One of the most beautiful and exciting joys in the game is when you make the 8 ball on the break. The proper striking point of the cue ball on the second ball in the rack...combined with the proper cue ball position in relation to the side cushion will help you to make the illusive 8 ball on the break in your quest for game success -- Rack Up A Victory!!
Lesson 4: The Closed Bridge - As a player becomes more adept at english control and hand adjustments for holding the cue, the "closed bridge" should be considered. This support tool will allow for flexibility to draw better and increase speed with more accuracy. Most players at higher skill levels use this bridge.
Lesson 8: Cue Ball Control...Basic Cue Ball Effects - The use of "english" or "spin" on the vertical or horizontal axis of the cue ball should be dealt with very carefully. Hitting the cue ball in the center or with stop (slightly below center) are primary beginning points of "cue ball control". Follow is next in order to learn how to roll into position.
Lesson 9: Cue Ball Control...Drawing the Cue Ball! "Drawing the cue ball" is the first of several advanced techniques for position play. Success in this area requires a very loose "grip" and a firm "bridge". The cue must accelerate through the cue ball upon impact and the cue must maintain a level plane movement. Drawing is an "art"!
Lesson 10: Cue Ball Control...Lateral (side) Spin - The use of "lateral (side) spin" on the cue ball is an advanced technique usually reserved for top players. The cue ball takes on many control issues with "side" spin, plus effects of "squirt" and "curve" are learning steps to success. Understanding "side spin" is a challenge worth conquering
Lesson 7: Aiming (Cue Ball Travel Line) - Learning to shoot the cue ball in a straight line combines good preshot imagery with the knowledge of where the cue ball must end up in relation to the object ball. "Ghost ball" training, along with "straight" movements of the cue stick will produce simple, yet profound results of good aiming.
Lesson 6: Aiming - The first part of "aiming" is to establish the "object ball travel line". This line is very simple to calculate and is a straight line from the center of the object ball to the center of the pocket opening determined for each shot. Shooting 15 balls without a cue ball will engrain aiming confidence.
One of the most important concepts for developing excellence in your game is acquiring a "feel" for "speed control". The first step in this process is to define speed in terms of "table lengths" and focusing on slow and medium speeds, which are used for 70% of all shots and most "diamond system" applications.
When getting position becomes more difficult because of blocking balls, and the cue ball must end up in a specific place for the next shot, a "template of practice" can be used to learn the effect of the spin applied. High English that is practiced with a specific purpose in mind will result in shot success...considerin g the critical path the cue ball must take.
Lesson 5: The Grip - Most problems with what goes on in front of the body are the direct result of what goes on behind the body and are normally centered on "the grip". Holding the cue too tightly with the rear "gripping" hand will cause the cue to spring upward on cue ball contact. "Squeeze the Charmin"
esson 3: The "Open, Tower, or V Bridge" - The front hand should support the cue stick with an easy to understand formation and comfort in shooting. The "open, tower, or V Bridge" does just that. All beginning players should consider this bridge to start with. Over time they will find advanced uses for it in specific game situations.
Using the same "template of practice" as in Segment #18 a player can quickly see the results and subsequent position benefits of applying different spins to the cue ball. When it is necessary to make the cue ball travel around the table with little effort, full side (lateral) spin will do the trick. A table that appears to play slow can be "made fast" by this side spin test.
Lesson 9: Cue Ball Control...Drawing the Cue Ball! "Drawing the cue ball" is the first of several advanced techniques for position play. Success in this area requires a very loose "grip" and a firm "bridge". The cue must accelerate through the cue ball upon impact and the cue must maintain a level plane movement. Drawing is an "art"!
Lesson 2: The Stance - Placing the body in a proper relation to the shot and aligning the cue stick in a proper relation to the cue ball travel line are essential for consistent results. "Forming that stance" correctly will create balance and stability in preparation for "addressing" the cue ball and taking the shot.
![Dr. Cue - Lesson 3 - The \"Open, Tower, or V Bridge](http://img.youtube.com/vi/2zlN6wOwZ4s/2.jpg "Dr. Cue - Lesson 3 - The \\"Open, Tower, or V Bridge")
