Shot #2 For Improving Your Billiards Skills

The Stop Shot

Shot #2:  The "stop shot" (using a cue ball with the red dots all over will allow you to see the ball sliding across the table felt).

On a straight-in shot, when you pocket a ball, and the cue ball stops dead, you have done a "stop shot."  The need for this shot will present itself to you many times, so it's essential that you have this shot in your arsenal of tools. 

To perform a stop shot, from a straight-in position, you need to strike the cue ball at a particular position, causing the cue ball to slide to the object ball, with very little or no backspin.

1.   If the cue ball is within 12" of the object ball (straight-in), a firm shot, struck in the center of the cue ball will stop it at the point of contact!  If the cue ball is shot easy or softly, the cue ball will follow the object ball.  You will need a firm & solid hit on the center of the cue ball.

2.  The further the cue ball is from the object ball (straight-in), the cue ball needs to be struck a little lower from the center of the ball, and a little harder, to make it slide and contact the object ball with little or no back spin.   Quite often, in order to get position on the next shot, I have shot from one end of the table to the other, pocketing the object ball, and coming to a dead stop after making contact with the object ball.

3.  This shot requires practice, especially when the cue ball is more than 12" from the object ball.  Try to make the cue ball stop dead - no backspin.  Practice shooting a little harder as the distance between the cue ball & the object ball increases.