How it works
The cue ball stops dead if two things are true. It hits the object ball full, and it has no spin at that moment. It slides into the object ball instead of rolling. All its speed goes into the object ball, and nothing is left to move the cue ball forward or back.
On a short shot, up to about one metre, a centre hit at medium speed is enough. The cue ball slides all the way and stops. On longer shots the cloth makes the cue ball roll forward, and a rolling cue ball follows the object ball. So on longer shots you hit the cue ball a little below centre. The small backspin wears off on the way, and the cue ball arrives sliding.
The further the cue ball travels, and the softer you hit it, the more backspin wears off. For long or soft shots, hit the cue ball a bit lower or a bit harder.
Step by step
- 1
Set up a straight-in shot: cue ball, object ball and pocket on one line.
- 2
Aim for a full hit on the object ball (Lesson 5).
- 3
On a short shot, aim at the centre of the cue ball. On a longer shot, lower your bridge a little, so the tip points about half a tip-width below centre.
- 4
Keep the cue level. Use a medium, smooth stroke at a steady speed, with a full follow-through (Lesson 4).
- 5
Stay down and watch the cue ball. If it rolled forward, hit it a little lower or a little harder next time. If it came back, hit it a little higher or softer.
Common mistakes
Too high or too soft
The backspin is gone before the cue ball reaches the object ball. The cue ball rolls and follows forward.
Too low or too hard on a short shot
The cue ball still has backspin at contact, so it comes back towards you.
Lifting the back of the cue to hit low
Lower your bridge instead (Lesson 3).
Slowing down at contact
You can’t judge the speed the same way twice.
Not quite straight in
The cue ball slides off to the side, along the tangent line. Check your aim (Lesson 5).
Practice this
Exercise · Level 1
Stop ladder
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, one diamond further back. Do five stops. Then move the cue ball back to two diamonds, then three.
Exercise · Level 1
Stop · stun · draw drill
The scored drill in the Drill library. Start with the stop part.
Check yourself: cue ball two diamonds from the object ball, 10 shots. In 7 of them, the object ball drops and the cue ball stops within one ball-width of where it touched the object ball. Then you’re ready for the next lesson.
Note: the same sliding hit on a cut shot sends the cue ball off almost at a right angle to the object ball’s path. That is the tangent line from Lesson 5. Level 2 builds on this.