Billiards: Cue Ball Control -part 1

Part 1 of a description of controlling the cue ball in pool

[@ogholf]

I've been playing pool for about 2 months. I've been yearning to get a better understanding of the tangent line after week 1. This is the first explanation that has summed it up, giving me a firm grasp of how the tangent line is affected and what is possible before right or left spin off a rail.

[@FateAtYourWindow]

watched this video months ago, but only had a vague idea of how this was going. Ppool for one or two dozens of times since then and slowly used what I learned here, it's been working better and better and becoming more clear to me. Now it took me a while to search it up because I really wanted to relearn again now with more foundations/experiences. this is definitely one of the most useful thing !

[@pallavirai28]

You are a maestro!! Impressive technical knowledge about the game.

[@canoeshoe]

this guy is good and well mannered! not arrogant at all!

[@vincentwu5981]

defeinitely my favorite guy on youtube for anything billiards instructional

[@kadenlancaster5646]

Here i was thinking that i "already knew how to play pool" but after watching a few videos i realize i knew very little about the fundmentals behind it. (sorry for my bad english)

[@bob07071985]

thats what we called HUMILITY!!!!!! thanks for the video...

[@TejasMahajan325]

Your videos are really helpful keep up the good work:)

[@pierre722]

These are fantastic! Thank you!

[@shekhar12jun]

amazin explanation...never knew could learn so much in one day...cheerz...

[@rhmsr63]

sharing your talent is our treasure. more power buddy.

[@keenanwalker6597]

Looks so simple but so much goes in to shooting pool

[@rhmsr63]

well explained mike. thanks ! more power.

[@VasanthaFarmsMandya]

Hello FargoBillards. good explanation. I like all your videos. thanks :). Please keep posting.

[@jihadaboudvegeta1762]

ا

[@shivarekha]

good illustration and helpful video about path of cue ball for angled(cut) shots. Thank you. Now I understand why my A-path is not on the tangent line, I am not hitting it hard like a stop shot. The 8 minutes of my time was worth well spent.

[@markyb53]

awesome video - you really know your stuff...thanks much!

[@nygrl6102]

Thank you for being willing to draw on your table!!

[@sonnydukes]

this guy is great!!! give us more!!!

[@FloridaRaider]

Top notch instruction..thank you

[@donation1913]

This would also explain why novice players hit shots hard, too keep to the tangent line. I wish I had this video when I was learning to play pool it would have shortened the learning time. Understanding this would've saved me months of trial and error.

[@allgood6760]

L

[@AhYaOk]

more specifically, the harder the cue ball is hit, the further along the tangent line it travels before draw or follow takes effect. the softer, the shorter the distance it travels along the tangent line before draw or follow takes effect. side spin can affect the angle of the object ball with throw, but does not affect the cue balls path along the tangent line.

[@johncarloromero9591]

Wow Wow Galeng!

[@mikepowers821]

The expert villager is not wrong. He states that soft draw will hold tangent line moreso than strong draw. That is a correct statement. You, sir, in fact showed us at the 4:30 mark in this video that (in your words) "maximum draw" deviates farthest from the tangent line.

[@brianboyer6801]

The tangent line or is always the perpendicular bisector of the contact point. Top or bottom spin is the only thing that will cause the cue ball to deviate off of the tangent line.

[@smpgambles6123]

I think you can change the path left or right. Maybe its speed but you can make it push through more or go wider depending on left or right hitting no rail

[@AlexZeBeast]

Thank you so much man!

[@yuksel973]

He is good to tell very much what everybody knows about... That is why 2. part is not watched as much... Thanks anyway.

[@roo7227]

Interesting video.. Well thought out, and explained.. The problem being, you cannot learn how to play pool from a video..

[@sothatswhathapppened]

damn that some really nice curves the cue ball makes. what type of tip do you use on your cue?

[@joeygonzo]

gorgeous table. thnx

[@flignar]

Fantastic distinctions. Highly academic.

