Follow, don’t scratch”. In 7 of them, the object ball drops, and the cue ball rolls on at least half a diamond and stays out of the pocket. Then you’re ready for the next lesson.
Note: on cut shots, follow bends the cue ball forward, away from the tangent line. Level 2 shows where it goes.