Control Your Cue Ball

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Author : JH Leong

The key to improving your game lies with the control of the cue ball.

In order to win frames you need to not just be able to pot the ball you are on but to think ahead and position the cue ball in a favorable position to increase the size of your break.

This is achieved by applying spin to the cue ball; the following paragraphs explain the types of spin you can apply to the cue ball:

Screw and Stun

You can stun the cue ball by hitting just under the middle of the ball, this will stop the white dead after hitting the object ball. If you want to screw the cue ball back you can apply back spin by striking the cue ball lower. The lower you strike the cue ball the more back spin will be applied, be careful not to jump the ball or rip the cloth!

You can control the direction of back spin by hitting the bottom center of the ball to bring it back in a straight line. Hitting the lower sides of the cue ball will bring it back to the left or right after impact with the object ball.

Side Spin

Side spin controls how the white ball moves towards the object ball. To make the white travel right of center strike the cue ball to the left of the center and vice versa. Side spin can be used to swerve the white ball and help get out of snookers but is hard to master.

Top Spin

To make the white ball continue traveling after hitting the object ball you can apply top spin by striking the top part of the cue ball. Many players raise their bridge hand to make this type of shot.

A great way to start practicing your cue ball control is by using a snooker training ball which is marked to show you where to strike the ball to achieve different types of spin.