[@hruiz001]

excellent video instructional even for 3 cushion players

[@adilbhatti4577]

Thank u very much !! i have a question. If u play the cue ball with right/left spin where do u target the Object ball left/right?? thank u

[@affaanshah]

NICE !!!! VERY GOOD

[@maxwatson4545]

You mention at about 2:05 that there is no reason to use sidespin unless you're hitting a rail. In terms of cue ball positioning and control; yes that's true. However, sidespin on the cue ball imparts the reverse sidespin on the object ball. This helps throw the ball in a certain direction and sometimes gives it that extra few cm you need to get the ball in the pocket. I've found it extremely helpful when faced with low percentage cut shots (between 80/90º)

[@iiNeVeRCluTcH]

the side spin on the cue ball has no affect on the ball it is hitting lol

[@SlickRick4EVER]

Careless - On the contrary, it does!

[@Mrskateisgreat]

Careless of course it has man... what are you talking about

[@davids11131113]

Yes it does, ask any 3C pro......say you're shooting a spot shot which is about a 1/4 ball pure cut, with sidespin you can hit the shot about half ball hit making it easier to aim and make and less likely to scratch too, it's just a fact.

[@adilbhatti4577]

with sidesypin on the cue ball where du hit the object ball, still on thge aiming spot or according/agaisnt the sidespin spot ??

[@qvyhnl2]

i love your video and your skill is great =D, more lessons please

[@ericou812]

sir,other night at the bar i was this guy playing pool,he was pretty good,he shot at every ball realy hard,and he was playing with house cue that are warped and poor tip...that was awesome i thought

[@allgood6760]

Good one👍

[@Theninja80291]

thank you oh sagacious one your advise is priceless

[@BuceGar]

Quick question: How do you get all that chalk off your pool table? Is a simple table brush enough? Because your table looks really clean, even after a lot of chalk drawings.

[@zachdesoto]

Do you know any practice drills I can use to improbe my game? I don't know any other drills except playing a game of 8 balls by my self...but it get's really really old after a while. Thanks, Zach

[@SuperGm1988]

The concept of the A path can also change if you aim at different areas of the pocket

[@ravikumar55555]

You are awesome

[@nguyenphien081]

nice video

[@Imfingbob]

how do you clean your table off after making all those marks?

[@Frgz88]

that's right, side english has an effect on the object ball, but in the video he is saying side english has no effect on the path of the cue ball after it hits the OB, until a rail is hit where the side spin takes effect

[@elvicash]

Vacuum it then use either chalk off and cloth or a cold water damp cloth that is very wrung out. Fold it up half twice do a quarter of the table, reverse the fold do the next quarter etc, You will see a ton of chalk on the table give a few minute it will dry out quickly. A wet cloth will play short, dryer conditions will get more long.

[@sonnydukes]

by the way, how do you get the chalk off your cloth??

[@Jannymacna]

if this dude could teach rocket science...i had love to be in his class.

[@FargoBilliards]

There is a subtlety here. Because he is using the sidespin, Maquire is able to hit the red straighter. So he is actually contacting the red in a different spot than if he wasn't using side. I think his motivation here is to hit the red straighter so the cueball doesn't drift so far down the table.

[@randaamazuki1889]

Like it

[@Carmondai22]

If you target the cue ball left, it will cause the cue ball to go a tad to the RIGHT because you don´t hit it exactly in the middle. So you would target the OBJECT ball a tad more to the left. Depending on range.

[@dois2dois]

I am really trying to do some of this, but can't do it! Is it suppose do be somehow 'easy' or is this already advanced stuff? I'm a newbe on this matter, would like to know some insight.

[@katinkaw.6693]

Hi, how do you get the chalk of form the billiard Table?

[@davids11131113]

Chalk Off!

[@ericou812]

can you do a video shooting pool with a house cue that is warped?

