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Follow through past the cue ball

Let the cue keep moving straight after the hit. Stopping at the cue ball makes you slow down early and steer.

  • Stroke
  • Beginner
  • 10-second clip

Watch

head stillpausethumb and two fingers, lightstay loosestroke 0straight downelbow stays stilla hand’s width paststill on the line
1

Pick a point about a hand’s width past the cue ball.

Drawn on the site, with the CueSensei character.

Why it matters

If you plan to stop the cue at the cue ball, your arm starts slowing down before contact. That makes speed hard to judge, and it often steers the cue to one side. A full follow-through keeps the cue moving smoothly through the cue ball and on a straight line.

How to do it

  1. 1

    Pick a point about a hand’s width past the cue ball.

  2. 2

    Stroke so the tip reaches that point.

  3. 3

    Finish with the cue still pointing along the line of the shot.

  4. 4

    Hold the finish for a moment and check where the tip ended.

Common mistake

Jabbing

A short, stabbing stroke that stops at the cue ball feels safe, but it is hard to control. On soft shots, use a shorter backswing, not a shorter follow-through.

Try it tonight

Exercise · Beginner

Check your finish

Object ball on the foot spot. Cue ball two diamonds behind it, on the line to a corner pocket at the foot end. After each shot, freeze and check: is the tip past where the cue ball was, and still on the line? Every attempt counts.

  • Pass: 4 of your last 5
  • Then: The same shot with draw