Controlling ball 2Sending ball 2 to its place with ball fraction and speed
Spinside −0.5 · high
Ball fraction1/2
Speed3/5
Same layout. Hit the red with a 1/2 ball fraction, half a tip of left (running) spin and medium speed. The red touches the right long cushion and the bottom short cushion and reaches the bottom left corner; after the third cushion the cue ball reaches the yellow and stops next to it. Result: ball 2 in the opposite corner as a big target, the cue ball near ball 3. With this ball fraction, speed is the most important variable.
While the cue ball's path stays the same, two things decide where ball 2 goes: the ball fraction (the direction and the energy passed on to ball 2) and the speed (how far ball 2 travels). The fuller the hit, the closer ball 2 goes to the cue ball's original line and the farther it travels; the thinner the hit, the more it slides to the side and the shorter it travels. To send the cue ball to the same cushion again, every change in ball fraction is balanced with spin.
When? When ball 2 can be sent to a corner or near a long cushion and the same point can be made with several different ball fractions. In these examples the layout is always the same; only the ball fraction, the spin and the speed change.
- 1Set the direction of ball 2 with the ball fraction and the distance it travels with the speed; treat them as two separate decisions. In the examples, medium speed at 1/2 ball takes the red to the opposite corner, while a soft stroke at the same ball fraction does not reach the corner.
- 2When you change the ball fraction, the cue ball's angle off ball 2 changes too; keep the same cushion path with spin. As you go thinner add running spin (the spin that opens the cue ball off the cushion), as you go fuller reduce it: two tips at 1/4, half a tip at 1/2.
- 3To keep the balls together, hit ball 2 thin (1/4): ball 2 travels a short way and you can easily judge where it will stop. In the example the red touches the right long cushion and the bottom short cushion and stays in the bottom-right corner.
- 4To send ball 2 to the opposite corner, hit at 1/2 ball and medium speed. Because ball 2 travels a long way, judge the speed carefully: a little too soft and it does not reach the corner, a little too hard and it goes past it.
- 5Recognize the ball fraction that sends ball 2 to the middle of the short cushion and avoid it. In this layout 3/8 ball sends the red to the middle of the bottom short cushion; either go thinner to 1/4 (near corner) or fuller to 1/2 (opposite corner).
- 6If ball 2 did not go to the corner, question the speed first. If you hit soft, it stops on the short cushion before reaching the corner; if you hit hard, it goes past the corner, comes back and gets close to the middle of the short cushion.
- 7In practice, play the same layout at 1/4, 3/8, 1/2 and 5/8 ball, each time adjusting the spin so the point is made. Mark where ball 2 stops and memorize which ball fraction sends the ball where.
Voice coach
PROThe voice coach is part of the Pro and Club plans.
Watch outThe fuller the hit, the less energy the cue ball keeps; it needs more speed to complete three cushions, and ball 2 goes even farther.
Watch outIf the path of ball 2 crosses the path of the cue ball, a kiss is possible; in these examples ball 2 stays in the lower area and the cue ball goes to the upper area.
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