[@CamraMaan]

No, but I can do a video on how/where to buy a pool cue... ;) Sarcasm aside, if you're not a pro with the physics of cues, nonetheless bent cues, try and default to pointing the bend of the cue straight up or down. If you like using english with bent house cues, you can raise the difficulty/usability and try and point the bend of the cue in-line with the english you are using (in a radial sense, radiating from the center of the cue ball)... you can also toy with lining the bend with/away from your intended angle of english (think 0 degrees, or 180 degrees). I also recommend choosing a house cue based more on its quality and shape of tip, and cue-shaft diameter and taper, than its bend/warp. A good tip is more important. And shaft that bends the way you like (or resists bending; thick) is next on the list. The warp/bend is next... mitigated by, or weighed against, the quality/shape of you tip/shaft. Obviously more warping is bad. But some good old bars should also have the hidden gems, the old (normally Dufferin) one-piece cues made from "prime" wood. They used to use the best for pool cues, before golf clubs started using the same, and essentially hogged it all, forcing pool cue makers to use less desirable choices of wood. You can spot these old cues by the burling along the shaft, which came with the center-cut wood pieces. But you'll have to be at a place with some cues over 30-40 years old, so essentially, if you're not at my bar, good luck... ;)

[@TheSanguineNight]

Thanks :D

[@dadude1425]

how do you clean that chalk off of your cloth?

[@ThomasPerkov]

Again... NICE VID :-D

[@Bradbricko]

this is a very nice video-......

[@francismusonda9861]

good tutorials

[@exogendesign4582]

sir i did the chalk part on the table so it would give me guide, how would i get ride of it? it wont come off, and looks so ugly on my pool table.

[@TheSanguineNight]

It happened to me that I was playing and I couldn't simply hit the bottom of the ball withon launching it in the air, some tips that may help??? please

[@roo7227]

@stavysdaddy1118 I'm sure you have, but what really created the improvement?.. Playing, of course.. Ideas are great, but you learn by doing.. I'll give an example.. I learned more about how to be a successful 9-Ball player, by playing one pocket.. Shot selection, and most importantly, stroke development.. Learning how to pinch, or drag, or run the cue ball, and still being accurate, has taught me more about cue ball control, than I could've learned by just playing 9-ball..

[@Warren19911]

try the circle drill set the balls up into a large circle start in the center and shoot until they all go in

[@3xNanKuroNaiSax3]

ExpertVillage is wrong to 99.9% just saying :D Nice and Clear tutorial ^^ thank you ^^

[@FateAtYourWindow]

however I would really like an explanation of using this in combination with the "30 degree rule" as explained in the video "NV B.66". Thanks!

[@roo7227]

@TaSk1o4 Not exactly my point.. Good, or great players create their own angles, with their stroke.. Stroke development is the key to playing top flight 9-ball.. Knowing the angles is good, too, but once again, you really learn that through trial and error, not from some video.. I play on a GCI 9ft, with 860 simonis, and 4.25 inch pockets, with a pro cut, extended rails.. My table is slow, and tough, which teaches me to stay on the correct side, and use the correct speed to pocket balls..

[@patstarz]

he's not talking about using draw, obviously using draw changes the path, BUT the side spin philosophy still holds true. the spin generally takes affect off the first rail.

[@smlong2000]

no reason to use side if you do not contact 2 or more rails ? really what if i'm using throw to pocket a ball . i get your points on cue ball travel , but never is a strong word . great videos through learning a good bit thanks for all the good work on all your great videos

[@Deathugee]

thanks.

[@TaSk1o4]

@roo7227 Of course you can. You just won't be able to do any of it if you don't practice it.

[@Longie]

kardRatzinger, look at the principles of throw and spin transference to help you gain a better understanding

[@donkiddick08]

of course sidespin works without hitting a cushion. you can widen or narrow the angle the cueball takes.

[@bushputz]

There is another reason to avoid near straight in shots - it's too easy to get on the 'wrong' side of the object ball. Lots of times there's very little difference between getting easy shape on the next shot, and being totally screwed.

