Snooker Potting Along The Cushion - Snooker Lesson

In this video we look at a few helpful things to think about when potting balls along the cushion.
The tips are describe in this video are what the professionals try to do when getting position, and potting these tricky shots along the cushion.
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I am a qualified 1st4Sport Level 2 WPBSA Coach. I am available for one-to-one coaching lessons and do travel to see people. If you are interested please don't hesitate to contact me!
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[@Sandysand701]

An old guy I used to play, told me running side helps by making the cue ball narrow the angle if your aim is slightly out, so if you hit the cushion first, the side throws the cue ball into the object ball closer to the potting angle, also, he reckoned you transfer a small amount of spin on to the object ball making it hug the cushion, at the same time though, putting side on makes aiming a bit harder! So I only use a small amount, but it does give me confidence I'm going to make the pot, confidence helps big time when potting balls in my opinion.

[@graysimmo5399]

I heard the same thing. It makes sense in theory. it would be interesting if we saw it played with running side using his half white/half yellow ball, to see if its just a myth or has and basis in fact

[@samxmaybe3316]

wow ... a new video about one of the toughest situations in this game . This video is a masterpiece because it describes very well how to deal with this situation ( potting along the cushion ) In my own breaks , I always try not to play with balls on this position, because it's very hard for me ( If I focus a lot on potting, I'll lose cue ball ... On the other hand, if I focus a lot on the positional play , I can't pot the ball 🤬🤬🤬 ) But through the information given by this video, I realized how much easier I could handle this situation. 😊 Thank you so much dear Steve for this top rated and high-profile video . cheers mate .

[@messenger291]

I like how your tips include the shots before and after where appropriate. Haven't seen that before on KZbin. Appreciated

[@soroushm3862]

That was so great. Your teaching is so complite. It great.

[@douglasjohnmason55]

As always a good video and well explained especially for beginners.

[@isaacang7239]

Another informative video once again and I used to play running side to pot along the top cushion and now I understand the technique in more details. Next time I will try to play top side in order to control the cue ball. Thanks

[@josephgardner3208]

great video for many skill level players. I'm an 8in the APA and i learned something from it. thank you.

[@ayandamthimkhulu1264]

You're an excellent coach! thank you, we appreciate it. 👍🏾

[@cazmaj]

Thank you, very informative!

[@brianb.2894]

Always fun and educational. Thank you once again.😊

[@jimmy950903]

Ive always played hard stun shots instead of top running side, This video brings me a new concept on play. Thank you very much!

[@touseefanwar8507]

Once again a great video. I have seen a couple before to pot the ball next to the cushion but to actually demonstrate the technique to control the cue ball for the next pot is simply a great idea. We'll done Steve once again. Great work, very thorough and thoughtful.

[@alexpaic2984]

So much knowledge Steve. Wish I knew what you know about snooker. Thanks for sharing that knowledge with us.

[@BartonSnooker]

Thanks Alex. Lots more videos coming 🙂

[@watsfa1228]

I'm rewatching all your vids during lockdown and they're so incredibly helpful. thanks for all the great tips and explanations. You make everything very clear and easy to follow.

[@BartonSnooker]

Thank you! More videos coming 🙂

[@davidpownall7713]

Great video, very useful tips and what a great set up you have there!

[@sundu21]

Very nicely explained.

[@hollycameron839]

your videos are so helpful! Thank you. Keep up the great work!

[@BartonSnooker]

Thank you 🙂

[@asadhussain5267]

Great detailed video on how to play the shots. Great video Barton snooker

[@martinrosler5432]

Thanks for your valuable Videos Steve .. so well done … Martin

[@BartonSnooker]

Thanks, Martin!

[@shahrambakhtiar6183]

Well done sir another brilliant video 👏👏

[@weejim48]

Another great video, thanks Steve. 👍

[@anto3995]

You're very clean and clear,

[@BartonSnooker]

Thank you 🙂

[@ballabadr3572]

Thank you .. we need more video tips plz

[@SnookerCanadaCA]

very nicely explained, thank you

[@davidlong6358]

Great informative video ,well put over

[@syeddani3296]

Thank you so much 🥰 God bless you ❤️

[@pritamtamang6203]

great tip. thanks!

[@zeeshanrathore2984]

U r awesome sir i learn alot from you. Respect from Pakistan ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@taylerhayes5016]

Very handy clip this !

