Curve the Cue Ball

What you should know:

• Most pool halls will not let you try this

• You can use any cue ball, however something like the iCue training ball makes it easier to learn

• There are specific cues made for this kind of trick shot however I was able to do it with a normal cue as seen in the video above

• To protect the table from being scratched I used a Cloth Shield but you can also use an extra piece of felt.

• Also known as the Masse shot

Step 1:

Set up a shot that you can try over and over. This will help you measure your progress over time. 

Step 2:

Add chalk to your cue. With chalk your cue will have the friction to spin the ball in the direction you want it to. Without chalk your cue will continue to slide off the ball and the ball will not go in the direction you want. 

Step 3: 

Aim just past the ball you want to go around. Elevate your cue, strike on the top of the ball, and to the side in which you want it to turn.

A clock is often used to reference what corner of the ball you should hit it in. If you want to curve the ball to the right you would look down at the ball and strike it at the 4 o'clock position. 

Adjust your power and elevation of the cue to get an understanding of how these two variables impact the movement of the cue ball.