[@donkiddick08]

so swerve shots are impossible?

[@MrElPoderozo1]

How you get the chalk off? My table looks like shit & I dont write on it, lol.

[@Mind_Funeral]

@Mega5Dro Practice?

[@ElegyForTheMasses]

Why is a straight in angle considered a “kiss of death”?

[@MagiCalChamp]

thanks.....

[@Bladerunner55217]

@FargoBilliards all expertvillager's are wrong. example dancing and tennis ones where comical ! Thanks for your vids Fargo!!

[@johnfields7556]

One problem....there are always other balls around that interfere with cueball control. Wish someone would do a video on that!

[@chrisgreece52]

@FargoBilliards Man you are awesome oh by the way first you have learned me how to play pool and second expertvillage has no experts in it and if im wrong correct me i have seed their videos about games bass guitar guitar pool and all of them are NOT helpfull

[@patstarz]

what you are talking about is squirt. what he is talking about is the general rule side spin.

[@kardRatzinger]

You say that sidespin on the cue ball does not have any effect on the A path. How do yo u explain that snooker players often give considerable side spin on the cue ball does is not intended to reach a cushion? For example: watch?v=K0vcaX7p9qc in 06:47 yo can see Stephen Maguire giving lots of right hand side, and no top or bottom spin on the cue ball. The cue ball doesn't go anywhere close to the cushion

[@AlexanderTrefz]

2:00 is wrong. There is of course a reason to use side-spin/english if you do not hit a rail with your CB, and that is 1) throw and 2) Spin-Transfer(which only applies if the OB hits a rail)

[@Mind_Funeral]

@MrElPoderozo1 A brush....

[@Zepher1721]

because you're not meant to hit the bottom of the ball all you have to do is simply put the tip of the cue dead centre of the ball and drop it about 2-3 mm and hit it and it will put good back spin on it

[@NPCTE23]

i actually play in a club 2-3 games and i find my self pretty competitive...

[@stephenbuck3700]

The greatest player in history, bar none, for cueball control was Arthur "Babe" Cranfield from Syracuse NY......

[@TheLtlpxru]

he can play piano too :)

[@rcs300]

I highly disagree with the first part about sidespin not effecting the "A" path especially if you hit it with the power he did. side spin acts like a stun shot because of the centrifugal force of the cue ball spinning. if he hit this shot with either just left or right sidespin with the same force the cueball will float down toward the corner pocket and may hit the short rail, long rail, or scratch depending how much spin is on the cueball. The faster the cueball spins the more it will act as stun; everything else is very good instruction.

[@Rattlesnakeman]

Great vid. But more Queue-Action will memorize your words more into the brain.

[@yodan29]

a faster cueball tends to hold the tangent line??? are you sure about that? i'm not saying it's not true but i just want to understand. a guy from expertvillage said the opposite.here is the video: /watch?v=ItjmDVn2D5s&feature=relmfu

[@Burnt_Cheese]

thats all i need is the control the cue ball

[@ColinLee6]

you should call yourself expert fargo billiards.

[@ninrowth]

si estubiera al español o alguien lo subtitulara seria mas fino. :D entiendo algo pero on al 100%

[@joselitoazarragajr.9780]

Actually for a novice player, this guy is holding his own. However, what he teaches doesn't necessarilly follow if he was teaching an advanced player. The first shot he made was with a top spin, negating the ball tendency to veer at an angle. Had he shot that with a low right or low left draw english, I guarantee you, the cue ball wouldnt have taken that line of direction. Obviously, this guy has not met a FILIPINO pool player.

[@greggas1]

@yodan29 horrible example from expertvillage. the slower ball isn't staying on the tangent longer, it's just moving off it at a smaller angle due to less backspin. they shouldn't have used an almost straight in shot as an example.

[@TrailRated]

That must be a wax stick

[@TheSanguineNight]

without*