[@ianclarke3627]

Good stuff , thanks

[@bazzarooney123]

Very Well explained and informative video!

[@BartonSnooker]

Thanks, Westley! I have seen you play and you're a very good player! Keep up the practice 🙂

[@OghamTheBold]

_Greg Davies_ - calls it a : COOSHAAAUUN !! shot *_R > G_*

[@thefella131]

Brill vid fella.

[@Musky147]

Headcam always good will help thanks

[@jamilagarba1348]

Good tutorial

[@markopuljiz123]

Great stuff mate. Could you please explain the situation when the ball isn't touching the cushion, but it's really close. I noticed that some pros hit the cushion (with the object ball( relatively far from the pocket and still pot the ball. I hope I explained what I mean.

[@khalidothman2784]

Thanks

[@paulbeggs4686]

Hi steve another great tutorial my question to you today in regards to balls on the cushion some will play a cannon on the red makin it easier to pot is this advisable to move the red from cushion cheers paul beggs.

[@anotherOneMore7]

Good shooting, sir. I am hoping to make it to UK soon and find a few places to play snooker!

[@BartonSnooker]

Thank you! 🙂

[@Kimmobiino]

In some beginner billiards videos I've seen running side sidespin suggestions only when the approaching angle is very extreme, say 80-90 degrees and the ball is touching the cushion.. That is hit cushion first and then the object ball.. Its a hail mary shot anyway, for longer red traveling distances it helps for me in those extreme angle cases.. If the pockets are tight as a complete beginner myself I would probably not try those over 80 degree frozen rail cushion shots if the red had over 30 cm to travel.. I would miss over half of them..

[@manjago9821]

Very well sir..nice tutorial for the beginner like me..can u make a tutorial for 'cue tips' .what kind of cue tip can we use..we already knew that every snooker pro used a variation of cue tip and different shape of it for their purpose

[@theallseeingmaster]

I use check side; it works for me.

[@ruskin.]

I was thinking why isn't anybody talking about that👍. Makes the object ball roll along the cushion perfectly into the pot. Any thoughts Sir Barton?

[@dkkatwa]

Great video as always. For my woeful skill level, it would be even better if you show me where to hit the red ball. Maybe by putting the white next to it

[@knutnskar6796]

Thanks for another great video 😎

[@concretedan]

RIP Benny Harvey.. miss ya big man.. gone but not forgotten

[@adamhead.9823]

thanks ! ;)

[@BladeRunner-td8be]

Enjoyed this video very much even though I am from the U.S. (no snooker here) I couldn't help but wonder what would have happened if you played a soft shot with a bit of high-ish right spin on the second example.

[@BartonSnooker]

This would 'trap' the white and really slow it down. You'd then need to hit the shot a lot harder which makes it very missable.

[@rickwalters6750]

Don't know where you live but I play Snooker daily here in Missouri

[@mohdfairuzahmad5091]

Allow me to share a bit from my observation for past 10 years.. The correct shot for shot along a cusion or tight to cusion are actually you need to make cue ball have a solid n fast reaction, which is your last small fingger would be important, you need to grip it with pressure which cause front cue to lift up a little, after tip impact with cue ball, those particular grip i found that its eliminate kick much more efficient, exspecially when play a roll shot along long cusion..

[@knowme999]

@05:49 isnt that angle is enough to hit with screw back, hitting at 08 hours and getting the red into play ?

[@abuhusam9686]

Vielen Dank

[@rickwalters6750]

Love this video but could you do one on the longer rail shots? I notice the Pros try not to leave a rail shot but it is sometimes necessary.

[@remu4038]

Hello, how are you? I have a question, what is the size of the snooker cue head? Please answer, and thank you for what you offer

[@parisicomercio5119]

Top

[@ghulammujtaba9313]

Hi I have been playing snooker for the last 6/7 years but there is no consistency in my game. Some times i pot reds ccurately and in the next frame it's hard to get the pocket.. I am a right hand player and I feel that my left arm doesn't stretch as straight as your arm do.. Sir How can I overcome this problem ?

[@psymantz]

where on the object ball do u hit? between object ball and cushion?

[@JamesMc2051]

I find running side easier on cushion shots potting-wise but I played 8 ball pool growing up rather than snooker so smaller balls, less plain ball striking traditionally, etc. Good to see the nuances between different games. Wonder how an old-timer 9 ball player like Reyes or Strickland thinks about these shots at their game with the dynamics they have?

