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Stay down until it drops

Keep your head still until the object ball is in the pocket. Standing up early pulls the cue off line.

  • Stroke
  • All levels
  • 10-second clip

Watch

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

Stroke through the cue ball.

Drawn on the site, with the CueSensei character.

Why it matters

If you lift your head while the cue is still moving, your shoulder and arm lift too. That pulls the cue off line, often just before the tip hits the cue ball. Staying down until the object ball drops keeps everything still.

How to do it

  1. 1

    Get down on the shot and settle your aim.

  2. 2

    Stroke through the cue ball.

  3. 3

    Keep your head and body still. Watch the object ball all the way to the pocket.

  4. 4

    Stand up only after it drops, or after it misses.

Common mistake

Looking up to see the result

Wanting to see if the shot goes in makes you stand up early. You will see the result anyway. Count “one, two” in your head after the hit, then stand up.

Try it tonight

Exercise · All levels

Freeze until it drops

Object ball one diamond out from the end cushion and one diamond out from the long cushion, near a foot corner pocket. Cue ball on the straight line to the pocket, three and a half diamonds back. Stay down on every shot until the object ball drops. Every attempt counts.

  • Pass: 4 of your last 5
  • Then: Ask a friend to watch your head