Cue ball control explained: stun, follow, draw and side (English)

TUREFF• •0

Potting a ball is half the shot. Where the cue ball goes afterwards decides whether you get a simple next shot or a nightmare. Cue ball control, often called position play, comes from where you strike the cue ball and how hard. Here are the four basic tools, explained simply, with drills to build them.

First: hit the cue ball where you mean to

Picture the face of the cue ball as a clock. Centre is the middle; top, bottom, left and right are the edges. Every effect below comes from a small change in contact point. Small means small: most shots use a strike point within about half a ball's radius of centre. Hitting too close to the edge causes miscues. Chalk the tip before every few shots, and keep your cue level as far as the table allows.

Stun

A stun shot stops the cue ball dead, or close to it, on a straight shot.

Strike slightly below centre, firmly enough that the cue ball is sliding, not rolling, when it reaches the object ball.
On a straight shot, a sliding cue ball hands all its forward motion to the object ball and stops on the spot.
On a cut shot, stun sends the cue ball off roughly at right angles to the object ball's path.

Stun is the most useful shot for beginners because it is predictable.

Follow (topspin)

Follow makes the cue ball keep rolling forward after contact.

Strike above centre with a smooth follow-through.
On a straight shot, the cue ball follows the object ball along the same line.
Use it to move the cue ball forward towards the next ball.

Even a centre-ball hit eventually becomes natural roll; follow just gets there sooner and stronger.

Draw (backspin, or screw in the UK)

Draw makes the cue ball come back towards you after contact.

Strike below centre and keep a relaxed grip with a long, smooth follow-through. Trying to jab or flick the cue backwards usually spoils the shot.
The cue ball needs to still be spinning backwards when it hits the object ball, so on longer shots you need more pace or a lower strike.
Keep your bridge firm and your cue as level as possible.

Many beginners think draw takes great strength. It takes a clean, low strike and a good follow-through more than power.

Side (English)

Side spin comes from striking left or right of centre.

It mainly changes how the cue ball reacts off a cushion, widening or narrowing the angle it comes off at.
It also makes the cue ball push slightly off line (often called squirt or deflection) and can curve with the cloth, so you have to adjust your aim.

Use side only when you need it. Many strong players use far less than beginners expect, because centre-ball, stun, follow and draw cover most positions.

Drills

Stop shot drill: line a ball up straight with a pocket, cue ball a short distance behind. Pot it and stop the cue ball dead. Then move the cue ball further back and repeat.
Follow and draw ladder: on a straight shot, pot the ball and try to stop the cue ball at set distances forward and back. Mark targets with a coin or chalk cube.
Stun angle drill: set up a cut shot and use stun to send the cue ball off at a right angle into a target zone.
Side off a cushion: send the cue ball into a cushion with left, centre and right side and watch how the angle changes.
Three-ball run: scatter three balls and try to pot them in order, choosing stun, follow or draw for each.

Habits worth building

Decide where you want the cue ball before you get down on the shot.
Use the simplest effect that works; less spin means fewer errors.
Control speed first. Most position errors are pace, not spin.

Which cue ball shot took you longest to master? Share your questions and drills in the comments below.