[@dzarren]

There's a match of Earl playing Stephen Hendry in Chinese 8 ball, which is just 8 Ball but on a 9ft snooker table, hence snooker pockets. The speech of the players is pretty hard to hear, but Earl is pretty loud as usual, so in many parts of the match his comments are easily heard. He remarks during this match that he sees players make the shots along the rail, but he "Just can't make them." Complains a little, then proceeds to pot the ball along the rail he was complaining about. Although he had ball in hand for that shot along the rail. Also in that match, he comments that it is the hardest game he has ever played, asides from Russian Pyramid. There is also video of him playing Russian Pyramid on KZbin, which I found very interesting. He also does some complaining in this match. www.youtube.com /watch?v=IKJLQaNF0jA Have a look at this video (take out the spaces) to see the relative size of the Russian Pyramid pockets. Idiotic-ly small pockets.The side pockets aren't that small, but the corner pockets are insane, and the ball is larger than even a pool ball. Potting along the rail is not possible.

[@JamesMc2051]

@@dzarren Thanks! Reyes is a bit of a freak right enough.

[@belowmars]

You do know that 9-ball has straight cut pockets that pulls the balls in and snooker has round cut pockets that bounces the balls out right?

[@JamesMc2051]

@@belowmars Obviously.

[@khawajayounas9852]

👍👍👍👍

[@shayanbhatti9446]

Who should cue swing?

[@lovelyanimal4424]

sir please make video on poting angles in detail plz sir

[@ash6415]

What about when the ball is very slightly away from the cushion? That seems harder than when its tight against it.

[@steviemax147]

I hear different opinions of what the term ‘plain ball’ means. My understanding is that it means no side at all on cue ball and hit cue ball just a fraction above centre. Can you confirm this is correct or not? Thanks!

[@BartonSnooker]

Exactly right! 👍

[@noraofficial1125]

Hi mr barton master eye is important for this shot?

[@BartonSnooker]

Hi. Normal sighting for this shot. Your setup and alignment for this shot should be no different to any other shot on the table.

[@McElhinney65]

Your explanations are very clear, pity my eyesight has gone and I don't play any longer.

[@BartonSnooker]

Thank you very much. That's a shame. Can you not wear snooker glasses?

[@McElhinney65]

@@BartonSnooker I've got a really bad cue action anyway Steve, like Ray Reardon, forearm cocked inwards. Highest break 43.

[@tentso7771]

hello ...i have a 58 inch long cue n m thinking to get it shorten by one inch, so by doing that will it ruin my cue??????

[@StefanDLazarov]

i have the opposite issue-cue a bit short

[@JB-jg8fc]

tentso bhutia no but it will fit in the dustbin a lot better!!! 🤣😂🤣😂

[@tentso7771]

@@JB-jg8fc Tero bau sala

[@alecspyrou2134]

Hi, When you landed on the red with a natural angle why did you use top? I would have thought centre ball might be just as good and you have the danger of top grabbing the red and causing a thick contact. I'd be interested in your thoughts. Great video by the way I'd love for a coaching session but doubt you'd take the trip all the way to Australia 😁 You'd think we tech today we could do remote coaching issuing Skype etc. 😉

[@BartonSnooker]

Hello. If I just used centre ball I would be too close to the black. Then the margin of error for landing good on the black would be very small. By playing that little bit of top spin, I am taking myself very slightly away from the black, and leaving myself a bigger area to land in where I am always in good position. It's all about percentages for success. Thanks for watching the videos 🙂

[@alecspyrou2134]

@@BartonSnooker Thanks. Great to know.

[@iSoundpro]

Hi mate, I find myself alternating between the right side and middle of my chin, sometimes even left side, can you tell us how to determine the dominant eye we should be cueing down? Thanks!

[@BartonSnooker]

Hi! Don't worry about your dominant eye. Just make sure where you're down on the shot, you see everything in a nice straight line. Your brain will naturally work this out for you.

[@iSoundpro]

@@BartonSnooker Thanks Barton, have you deleted this video? Can't see it on your main page, anyway I was wondering if you could do a video on safety play? Thanks again mate

[@BartonSnooker]

@@iSoundpro hi. No the video is still on my channel. I have a little practice routine video coming out next week which has some long potting and safety shots in.

