Watch
Look along the line from the pocket through the object ball.
Why it matters
To pot a cut shot, the cue ball must hit the object ball at one exact point. That point is hard to see. A whole ball is much easier to picture. If the centre of the cue ball goes to the centre of the ghost ball, the object ball goes in.
How to do it
- 1
Stand behind the object ball. Look along the line from the pocket through the middle of the object ball.
- 2
Picture a ball touching the object ball on that line, on the side away from the pocket. That is the ghost ball.
- 3
Get down behind the cue ball. Aim at the centre of the ghost ball, not at the object ball.
- 4
Stroke straight through. Don’t change your aim at the last moment.
Common mistake
Aiming at the contact point
The contact point is on the object ball, but the centre of the cue ball must go one ball-width further out, to the ghost ball. Aim at the contact point and you hit the object ball too full. It misses on the near side of the pocket.
Try it tonight
Exercise · Beginner
Pot a 30° cut
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). Picture the ghost ball before every shot. Every attempt counts.
- Pass: 4 of your last 5
- Then: 45° cut