Watch
Find the ghost ball as usual.
Why it matters
When the cue ball hits the object ball off centre, the two balls rub for a moment. That friction pushes the object ball a little in the direction the cue ball was moving. This is called throw. It is biggest on slow shots and on cuts near half-ball (about 30°). On a long shot, it is enough to miss.
How to do it
- 1
Find the ghost ball as usual.
- 2
If the shot is slow and a medium cut, aim a hair thinner: a few millimetres at the ghost ball.
- 3
On firm shots, aim normally. Speed makes throw smaller.
- 4
The right amount of outside side spin cancels throw, but only use it once your stroke is steady.
Common mistake
Blaming your stroke
If you keep missing slow cuts the same way, with the object ball not cut enough, it may be throw and not your stroke. Test it: play the same cut slow and firm, and see where the object ball hits the pocket.
Try it tonight
Exercise · Advanced
Slow and thin
Object ball one diamond out from the end cushion and one diamond out from the long cushion, near a foot corner pocket. Cue ball level with the first diamond past the side pocket, about 1½ diamonds out from that same long cushion (about a 30° cut). Play it softly, so the object ball only just reaches the pocket. Aim a hair thinner than the ghost ball shows. Every attempt counts.
- Pass: 4 of your last 5
- Then: Firm, with normal aim