[@iSoundpro]

@@BartonSnooker Okay mate, maybe just double check it's not on unlisted for whatever reason, whenever i go to your video page it's showing your most recent video is reverse plants from 2 weeks ago! Looking forward to your next video, off to play vs my brother for 8 hours today, we play first to 11 matches, he gives me odds, most recently ive got 50 on at 8/1 currently trailing 10-7 wish me luck haha. Booked a coaching session with Fin Ruane next week, really looking forward to that. Again, your videos are invaluable, appreciate everything you do mate, feel my game improving with every one. Cheers

[@BartonSnooker]

@@iSoundpro ha! good luck mate. The video is fully listed an live. Must just be KZbin being a bit buggy.

[@TheJohnCooper]

Plain ball is always going to be easier as it removes calculating the degree of deflection

[@noraofficial1125]

Mr barton Witch eye is your dominant ?

[@BartonSnooker]

My dominant eye is my right eye. But I don't worry about this at all when playing snooker. I let my brain naturally work out where my head needs to be so that I see the shots properly.

[@balbinoitaboray7265]

Seria recomendável que o video fosse em português. Vídeo muito produtivo e importante

[@kennethtalbott2233]

wish i had seen these videos forty years ago...

[@BartonSnooker]

The kids of today don't know how lucky they are!

[@kennethtalbott2233]

@@BartonSnooker absolutely. i love a game of snooker, not that good at it but i know if i had this tool in my youth i would be a much better player. loving the vids.

[@BladeRunner-td8be]

When using running spin of the cue ball it helps hold the object ball to the rail. However anytime I use anything but center ball on the cue ball the shot becomes more difficult. Once I learn how much my cue squirts I can hit rail shots very easily with running side spin For me to be the most accurate with the squirt produced I must hit the shot with speed so that swerve doesn't take effect. But overall for me rail shots are easier with running side spin as long as I can, as I said, hit them with speed and still get shape. I should mention though that I'm not a snooker player and there's no telling if what I just said would hold true on a snooker table. My guess is yes, but I'm not positive. I play nine ball and some eight ball on 9 ft tables. And yes, I'm from the U.S.

[@bottlecap57]

I imagine the tip on your pool cue is something like 14 mm. You're not going to get anywhere near the squirt produced from an average snooker cue, plus shots along the cushions on pool tables are virtually unmissable with or without side.

[@plzitzjustmahcheezits909]

The Snookerist That is completely not true. 14 mm tips? That’s a break cue my friend, nobody’s using 14 mm tips as their playing cue, most likely less than 13 mm. Squirt in pool, despite the new additions of low deflection cues, is still present and still just as hard to judge as in snooker. Rail shots are also still difficult, pocket sizes in pool are getting smaller and the margin of error on rail shots is still very small, not “unmissable”. Contrary to popular snooker belief, American pool table pockets aren’t just vacuumes that accept balls willy nilly. Instead of bouncing out balls, they rattle them. Leaving easy shots for your opponent.

[@wayneburba9457]

Do you actually turn your wrist?

[@sclogse1]

I'll pop over with a can of Howards one step refinisher for those wood scratches. Hmmm, how's your air circulation?

[@neonicplays1364]

The side does work, but if BOTH balls are frozen to the cushion

[@jcchannel2850]

The real question is... Do you have the blow heater and the kettle plugged into the same extension.

[@BartonSnooker]

Hello! No the fan heater is 3000 watts, which is 12 amps. This is plugged into the wall. The kettle's maximum power consumption is 3000 watts, also 12 amps, and that is plugged into the extension lead which is a 13 amp extension lead 👍

[@carvalho5325]

What cue tip do you use? in this video?

[@BartonSnooker]

Century Cue Tips G1. The tip is their softest one. It just sounds hard in the videos because I'm wearing a wireless microphone.

[@drivingmemad7640]

@@BartonSnooker It's a shame they only come in 10mm, my cue is tapered for 9mm tip but I'd love a G2 on it!

[@BartonSnooker]

@@drivingmemad7640 you always buy a tip bigger than the ferrule and then cut it down to size anyway. You never buy a tip that perfectly fits the ferrule. It's always oversized and then cut down.

[@drivingmemad7640]

@@BartonSnooker Brilliant, thank you very much for the information. I've been buying the exact size, then reshaping it. I'll try a 10 mm next time then and get those tips! :)

[@bullsnutsoz]

By the comments we are going to have billions of wobble heads and chows just loving snooker!

[@philm6629]

Hmmm...very interesting. I've always played this shot with a touch of right hand side in order to impart the opposite spin to the target ball, so as to "hold" the target ball against the cushion. Is this not right? I'd be glad if you could comment.

[@TheSnookerShed]

Are you playing ball and cushion together to pot this ?

[@BartonSnooker]

Hi. I just judge the potting angle like any other pot on the table. I don't really think of it in terms of ball and cushion together. I suppose if you analyse it, it is very close to ball and cushion together. But as I say, I just play to pot the red like I would on any other shot.

[@TheSnookerShed]

BartonSnooker thanks for replying

[@PhilipKerry]

@@BartonSnooker I have played in the Chesterfield and District Snooker League since 1978 and I always play ball and cushion together , it works 90% of the time .

[@Mattporter18]

I’ve never heard the word cushion said like that!

[@BartonSnooker]

You have now 😊

[@steviegbcool]

running side works with pool but not snooker thought as balls are smaller just makes pot too difficult.

[@sweeneyscfc]

What's a cooshin?

[@BartonSnooker]

The same as a cushion, but with and Midlands English accent 😀

[@ZohaibKhan-um4cu]

why not u play in pro circle ?

[@scottpurdue8946]

The video isn't what I was hoping it would be. (good for beginners though). When an object ball is touching the cushion I find the shot easy to do & cue ball position is obvious enough to me. However - when there's just a little bit of distance between object ball and cushion - it's much harder to pot. Touching the cushion - just aim between object ball and cushion hitting both at the same time. A little away from the cushion - this won't work. Any tips? Trying to transfer side to the object ball so it sticks to the cushion is one way.... but not something professionals would use I'm sure

[@ethangriffiths7802]

Didn’t know Bodie and Doyle played snooker

[@MW-zu3ci]

Cushing

[@Blessed.2.Teach.4God]

Running side absolutely makes the pot a bit easier and that's not just opinion, that's physics. When using running side, it imparts opposite spin to the object ball which means the OB is spinning toward the rail, keeping running tighter along the rail.

[@jayal6698]

Friendly advice here....i think you could speed the videos up a lot. You seem to go over the same points over and over. Appreciate the advice though

[@andrewlilley9070]

Not sure what a coochin is!

[@lukasz2457]

Everything explained well, but one thing intresting me even more. The title of this video should be „Controling the cue Ball with cusion shots”. You didn’t explained cueing a Red Ball, you talking about where is gonna be a cue ball after shots from the different positions. Not how to pot Red and where to cue as title should be. Little bit „click-bait” title for me.

[@CaucAzN1024]

so basically the way you make hard cushion shots is by not leaving yourself hard cushion shots... haha.

[@roxiesworldoffun2135]

Whats a coo shin? 🤣😂🤣😂

[@BartonSnooker]

😂

[@donaldduck5553]

Laila Vags he is from the Black Country in the West Midlands enjoy the video and stop trolling 😉

[@JibberJabberPodcast]

It's pronounced cooshin.

[@0flan]

You never explain where you hit the ball on the cushion.

[@Scottychainsaw]

Is no one going to mention the fact he is saying cushings instead of cushions?

[@doshoify]

is that the best comment you can make ? what's your highest break 20 something probably. Pay attention to what he's doing not how he says it .

[@Scottychainsaw]

@@doshoify teaching people to say cushings isn't going to help. It's going to get you the piss taken out of you. Top break is 52 but that's irrelevant. If he said said snicker instead of snooker would you defend him

[@luckyduckimona9787]

Scott Richardson Hello, numbskull. It's a pool lesson not a English lesson.

[@Scottychainsaw]

@@luckyduckimona9787 who's the numbskull it's snooker not pool duhhh

[@DaveInBridport]

It's a Brummie thing. He probably says 'Oi'm sitting in me garding'

[@jacobjones5269]

Whoa!.. 2 people’s separated by a common language, and one unwritten rule.. We don’t speak about Fight Clu… I mean educate the suckers..

[@hadynharris494]

good video but a strange accent i must say!

[@BartonSnooker]

Thank you 🙂

[@monkebeezness8261]

Noise, noise... Very noisely dune.

[@Nisa-de2os]

Sorry.. But not helpful at all. It would be nice of you can show in 3D version

[@shpendfeka1755]

To much unnecessary blla blla.

[@BartonSnooker]

Sorry 🙁